first off forum is great
purchased 8/05 and love the car when it runs
latest issue is pcm / had smoke coming from vents in dash
looking for location of pcm and availability?

the pcm is behind the dash on the passanger side. To acess, remove lower kick panal(below glove box), and you can see it towards the back on the firewall.

Your smoke probably didn't come from the PCM though. When my 95 let some smoke out, I couldn't find where it came from. Two weeks later, the blower motor quit working. A month later, a friend with a 96 sts had smoking vents, her blower quit right away. Both cars got new blowers and have not had smoking issues scince. Hope this helps.

This is from a '95 manual, but I expect it should be same/similar to yours. Note that step #1 is to remove the "right hush panel." Be certain to follow the cautions, such as not removing the PCM or battery power until the ignition has been "OFF" for at least 30 seconds.

Location drawing: http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y299/WBucket/PCMdrawing.jpg (226KB)

Replacement text: http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y299/WBucket/PCMtext.jpg (78KB)

What makes you think the PCM needs replacement?

If it's *steam* coming from the vents, you may have a heater core leak. Just a thought.

Regards,
Warren

reason for pcm replacement / no instr panel display / driver inf display
smoke was after replacing blown fuse when displays were blank

The Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) is pretty much an autonomous entity. It relies on the PCM for data input only. Its power is independent of the PCM. As such, it *should* illuminate without regard to the condition of the PCM, although it might display "garbage" if that's what the PCM is sending it. Likely, if the engine runs, the PCM is okay.

Exactly which fuse did you change?

Regards,
Warren

not sure which fuse(left w/ brother to take a look at it)
do have a thought though replaced the heater core. wet carpets and
antifreeze smell . remember seeing what i believe was pcm in that
area . shorted w/ moisture?. car runs real well just cant tell how fast it really is . z rated thanks for any help and will pick up car today

replaced ipc fuse in trunk / i'am i correct in that pcm will not allow car to start
dealer told me pcm needed to be replaced (ps same dealer told me abs unit was bad but replaced front brakes and brake hose and all is well)