Is Your GM Truck or Van Suddenly Unreliable?
If you’re driving a late 90s or early 2000s GM vehicle like a Chevy Express, Silverado, or GMC Sierra, you know it’s a workhorse. But when it starts acting up with bizarre, random issues, it can be incredibly frustrating. Maybe it’s a check engine light that won’t go away, the transmission is shifting hard, or worse, it sometimes refuses to start at all. These aren’t just minor annoyances; they’re signs that the brain of your vehicleโthe Powertrain Control Module (PCM)โcould be failing.
Over my 20+ years in the shop, I’ve seen how a faulty PCM can send mechanics and owners on a wild goose chase, replacing perfectly good sensors and parts. The PCM is the central command center, interpreting data from dozens of sensors to manage everything from fuel injection and spark timing to transmission shift points and emissions controls. When it starts to fail, the symptoms can be all over the map.
“A customer’s 2001 Express 3500 came in last week with these exact symptoms…”
A local contractor brought in his 2001 Express 3500 work van. It was his livelihood, and it was becoming a nightmare. Some days it would run fine, others it would crank but not start. When it did run, the transmission would slam into gear, and he had a persistent P0300 (Random Misfire) code that he’d already spent hundreds trying to fix by replacing plugs, wires, and the coil pack. After checking the fuel pressure and finding no vacuum leaks, my diagnostic scanner kept losing communication with the PCM. That was the dead giveaway. After two decades of heat cycles and vibrations in the engine bay, the internal circuits of the original module were failing intermittently. We installed one of our pre-programmed units, performed the security relearn, and the van was back on the road, running smoother than it had in years. The ghost in the machine was gone.
Common Symptoms of a Failing GM PCM
If your vehicle is on the compatibility list, watch out for these classic signs of a bad PCM. You might be experiencing one or several of them:
- โ Check Engine Light is on with communication-related codes (U-codes) or various sensor codes.
- โ The engine cranks but refuses to start for no apparent reason.
- โ Harsh or erratic automatic transmission shifting.
- โ A noticeable drop in fuel economy.
- โ The engine stalls, stumbles, or misfires intermittently.
- โ Your diagnostic scan tool cannot communicate with the PCM.
The Direct, No-Hassle Solution
This isn’t a generic, one-size-fits-all part. This is a direct-fit replacement Powertrain Control Module for your specific vehicle. The biggest hurdle with replacing a PCM has always been the expensive programming required at a dealership. We eliminate that step entirely.
How it Works:
- โ You purchase this module.
- โ You provide us with your vehicle’s 17-digit VIN during or after checkout.
- โ Our technicians use your VIN to program the module with the latest, most stable software updates directly from GM.
- โ We ship you a module that is 100% plug-and-play. It arrives ready for installation.
This process ensures that the module communicates perfectly with your engine, transmission, anti-lock brakes, and security system (passlock/passkey) from the moment you install it. In most cases, a simple security relearn procedure (which you can do yourself in 15-30 minutes) is all that’s needed to get your vehicle running again.
Guaranteed Compatibility
This module is the correct replacement for units with the following part numbers. Please verify the number on your existing module to ensure a perfect match.
- โ Service Numbers: 16263494, 16265035, 8162634940
- โ Hollander Part Number: 218-11787 or 21811787
Don’t let a failing computer sideline your reliable GM truck or van. This is the straightforward, professional-grade solution to restore its performance and get you back on the road with confidence. Order today and provide your VIN to get the process started.