File in Section:

Service Bulletin

06 - Engine

Bulletin No.:

09-06-04-026N

Date:

February, 2018

INFORMATION
Subject:

Identifying Non-GM (Aftermarket) Engine Calibrations for Gasoline Engines Using
Tech 2® or GDS 2 (U.S. and Canada)

Models:

2005-2006 Chevrolet Corvette – Equipped with any V8 Gasoline Engine
2007-2018 GM Passenger Cars and Light Duty Trucks – Equipped with any V8 Gasoline
Engine
2012-2018 GM Passenger Cars and Light Duty Trucks – Equipped with any HFV6
Gasoline Engine

Attention: Always refer to the GM Service Policy and Procedures Manual for the latest GM Policy
and Procedures Information. This Bulletin also applies to any of the above models that
may be Export from North America vehicles.
This Bulletin has been revised to add the 2018 Model Year, remove all turbocharged 4
cylinder engines, add a Note under Section 6, after step 14 and add step 4.7 under Section
10. Please discard Corporate Bulletin Number 09-06-04-026M.

Table of Contents
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1. Engine, Transmission, Transfer Case, Rear
Axle Components and Catalytic Converter
Failures Due to Non-GM ECM Calibrations
Being Installed
2. Calibration Retrieval and Calibration
Verification Procedure for Service Agents NOT
REQUIRED to Call PQC for Powertrain/
Drivetrain Assembly Replacement
Authorization
3. Calibration Retrieval and Calibration
Verification Procedure for Service Agents
REQUIRED to Call PQC for Powertrain/
Drivetrain Assembly Replacement
Authorization
4. Retrieving Engine Calibration ID and
Verification No. (Number) Information Using
the Tech 2® - This Action is Required for ALL
Service Agents (Model Dependent)
5. Tech 2® Displaying All Zeroes for the
Verification Numbers on the Vehicle
Information - Calibration ID and Verification
No. (Number/CVN) Screen
6. Retrieving Calibration Information From
Global A Vehicles Using GDS 2 - This Action is
Required for ALL Service Agents (Model
Dependent)

Copyright 2018 General Motors LLC. All Rights Reserved.

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7. Creating a .jpg or .jpeg File From a GDS 2
Calibration History Screen Shot Using
Microsoft Paint
8. Calibration Verification Procedure — For
Service Agents NOT REQUIRED to Call PQC
for Powertrain/Drivetrain Assembly
Replacement Authorization — Using the Tech
2® or GDS 2
8. A. Calibration Verification Procedure —
Using the Tech 2®
8. B. Calibration Verification Procedure —
Using GDS 2
9. Calibration Verification Procedure — For
Service Agents REQUIRED to Call PQC for
Powertrain/Drivetrain Assembly Replacement
Authorization — This Procedure MUST be
Performed by the Calibrations Group
10. Procedure for ALL Service Agents for
E-mailing .jpg or .jpeg Files to the Calibration
Group at — [email protected]
11. Calibrations Group - New E-mail Address [email protected]
12. Warranty Information

Page 2

February, 2018

1. Engine, Transmission, Transfer Case,
Rear Axle Components and Catalytic
Converter Failures Due to Non-GM ECM
Calibrations Being Installed
Notice:
• Be advised that GM REQUIRES retrieving the
Calibration Information and performing the
Calibration Verification Procedure as outlined
in this Bulletin, whenever diagnostics
determine a hard part failure may have
occurred on internal engine parts and BEFORE
disassembly, repair or replacement of an
engine assembly under warranty.
• Be advised that GM strongly recommends
retrieving the Calibration Information and
performing the Calibration Verification
Procedure as outlined in this Bulletin,
whenever diagnostics determine a hard part
failure may have occurred on transmission,
transfer case or rear axle components and
before disassembly, repair or replacement of a
transmission, transfer case or rear axle
assembly under warranty. It is also
recommended that the ECM Calibration
Verification Procedure be performed whenever
diagnostics determine that catalytic converter
replacement is necessary.
• It is not a requirement to verify transmission
control module calibrations on gasoline engine
applications.
General Motors is identifying an increasing number of
engine, transmission and catalytic converter part
failures that are the result of non-GM ECM calibrations
being installed.
When alteration to the GM-released ECM calibration
occurs, it subjects powertrain and driveline components
such as engine, transmission, transfer case, driveshaft
and the rear axle to stresses that were not tested by
General Motors. It is because of these unknown
stresses, and the potential to alter reliability, durability
and emissions performance, that GM has adopted a
policy that prevents any UNAUTHORIZED Service
Agent Warranty Transaction submissions to any
remaining warranty coverage, to the powertrain and
driveline components whenever the presence of a
non-GM calibration is confirmed, even if the non-GM
ECM calibration is subsequently removed.
Warranty coverage is based on the equipment and
ECM calibrations that were released on the vehicle at
time of sale, or subsequently updated by GM. That’s
because GM testing and validation matches the
calibration to a host of criteria that is essential to assure
reliability, durability and emissions performance over
the life of the warranty coverage and beyond. Stresses
resulting from calibrations that are different from those
tested and released by GM can damage and/or weaken
components, leading to poor performance and/or
shortened life.
Additionally, non-GM issued ECM modifications often
do not meet the same emissions performance
standards as GM issued calibrations. Depending on
state statutes, individuals who install ECM calibrations

