<Solved> Bricking P-01s with PCMhammer and Unable to Recover

They go by many names, P01, P10, P12, P59, E38, VPW, '0411 etc.
V8fan
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Re: Bricking P-01s with PCMhammer and Unable to Recover

Post by V8fan »

antus wrote: Mon Apr 07, 2025 4:56 pm because they are easier to find for newbies
Yes it is -I just bought obdlink sx at aliexpress offstore and it was supereasy for me as non goldenbillionsitizen
Now I wanna buy PCB from opensource project to build home flowbench (also AU guys ) but I cant cuz Im guilty to born and live in the wrong country
It is as it is
So thank you to support SX "shitty" cable ) At least somehow it works
hotrod6657
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Re: Bricking P-01s with PCMhammer and Unable to Recover

Post by hotrod6657 »

I suspect my primary issue was using that cable with the poor power supply to try and make changes... I feel like that has gotten me into a hole that I can't get out of with my SX for whatever reason. It will be interesting when my obdx gets here to see if I can recover...
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Re: Bricking P-01s with PCMhammer and Unable to Recover

Post by Phoenix »

hotrod6657 wrote: Mon Apr 07, 2025 8:55 am
Phoenix wrote: Mon Apr 07, 2025 4:25 am I use the older version of that and it has been rock solid.
So I've seen this called out a few places too and I'm wondering if QA or some other change with the SX cable has made them less reliable than the older ones... There is still the very real chance that something unexpected in my setup is messing stuff up but I'm struggling to figure out what it would be.
I meant that I'm using the older OBDX model.
hotrod6657
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Re: Bricking P-01s with PCMhammer and Unable to Recover

Post by hotrod6657 »

Phoenix wrote: Tue Apr 08, 2025 3:23 pm
I meant that I'm using the older OBDX model.
Ah, well that's even better! Looking forward to seeing how it works out.
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Re: Bricking P-01s with PCMhammer and Unable to Recover

Post by hotrod6657 »

Order is placed, on the 7th actually but I'm just now seeing that the US warehouse shows backorder so not sure when I'll actually get it, I was hoping it would be quick. Going to move forward with other things needed for this project in the meantime and I'll report back when I have the new tool and can try those computers again.

EDIT: Got notice today that it's shipping. That's faster than I was afraid it would be!
hotrod6657
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Re: Bricking P-01s with PCMhammer and Unable to Recover

Post by hotrod6657 »

Okay, so the new reader arrived this evening. Broke out the computers that I'd bricked.

The first one, the original from my engine, might be a lost cause. It still won't unlock and accept the write and gets a VIN timeout when I try and read... It's the one that failed during the clone write and I've never been able to get it into recovery mode even. The donor vehicle it's from had suffered a rollover and I may have dropped it on the floor at one point while trying to get the cover off to try the pin shorting trick... I'm blaming me mostly for that one I think. I might keep messing with it later or keep it for a core deposit for the local u-pull-it next time we go so I have a spare to "play" with.

The other computer however is working!!! I've been able to restore the file that I originally downloaded from it and everything looks normal with that one. I've been able to read entire multiple times, and saved those files as well.

Bottom line, for me at least, the version of the OBDlink SX cable that I recently bought on Amazon just flat doesn't appear to work with this... I'm sure my issue was multi-fold, between the weak power and the slow unreliable cable I had a lot of things working against me...

Anyway, I think I'm to the point where I can try and actually make the modifications that are needed to that computer for my application.

I obviously need to remove VATS, I'd like to remove the codes for the EVAP and EGR systems since we're not using them, as well as the downstream O2 sensors. The only other major change I need is to get a 4L80e segment swapped to this 5.3L file since that's the transmission we're using... That or swap the 5.3L into a 6.0L/4l80e file... Is there anything I need to turn off to tell it that it's not a 4x4 anymore?

I'm a little hesitant to try writing after the rollercoaster I've been on but if I'm just doing the above, and not attempting to change the OS, would I be writing parameters only with PCMhammer? I can start another thread but is it possible to modify my .bin and upload it for some folks to give it a quick once over for peace of mind? Just looking to be as prepared as possible before I risk screwing something up again.

Anyway, what a ride and I cannot thank the folks here enough for the help and willingness to offer their assistance! This has been an awesome resource and I'm happy to have landed here.

Cheers!
hotrod6657
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Re: Bricking P-01s with PCMhammer and Unable to Recover

Post by hotrod6657 »

One side question, when I setup the new device, the OBDX pro, in pcmhammer I don't get anything under device type if I select the J2534 device radio button. I do find the devices under serial port device, is this just the difference between USB and BT as the interface or did I miss something in the setup? Like I said, it worked flawlessly getting the computer reflashed but I was just curious about this. It might just be that I'm not familiar with the nomenclature for these devices.

EDIT: For clarification, I've been using the OBDX pro via UBS on my laptop, have not tried BT.
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Re: Bricking P-01s with PCMhammer and Unable to Recover

Post by antus »

Write calibration changes only. PCM Hammer should be able to recover nearly any scenario on a P01, so long as the boot sector isn't damaged/erased and this risk only exists on a clone write or OS write, and only happens if the PCM dies or something happens while that sector is being processed sector (0-4000)
Have you read the FAQ? For lots of information and links to significant threads see here: http://pcmhacking.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=1396
hotrod6657
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Re: Bricking P-01s with PCMhammer and Unable to Recover

Post by hotrod6657 »

antus wrote: Wed Apr 16, 2025 3:52 pm Write calibration changes only. PCM Hammer should be able to recover nearly any scenario on a P01, so long as the boot sector isn't damaged/erased and this risk only exists on a clone write or OS write, and only happens if the PCM dies or something happens while that sector is being processed sector (0-4000)
Okay, perfect, thank you! The P01 that I can't recover did fail during the clone write as I needed to change OS to one that I could find segment swap files for... Thinking that one might just be toast.
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Re: Bricking P-01s with PCMhammer and Unable to Recover

Post by hotrod6657 »

Got up the nerves and flashed my modified 2088 file to the working PCM. Flawless!

I have the segment swap I need done, I think all of the DTC's turned off that aren't needed anymore, VATS gone, and disabled the EVAP and EGR systems so hopefully it doesn't try to adjust tables when they would be running.

That was done with a combination of TunerPro and Universal Patcher. I couldn't find a way to do the segment swap with TunerPro and I hate that it doesn't define the DTC's... Universal patcher did them just fine but I was having trouble finding things in the hierarchy on the left side so used TunerPro for that.

I'm thinking this thread has run its course, unless anyone has any further tips or tricks on what I can try on the still bricked computer that, lets face it, didn't have a chance with my initial setup. I think there's a $2 core charge for PCM's from the local u pull it... Might be all that one is worth.

This recent success, fwiw, is with the 2.00 preview build. I truly believe the issue was first, my initial power supply, and then second the SX cable that just isn't up to the job.

Once again, thank you so much to everyone who jumped in to help me, I hope if someone else ends up in this situation in the future this thread contains something helpful.

Until the next question, Cheers!

hotrod

EDIT: Added a solved note to the thread title, if that's not something done here I can change it back.
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