MonteCarSlow

I have 3 (possibly 4) of these left:



It's a module that adds 4kb of battery backed ram to a 730 or 749. What you do with it is up to your own imagination. I was able to build a 730 running $8D code that can program itself via the aldl port (no emulators or chip swapping).

I would really prefer to see these go to the folks that know how to hack their source code because it will be of most benefit to them. That said, reply to this thread if you are interested.

The cost is $50US, that includes the pcb, parts and mailing cost. If you don't feel comfortable soldering it together, I'll do it for you. You will however need to use a solding iron to attach 3 wires from the module to the edge connector (service port?) of the 730/749.

The lid of the ecm may or may not fit properly afterwards... there are two versions of the 730/749 circuit board that I know of and I only have one of them and pictures of the other.

Once these are gone, it is by no means the be and end all. I will freely supply the board file and parts list if someone wants to sponsor another kit for other folks to get in on this.

Lastly, if you can solder with fine pitch smt parts, the same functionality can be done for ~$15 by using what GM already provided for you. Follow the instructions in the later half of this thread:
https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...hreadid=316354

JP86SS

iTrader: (1)

Nice job, I'll take one

Z69

Great,
I'm sure I can figure out something to do with all that ram.

MonteCarSlow

...does that mean you want one? PM or email me if you do.


How about a BLM cell for every VE point?

Or how about a high resolution data logger on a few data points. Trigger the capture start with an aldl command, and then read back the data from ram using aldl commands (the resolultion would be 160 samples per second).

You can do all kinds of nifty things with source code and more elbow room (ram).

MonteCarSlow

I have two left, assembled and tested. Anyone else interested?

JP86SS

iTrader: (1)

Ok, so after reading over the other thread 3-4 times I still have the question of the 3 wires that needed to be connected to the ECM.
Can you give me a refresher on what goes where ?

Also on the code end of this (from the other thread )
1.) Does the empty socket take a 29C256 chip with my "std" burn bin on it?

2.) With the source code all "labeled" for relocation, If I just "ORG" the cal section to 2000 would that do the trick?
Looks like we can move it around easily that way.

BTW, Nice clean looking board, lot better than my soldering would have come out
After all the discussions and your creation of the board, I wanted to be sure I didn't miss something on how it all works now.
Thanks,
John

MonteCarSlow

Hi JP,

I'll put together another reply tonight to clarify how to connect the ram expansion module to the ecm.

As for your other questions:
1) yes
2) The cal section needs to be ORG'd at $8000 (in other words don't mess with it). The labels in the code that refer to L8xxx areas of memory need to be de-referenced to real addresses with an offset of 2000 instead of 8000. e.g. L8245 would be 0x2245. Every location in the code that does a read from the calibration area of the eprom needs to be tweaked. 90% of the changes can be done with a search & replace, the remaining ones are done by hand and only takes about 5 mins. Once that is done, some changes need to be made to the ECM "boot up" code, and the aldl mode 4 write hack needs to be patched in. After all that, you'd have a bin that you can use with the nvram expansion board and be able program the cal area via the aldl port. I'll email you my modded source code so you can see what I did to make it work.

Please don't be shy to ask any more questions if you need more clarification! This isn't a plug'n'play project...

JP86SS

iTrader: (1)

I had an idea but it fell apart quickly when I tried to implement it.

I'll wait and see how you did it before I make the changes.

Z69

Nice job Ernst.

I'll have to test it, but since we have relocatable aujp.
Wouldn't a ORG 2000h with the cal sect following.
Then just cut and paste in a hex editor the cal section into the 8000h area of the bin. Or something along those lines.
I've been up about 18hrs so things won't click in the mental dept. The assembler will do all the work. All the cal section is already relocatable. Just need to get things lined up before the burn.

I also want to do this on one of my spare ecms.
Can you stick a socket on the pcb. Or is that a stupid idea.
I already have sockets so I can do this easily right now
since the solder guy at work will be wielding the iron.

MonteCarSlow

JP: sorry for the tardy reply...

Download the following archive (~890kb). It contains source code, compiled bins, DOS tools for uploading/downloading bins and some pictures to clarify how to connect the nvram board to the ecm.

rtp4.zip

The md5 'checksum' for rtp4.zip is 942552409de1dd2347d6d8c06758f7cc.

