how to remove PCM? location?

prosonoma · 11-04-2009, 10:40 AM

I need to know how to remove my PCM and or where it is located. is it the brain box under the hood or is it located behind a kick panel or something?

I have a random/multiple cylinder misfire and have changed the coil, plugs, wires, map sensor, TPS and throttle body. only other thing it could be is the CPU or distributer.

any help is greatly appreciated.
thanks in advance

ls1s10onair · 11-04-2009, 10:47 AM

well, it really doesnt help that i have no idea what year ur truck is...... if its a 96+ its on top of the coolant tank

Lifted97s-10 · 11-04-2009, 12:27 PM

lol its the black rectangular box with a bunch of wires going into it. To get it out you have to just undo a couple of bolts, flip it PCM and it there will be a tab that holds it in. Once you get it outta the holder just unclip those blue clips that hold the wires in and you'll have your PCM

tippmann243 · 11-04-2009, 05:27 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by prosonoma

I need to know how to remove my PCM and or where it is located. is it the brain box under the hood or is it located behind a kick panel or something?

I have a random/multiple cylinder misfire and have changed the coil, plugs, wires, map sensor, TPS and throttle body. only other thing it could be is the CPU or distributer.

any help is greatly appreciated.
thanks in advance

it could be a few other things besides the computer or dist.

gchemist · 11-04-2009, 05:34 PM

I would start betting on clogged poppets. An updated FI spider solves so many problems. I love my upgrade.

CatDaddy52 · 11-04-2009, 06:38 PM

Agree!! Rarely is it the PCM.

SpiderDallas · 11-04-2009, 07:48 PM

Just to butt in here. Are you talking about the one with the metal poppet ends instead of the plasic ones? I just was wondering because you said F1. PM me with the answer please.

prosonoma · 11-05-2009, 12:42 PM

well i replaced the PCM, spider, map sensor, TPS, plugs and wires, cleaned the cap and rotor which were in good shape and the coil. still the random multiple cylinder misfire.

anyone have any ideas?

MeltingPlastic · 11-05-2009, 12:43 PM

head gasket shot? warped head?

prosonoma · 11-05-2009, 01:41 PM

i loosened the dizzy cap and turned it while running and it cleared up but you can only screw the cam down in one position. can you adjust the timing by turning the distributer and listening to it? or do I need to replace the gear? I think the rotor moves from side to side a little too.

CatDaddy52 · 11-05-2009, 03:14 PM

Get a NEW cap & rotor....cleaning them will not fix the problem.

prosonoma · 11-05-2009, 08:57 PM

new cap and rotor...same #@(*ing problem as before. I have spent 3 of my 4 days off running to get parts and changing them and i am no better off than when I started. someone said the EGR valve. will that cause this problem?

and is there any way to set the timing on one of these because it sound like timing but you can't turn the dizzy to adjust it. from what I can tell, it only goes in 2 ways either correct or 180 out.

01cherryreds10 · 11-06-2009, 02:00 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by prosonoma

i loosened the dizzy cap and turned it while running and it cleared up but you can only screw the cam down in one position. can you adjust the timing by turning the distributer and listening to it? or do I need to replace the gear? I think the rotor moves from side to side a little too.

No. You cannot adjust timing on these types of distributors WITH THE EXCEPTION OF C/K trucks that had the 5.0 or 5.7, in which you can adjust cam retard offset. That's a whole other topic. Have you done a compression test? IMO it would have been wiser to do some simple tests before throwing parts at it.

gchemist · 11-06-2009, 02:26 PM

The gear on the distributor is probably shot. Timing chain could be a problem too. How many miles on the truck?

