Ive been having some trouble keeping Moates software connected to the ECM. At random, data will just stop refreashing, it goes anywhere from a few minutes to 20 minutes. The only way it will reconncet is if I shut the car off then restart it. Any ideas?

 

Mr Moates knows about the problem and no body has any idea why it does that.

 

Try to make sure your IR communication port is disabled,

I've had that happen before on mine useing TTS powersystems and the Star Performance LS1 bi directional control stuff

 

Who's running Moate's software and DOESN'T have a lockup problem? I'm having this problem on my '165' MAF car a lot lately. The data just freezes and the error count on the bottom left of the screen goes crazy.
PLANT PROTECTION...
You're right, the only way to reset it is to shut of the car for a few seconds. I've tried many different things to resolve the problem and have come up unsuccesuful. I've checked all my electrical connections, etc...
Craig, are there any leads at all that you have on the problem?

tom

 

I tried disabling IR, but same problem. Is this strictly a 165 problem? Funstick wrote the MAF tuning article, so I am assuming he is running MAF, I am running MAF, and Colt also has MAF, any SD guys experiencing this?

 

I'd like to see if we can uncover some sort of common link between the people with these problems. It may be a '165' MAF problem like P.P. suggested. So we have 3 MAF users now

Myself
PlantProtection
Funstick

Anyone else?

tom

 

Ummm, me. The software is working great for me, then again I haven't run it for more than 30-45 minutes, then I'm done with it.

P.S. Running an 870 system converted to 165, if that helps.

 

I had this freezing problem on my 165 and when I switched to the 730 it still was freezing. I finally gave up and now I am using datamaster. I love Moats software just too unstable, but it's free.

 

With the problem I'm having, I can't even effectively use the program to record some good driving sessions; it locks up so often. Within under 10 minutes it will lockup.

I'm not sure what's involved it this conversion. Are you actually using a GM '165' ECM or just repinning with a different bin?



tom

 

ok lets take a survey which brand of laptop

dell latitude lm 166st

no lock ups to report.

next.

 

Toshiba Tecra 510 P133, no lockups.

Running win 98, I also had win 95 running the sofrware.

 

IBM Thinkpad770 233MHZ 'frequent lockups'

EDIT: Win 98 OS



tom

 

Compaq Armada 7400 - PII 300MHz. Another thing, what OS are you guys using? I run mine in Win98 in a DOS box. The type of computer shouldn't make a difference, but OS and BIOS settings will, that is if the software isn't flawed.

 

You wouldn't think it should, but like desktops, configuration of the system can have lots to do with software problems.

 

Compaq P1 120mhz LTE 5280 Win95 = frequent lockups
Compaq P1 120mhz LTE 5200 Win98 = frequent lockups

Both on the 165 and 730 computer

 

I really don't know what causes it. I have it happen with my IBM Thinkpad under DOS, Win98, whatever. Actually though I'm about to play around a little bit with a new Panasonic Toughbook (well, new to me) along with a real AKM Cable. I'll report what issues are had...

 

165 and 730 ECM
Old Compaq DX4-75
I only run it in DOS, (not a DOS window from Win98)
AKM Cable

Works fine!

It WILL lose communication shortly if I run it from a DOS box out of Windows!

 

Compaq 66mghz ,Windows 95 ,730 ECM never had a lock up
yet.

 

I think we're looking in the wrong place with what BRAND of computer people are using. I think it's going to be more in the area of Com port setting or possible overall computer speed; 66,120, 233, 300MHZ. I just switched to WIN 98 and don't even have the infrared drivers installed. I'll let you know what happens...


tom

 

That's what I was trying to say. Just a small difference in a BIOS setting may not matter for one program, but a picky prog like Moates may not like it. Im gunna try it in the safe mode command prompt to eliminate the problem of the win98 driver settings like baud rate, flow control, data bits, ect. Ill see what happens as soon as we get a nice day, its been very cold and snow is still on the roads.

 

Well, I tried connecting without the infrared drivers installed and I still get lockups. For some reason, if I run Moates program straight from the DOS prompt, I can't get it to connect with the car no matter what I do. Anyone else have this problem?

 

Colt,
It might help to know what your COM port settings are under DOS.

John

 

That's an excellent question John. I thought they were the same as what Windows says, maybe not? I found this on the internet:

Information about the mode command.

Configures system devices.

Printer port: MODE LPTn[:] [COLS=c] [LINES=l] [RETRY=r]
Serial port: MODE COMm[:] [BAUD=b] [PARITY=p] [DATA=d] [STOP=s] [RETRY=r]
Device Status: MODE [device] [/STATUS]
Redirect printing: MODE LPTn[:]=COMm[:]
Prepare code page: MODE device CP PREPARE=((yyy[...]) [drive:][path]filename)
Select code page: MODE device CP SELECT=yyy
Refresh code page: MODE device CP REFRESH
Code page status: MODE device CP [/STATUS]
Display mode: MODE [display-adapter][,n]
MODE CON[:] [COLS=c] [LINES=n]
Typematic rate: MODE CON[:] [RATE=r DELAY=d]

What the hell does all that mean?
If I type in "mode" at the DOS prompt I get...

Status for device LPT1:
------------------------------
LPT1: not rerouted
Retry=NONE

Code page operation not supported on this device

Am I headed in the right direction?

