Service Programming System
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2003 Pontiac Grand Prix, 2003 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2003 Buick Century. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
CAUTION:
Before programming a control module, the following must be observed, or control module damage may occur:
- The Tech 2® and the terminal must have the latest software.
- The vehicle battery must be fully charged. The battery voltage should be between 12-14 volts.
- The Tech 2® and the terminal cable connections must be secure.
- A battery charger must NOT be connected to the battery when programming a control module.
The Service Programming System (SPS) allows a technician to program a control module through the Data Link Connector (DLC). The information transfer circuit that is used at the DLC is the same serial data circuit used by the scan tool for retrieving Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs), displaying data, clearing DTCs, etc. This procedure offers the ability to install software/calibrations matched to a particular vehicle. Most control modules have 2 types of memory. The software/calibrations reside in the flash memory. The 2 types of memory are listed below:
- Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM) - This type of memory allows selected portions of memory to be programmed while other portions remain unchanged. Certain learned values reside in the EEPROM, such as; Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), crankshaft variation learned position, software/calibrations identification numbers and control module security information.
- Flash Read Only Memory - Flash Memory Flash memory has increased memory storage capacity. During programming, all information within this type of memory is erased, and then replaced with entirely new information.