so it was running a code 42 which is EST(electronic spark timing) and I have replaced everything I can think of to fix this issue and still the check engine light is on. runs kinda bad. so in hopes of trying to fix the issue I did a direct exchange on a new ECM from baxters auto parts. now it wont start AT ALL. I could start it fine with the old computer. I know its the correct ECM for my vehicle. any ideas on how to fix? thanks.

You have to have the new ecm programmed, at least i did when I replaced mine, by the dealer.

Matt

Siberian is correct. The only way to get a new ECM/BCM to work is to have a dealer program it for your car.

reprogrammed how? there were 3 available for my car and it is a direct replacement for the one I had I took the numbers directly off the stock ECM

It might be the correct ECM but it isn't programmed on what to read with your car, it's blank on the programming cause it will work on your car along with probably several other models, each which will have different programming to make it work correctly with the car it's installed in. That's mainly cause the VATS system runs through the ECM and for each car that's a little different on how it works.

The best way I can explain it is this way. You've just bought a new home computer and it'll do everything you want it to do except for one thing - it doesn't have an operating system (like Windows XP or Vista) installed on it so it doesn't know what to do with the pre-installed programs like IE explorer, the media player, etc. But once the operating system has been installed you're all good since it'll know what to do with those programs.

That's how it is with the programming that the dealer needs to do - they need to install the "operation" system/programming in it for your particular year and make so it knows what it needs to do. It used to be that higher end repair shops could do the programming but GM, in their infinite wisedom, has made it so that only dealers can do it now. So you need to take the whole car to the dealer so that they can hook your car up to their computer system and install the "operating" program for the ECM.

Hopefully that made sense.

BTW, around me, depending on the dealer you take it to, it'll cost somewhere around $100 (give or take) for the dealer to program it.

That is correct.......needs to be programmed by GM.

Dennis

lol thanks but that sucks, I have no way of getting my car to the dealer since it wont start with the new ECM

Well there's only two things I can suggest you could do - 1) put the old ECM back in the car if you still have it and drive it to the dealer (even if the car runs badly) and then let them swap it out for the new one and then program it or 2) find a towing place that has a rollback truck and have them take it to the dealer for you with the new ECM in it and then let the dealer program it and drive it home.

that sucks I had to give it to baxters for a core. what a mess