Bulletin No.: 09-06-04-026N

that put the vehicle outside the parameters of
emissions certification standards may be subject to
fines and/or penalties.
This bulletin outlines the Calibration Retrieval and
Calibration Verification Procedures for ALL Service
Agents including Service Agents NOT Required to Call
PQC for Powertrain/Drivetrain Assembly Replacement
Authorization and Service Agents Required to Call
PQC for Powertrain/Drivetrain Assembly Replacement
Authorization, using the Tech 2® or GDS 2 to identify
the presence of non-GM control module calibrations.
If a non-GM calibration is found and verification has
taken place through GM, the remaining powertrain and
driveline warranty may be blocked and notated in
Global Warranty Management (GWM) and the
dealership will be notified. This block prevents any
UNAUTHORIZED warranty claim submission.

2. Calibration Retrieval and Calibration
Verification Procedure for Service
Agents NOT REQUIRED to Call PQC for
Powertrain/Drivetrain Assembly
Replacement Authorization
Notice:
• The Service Agent Service Department
Personnel is NOT REQUIRED TO E-MAIL TAC
the digital Calibration Verification photos from
the Tech 2® screen or GDS 2 screen shot,
UNLESS non-GM calibrations are found.
• The Service Agent Service Department
Personnel is REQUIRED TO RETAIN ALL of the
related documentation showing the Calibration
Information was Retrieved and the Calibration
Verification Procedure was completed, in the
Service Agent Vehicle History Service File.
1. Depending on the vehicle being serviced, the
Service Department Personnel is required to
complete one of the following procedures, either
Step 1.1 or Step 1.2 in order to ensure that there
are not any non-GM ECM calibrations present:
1.1. Section 4. Retrieving Engine Calibration ID
and Verification No. (Number) Information
Using the Tech 2®
After retrieving the calibration information,
Go to Step 2.
OR
1.2. Section 6. Retrieving Calibration
Information From Global A Vehicles Using
GDS 2
After retrieving the calibration information,
Go to Step 2.
2. After retrieving the Calibration Information and
performing Section: 8. Calibration Verification
Procedure — For Service Agents NOT
REQUIRED to Call PQC for Powertrain/
Drivetrain Assembly Replacement
Authorization — Using the Tech 2® or GDS 2
the Service Department Personnel is required to

Bulletin No.: 09-06-04-026N

February, 2018

Page 3

retain all of the related documentation showing the
procedures were completed in the Service Agent
Vehicle History Service File.
⇒ If the Calibration Verification Procedure
determines that THERE ARE non-GM ECM
calibrations present, the Service Department
Personnel MUST follow the procedure as
instructed in: Section 10. Procedure for All
Service Agents for E-mailing .jpg or .jpeg
Files to the Calibration Group at —
[email protected]
3. When returning an engine assembly a printed
copy of the Tech 2® Vehicle Information - Engine
Calibration ID and Verification No. (Number/CVN)
screen or the GDS 2 Calibration History (Events)
screen shot must be attached to the
documentation being returned with the unit.
Notice: For additional information regarding:
Service Agents NOT Required to Call PQC for
Powertrain/Drivetrain Assembly Replacement
Authorization, refer to the latest version of
Corporate Bulletin #12-07-30-001 Information for
Service Agents Not Required to Contact Product
Quality Center (PQC) for CNG, LPG or Gasoline
Engine, Transmission and/or Transfer Case
Replacement Authorization

