I built the cable and tried to get WinALDL data, but it's not working. I have the program and I made the cable according to the directions with two resisters and one transistor, but it's not doing anything. I tried with the resister across A-B, too, but that didn't change anything. I've also heard the the resister is not needed on the 91 cars.

I've heard that I might need to hook the power source up to the lighter since the laptop does not provide a power source from the battery. I have 3-4 year old Dell laptop and I don't have a lighter power connection. Anybody have any suggestions? I'm about to dynamite the car.

BTW - I'm completely technologically inept. I tried searching for answers to this question, but all I got were technical responses that don't make a lick of sense to me. I have no idea what a baud is. I'm pretty good with the on/off switch, that's about it.

 

I don't want to sound condescending...but is the transistor hooked up right? I know they're easy to wire up backwards...

 

Not unless the directions were wrong. I sat it face up, with the writing looking right at me, and the transister head towards me. From that point I hooked the left side pin to the resister and pin#2 and the right side to the wire and pin #5. The middle connected to the other resister, which connected to the other side of the wire.

You didn't sound condescending at all. I'm the one who said I was technolgically inept.

 

Which ECM are you trying to connect to?

Have you tried to see if the interface does what it is supposed to when you put data onto (ie switch power onto) the transmit pin?

The first time I built the interface, I let the smoke out :-) I rebuilt the unit with some more care, and so far the smoke is still secure inside the wires. But I did get the transistor the wrong way around. I'm glad to see that Yanks can muck this stuff up as well as Aussies.

If you want know what a baud is, and get some ideas about how the switching on the interface is supposed to work, go to www.techedge.com.au and follow the links to the data stream stuff and also the circuit diagram (make sure it is the 2 transistor interface one, not the more complicated one).

John

 

Do what now? What is the transmit pin and how do I put data onto it?

Quote:

But I did get the transistor the wrong way around. I'm glad to see that Yanks can muck this stuff up as well as Aussies.

So you're saying I got the transister in backwards? Am I supposed to point the legs of the transister towards me and then reference the left and right sides?

 

Can you take a picture of your circuit and upload it? I'll check to see if everything is right. You might have mixed up the Emitter and collector, or base for that matter. Although you sould confident that it's correct. Also are you sure you're hooking up to the correct pin at the aldl connector?

 

That's it, guys, I had the emitter and collector reversed. I did it over again and it works great.

John L., I can't speak for all Americans, but I can tell you that I could muck up a wet dream. In other words, it's just a matter of course that I screwed this thing up.

So, I have it reading data now. The only thing left is to find out what is causing my 117 BLM reading. Most of the numbers are foreign to me so I am going to have to find a table that will explain what the ranges are supposed to be. Something is out of wack and I need to find it.

 

Did you have to give power to pin 2 or did you laptop supply the 12v?
Also, did you apply the 10k to pins A and B at all?

 

My laptop supplied the power and I did not have to use the 10k resistor across A & B.

 

Good result 'Bird. I'm inspired to make myself another cable now without the 10k resistor and supplying the 12v from the laptop.

John