Ruiner

Ok, I think I've tried just about everything, to no avail.

Tunerpro just WILL NOT see my ALDL cable, when hitting "test for valid cable using settings" in the preferences menu it ALWAYS says "Cable not found or not functioning", "hardware not found", etc.

I've tried 3 different laptops, 2 running XP, one running Vista. One of the 2 running XP had a native COM port so I tried it without the USB to Serial converter and it stil doesn't work.

I've gone into the device manager, the computer sees the com port, and made sure the com port setting in tunerpro matches. I know my ALDL cable works because I've used it with WinALDL back when my car still had an '8746 ECM (now running 1227730 with NVSRAM)

My ALDL cable is homebuilt, MAX232 based, with a 4 transistor circuit to convert from the TX/RX lines of the max232 to a single bi-directional data stream.

What am I doing wrong here? I have the correct .ads and .xdf files for S_AUJP (already flashed to the prom, the car starts and runs), I've tested continuity between my ALDL cable and the '7730 ECM

Are there special settings I have to set the COM port to under device manager?

Ruiner

Hmmm, seems the NVSRAM GUI isn't working either

The gui sees the COM port (doesn't do anything when set to any other port), but still won't communicate with the ECM.

I also tried making another cable, based off these schematics:



Should I use this one instead?

Ruiner

Ok, I made a THIRD aldl cable (this time keeping it simple, just the 2 transistor circuit shown above), still not working

TunerPro finally says "cable connected and working" in the preferences menu with the 2 transistor cable, but says "connection failed" when trying to connect to the ECM, the NVSRAM gui still doesn't work either, just hangs then says "ALDL error" when trying to upload/download a bin

This is driving me nuts I have to be missing something

edit: Just tried playing with the 10k resistor on pins A and B, still nothing.

Only thing I can think of now is that the ECM is bad, is it common for ALDL to stop functioning?

Six_Shooter

iTrader: (2)

Check the ground pin at the ALDL connector.

I've had similar results when the ground was bad or not connected.

Ruiner

yeah I ohm'ed out the ground as well as the ALDL data line and everything is connected

Ruiner

I'm about to go get another '7730 ecm and see if that changes anything.

Also, I feel pretty stupid now, I never bothered to check the original memcal that came with the ecm I'm using for the tpi swap, turns out it's a V6 memcal (code ASMJ), even though I'm using the NVSRAM all the ESC and limp mode stuff is wrong.

Noticed the 305TPI memcals are a LOT cheaper than the 350TPI ones, is there much of a difference? Would it simply be a matter of the limp mode being slightly off? What about the knock sensor?

Ruiner

Well, still NOTHING

Tried a different ECM, still doesn't work
Tried removing the NVSRAM (using just the original MEMCAL), still doesn't work
Tried bypassing the ALDL connector and wiring directly to the new ECM, still doesn't work

Got out my multimeter AGAIN and checked all the wiring, I've got 12V ignition, got a solid ground, and ALDL connection to A8 on the ECM.

I even borrowed ANOTHER friend's laptop (WinXP, native COM port) and installed tunerpro and the NVSRAM gui on it, NOTHING!!!!

WTF I've spent 3 months building a badass 350TPI from scratch, got it installed AND RUNNING and now I can't do JACK because I can't get the bloody ALDL to work to get the engine tuned. I NEVER had problems datalogging on the old '8746 ECM, now I've been pounding my head on this for close to a week with no results.

I'm just getting extremely frustrated and have so far gotten no help, and I've found nothing useful from searching, it's always obvious stuff like a bad ground, poor connection to the ALDL line, etc., everything I've tested a million times already

Edit:

Looked at the car some more, just noticed something important:

With the NVSRAM plugged in (with a good eeprom, verified by my willem programmer), and key in "run", engine off, the SES light just comes on solid, no blink. Not loading the PROM, right?

With only the MEMCAL plugged in, the SES light comes on briefly, then goes off and stays off. ALDL doesn't work in both cases.

NVSRAM plugged in without the memcal does the same thing as with the memcal, solid SES light, runs very poorly

So is my problem with the memcal, or the nvsram? I'm going to try flashing a different bin tomorrow

Ruiner

Yeah, it's the memcal...

really need a 350 AUJP memcal, if anybody has one I'll take it, need it asap

JP86SS

iTrader: (1)

Couple things to check...

Recheck that the three wires are connected to the correct points (I did mine swapped on my first install )

Are you sure the ALDL cable is connected to the correct pin in the ALDL connector?

Do you have the "B" version of the V4 loaded onto a "base chip" as I call it on the NVRAM board? Standard "A" version will not work with mode 4.
If its not a 29C256 chip be sure it is burned with an offset to the end of the chip.
Also be sure it is installed the correct direction and not backwards.
(again, don't ask how I know the chip gets warm when this is done!)

Make sure you have the newer version of the tools that MonteCarslow put together for the GUI.
The DOS versions are older and didn't work well for me. New windows version worked great. Check the NVSRAM thread for the link to the files if needed.

You need to get the quick flash from the SES when first turning on the key, then on steady.
You should be able tyo get a code 12 when not running, key on.
Until you get that I don't believe any communication will be possible.

Ruiner

Thanks for the post JP86SS, you found the problem!

I was flashing the EEPROM (sst27sf512) wrong, I forgot to put the 0x8000 offset. My Willem said it flashed ok, so I thought all was good.

I fixed the cylinder select thing on my V6 MEMCAL by modding the resistor network (temp. fix, I really need a 350 memcal).

Tunerpro now connects, the NVSRAM GUI works!

Thanks

Ukraine Train

Guys, is a serial-type ALDL cable required for the NVSRAM? Or will a USB cable work? My old laptop with serial port died so I need to get a USB cable now to do anything.

gp90gta

iTrader: (1)

I use a usb one and it works fine.