2. After retrieving the Calibration Information and
referring to Section: 9. Calibration Verification
Procedure — For Service Agents Required to
Call PQC for Powertrain/Drivetrain Assembly
Replacement Authorization — MUST be
Performed by the Calibrations Group , follow the
procedure in Section 10. Procedure for All
Service Agents for E-mailing .jpg or .jpeg Files
to the Calibration Group at —
[email protected]
3. The Service Department Personnel is required to
retain all of the related documentation showing the
procedures were completed in the Service Agent
Vehicle History Service File.
4. When returning an engine assembly a printed
copy of the Tech 2® Vehicle Information - Engine
Calibration ID and Verification No. (Number/CVN)
screen OR the GDS 2 Calibration History (Events)
screen shot must be attached to the
documentation being returned with the unit.
Notice: For additional information regarding:
Service Agents Required to Call PQC for
Powertrain/Drivetrain Assembly Replacement
Authorization, refer to the latest version of
Corporate Bulletin #02-07-30-029 Product Quality
Center (PQC) Assembly Replacement Process

3. Calibration Retrieval and Calibration
Verification Procedure for Service
Agents REQUIRED to Call PQC for
Powertrain/Drivetrain Assembly
Replacement Authorization

4. Retrieving Engine Calibration ID and
Verification No. (Number) Information
Using the Tech 2® - This Action is
Required for ALL Service Agents
(Model Dependent)

Notice:
• The Service Agent Service Department
Personnel is REQUIRED TO E-MAIL TAC the
digital Calibration Verification photos from the
Tech 2® screen or GDS 2 screen shot in .jpg or
.jpeg format only, to the following e-mail
address: [email protected]
• The Service Agent Service Department
Personnel is REQUIRED TO RETAIN ALL of the
related documentation showing the Calibration
Information was Retrieved and the Calibration
Verification Procedure was performed by the
Calibrations Group which is their e-mail
response, in the Service Agent Vehicle History
Service File.
1. Depending on the vehicle being serviced, the
Service Department Personnel is required to
complete one of the following procedures, either
Step 1.1 or Step 1.2 in order to ensure that there
are not any non-GM ECM calibrations present:
1.1. Section 4. Retrieving Engine Calibration ID
and Verification No. (Number) Information
Using the Tech 2®
OR
1.2. Section 6. Retrieving Calibration
Information From Global A Vehicles Using
GDS 2

Notice: This information applies to vehicles that
are Tech 2® compatible and is typical of the
procedure that will be used.
1. Connect the Tech 2® to the vehicle.
2. Go to: Diagnostics and build the vehicle.
3. Select: Powertrain.
4. Select: Engine.
5. Select: Engine Control Module or PCM.
6. Select: Module ID Information or I/M Information
System if the Module ID Information selection is
not available.
7. If: "I/M information System" was selected, it may
be necessary to select "Vehicle Information" in
order to display the calibration information.
⇒ If the CVN information is displayed as “N/A”, it
will be necessary to contact the TCSC at
1-800-828-6860 for English or 1-800-503-3222
for French to obtain the CVN information.
⇒ If the CVN Information is displayed as all
zeroes, refer to Section: 5. Tech 2® Displaying
All Zeroes for the Verification Numbers on
the Vehicle Information - Calibration ID and
Verification No. (Number/CVN) Screen

Page 4

February, 2018

Bulletin No.: 09-06-04-026N

5. Tech 2® Displaying All Zeroes for the
Verification Numbers on the Vehicle
Information - Calibration ID and
Verification No. (Number/CVN) Screen

2278650

2363198

2889412

Notice:
• Two examples of the Tech 2® Vehicle
Information - (Engine) Calibration ID and
Verification No. screens are shown.
• The Tech 2® Vehicle Information Calibration ID and Verification No. screen
will differ slightly depending on vehicle and
model year.
8. Take a CLEAR digital picture(s) of the Tech 2®
Vehicle Information screen showing the entire VIN,
(Engine) Calibration ID and Verification No.
(Number/CVN) and save it in .jpg format.
Notice: It is recommended that an electronic copy
of the Tech 2® screen photograph(s) also be saved.
9. Retain the printout information and the Tech 2®
screen photograph(s) with the repair order.

If the Tech 2® that is being used displays all zeroes for
the Verification Numbers as shown, then perform the
following steps:
1. Update the Tech 2® with the latest software from
TIS2WEB.
2. Turn OFF the ignition for 90 seconds.