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[moerome]

Sorry for the long read folks, but this has been one weird (and interesting) journey on this issue.

The ECM (brain box) has gone out on my '99 Cat. The dealship wants 400.00USD (+) for a new one and another $300.00USD (+) to program and install. All in all, I'm looking at $740.00USD and some change.

I've been checking around and found one out on ebay for $100.00USD!!! Albeit used, but in good condition after speaking with the vendor.

However, my dilemma is that the part #'s this vendor lists does not match up with the ECM part # in my Cat. After some indepth research, I found that my ECM is from Saturn !?!?!?!?!?! Did some more digging, and was briefed by one parts dealer/mechanic that ECMs for '97 - '99 Cats are pretty much the same, and I shouldn't have a problem since Saturn is GM made (or visa versa, I forget).

I know if I go the route of the $100.00 ECM deal, I'll probably get jacked on the programming by the dealership.

Anyone out there, please advise. I need to make a decision post haste. Thx.

The journey continues..............................

After posting this on the Cadillac forum, I received a response that the ECU and emissions was under warranty for 8 years.  After checking on the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), it's 8 years or 80,000 miles.  My '99 Catera has 110,000 miles.  Oh well, it would have been a nice try.

While delving further into this issue, and talking with several parts departments at dealerships, here's what I found..........................................

The part # on my ECM is 9153242. Okay, while chasing this number down, I found out it's an ECM made by Saturn. The only mystery is which Saturn vehicle, I have the foggiest (neither does anyone else). Anyhow, I priced them retail & wholesale and got a range of $450.78 to $337.72 USD, depending on who you go with. Plus, I still have to get the software installed and programmed for my Cat (from what I was told, $262.00 USD).

The Ebayer with the $100.00 ECM referred to part #'s 9119538, 9152342, & 90566574. I contacted the ebayer, and they have Hollander indexing their part #s. So, it doesn't necessarily mean that their ECM would indeed fit my '99 Cat.

Spoke with a parts guy at a dealership I used to do business with in Minnesota, and after some querying, we both learned that my part #
9153242 superceded the part # 9119538. He surmised that when GM switch parts vendors, they have a propensity of changing part #s. Never heard of this, but I wouldn't put it past GM to do such a thing.

Back to the ebayer's listing. I noticed that my part # 9153242 and their listed part # 9152342 have the middle numbers switched (see bolded numbers).

This is becoming a real kick in the head. But, when strapped for cash (just paid the mortgage), this research is making me more educated (and more confident of working on this Cat myself).

[DaveL]

Keep going fella, you will win in the end.
 8-)
DaveL

[theolodian]

Similar part numbers are still DIFFERENT part numbers.  In order to be sure that it will work, you need the same part number.  OBD2 law in the US states that any repair shop must be able to replace emissions equipment, including the ECU, but in reality this is usually not the case and only the dealer can do this.

If you get the ECU from a breakers, along with the other immobiliser bits whatever those are, then you shouldn't need to get it programmed to the car.  However, you may end up with an odometer with a different reading.  I don't know what the other immobiliser bits are on these cars.

[Andy B]

.....
The ECM (brain box) has gone out on my '99 Cat.......  

Why do you say that your ECM/ECU is dead? Dealers here often condem perfectly servicable 'brains' .

[moerome]

.....
The ECM (brain box) has gone out on my '99 Cat.......  

Why do you say that your ECM/ECU is dead? Dealers here often condem perfectly servicable 'brains' .

Even though the dealer diagnosed it as such, I checked with a couple of buddies who have their own garages (out of state from my location), and they asked me whether or not the keyless remote was working and a couple of other inquiries.  They were both in agreement (I spoke to each separately) that the 'brain box' may be dead.

Now to some late breaking developments.................................................I found out that my ECM is the same exact ECM that is in the Saturn L300 sedan.  It also has a 3.0V6 power plant in it.  I confirmed the OEM part #, and the ECM is one in the same as mine.  Had a nice long conversation with a tech who works for a company that specializes in ECM R&R.  When I explained to him my situation, he told me that if I can find a vehicle that had the SAME OEM part # for an ECM, I can indeed have it reflashed for my vehicle.  During the reflash, the firmware with my vehicle info will indeed overwrite the firmware currently on it.  He was a bit thrown off when I gave him the part # to my ECM and it kept popping up with the Saturn vehicle.

So, and a little more of hunting and pecking around, I found a breaker yard about 800km from here that has a ECM off a Saturn L300 for $50 USD.  After verifying the OEM part # with them, I'm having it shipped.  All I need to do now once I get it is have the dealership reflash it for me.  I'm anticipating getting into a pi$$ing contest with the dealership of the reflash price.  Checking around the country at other dealerships, a reflash usually takes no more than 30 minutes with a price of $75.00USD on average.  A far cry from $262.00USD this dealship quoted me.

I also confirmed and found out from a GM Parts guy that GM has a tendency of installing the same parts in different vehicles.

In the end, I plan to go ahead and have this ECM that's coming installed, keep my old one and send it off at a later date for R&R.  That way I'll have a spare ready to go if this issue pops up again.  We shall see once I get the part.