1995 ECM Remanufactured Label

[Pat F.]

At this year's Regional at Kissimmee numerous conversations were held concerning 1995 ECM's that had a Remanufactured Label. The Judging Manual calls for a 40% deduction for originality for a label indicating that it has been remanufactured. A couple of owners of original 1995's stated that they are positive that their 1995's came from Bowling Green with a ECM that had a Remanufactured Label Present. One owner just had his Pace Car PV'd and his had a Remanufactured Label on the ECM. He stated that the ECM in his Corvette was original from Bowling Green. I also have an original 1995 (#233)that has a ECM with a Remanufactured Label and from all information I have from the original owners, no change was ever made to the ECM. The Judging Manual shows the Non-Remanufactured Label having part #1618133, the same as the Remanufactured Label. There was also a statement to the Pace Car Owner from an individual who stated was a former GM worker who placed the Remanufactured Labels on new 1995's. I do not have the name of the GM individual but the owner of the Pace Car does have additional information on this matter. I would like to hear from anyone who can shed some light on this subject.
Thanks for your time.

[Tom H.]

Re: 1995 ECM Remanufactured Label

Hey Pat !!

I can tell you that I delivered hundreds of those cars brand new and never saw a remanufactured ECM on a new car.

[Ken A.]

Re: 1995 ECM Remanufactured Label

ALL electronic service parts carried a reman label, when in fact, it could be a new part. This was part of the reman process. Contact Gordon Killebrew for more info on production info. Your car could of had an end of line failure.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1995 ECM Remanufactured Label

ALL electronic service parts carried a reman label, when in fact, it could be a new part. This was part of the reman process. Contact Gordon Killebrew for more info on production info. Your car could of had an end of line failure.

Ken-----


That's correct. Many GM electronic parts are sold, "officially", as "remanufactured" but are, in fact, new. One will often note that even during the first year of use for such a part, the part will be sold as remanufactured. During that period, where would GM even get the cores to have them remanufactured?

I believe the reason for selling them as remanufactured is that's the only effective way to get cores returns for future remanufactured pieces. If they sell a part as "new", then the buyer expects that no core return should be required. If they sell it as remanufactured, whether it actually is or not, they can assess a core charge and that motivates folks to return the cores.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1995 ECM Remanufactured Label

At this year's Regional at Kissimmee numerous conversations were held concerning 1995 ECM's that had a Remanufactured Label. The Judging Manual calls for a 40% deduction for originality for a label indicating that it has been remanufactured. A couple of owners of original 1995's stated that they are positive that their 1995's came from Bowling Green with a ECM that had a Remanufactured Label Present. One owner just had his Pace Car PV'd and his had a Remanufactured Label on the ECM. He stated that the ECM in his Corvette was original from Bowling Green. I also have an original 1995 (#233)that has a ECM with a Remanufactured Label and from all information I have from the original owners, no change was ever made to the ECM. The Judging Manual shows the Non-Remanufactured Label having part #1618133, the same as the Remanufactured Label. There was also a statement to the Pace Car Owner from an individual who stated was a former GM worker who placed the Remanufactured Labels on new 1995's. I do not have the name of the GM individual but the owner of the Pace Car does have additional information on this matter. I would like to hear from anyone who can shed some light on this subject.
Thanks for your time.

Charlie------



Is the part number (16181333) on the remanufactured units the same as the part number on cars that don't have the label stating remanufactured? Very often, the actual part number for PRODUCTION components like this PCM will be different than the SERVICE part number (i.e. the part number on the "remanufactured" unit).

If the part numbers are different, the only way I could see that they would have been shipped to Bowling Green would have been by accident. In that case, I doubt that Bowling Green would have installed them. The emissions certification is based upon a certain part numbered PCM being installed and I don't see Bowling Green deviating from that.

Beyond that, even if the PRODUCTION and SERVICE part numbers were the same, this is a part that is quite prominent in the engine compartment of a Corvette, not "buried" under-dash like many ECM/PCM installation in other cars. I don't think they would have wanted any component that was easily seen by a PROSPECTIVE PURCHASER or owner to indicate that a part was "remanufactured", even if the actual part was, in fact, new.

Could it have happened? I'd say it's not beyond the realm of possibility, but I'd expect it's VERY unlikely.

[Pat M.]

Re: 1995 ECM Remanufactured Label

Interesting. Here's my original from my 96 LT4:

[Clem Z.]

Re: 1995 ECM Remanufactured Label

did GM have TSB on this ECM ?? if so that would be how there would be remans out there.

[Michael L.]

Re: 1995 ECM Remanufactured Label

Hi All
Very interesting three different 1995 Pace Cars all have remanufactured
ECM Maybe it is something to do with these cars

[Joe L.]

Re: 1995 ECM Remanufactured Label

did GM have TSB on this ECM ?? if so that would be how there would be remans out there.

clem------



Yes, that would explain it. They might have been replaced as part of a "campaign" and the original owners might not even be aware of it unless the have carefully reviewed every service receipt.

[Pat F.]

