#Trailblazer pcm pin schedule manual#
#Trailblazer pcm pin schedule software#

Idle Speed – The PCM ensures that your car’s idle speed is adequate (not revved up to a higher than necessary RPM) to manage any ancillary activities, such as air conditioning. Ignition Timing – Depending on different conditions, the PCM can make the spark plugs fire in a faster or slower sequence, helping the engine deliver an optimum amount of power per RPM. Once warmed up, the PCM adjusts the ratio to decrease the fuel being pumped in. For example, when the car’s engine is cold, the PCM adjusts the ratio of gas to be greater than the air. Here are a few of the most essential processes.Īir-to-Gas Ratio – The PCM adjusts the air-to-gas ratio being pumped into the cylinders of the car, which saves fuel. The PCM senses and monitors more than 100 factors in a car or truck. What Exactly Does your Powertrain Control Module Do?Īlthough we provided a brief explanation above, let’s talk more specifically about what the powertrain control module does in your car.

#Trailblazer pcm pin schedule manual#

The types of modules and how they’re configured in your car depend on the manufacturer, so you’ll want to consult your owner’s manual to be sure of their specific terminology. It could include systems like the ones above, or Body Control Module (BCM), Brake Control Module (BCM or EBCM), Central Control Module (CCM), Central Timing Module (CTM), and many others. To confuse things a bit more, the term electronic control unit (ECU) is often used as a generic term for any built-in system that controls multiple electrical features in a car. You can program one system without affecting the other. However, the two units operate independently. For example, when the PCM changes gears, it can pull back the throttle to shift smoother. By combining them, the PCM can better regulate their functions together. In most cars, the Powertrain Control Module contains the ECM and TCM in one unit. This reduces gear hunting and wheel spin. TCM functionality has improved over the years, adding input from cruise control, throttle and traction control system. The TCM uses incoming sensor data to determine when the transmission needs to shift. Then, the computer can adjust the ignition and fuel injection timing and the position of the camshafts and throttle. In a modern engine, the ECM will gather sensor data from the intake, exhaust, cooling system, and several internal components to assess the engine’s running condition. Sometimes ECM or ECU are used interchangeably with PCM, so let’s clarify the differences. What’s the Difference Between an ECM, TCM & PCM?īefore we go any further, it’s important to understand the terms that get thrown around in the industry, especially if you’re doing a DIY project or ordering parts online. It’s often referred to as the “brain” of your car because it controls so many functions. The powertrain control module (PCM) is one of the most important computers in your car, usually managing the engine and transmission, depending on the make of your vehicle. They’re now standard on all 2008 and newer cars and light trucks. Manufacturers started phasing in CANs in the early 2000s.

#Trailblazer pcm pin schedule software#

They do this through a system of wires and software protocols called the Controller Area Network, or CAN. Modern vehicles have a set of computers (commonly referred to as modules) that communicate with sensors throughout the car. Cars are upgradeable and customizable, giving the backyard mechanic incredible control over performance. Today, vehicles are really like computers with wheels. They could now control most of the electrical processes of the car, including climate controls, braking systems, and odometer. By the 1990s, on-board computers became more sophisticated. It wasn’t until the 1980s that microchips and microprocessors became small enough to fit into cars. Circuit boards had specific roles like regulating fuel injection systems. The first computers appeared in cars during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Let’s begin with a brief overview of how car computers evolved, and the role of the powertrain control module in today’s vehicles. We’ll help you understand how reflashing works and what your options are, so you can make the right decision for your car and budget. Whether you’re thinking of reflashing your own powertrain control module or purchasing a replacement, our guide will answer all your questions.

Everything You Need to Know About PCM Reflashing