 

I tired running it straight from DOS and it did the same thing. I then looked at my BIOS settings and noticed that the serial port was sharing a IRQ with my onboard modem. Even though they are never used at the same time, I put it on its own IRQ and will see what happens. Has anyone messed with the baud rate in the moates setup?

 

I really don't know what causes it. I have it happen with my IBM Thinkpad under DOS, Win98, whatever. Actually though I'm about to play around a little bit with a new Panasonic Toughbook (well, new to me) along with a real AKM Cable. I'll report what issues are had...

Criag moates posted ibm thinkpad


IBM Thinkpad770 233MHZ 'frequent lockups'

EDIT: Win 98 OS

Colt posted
yet again IBM thinkpad



ive used moates software with Dell and compaq's of all speeds/ and Win OS's no lockups. i think the IBM Bios could be a issue.anybody else here use a IBM laptop and have lockup issues keep posting brands a trend will appear sooner of later.

 

Well I can tell you that the IBM BIOS seems very proprietary. It looks like no other BIOS that I've seen. It also seems to have very little user configuration options. I think there may be a BIOS upgrade on IBM's support site. I'll check that out.

http://www.pc.ibm.com/support?lang=e...user1004106089




tom

 

Haven't tested with Panasonic yet, but here's a good question. Anyone with a NON-IBM unit experiencing lockups?

 

nope no problems with my dell or compaq or the dead toshiba i had.

 

I have lockups with my Fujitsu 520T. Here are the operating systems I have tried to get around this problem: Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT, Win 95 boot disk, and Win 98 boot disk. Locked up on the 165 and 730 with every OS I tried.

 

I use a Toshiba Satellite Pro 400CS, P133, Win98 and I had problems with it locking up for a while.... Turned out to just be a battery issue. When the battery got below about 50% life left it just wouldn't communicate with the car. As long as the battery is charged up fairly well I don't have a problem. This is obviously an old laptop with an old battery which means a fresh one would probably get rid of all of my problems.

Datamaster, however, does not seem to connect with the car at all through my AKM cable..... (any ideas are appreciated - I get nothing at all with DM).

Thing is, people seem to relate the value of these batteries with precious metals when they price them. I would be better off saving up for a whole new laptop - which is what I am doing . From what I have seen/used/read the Dell units seem to be the best choice but it will be a while before it happens......

 

You can say that again about batteries. They want $140 for a new battery for my laptop that cost me $120.

 

I also get lockups with my Gateway solo pentium 133mhz laptop.

I have noticed that alot of the times when it does lock up is when the screen saver activates.

I have had problems with it locking up when I just let it data log for more then 5 mins straight. So last time I data logged I kept stopping each data log after about 3-4 mins and it never locked up and I did this about 7 times.

I might also check my power options on the laptop maybe something is set to turn off to conserve power have not checked that.

Windows 98 user here.

 

Get an inverter from wallyworld that plugs into the lighter socket ($35), The 400cs is a good choice for a scanner laptop, no power brick, small foot print. The only drawback to it is the dual scan screen is kinda hard to see unless you have it directly in front of you.
Have you looked on E bay for a battery for it? They usually go for around $20 used and $65 new.

 

I have a little inverter (not sure what size but it says it can power a laptop) that I got a while back as a gift but the way the circuit is wired right now it just shuts off right away with the laptop plugged into it. I don't know if it is the crappy OEM wiring for the cig lighter or if the inverter is just a POS...... It's a Coleman....

I have seen those prices for batteries but I think even that is too steep. We are talking about a laptop I got for FREE and there are some very nice units out there in the low $300 range these days.

If I were to upgrade to a better laptop I could get things like a working floppy drive ( ), a CDROM, better screen (like you said, it is a PITA at times while driving), a battery that has some life left in it, etc. So spending $65 on a new battery (wouldn't trust a used one for a laptop of this vintage one bit) and only upgrading that one fault seems like a bad idea when that money can just be set aside and added to, to eventually get that nicer laptop.

I also only use this thing for a scantool right now and wouldn't mind having a laptop that could actually handle being used for more tasks than scanning.

 

This is a very good point I didn't think of. I always have my laptop on max conserveation and experience lockups, what are you guy's power management settings?

 

I have 2 of the batteries that for the 400 series laptops, used ones, they work fine in my kid's laptop. As far as getting a more up to date laptop, not for a scanner, too many things can happen to it while on the road. I use a Tecra 510 for my scanner and an 8000 for my "real" laptop.

You need a CDROM for that laptop? Heh, pay the shipping and I can hook you up with one, can't do much about the floppy though.

 

I changed my power settings not to turn off hard disks or monitos after a few minutes and have had no lock ups since.

Could be just a fluke or could have solved my problem anyway.

 

I changed my power settings to make sure nothing turned off and I also have my screen saver off. I still have lockup problems. It seemed to have no effect.


tom

 

I turned off all my power saving and it didn't help. Has anyone messed with the baud setting in moates software?

 

I tried using Datamaster and it does the same thing, so it is either ECM or laptop related.

 

My Datamaster software works perfectly and will record data for as long as I want. But Craig Moates software will loose connection in a matter of minutes on the exact same laptop.