Ostrich as permanent PROM replacement?
#1
Supreme Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Rowlett, TX
Posts: 2,842
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes
on
5 Posts
Car: 1988 GTA
Engine: 5.0 TPI
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 9 Bolt, 3.45
Ostrich as permanent PROM replacement?
Is there any reason I couldn't use a Moates Ostrich in place of a prom, for permanent use? I only have one thirdgen, so I'm not worried about wanting to use it for other cars. I see that it takes a battery, so I assume it won't be erased if the car battery is disconnected, is this true? Also, does it replace the whole memcal, or just the PROM?
#2
Moderator
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Chasing Electrons
Posts: 18,406
Likes: 0
Received 217 Likes
on
203 Posts
Car: check
Engine: check
Transmission: check
Re: Ostrich as permanent PROM replacement?
The Ostrich would replace just the PROM. Still need the MEMCAL for limp mode and cylinder select. It does have an internal battery to keep the RAM alive (which holds the BIN/calibration). If/when that dies so does the calibration, ECM will be in limp mode.
RBob.
RBob.
#4
TGO Supporter
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Grand Island, NY
Posts: 1,132
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Car: 1990 Formula
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: WC T5
Re: Ostrich as permanent PROM replacement?
When Craig initially came out with the Ostrich he stated that the amount of power that is used out of the battery should last something like.. 45 years! However, I don't know what the life on these batteries are, even thought the Ostrich will not kill the battery I would think that there will be some type of chemical breakdown at some point, when that is????
#5
Moderator
iTrader: (2)
Re: Ostrich as permanent PROM replacement?
The Ostrich can replace the EEPROM. For myself I'll use an EEPROM, once I get a tune that I am happy with until my next tuning session. I've had a couple times where the bin file gets corrupted on the Ostrich, at key off, or key on. This is with the Ostrich connected to my laptop, so being disconnected might not have this issue.
#6
Moderator
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Chasing Electrons
Posts: 18,406
Likes: 0
Received 217 Likes
on
203 Posts
Car: check
Engine: check
Transmission: check
Re: Ostrich as permanent PROM replacement?
There is a cylinder select in the calibration. Along with a hardware cylinder select on the MEMCAL. Note that not all ECMs use a MEMCAL. And not all ECMs have or need a hardware level cylinder select.
RBob.
RBob.
#7
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
Re: Ostrich as permanent PROM replacement?
Ward, thought of getting one of those myself. is it worth the $$$ !?
and did you get any results of the blacksmoke at WOT yet ?
Will change to ford 19lbs injectors soon and need to redo my prom,
maybe we could help each other out ? And make them run good ?
If you want please give me an PM or message , im using msn : theking_v8@hotmail.com
have a nice day Ward, (and all other guys at this great forum)
and did you get any results of the blacksmoke at WOT yet ?
Will change to ford 19lbs injectors soon and need to redo my prom,
maybe we could help each other out ? And make them run good ?
If you want please give me an PM or message , im using msn : theking_v8@hotmail.com
have a nice day Ward, (and all other guys at this great forum)
Trending Topics
#8
Supreme Member
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Ga
Posts: 1,854
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 91 RS
Engine: 305
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Re: Ostrich as permanent PROM replacement?
I really do need to burn a backup chip or two for insurance though.........
I guess this is axx backwards to my statement of no hiccups.......
#9
Moderator
iTrader: (2)
Re: Ostrich as permanent PROM replacement?
Originally Posted by DM91RS
Mine gets quirky at times when I've had the laptop out. Sometimes something does not save correctly or something and I get the dreaded flashing light on the next start up and have to get the laptop back out and reload. Once I've started a tuning binge I learn to unhook and recrank the car a couple of times to make sure things are ok........
I really do need to burn a backup chip or two for insurance though.........
I guess this is axx backwards to my statement of no hiccups.......
I really do need to burn a backup chip or two for insurance though.........
I guess this is axx backwards to my statement of no hiccups.......
#10
Supreme Member
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Ga
Posts: 1,854
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 91 RS
Engine: 305
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Re: Ostrich as permanent PROM replacement?
I'm running Rbob's EBL. It may or may not be an issue with the Ostrich itself as I remember seeing on Craigs site long ago about a fix for something to do with key on key off loading. I never fixed mine or sent it to him to be corrected. One just has to keep a watchful eye on things.
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Calif
Posts: 587
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 75 Vette
Engine: 406 TPI
Transmission: 700 R-4
Axle/Gears: 373
Re: Ostrich as permanent PROM replacement?
[QUOTE=DM91RS;3774695] One just has to keep a watchful eye on things.
#12
Supreme Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Rowlett, TX
Posts: 2,842
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes
on
5 Posts
Car: 1988 GTA
Engine: 5.0 TPI
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 9 Bolt, 3.45
Re: Ostrich as permanent PROM replacement?
Ward, thought of getting one of those myself. is it worth the $$$ !?
and did you get any results of the blacksmoke at WOT yet ?
Will change to ford 19lbs injectors soon and need to redo my prom,
maybe we could help each other out ? And make them run good ?