11-04-2009, 10:40 AM	#1
prosonoma Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 116 Location: User is: OffLine	how to remove PCM? location? I need to know how to remove my PCM and or where it is located. is it the brain box under the hood or is it located behind a kick panel or something? I have a random/multiple cylinder misfire and have changed the coil, plugs, wires, map sensor, TPS and throttle body. only other thing it could be is the CPU or distributer. any help is greatly appreciated. thanks in advance
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-04-2009, 10:47 AM	#2
ls1s10onair Local Tech Age: 26 Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 3,242 Location: westwood, nj User is: OffLine	Re: how to remove PCM? location? well, it really doesnt help that i have no idea what year ur truck is...... if its a 96+ its on top of the coolant tank
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-04-2009, 12:27 PM	#3
Lifted97s-10 Registered User Age: 19 Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 785 Location: Stow User is: OffLine	Re: how to remove PCM? location? lol its the black rectangular box with a bunch of wires going into it. To get it out you have to just undo a couple of bolts, flip it PCM and it there will be a tab that holds it in. Once you get it outta the holder just unclip those blue clips that hold the wires in and you'll have your PCM
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-04-2009, 05:27 PM	#4
tippmann243 the youngest has been Age: 22 Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 3,200 Location: FLORISSANT MO User is: OffLine	Re: how to remove PCM? location? Quote: Originally Posted by prosonoma I need to know how to remove my PCM and or where it is located. is it the brain box under the hood or is it located behind a kick panel or something? I have a random/multiple cylinder misfire and have changed the coil, plugs, wires, map sensor, TPS and throttle body. only other thing it could be is the CPU or distributer. any help is greatly appreciated. thanks in advance it could be a few other things besides the computer or dist.
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-04-2009, 05:34 PM	#5
gchemist Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 356 Location: Austin User is: OffLine	Re: how to remove PCM? location? I would start betting on clogged poppets. An updated FI spider solves so many problems. I love my upgrade.
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-04-2009, 06:38 PM	#6
CatDaddy52 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 762 Location: Rochester Hizzle, MI User is: OffLine	Re: how to remove PCM? location? Agree!! Rarely is it the PCM.
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-04-2009, 07:48 PM	#7
SpiderDallas Registered User Age: 27 Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 146 Location: Dallas,TX User is: OffLine	Re: how to remove PCM? location? Just to butt in here. Are you talking about the one with the metal poppet ends instead of the plasic ones? I just was wondering because you said F1. PM me with the answer please.
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-05-2009, 12:42 PM	#8
prosonoma Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 116 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: how to remove PCM? location? well i replaced the PCM, spider, map sensor, TPS, plugs and wires, cleaned the cap and rotor which were in good shape and the coil. still the random multiple cylinder misfire. anyone have any ideas?
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-05-2009, 12:43 PM	#9
MeltingPlastic Broken Handed Superman Age: 24 Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 5,267 Location: Hackensack, NJ User is: OffLine	Re: how to remove PCM? location? head gasket shot? warped head?
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-05-2009, 01:41 PM	#10
prosonoma Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 116 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: how to remove PCM? location? i loosened the dizzy cap and turned it while running and it cleared up but you can only screw the cam down in one position. can you adjust the timing by turning the distributer and listening to it? or do I need to replace the gear? I think the rotor moves from side to side a little too.
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-05-2009, 03:14 PM	#11
CatDaddy52 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 762 Location: Rochester Hizzle, MI User is: OffLine	Re: how to remove PCM? location? Get a NEW cap & rotor....cleaning them will not fix the problem.
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-05-2009, 08:57 PM	#12
prosonoma Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 116 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: how to remove PCM? location? new cap and rotor...same #@(*ing problem as before. I have spent 3 of my 4 days off running to get parts and changing them and i am no better off than when I started. someone said the EGR valve. will that cause this problem? and is there any way to set the timing on one of these because it sound like timing but you can't turn the dizzy to adjust it. from what I can tell, it only goes in 2 ways either correct or 180 out.
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-06-2009, 02:00 AM	#13
01cherryreds10 Former S10 enthusiast Age: 19 Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 5,637 Location: Illinois User is: OffLine	Re: how to remove PCM? location? Quote: Originally Posted by prosonoma i loosened the dizzy cap and turned it while running and it cleared up but you can only screw the cam down in one position. can you adjust the timing by turning the distributer and listening to it? or do I need to replace the gear? I think the rotor moves from side to side a little too. No. You cannot adjust timing on these types of distributors WITH THE EXCEPTION OF C/K trucks that had the 5.0 or 5.7, in which you can adjust cam retard offset. That's a whole other topic. Have you done a compression test? IMO it would have been wiser to do some simple tests before throwing parts at it.
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-06-2009, 02:26 PM	#14
gchemist Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 356 Location: Austin User is: OffLine	Re: how to remove PCM? location? The gear on the distributor is probably shot. Timing chain could be a problem too. How many miles on the truck?
	[Reply w/Quote]