Are you experiencing problems with your gear shifting? Does it feel stiffer than normally? On top of all these, if your check engine lights are on, chances are your TCM (Transmission Control Module[note]https://cecas.clemson.edu/cvel/auto/systems/transmission_control.html[/note]) is doomed.
Generally speaking, the TCM is less likely to require replacement. We rarely see such issues. However, unexpected problems may arise when least expected. At this point, a repair or replacement becomes mandatory. The TCM is practically a computer that provides information to other systems – useful in telling the automatic transmission what gear to be in.
Your whole driving experience will be affected should you ignore the problem – shifting at the wrong time, potential accidents, and injuries. So how to test TCM Duramax[note]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duramax_V8_engine[/note]?
Table of Contents
Signs of a faulty TCM
There are more symptoms associated with a faulty TCM. If any of the following issues sound familiar, we recommend to check it right away. You can, however, drive with a faulty TCM, but it is only a matter of time until an accident occurs.
We recommend fixing a faulty TCM immediately due to the fact of how dangerous it can get to neglect it. Switching gears unexpectedly will have you lose control over the vehicle. Imagine losing acceleration while overtaking someone – do you still think you can delay the process?
So what are the signs of a faulty TCM?
- Gear slipping – the transmission will switch gears randomly with no signs or notifications.
- Poor fuel economy – the fuel economy is declined severely for no apparent cause.
- Slow acceleration – your vehicle drags and barely gets any speed when you need it.
- Gear shifting impossibility – the transmission fails to shift up while accelerating or shift down while stopping, not to mention getting stuck in neutral at times.
Things you need to test TCM on Duramax
Most people have no clue how to test TCM on Duramax. If you have no idea what you are doing, we recommend taking your car to a specialized mechanic. However, if you like to manage things yourself, there are a few ways to test the TCM yourself.
Ages ago, when everything was hydraulic and mechanical, you only needed a few tools – some gauges to keep an eye on the pressure or a vacuum gauge to look at the intake vacuum or the modulator. That was it. Today, cars are different – some may refer to them as proper computers.
The tools you will need to test the TCM include:
- Scanning tool – OBD II connectors and the PCM module will get the job done for most vehicles, while some vehicles will have all the required details in a different unit. However, you will need a scanning tool either way. It will also show you potential communication issues affecting the PCM and the transmission controller – the main requirement for vehicles with more than one computer.
- Scope – such things are more nuanced, but a pressure sensor will get the job done. It is one of the most common scopes found in car parts shops. You will be able to use it on transmission problems, as well as exhaust or cooling issues. Fluid and air pressure anomalies will be turned into alerts for a more appropriate diagnostic.
- Multimeter[note]http://www.physics.smu.edu/~scalise/apparatus/multimeter/[/note] – you will need a multimeter to read frequency, resistance, and voltage. There is a small chance you will not require it, but it is a valuable tool to have. At some point, you might need to double-check the solenoid. A multimeter will also help you check the voltage and other various parameters.
- Battery charger – required if you have to remove or install a TCM.
- Safety equipment – glasses and gloves for your safety.
- TCM software transfer tool – can be useful if you have to replace the unit.
- CEL Doctor: The ANCEL AD310 is one of the best-selling OBD II scanners on the market and is recommended by Scotty Kilmer, a YouTuber and auto mechanic. It can easily determine the cause of the check engine light coming on, quickly read and clear diagnostic trouble codes, read live data & hard memory data, view freeze frame, I/M monitor readiness and collect vehicle information. Instead of taking car to mechanic shop, you can use it to check the trouble code and show code definition by yourself.
- Sturdy and Compact: Equipped with a 2.5 foot cable made of very thick, flexible insulation. It is important to have a sturdy scanner as it can easily fall to the ground when working in a car. The AD310 OBD2 scanner is a well-constructed device with a sleek design. It weighs 12 ounces and measures 8.9 x 6.9 x 1.4 inches. Thanks to its compact design and light weight, transporting the device is not a problem. The buttons are clearly labelled and the screen is large and displays results clearly.
- Accurate Fast and Easy to Use: The AD310 scanner can help you or your mechanic understand if your car is in good condition, provides exceptionally accurate and fast results, reads and clears engine trouble codes in seconds. If you want to find out the cause of the check engine light, this device will let you know immediately and fix the problem right away without any car knowledge. No need for batteries or a charger, get power directly from the OBDII Data Link Connector in your vehicle.
- OBDII Protocols and Car Compatibility: Many cheap scan tools do not really support all OBD2 protocols. This is not the case with the AD310 scanner as it can support all OBDII protocols such as KWP2000, J1850 VPW, ISO9141, J1850 PWM and CAN. This device also has extensive vehicle compatibility with 1996 US-based, 2000 EU-based and Asian cars, light trucks, SUVs, as well as newer OBD2 and CAN vehicles both domestic and foreign. Check compatibility with your vehicle model before purchasing.