There you go folks, a complete hack for "flashing" a 730 ecm with a new bin... lets hope no jackasses rip it off for coin. This is my thank you to all of you other guys out there that put in so much of your effort and make this hobby the joy (and frustration) that it is.

I would love to see TunerCat R/T or TunerPro R/T talk to a hacked 730 ECM, but in the meanwhile I'm happy to tinker with what I've got.

MonteCarSlow

That sounds like it would work...

You can plug a ZIF socket into the socket on the nvram board, been there done that.

junkcltr

iTrader: (1)

Good stuff. I sent you a PM. Maybe I get the C compiler fired up this winter and do a little C coding for the PC app. side of things. That would be great in Mark included it in TP4.0 I tried TP4.0 out the other day and it seems to be working great for ALDL logging.
Great work MonteCarSlow.

J

JP86SS

iTrader: (1)

No problem, I knew you'd get us lined up on it.
Turning wrenches currently and poking around with code and this at night. Cool stuff indeed
Now to build that bench...So I'll have all winter to play with it.

ScotSea

iTrader: (2)

Is it too late to try and get one of these boards?

Thanks, Scot

MonteCarSlow

I still have a few left. (you've got mail)

junkcltr

iTrader: (1)

I almost have my winter rig ready for tuning. My plan is to install the NVSRAM module in the the 730 ECM that is running $58 code. I read through the ASM file to get a feel for what I need to modify in the $58 (BBZB) code. Installing the patch code seems like it should go fine. I will end up with some bugs here and there but it shouldn't be bad.
The worst part is the cal relocation to the NVSRAM area. Since my dissasembled $58 code has the cal data hard coded. I am thinking of using the GNU tools to figure out a way to change all of the hard coded EEPROM cal. addresses to the NVSRAM addresses. At worst I will have to write a small C program to to replace the addresses. So I am wondering.........how did you do it?

Also, I am going to install a .100 spacing 6 pin keyed header (pull a few pins) for the wires that come from the ECM to the NVSRAM module. That way I can unplug it easy and in case I need to throw in a stock MEMCAL.

The NVSRAM module looks great. Excellent job on the soldering and overall design. A future addition would be to add some through-holes so that the MEMCAL cal. chips could be directly soldered to the module. It wouldn't impact the real estate or anything. A standard layout for the 6 pin header would be nice.

Once I get the module working with the $58 code I will probably by bothering you for the PC side .exe source files. I would eventually like to turn them into very simple Windows apps. so that I could do ALDL logging and tuning at the same time.

I can't believe you have some of these left. This is the best 730 ECM tuner. Thank you for the hard work and dedication to DIY PROM.

Z69

I think you can get the as6811 to do all the work for you.
Just a matter of making the hac relocatable.
Then setting up the org's the right way.
And making the bin come out right in the end.
I tried it once with aujp.
Didn't do something right and haven't had time to try harder.

junkcltr

iTrader: (1)

That is what I had planned for adusting everything to point to the NVSRAM. I am going to try to use a C program or GNU tools to replace all of the cal area addresses with the something like "caldata+1" and so on.

I really don't want to have to hand replace all of the addresses. I will probably insert a lot of bugs doing it that way.

I use the AS6811 compiler also.

MonteCarSlow

I started with a disassembly that uses address labels (e.g. L8200, L8300, L8432, etc). Then I did a global search/replace on L8 with 0x2 so the label was dereferenced to a hard address. What's left is a manageable amount of hard coded addresses in the 0x8000 range. I manually searched them out and changed their offset to 0x2000. It actually only takes about 5-10mins to do.

Watch out for addresses embedded in the 0x8000 range...

If you change the ALDL message tables to the 0x2000 range, and then start overwriting stuff in the 0x2000 block you can crash the ECM. Took me a while to figure out why I was locking up the ecm... (non-recoverable by the watch-dog, needed to power cycle the ecm to recover!!) I was writing patterns to this part of the memory, that's how I found my "bug". It's safer to not relocate the ALDL definition tables - but it's cool being able to change your ALDL mode 1 packet on the fly.

Z69

So you did this

L8632:
is now 0x2632:?
And the code snip that uses it was changed to 0x2632?

I forget, the new code copies the cal to $2000 correct?

Now I sort a see the error I made.
Wish I had time to play.

The first pass dis file does have a number of missing labels.
We found a few more when we made aujp relocatable.
And that was using anht as a base for all the missing labels.

