Looking for BCM gurus....

[cjohnson6772]

I'm looking for someone to tell me everything there is to know about BCMs.

I'm closing in on the end of a 2001 6.0/4L80e DBC swap. I will be using LS1nova71's s10 speedo swap. I am basically looking to add every additional function I can...within reason. Let's get super technical. I'm ready.....I think.

Here is what I know about BCMs (or think I know):

I should be able to add:

factory GM remote power door locks
fading dome light
accessory power retention
day time run lights
light reminder buzzer
low fuel light
remote start?
driver information center?

Here is what I would like to know as a start:

Which BCM should I look for?
Where is a good tutorial/place to start? (I have scoured LS1Tech to no avail)
What additional functionality could I integrate?

I have seen a few threads make mention of BCMs, but few in depth walk-throughs.

Thank you all so much in advance. It is truly amazing how much I have learned from this board and chronic research disorder

[Daaaanz67]

You should hit up ls1 nova he added bcm to his build on ls1 tech.
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[BR3W CITY]

BCM schematic from a '99

http://ls1tech.com/forums/pcm-diagno...cm-pinout.html

[ls1nova71]

I'll see if I can shed some light on your question.

Originally Posted by cjohnson6772

I should be able to add:

factory GM remote power door locks Not sure this will work with just the BCM, it's integrated into it, but I believe there's a reciever module for the keyless entry
fading dome light You can get a time delayed dome light with a '99-'02 BCM. The '03 and up have the fade off, but they don't have RAP (retained accessory power)
accessory power retention With the '99-'02 BCM, yes
day time run lights Should be possible, but haven't done it.
light reminder buzzer Yes, but you will need the '99-'02 headlight switch also. But if you include it you get automatic headlights!
low fuel light Not unless you use the whole cluster from the new truck
remote start? Not with the older BCM. If you want remote start, i would get an aftermarket remote start/keyless entry/alarm. That's what I did. I have a DEI (Viper) and it works great.
driver information center? Again, not unless you use the whole instrument cluster from the new truck.

Here is what I would like to know as a start:

Which BCM should I look for? '99-'02 work the best. '03 and up do have the cool fade off dome light, but losing the RAP isn't worth it to me. Also, in addition to the headlight chime, if you add a park brake switch to your park brake, it will chime when the engine is first started if it's set, and if you drive with it on it will chime faster. And then there's the cool "you left your turn signal on you idiot!" chime if you drive for almost a mile with it on.

Almost forgot, you get the 'tow/haul' function too

[Hart_Rod]

Originally Posted by ls1nova71

I'll see if I can shed some light on your question.

Not trying to hijack, but what about a 2013 Camaro SS setup?

[cjohnson6772]

Originally Posted by ls1nova71

I'll see if I can shed some light on your question.

Very helpful information. Daaaanz: thanks for the lead. BrewCity: thanks for the schematics.

Couple of follow up questions: how do the automatic headlights work? Are they like newer vehicles where park lights run during the day and everything runs at dark? Does this need another sensor? Or do you mean that essentially the lights are all on all the time? Does the old headlight switch just stay pushed in?

How did you do the low fuel on your latest truck?

Also how helpful is tow/haul?
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[solidaxel]

Thank you all so much in advance. It is truly amazing how much I have learned from this board and chronic research disorder [/QUOTE]

Boy if that statement hasn't cost me a bunch of money and time (all well spent)!!!!!!

[BR3W CITY]

Originally Posted by cjohnson6772

Very helpful information. Daaaanz: thanks for the lead. BrewCity: thanks for the schematics.

Couple of follow up questions: how do the automatic headlights work? Are they like newer vehicles where park lights run during the day and everything runs at dark? Does this need another sensor? Or do you mean that essentially the lights are all on all the time? Does the old headlight switch just stay pushed in?

How did you do the low fuel on your latest truck?

Also how helpful is tow/haul?
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Tow haul iirc only switches off the overdrive lockup...its never been to helpful to me in normal rides I've had it in, but is sorta useful if your in the mountains and don't want lockup/unlock constantly.

The auto lights use a little sensor mounted on the dash, looks like a little dome, usually somewhere near or in the speaker or defrost grill area. DRL will be on ALL the time, which is annoying to me.

[68GMCCustom]

on my 2001 Sierra C3 the tow/haul button changed the shift to firmer and would hold a gear longer w/o down shifting. Don't recall it changing the speed/rpm of the shifts tho.

[cjohnson6772]

Been doing some research tonight. Looks like tow/haul is essentially just another table in the pcm that can be trigger by the BCM. Therefore it could just as easily be programmed for performance mode.

Are all 99-02 BCMs the same? Body? Truck? S10 Blazer? I know I can find s10 blazers a dime a dozen at the junkyard.

Help me complete my shopping list:
Cruise control model without H terminal
BCM
Ambient light sensor
Temp sensor to accompany gentex rearview mirror
Headlight switch
Park brake switch
Keyless receiver module?
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[Jon01]

Tow/haul can be utilized in the tune to impact all sorts of things.
Stock tune all it does is mess with shift points and converter settings.
I've got it set as a sort of kick-ass mode in my wife's Tahoe for shift points and other settings.

[ls1nova71]

Originally Posted by Hart_Rod

Not trying to hijack, but what about a 2013 Camaro SS setup?

Depends on what you're trying to accomplish with it. The new stuff isn't as easy to use since all the information is run on the CAN BUS, so unless you were going to use the Camaro dash, radio, cruise control, ect, it really wouldn't be worth it.

Originally Posted by cjohnson6772

Couple of follow up questions: how do the automatic headlights work? Are they like newer vehicles where park lights run during the day and everything runs at dark? Does this need another sensor? Or do you mean that essentially the lights are all on all the time? Does the old headlight switch just stay pushed in?
Automatic headlights just come on when it gets dark enough to need them, they're not on all the time like daytime running lights. You don't need the old switch, but you can keep it and 'piggyback' the new switch into it so they both work. This is how mine is wired.

How did you do the low fuel on your latest truck?
The low fuel light I put in my truck is just a simple compairator circuit that can be made from parts from Radio Shack. I didn't make it, I had a guy do it for me. It works, but not as well as a new car. It doesn't have any kind of buffer circuitry in it, so when you get low, it'll go on and off, When you get really low it will stay on.

Also how helpful is tow/haul? You answered your own question on this one!
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Originally Posted by cjohnson6772

Been doing some research tonight. Looks like tow/haul is essentially just another table in the pcm that can be trigger by the BCM. Therefore it could just as easily be programmed for performance mode. This is what I'm going to do on mine when I get around to it. It is in fact a completely different set of tables in the PCM. I'm going to leave my standard shift tables stock, and then turn up the 'tow/haul' shift points. Best of both worlds!

Are all 99-02 BCMs the same? Body? Truck? S10 Blazer? I know I can find s10 blazers a dime a dozen at the junkyard.
Some S-10's use the same BCM, b ut I think the headlight switches are slightly different. I would try to get one out of a Silverado just to be sure.
Help me complete my shopping list:
Cruise control model without H terminal
BCM
Ambient light sensor
Temp sensor to accompany gentex rearview mirror
Headlight switch
Park brake switch
Keyless receiver module?
You'll also need a fuse box for the fuses and also about 5 relays.
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