Benjamin Owner Tennessee Posted Latest Edited
2012 Chevrolet Sonic LS 1.8L (H LUW) 5-spd (M26)
I was called to a shop yesterday that had installed a used radio in the vehicle. Of course the anti-theft was active and the used radio was locked. I verified the donor radio had the same part number as the original. I programmed the radio using "Remove and Replace" within GM SPS and selected all of the appropriate calibration options. The programming went smoothly and sucessfully completed. However, the radio remains locked. I looked at the module data and confirmed the VIN was still a mismatch. I tried programming it again to no avail. I purchased a short term subscription to GDS2 hoping there was a module setup to write the VIN. There is not. Has anyone ran into this? I suspect there is a coding error on GM's side and I will likely need to call their tech line for a fix. Thank you everyone!
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Timothy Diagnostician
Ontario
Timothy
Cant use used modules on global 2 cars is what I was told from support
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Benjamin Owner
Tennessee
Benjamin
That's what I was wondering. Thank you for your reply.
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Scott Owner/Technician
Ontario
Scott
You can if you do eeprom work ,out of my league at this time .
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Kevin Technician
Manitoba
Kevin
Yes that’s a global A module and you will be lucky if that works because of the vin issue. I have programmed a touch screen radio on a 2013 Chevy TRAX also global A and I can tell you it worked without issue.When it comes to global A vehicles it’s really hit and miss in terms of whether or not that module will accept the programming/vin. If it doesn’t accept it ... you have about 4 options.
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Scott Owner/Technician
Ontario
Scott
Which eeprom tool would you use Kevin ?Merry Christmas to you and your family .
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Kevin Technician
Manitoba
Kevin
There is so many different eeprom readers out there, also the target Information (vin/calibration)may not be in a eeprom, it might be in a micro controller or some other device? Some of the tools I use are orange5, IDpro,Carprog, UPA, Smelecom USA prog, IM600, FGtech, BDM, Ktag, mini pro, Iam sure Iam forgetting one or two. Either way it depends what the target device is and which tool will
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Bob Owner/Technician
Massachusetts
Bob
Only 10 eeprom tools? Man you need to step up your game. 😃
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David Owner/Technician
Minnesota
David
If you know which one is the eeprom are you able to just remove eeprom and solder into used module or is there more to it than that? I have read about people removing the eeprom and reading it, changing the data and reinstalling it. It seems it would be easier to just transfer the eeprom to the other board
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Kevin Technician
Manitoba
Kevin
Hi David There is different methods used and it’s dependant on which is the target device, in the case of it being a Eeprom one could remove it and transfer it to the donor used radio, or one could simply clip onto it and download or read the information then clone it over or write that information to the donor used radio. Some devices can be read “in-circuit“ some require removing the device
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David Owner/Technician
Minnesota
David
On the last gm Supernav radio I did It wouldn’t program the vin either. I called gm and gave them the vin off the used radio I installed and they gave me a vci number and under radio It didnt offer the spot to put in the vci number. They told me to go under instrument cluster and program with the vci number they gave me. It did work. It was kinda odd to program the radio under a different module
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Bob Owner/Technician
Massachusetts
Bob
So did you program the cluster or was there a radio option in the cluster menu?
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Benjamin Owner
Tennessee
Benjamin
It is not uncommon for GM to program modules through a different module using a VCI number. I have programmed a PCM through the ABS module before using a VCI number. When starting the programming process and navigating through the menus you have the option to select “Regular” or “VCI”. Normally you would select “Regular”. Sometimes when things don’t go right the GM techline will give you
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Bob Owner/Technician
Massachusetts
Bob
Sort of like side loading an app in a smart phone?
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David Owner/Technician
Minnesota
David
The gm tech line guy said it’s all on the same network. I’m assuming the vci file that he sent me has something in the program that identifies which module it is for.
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John Owner
New York
John
Benjamin,I have tried programming a used radio on that particular vehicle and same thing. Programming went through and still LOCKED. It is hit or miss with Global A used radio replacements with SPS.I would follow Kevin's advice.
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Benjamin Owner
Tennessee
Benjamin Update
I just wanted to update everyone following this post with where I am at. It is my assumption that when a new radio is installed on this vehicle the BCM writes the VIN on the first key cycle after the new module is installed. The VIN write is not part of the programming process. I can not say with 100% certainty that this is how it works, but it makes sense. I advised my customer that it may be
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Benjamin Owner
Tennessee
Benjamin Resolution
This Sonic is finally done and I got the answer I was looking for to the question, "Why won't the VIN change when programming a used radio." I finally was called back to the shop, and they decided to purchase a new radio. The shop had already installed the new radio when I arrived. As you can see from the first attached picture the new radio says "Calibrate." It did however function and sound…
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Bob Owner/Technician
Massachusetts
Bob
Nice followup, thanks Ben
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