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I love my 2001 Chevy Silverado short bed regular cab 4x4 truck. My friend also liked it, so he bought a slightly newer next gen 2009 Silverado. His fuel pump m

I love my 2001 Chevy Silverado short bed regular cab 4x4 truck. My friend also liked it, so he bought a slightly newer next gen 2009 Silverado. His fuel pump management module died. That was weird enough to me. Why does a fuel pump need a module? Just give it 12v and call it a day, like cars have done for 50 years. Gets even better. He bought a used one off eBay. Wouldnt work. The module needs to be programmed to his Vin#. Why??? Security? What security, when the programmers are available online, craigslist people will do it for you, mechanics have the tools, and even if you went to a dealer I somehow doubt they check against some theft database or anything. It's all insane.

anfilt 3y ago
On a lot of newer cars the fuel injectors, fuel pump, and starter are part of the immobilizer system. The transponder in the key bow or your keyfob is checked by the car and it needs to see the right key for those parts to function. This is part of the anti-theft to stop simple hot wiring. Although I will be honest seems more like away for dealerships to charge an insane amount for new keys. If I am being generous the security would be trying to stop the car running in the event those are tampered with but I don’t entirely believe it.
drdaeman 3y ago
> Why does a fuel pump need a module? To be more fuel-efficient? Or to block the fuel line for anti-theft purposes? The software part of their houses is total mess, but they won't just arbitrarily add pieces of hardware that don't make any sense to someone (you, them, dealership, or some government) - that'd be a waste of money.
almostnormal 3y ago
Not theft of the part but of the vehicle, i.e., the fuel pump is part of the immobilizer. The programmer will only work if the manufacturer central system agrees, and it wont if the vehicle was reported as stolen.

anfilt 3y ago

On a lot of newer cars the fuel injectors, fuel pump, and starter are part of the immobilizer system. The transponder in the key bow or your keyfob is checked by the car and it needs to see the right key for those parts to function. This is part of the anti-theft to stop simple hot wiring. Although I will be honest seems more like away for dealerships to charge an insane amount for new keys. If I am being generous the security would be trying to stop the car running in the event those are tampered with but I don’t entirely believe it.

drdaeman 3y ago

> Why does a fuel pump need a module? To be more fuel-efficient? Or to block the fuel line for anti-theft purposes? The software part of their houses is total mess, but they won't just arbitrarily add pieces of hardware that don't make any sense to someone (you, them, dealership, or some government) - that'd be a waste of money.

almostnormal 3y ago

Not theft of the part but of the vehicle, i.e., the fuel pump is part of the immobilizer. The programmer will only work if the manufacturer central system agrees, and it wont if the vehicle was reported as stolen.