Programing a Body Control Module

[happydog500]

My interior lights where flashing 24 hours a day. I had a mechanic test the system to find it was my BCM. We unhooked it and have been driving around with out any interior lights or door locks, etc....

I called up the dealer and got a quote of $75. When I went to pick it up, he said it was $275 (Quite a bit of a jump if you ask me!!) plus an hour to program.

I can't afford $275 + an hour labor so I'll try to find a used one somewhere. If I get one and have to "program" it, what is involved in programing a BCM? What kind of stuff would I need. I'm guessing I can't do it without expensive electronic stuff, but what is involved in programing a BCM. Thanks,
Chris.

[stuzman]

Originally Posted by happydog500

My interior lights where flashing 24 hours a day. I had a mechanic test the system to find it was my BCM. We unhooked it and have been driving around with out any interior lights or door locks, etc....

I called up the dealer and got a quote of $75. When I went to pick it up, he said it was $275 (Quite a bit of a jump if you ask me!!) plus an hour to program.

I can't afford $275 + an hour labor so I'll try to find a used one somewhere. If I get one and have to "program" it, what is involved in programing a BCM? What kind of stuff would I need. I'm guessing I can't do it without expensive electronic stuff, but what is involved in programing a BCM. Thanks,
Chris.

Chris, I've reflashed the PCM and anti-lock brake module for my own car using a Tech II scanner that I own to the latest calibration files. I never actually had to change a body module, but I'm pretty sure that it requires this scanner or some other dedicated scanner to do the job.

[happydog500]

I can't believe this. In my town we have a (Buick Dealer) called Sangster Motors. People call it "Gangster Motors." One friend got an estimate on his car at $1,500, when another place fixed it for $55.

I went in and asked for the price (Gangster), it was $275 plus labor to program it.

I went to the Chevy Dealer and got a quote of $112. I asked how much to program it and was told a 1997 doesn't need to be programed. I can just plug it in and it should work.

Now I don't know what to do or who to believe. I think a dealer should know what is correct. How can two different dealers be so far off. I would understand if it was just a couple of local shops, but dealers I can't understand. Thanks for replying,
Chris.

P.S. If you or anyone who reads this post, could call up a dealer in your area, ask them for a price on a BCM, for a 1997 LeSabre. And ask if it needs to be programed. Post back and let me know what THEY say. I would like to know witch one is right. Thanks,
Chris.

[stuzman]

Originally Posted by happydog500

I can't believe this. In my town we have a (Buick Dealer) called Sangster Motors. People call it "Gangster Motors." One friend got an estimate on his car at $1,500, when another place fixed it for $55.

I went in and asked for the price (Gangster), it was $275 plus labor to program it.

I went to the Chevy Dealer and got a quote of $112. I asked how much to program it and was told a 1997 doesn't need to be programed. I can just plug it in and it should work.

Now I don't know what to do or who to believe. I think a dealer should know what is correct. How can two different dealers be so far off. I would understand if it was just a couple of local shops, but dealers I can't understand. Thanks for replying,
Chris.

P.S. If you or anyone who reads this post, could call up a dealer in your area, ask them for a price on a BCM, for a 1997 LeSabre. And ask if it needs to be programed. Post back and let me know what THEY say. I would like to know witch one is right. Thanks,
Chris.

Okay Chris, Here's what I found out. I called three different Buick dealerships and the first two dealerships said that it needs reprogramming and the last one said that it doesn't. I then told the service manager (last dealership) that two other dealerships said that it does. He said wait and I'll make sure. He came back later after talking with two different techs and said definitely that it DOES NOT require reprogramming. Both techs told him that BCM reprogramming didn't start until 1999 or 2000. They weren't sure of which year. The price for the BCM was $90 at one place and $115 at another. Didn't get the price at the last dealership. Oh, by the way, the first two dealerships said the programming fee was $78 and $75.

So, as you've already found out, not too much competency out there even with dealerships. The last guy that I spoke with sounded pretty knowledgeable and took the time to speak with two techs. If I was going to say who was right, I would go with the assumption that the module doesn't need a programming.

Maybe others could do a research in their area and see what their results are.

[happydog500]

Originally Posted by stuzman

I called three different Buick dealerships.

Stuzman, Thank you very much for what you did. Makes me wonder about the dealers who say it needs to be programed. If someone gets it done at there place and, they find out it didn't need programing, would they tell you and not charge? Or maybe they would still charge even tho they didn't need to?

Thank you again for helping me. Chris.

[happydog500]

Well, after all this, I find out that the BCM most likely CAN need programing.

Here's what I found. I went to rockauto like suggested on this forum. They list two BCM's for my car. None of the numbers (or Replaces) match the numbers on my BCM. I called and asked. Rockauto said the numbers have to match perfectly or it won't work.

I told him when I go to the dealer, they never ask what one I need, they just quote me a price, there's no choice of what one it needs.

He said that's because they're probably using a clean, generic one for many different cars. They program it to my make, year, model.

So this means the only place I can get a BCM is at the dealer. With the web selling parts cheaper, I have to go to the dealer to get mine.

Why does this happen to me?
Chris.