If you want please give me an PM or message , im using msn : theking_v8@hotmail.com
have a nice day Ward, (and all other guys at this great forum)
and did you get any results of the blacksmoke at WOT yet ?
Will change to ford 19lbs injectors soon and need to redo my prom,
maybe we could help each other out ? And make them run good ?
If you want please give me an PM or message , im using msn : theking_v8@hotmail.com
have a nice day Ward, (and all other guys at this great forum)
This would be for a '165 ECM, for the time being, until I can find a decent '445. The one I have seems to be working well, but I dont know for how long. I'm actually relieved that it doesn't replace the limp mode stuff, so that if it dies or corrupts itself, at least the car will make it home. I would probably just get in the habit of backing up my latest bin to the laptop too, every time I make a major change. That way if it did get corrupt, I could just re-load it and go.
Last edited by Ward; 05-31-2008 at 11:43 PM.
#13
Senior Member
Re: Ostrich as permanent PROM replacement?
I've run the Ostrich in my Z for 18 mos with narry a hic-up the car couldn't care less what you use Ostrich or EEPROM. It's real easy if you use Moates G1 memory adapter to piggyback the memcal and use the Ostrich with a zero insertion force socket to install the Ostrich to the G1. I like the convenience of being able to play with the program without removing the ECM.
#14
Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 89 Formula
Engine: LB9
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt / 3:45
Re: Ostrich as permanent PROM replacement?
Have been running Ostrich 2.0 for almost a year with a 165/6E and no problems. I even left it in the car over the winter with the car battery disconnected and it started right up after 4 months of hibernation. I do have a drivable backup chip in the car as a “just in case”, but there has never been a need for it. For me the Ostrich really works as advertised. Craig did a great job on it!
#15
Supreme Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Rowlett, TX
Posts: 2,842
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes
on
5 Posts
Car: 1988 GTA
Engine: 5.0 TPI
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 9 Bolt, 3.45
Re: Ostrich as permanent PROM replacement?
Sweet, I'm convinced. I do have a spare memcal from another 88 305TPI, but an auto trans. I didn't think of that though, but I could keep it in the car, and worst case scenario, pop it in to get home. I had initially liked the idea of MegaSquirt, because of the tune-and-go ability, but if I can do it with the factory ECM, that's way better. Looks like I know what I'll be spending my stimulus check on
#16
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
Re: Ostrich as permanent PROM replacement?
No, I haven't been able to tune the car yet. I'm still trying to decide which setup to buy, if I can just run the ostrich, then $175 isn't bad at all. No erasing or programming chips, just tune on the fly and go. The ford injectors only seem rich at WOT, whenever PE mode kicks in. If my understanding is correct, the ECM doesn't adjust according to the O2 sensor in PE mode. It does run nicely, and I'm pretty confident it will pass emissions testing.
This would be for a '165 ECM, for the time being, until I can find a decent '445. The one I have seems to be working well, but I dont know for how long. I'm actually relieved that it doesn't replace the limp mode stuff, so that if it dies or corrupts itself, at least the car will make it home. I would probably just get in the habit of backing up my latest bin to the laptop too, every time I make a major change. That way if it did get corrupt, I could just re-load it and go.
This would be for a '165 ECM, for the time being, until I can find a decent '445. The one I have seems to be working well, but I dont know for how long. I'm actually relieved that it doesn't replace the limp mode stuff, so that if it dies or corrupts itself, at least the car will make it home. I would probably just get in the habit of backing up my latest bin to the laptop too, every time I make a major change. That way if it did get corrupt, I could just re-load it and go.
are you running lean somewhere or rich at some places ?
Just want to know what I should expect when I change my injectors again.
Maybe we could talk about that later, when I got the new injectors in place and home..
#17
TGO Supporter
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: In your ear. No, the other one.
Posts: 1,861
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: '89 Trans Am WS6
Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: T5WC
Axle/Gears: 3.08 posi
Re: Ostrich as permanent PROM replacement?
When making changes via emulation, make sure the checksum is disabled. In most applications, this is done by changing the mask ID byte to 0xAA.
#18
Supreme Member
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Ga
Posts: 1,854
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 91 RS
Engine: 305
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Re: Ostrich as permanent PROM replacement?
Checksum disabled? If you make changes with a laptop while the engine is running without disabling the checksum, everything will be fine until you shut down the ECM and then re-power it. At that point, the ECM will do the checksum verification, note that it's mismatched, the ECM will enter limp home mode.
When making changes via emulation, make sure the checksum is disabled. In most applications, this is done by changing the mask ID byte to 0xAA.
When making changes via emulation, make sure the checksum is disabled. In most applications, this is done by changing the mask ID byte to 0xAA.
Thanks for the heads up.....DM
#19
Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: kansas
Posts: 225
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 89 S10 Blazer
Engine: 355 tbi
Transmission: Built 700R4 w/ 2500 stall
Axle/Gears: 3:73 posi
Re: Ostrich as permanent PROM replacement?
thankyou for that tidbit about the checksum, thats caused me and a buddy lots of grief, hopefully that was it.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Sanjay
Engine/Drivetrain/Suspension Parts for Sale
1
08-12-2015 03:41 PM