- Home Necessity and Worthy to Own: This is an excellent code reader to travel or home with as it weighs less and it is compact in design. You can easily slide it in your backpack as you head to the garage, or put it on the dashboard, this will be a great fit for you. The AD310 is not only portable, but also accurate and fast in performance. Moreover, it covers various car brands and is suitable for people who just need a code reader to check their car.
- Versatile Digital Multimeter - Accurately measures AC/DC Current, AC/DC Voltage, Capacitance, Frequency, Duty Cycle, Resistance, Diode, Continuity and Temperature.
- Thoughtful Design - Support Data Hold, Large LCD Backlit Screen, Auto Shut-off and Kickstand make the process of measurements easier. Professional level is reflected in some features include Auto-Ranging capability, and True RMS for measuring both AC Current and Voltage.
- Suitable For Many Occasions - This Multimeter is a golden partner to help to troubleshoot a variety of automotive and household electrical problems safely and accurately.
- Ensure Safety - Double ceramic fuse is anti-burn and protects from overloading, and it will be more secure and reliable; F400mA/600V and F10A/600V explosion-proof ceramic fuse tubes can protect the multimeter effectively.
- Additional Tips - Please take off the cap before using the test leads. Check the manual for more usage information.
Steps to test TCM Duramax
Now that you tooled up, it is time to learn how to test TCM on Duramax.
- Manually inspect the TCM to determine if the issue is simpler than you think – pins or wires. This video by Spartan Autoworx on YouTube will give you a few useful tips.
- Find the OBD II[note]https://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/everything-you-need-to-know-about-obd-obdii/[/note] connection port in your car. Different vehicles or models come with different “hiding spots”. We recommend looking under the dashboard, but you should be able to find it in your instruction manual.
- Connect the scanning tool. Each scanning tool has its own steps to follow. Based on the device you have, everything is quite intuitive. Choose the car make, model, and so on.
- The scanning tool manual will tell you if the car must be turned on, or you can do it in ignition mode. It will also tell you when to hook the scanning tool up.
- If you have a problem, the scanning tool will give you a code. You have to check the manual and find out what it means. Once you have the diagnostic, you can move on to repair, replacement or to take it to a mechanic.
If you already have a new TCM to put in, here are the steps to do it.
- Put the safety gear on – more is better.
- Connect the battery charger to the vehicle before you can actually use the TCM.
- Get the TCM software transfer tool and put it in the reading position according to its manual of instructions.
- Put the ignition on.
- Plug the TCM software transfer tool into the OBD II slot.
- You will hear five beeps over 30 seconds.
- The LED light will go red and keep flashing, meaning it is reading the information.
- Once done, the LED light will beep once and turn red.
- Turn the ignition off, then remove the software transfer tool.
- Wait another half a minute and unhook the battery charger.
- Install the new TCM by following the same steps, with one exception – put the tool in the writing position.
TCM Duramax testing strategies
There are many strategies to learn how to test a TCM on Duramax, but a scanning tool is mandatory in all of them. Sure, you can always test the TCM by paying attention to the signs of a faulty unit we mentioned above. If you also have the check engine lights on, chances are you know what the problem is.
There are times when the problem is indicated by what is not displayed on the scanning tool rather than the codes displayed. The transmission shares valuable data with all kinds of modules as well as engine control. The operational mode is a loop, meaning that if the module fails to work, other modules will still ensure good communication.
When using a scanning tool, you will also have to figure out what modules communicate – you may need to check the ECM or BCM as well, especially the data stream and the PIDs.
Failing to communicate with a particular module? Check out the modules that are already connected and find new details. The TCM is monitored by the BCM, so all the details are sent to other instruments that display the associated gears to you.
We have dealt with situations that worked in a completely different way. For instance, when the TCM and ECM fail to communicate, we had to look at PIDs to determine the throttle position, air pressure in the manifold, or the actual engine load.
Final words
The bottom line, learning how to test TCM on Duramax can be a tricky thing. There is no such thing as a general rule. You will have to try this and that to determine the issue. If you get it from the first testing strategy, you are just lucky. Ideally, we recommend leaving the task to a pro, unless you know what you are doing.
Now, assuming you know what you are doing, and you have the proper tools for the job, we hope our tutorial is encouraging and can lead you in the right direction. Let us make it clear – no mechanic can guess a problem straight away. While we can take a wild guess, of course, it does not mean that we can diagnose TCM issues without scanning everything first.
We hope the tutorial will help you sort the problem out and, more importantly, keep safe.