Re: 1995 ECM Remanufactured Label

Gentlemen, thank you all for your input. To Joe, yes the numbers on the remanufactured and original labels are the same for the LT1 - 16181333.
I had resolved myself that somewhere in its life (26,000 miles) that my original ECM had been changed. However, both of the prior owners, stated that the ECM was never changed during their ownership. I then was able to obtain all warranty work done on my Corvette through the GM system and no record exists of a replacement. My Corvette was built on August 4, 1994, about the fourth day of production (233). Here is where it gets cloudy on any part being changed. It did not leave Bowling Green until September 1, 1994, when it was ordered by a Dealership in Maryland. I have all the documents showing this. Then it sat at the Dealership until January 1, 1996 (16 Months) until the first owner purchased it. I have the original Odometer Statement-attached. Was the original ECM swapped somewhere along this line? I was content to live with the 40% originality deduction until my conversations with two other owners at Kissimmee who had 1995's with Remanufactured ECM Labels. Both owners stated that the ECM was original. Could the three of us be victims some mysterious switching of ECM's?

[Joe L.]

Re: 1995 ECM Remanufactured Label

Gentlemen, thank you all for your input. To Joe, yes the numbers on the remanufactured and original labels are the same for the LT1 - 16181333.
I had resolved myself that somewhere in its life (26,000 miles) that my original ECM had been changed. However, both of the prior owners, stated that the ECM was never changed during their ownership. I then was able to obtain all warranty work done on my Corvette through the GM system and no record exists of a replacement. My Corvette was built on August 4, 1994, about the fourth day of production (233). Here is where it gets cloudy on any part being changed. It did not leave Bowling Green until September 1, 1994, when it was ordered by a Dealership in Maryland. I have all the documents showing this. Then it sat at the Dealership until January 1, 1996 (16 Months) until the first owner purchased it. I have the original Odometer Statement-attached. Was the original ECM swapped somewhere along this line? I was content to live with the 40% originality deduction until my conversations with two other owners at Kissimmee who had 1995's with Remanufactured ECM Labels. Both owners stated that the ECM was original. Could the three of us be victims some mysterious switching of ECM's?

Charlie----


As clem suggested, the most likely cause for the ECM's on all 3 cars being changed (assuming they were changed) would be a recall requiring it. In the case of your car, given the long period of time that the car was at Bowling Green and, then, in dealer inventory, it could well be that the recall was effected prior to the original owner taking delivery. However, if that had occurred, it should still be shown in the service records you've obtained. The completion of a recall "campaign" is always entered into the car's electronic service records.

Does the label seen on the other cars without the word "remanufactured" appear like the one that Pat pictured of his 96. In other words, does it say SERV: xxxxxxxx and no other part numbers?

I believe there are times that BOTH the PRODUCTION and SERVICE part number appear on the label of the factory installed unit. However, at some point I think the PRODUCTION part number was eliminated and does not appear on the PCM but, instead, the SERVICE part ONLY number appears. I believe this was done to avoid confusion if a replacement is required. The bottom line here is that if the non-remanufactured PCM label only states SERV:xxxxxxx, that does not indicate that's also the PRODUCTION part number.

An example of a case when an ECM label contains BOTH PRODUCTION and SERVICE part numbers is shown below. This is the original ECM installed in my 1992 LT1. Note that the SERVICE part number is shown as 16159278 which is, in fact, the original SERVICE part number for this controller. Also note down below the number 16173861. This is the PRODUCTION part number.

[Terry M.]

Re: 1995 ECM Remanufactured Label

It would be helpful to know the serial number or build dates of all three Corvettes. If they were all early cars -- not likely given normal distribution, but who knows? -- the cars could have been held at Bowling green for an ECM change. If the unit was changed at BG there would be no record of it in VIS, and no TSB.

[Ken A.]

Re: 1995 ECM Remanufactured Label

Charlie----



Does the label seen on the other cars without the word "remanufactured" appear like the one that Pat pictured of his 96. In other words, does it say SERV: xxxxxxxx and no other part numbers?

I believe there are times that BOTH the PRODUCTION and SERVICE part number appear on the label of the factory installed unit. However, at some point I think the PRODUCTION part number was eliminated and does not appear on the PCM but, instead, the SERVICE part ONLY number appears. I believe this was done to avoid confusion if a replacement is required. The bottom line here is that if the non-remanufactured PCM label only states SERV:xxxxxxx, that does not indicate that's also the PRODUCTION part number.

An example of a case when an ECM label contains BOTH PRODUCTION and SERVICE part numbers is shown below. This is the original ECM installed in my 1992 LT1. Note that the SERVICE part number is shown as 16159278 which is, in fact, the original SERVICE part number for this controller. Also note down below the number 16173861. This is the PRODUCTION part number.

This is correct but there were no service recalls for 96 ECM's or any other year.
All ECM software is continiously updated for 5 years from production date to "improve driveibility issues" learned from the dealer network and customer "field" issues. No dealer will "reflash" your ECM without charging you-unless you had a specific driveibility complaint and most of them don't have a clue as to what to do. In addition, ECM's are like any other computer and files corrupt and reprogramming is neccessary, kinda like a "tuneup" for Windows. In 2008 at Funfest we had a Delphi rep with us offering reflashing for ECM's. Every car out of 20 checked had updates that took from 5 to 30 minutes to upload (A 2006 had 20 changes). Changes include speedometer correction, idle relearn, WOT operation, etc. There are many other issues on computer cars' operation that will be learned over time, such as the FACT that an EPROM was never designed to last over 10 years. We are finding that Corvette owners are slow to understand these concerns versus the "kids" out there. Maybe it's because we all are getting a little old (self included) and long for carbs & distributors. But, nowdays you can tune up a car without getting your hands dirty.