2000 Saturn SL2 Saturn or Viper Secrity Issue?

YOBERT

MEMBER
2000 SATURN SL2
4 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
115,000 MILES

I am trying to figure out if my disabled car has a Viper issue or a Suturn issue.

I recently tried to get my daughter back on wheels after a wreck. Totalled her 2002 Saturn SL2. It took the entire drive train out, wiring, computer, everything and put it in a 2000 SL2 that had a blown motor. The totalled 2002 had a Viper system on it when we bought it used. Left that system on the totalled car.

The pieced together car (00 body, 02 drive train)is obviously disabled (starts, dies, no fuel repeat.) So I took the PCM/computer off the blown '00 motor and put it on the '02 motor. Starts & runs fine but... The 02 motor has a smog pump that I presume the '00 computer won't "see" and the shift points seem a little off compared to how the engine used to run/shift.

I'd like to put the '02 computer on the '02 motor in the '00 car. Is there lingering viper code on the '02 computer, or is this a Suturn thing where the '00 key is looking fishy to the '02 computer? Swithch the ignition from the '02 to the '00?

Thanks for any help. Keeping teens in cars and me in my budget is a challenge.

5 Replies

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,869 POSTS

First of all thank u so much for ur donation it really helps to keep this site going and so we can answer everyones questions. Ok u swaped a 2002 sl2 engine the harness and transmission into a 2000 sl2 car and it wont start hope I got that right lol. It starts with the 2000 sl2 computer but not the 2002 sl2 computer. All the saturn s models 2000 thru 2002 there last yr made have a passlock sensor thats built into the ignition housing not the switch. Also u have a body control module. If u change the ignition housing engine computer or body control module u have to perform a passlock relearn. Thats why I think ur 2000 computer works but ur 2002 doesnt because u changed that in the system and u will have to learn the passlock with the 2002 computer. Dont hold me to this though I always recomend using the same yr and model engine so u dont run into this problem. Iam not sure if the 2002 engine computer works with the 2000 body control module. But lets give it a try put ur 2002 back in and lets try learning the passlock. Make sure ur battery is fully charged up. Put ur ebrake on so it will turn ur day time running lights off. Also make sure ur headlights blower fan and all that are off too. Now turn ur key to the start postion for a couple of seconds then let it go back to the run postion dont turn to acc or off.U will see the security light ethier flashing or staying on solid if its on solid then wait till it turns off. If its flashing then wait till it turns solid or turns off. It will be about 10 mins between each light change of state. After it changes like I said then turn the ignition to the off postion but not before or u will have to start over. Then wait 30 seconds then do it again u will have to do this 3 times after the 3rd cycle is done when u go to turn it to the start postion for the fourth time it should start. Let me know if it starts.

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Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 AT 2:23 PM

YOBERT

MEMBER
4 POSTS

Louie,

Thanks for this help. Are you pretty comfortable that if I try this that it will either work or not and if not I just put the '00 ECM back on the '02 engine? I'd hate for it to not re-learn the the '02 ECM and NOT remember the '00 ECM. Don't want to burn my bridge here.... The car runs pretty good now, but not perfect. Want to make sure I can get back to "pretty good".

Thanks again.
Chris

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Thursday, March 11th, 2010 AT 6:38 AM

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,869 POSTS

Ok I did some research and the body control module is the same between the 2000 and 2002 also the ignition housing/passlock sensor should be the same as well.U also said u changed the engine harness whuch should include the engine computer harness as well.I would really give that relearn a try with 2002 computer if the body controler and passlock is the same I dont see why it shouldnt work. Let me know how it goes.

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Thursday, March 11th, 2010 AT 12:33 PM

YOBERT

MEMBER
4 POSTS

Louie,

My blood pressure was a little high after staring at that security light for 3-10 minutes cycles. With a little trepidation, I turned the key for the magical 4th cycle and it fired right up. Thanks so much for your help. The PassLock system is all happy. Car starts and runs perfect.

Chris

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Saturday, March 13th, 2010 AT 10:08 AM

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,869 POSTS

Glad to hear u got it started I figured it would work since everything was the same with the passlock sensor and the body control module. Thanks again for the donation and feel free to post any questions u might have in the future.