Pass-thru-Pro and Saturn warning
Just thought I’d give everyone a heads up on a situation I had earlier this week that could have led to a damaged PCM. A 1997 Saturn SL2 came in for some work and a PCM reflash. I have done several GM reflashes but none on an early Saturn. I hooked up the Pass-thru-Pro to my PC and to the vehicle, and started running through all the screens and just before the file download and reprogramming was about to start a screen came up telling me to install the “red j41207 adaptor” to the Tech II before programming. I backed up a few screens to make sure I selected the Pass-thru-Pro and not the Tech II and it showed that I had selected the Pass-thru-Pro. I went forward again and came up to the same screen. I aborted the reflash and called tech support. I told the tech about the adaptor and exactly what the screen said, I was put on hold for about 5 minutes. When he came back on the line he told me that neither he nor anyone else there had heard of this adaptor and it must be something new and that Delco should have given it to me with the TIS subscription. I searched some of the other forums I am a member of and found some posts on Iatn from back in 2003 about the adaptor. After posing there in 2 different forums I received SEVERAL emails and replies. The adaptor is for the Tech II only, it is used to buffer any voltage variations to the PCM during the programming. A Saturn tech wrote that had had damaged several PCMs with the Tech II before this adaptor was made so NO attempt to reflash should be tried without it. A rep from a company that makes a reflashing tool that works both on and off board contacted me and told me his product could program the PCM without damage (off board). As it turns out a local parts store that did my reflashing before purchased the Pass-thru-Pro used that product. I took the PCM out and sent it to them. PCM was programmed without any damage This company has a very good website with lots of info, and states that some Caddy’s and Corvettes also share this problem. As per this and other forums Snap-on is going through some changes with the Pass-thru-Pro as the part number and price are no longer on the website. I have tried to find out what was going to happen but no one I have contacted can tell me. While trying to get info on this adaptor I emailed Actia who is the company that makes the PTP for Snap-on and received NO reply. It was VERY disappoint to get an answer like that from tech support. Obviously this is not a “NEW” problem, if a company sells and supports a tool they should know about most of the issues with it. What ever the changes are I hope they are improvements. And for any tech who is going to get involved with reflashing make sure you follow the instructions to the letter! Had I tried to reflash this PCM I would have been buying my customer a new one!
Steve
Steve
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