Throughout my planning of my manual swap the one question I never had a definite answer on was swapping the PCM from automatic to the manual one I bought for my 3rd gen. I was first told that you needed the BCM from the car the manual PCM was coming from and then I was told the BCM isn't necessary but it needs to be flashed by the dealer but the dealer won't do it. I was then led to an answer that said yes it is possible and there is a relearn procedure but what it is no one was positive on.
But here I am telling you that if you are swapping your PCM on your 3rd gen (the S-series with the PCM behind the battery under the hood) that it will work and I have the procedure to do it.
Now granted you have to have the right PCM for the job. You just can't get go and get any manual PCM, it has to be for the correct engine (SOHC or DOHC) and should have the same options of your car if you don't want to go to the dealer and say, "Hey can you flash this PCM for this this and this?" and want to be charged an hours labor. Evidence shows otherwise that all 3rd gen PCMs are programmed for all options. Simply by doing a relearn procedure allows the options to work on your car.*
Now before I go over the procedure I'll tell you what my scenario was. I had an automatic DOHC with cruise that I installed and had flashed by the dealer. I have no ABS or traction control and no power anything. I also have the California emissions on my 2000 which wasn't mandated ('01-'02 had it mandatory). I got the manual PCM from a 2002 SC2 with the correct options (yes it will work in your SL2).
Now the procedure:
Only for auto to manual swap projects:
*Preliminary notes: You will notice that when you go to put the new PCM into the harness it will not mate properly because the tabs do not line up. Not a big deal. The two tabs that are closer to the passenger side on the harness are not going to line up with the PCM which has the tabs offset. All you need to do to mate the two connectors is to shave off the tabs on the harness. Just be careful not to hit anything else. Then connect the PCM and harness and tighten the screw down. Now your ready.*
NOTE: DO NOT REMOVE THE KEY DURING THIS AT ALL, or you will have to start the procedure over from the beginning.
1) Press the clutch pedal in like your going to start the car (if you did this during the swap)
2) Put the key in the ignition and turn it to CRANK
3) The car will try to start and then die
4) Leave the key in the RUN position as if the car started
5) You will notice on your dash that the "SECURITY" light is now on
6) Now wait approx. 10 minutes until the SECURITY light goes out (you wait on the light not the time)
7) When the light goes out turn the key from RUN to the OFF position (keep the key in the ignition) for 5 seconds
Repeat steps 1-7 two more times for a total of 3 cycles (30 minutes).
9) When you completed the third cycle you should have the key in the OFF position (per step 7)
NOTE: On the next ignition cycle the car will actually learn the passcode from the BCM
10) Push the clutch pedal in and now really start the car and it should start right up and run
That's all there is to it. A half hour and you're new PCM will be running your car.
I wrote this up so everyone that can't figure this out or doesn't know the answer to whether it is possible now knows for sure that this is possible and does work.
Key words for search: 3rd gen PCM swap automatic manual relearn procedure FOB
*Updated: 12/14/2009
But here I am telling you that if you are swapping your PCM on your 3rd gen (the S-series with the PCM behind the battery under the hood) that it will work and I have the procedure to do it.
Now granted you have to have the right PCM for the job. You just can't get go and get any manual PCM, it has to be for the correct engine (SOHC or DOHC) and should have the same options of your car if you don't want to go to the dealer and say, "Hey can you flash this PCM for this this and this?" and want to be charged an hours labor. Evidence shows otherwise that all 3rd gen PCMs are programmed for all options. Simply by doing a relearn procedure allows the options to work on your car.*
Now before I go over the procedure I'll tell you what my scenario was. I had an automatic DOHC with cruise that I installed and had flashed by the dealer. I have no ABS or traction control and no power anything. I also have the California emissions on my 2000 which wasn't mandated ('01-'02 had it mandatory). I got the manual PCM from a 2002 SC2 with the correct options (yes it will work in your SL2).
Now the procedure:
Only for auto to manual swap projects:
*Preliminary notes: You will notice that when you go to put the new PCM into the harness it will not mate properly because the tabs do not line up. Not a big deal. The two tabs that are closer to the passenger side on the harness are not going to line up with the PCM which has the tabs offset. All you need to do to mate the two connectors is to shave off the tabs on the harness. Just be careful not to hit anything else. Then connect the PCM and harness and tighten the screw down. Now your ready.*
NOTE: DO NOT REMOVE THE KEY DURING THIS AT ALL, or you will have to start the procedure over from the beginning.
1) Press the clutch pedal in like your going to start the car (if you did this during the swap)
2) Put the key in the ignition and turn it to CRANK
3) The car will try to start and then die
4) Leave the key in the RUN position as if the car started
5) You will notice on your dash that the "SECURITY" light is now on
6) Now wait approx. 10 minutes until the SECURITY light goes out (you wait on the light not the time)
7) When the light goes out turn the key from RUN to the OFF position (keep the key in the ignition) for 5 seconds

9) When you completed the third cycle you should have the key in the OFF position (per step 7)
NOTE: On the next ignition cycle the car will actually learn the passcode from the BCM
10) Push the clutch pedal in and now really start the car and it should start right up and run
That's all there is to it. A half hour and you're new PCM will be running your car.
I wrote this up so everyone that can't figure this out or doesn't know the answer to whether it is possible now knows for sure that this is possible and does work.
Key words for search: 3rd gen PCM swap automatic manual relearn procedure FOB
*Updated: 12/14/2009
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