MonteCarSlow

Sorry, " L8" is what I searched for and replaced with " 0x2" or " $2". Without the space, you will catch the actual labels which you don't want to do...

Yes, the new code copies the cal from $8000 to $2000 if the checksum for the $2000 region fails.

junkcltr

iTrader: (1)

The $58 has the cal and the code both at addresses 0xCyyy so a little more search-and-replace is involved. I started doing a replace of LC0?? to LC8?? with the 0x2yyy values.
I am going to try using MonteCarSlow's AXXC bin in the 730 ECM (turbo 305ci TPI 30#/hr 2bar_map auto) this weekend and verify that I can use it properly before I throw in the $58 bin that I am making into a bin that will work with the module ALDL tuning. I will try it out at idle only. I figure I need a base to start with before I go into hack-and-wack mode trying to figure out my $58 bugs.

I will make a pigtail to go from the 2bar MAP connector to a 1bar MAP sensor so I can run the $8D style code. The 730 ECM really works out great because I can switch from $8D code to $58 code without any wiring changes. It should make a nice test rig for doing the $58 bin patch to work with MonteCarSlow's NVSRAM module.

JP86SS

iTrader: (1)

So you have pretty much confirmed the I/O can be relocated like was discussed here (near the bottom) ?
https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...hreadid=213539
If you could confirm/deny the issues on a running system that would be great.

junkcltr

iTrader: (1)

This is the second setup that I have been using the $58 code in a 730 ECM. The first vehicle was using $8D code and 730 ECM to start off. The second vehicle was using $32 code and 165 ECM. I converted the second vehicle to 730 ECM wiring using Mike Davis' wiring list (except for the MAP, CTS, MAT, TPS grounds). Mike has them wrong from a theoretical point of view.

At this point both vehicles are wired as a stock 1990-92 F-body TPI. I DO NOT use the TCC (use non-lockup trans), mag VSS (use optical), or AIR stuff.

I will go through the list and say why I don't rewire:

730 ECM with $8D -------730 ECM with $58

A8------------->A9 (ALDL data - Not needed to move though)
-- as stated, no need to rewire
C1------------->B12 (VSS output for cruise - Not needed)
-- required, but I don't have cruise so I don't re-wire
C11------------>C12 (Injectors 1,3,5,7)
-- DO NOT DO THIS, only for 730 to 749 ECM swap
C12------------>C11 (Injectors 2,4,6,8)
-- DO NOT DO THIS, only for 730 to 749 ECM swap
D6-------------->C13 (Injector ground)
-- DO NOT DO THIS, only for 730 to 749 ECM swap
E3-------------->E4 (IAC coil A high)
E4-------------->E3 (IAC coil A low)
E5-------------->E6 (IAC coil B high)
E6-------------->E5 (IAC coil B low)
-- DO NOT DO THIS, it is the EXACT same as not re-wiring
-- Use the stock IAC wiring as is
F1-------------->F4 (shift light) for manual trans
-- required, but I don't have a manual trans so I don't re-wire
F2-------------->disconnect (AIR pump solenoid)
-- required, but I don't have a AIR pump so I don't re-wire
F6-------------->F4 (TCC) for automatic trans
-- required, but I don't have a lockup trans. so I don't re-wire


Overall, I do not re-wire anything listed above. However, since I do use an optical VSS I send that signal to 730 ECM pin_C6. This is necessary whether $8D or $58 is used. Therefere, when switching between $8D and $58 is simply just a chip burn for me. F-bodies will need the AIR, TCC, and possibly the shift light re-wired. That is all that is needed.

Also, I spend quite some time looking into the IAC re-wiring thing. I did some bench setups and two vehicles now to see if the whole IAC reverse operation thing made sense. What I found was mainly people misunderstanding stuff and re-wiring for no reason at all. The re-wiring provided the same operation as not doing any re-wiring. It is a stepper motor and using the stock wiring or the wiring listed above with give the same operation.

EDIT: This is info is from two running engines, not just theory.

Z69

So can anyone come up with a reason why you can't just
do an ORG $2000 for the cal sections of 8D and then assemble it. Then use a hex editor to merge the resultant code section with a conventional bins cal area.
The org $2000 causes an 64k bin as a result.
The Dewtronics author seemed to think it would work.
I haven't had time to see why my first attempt didn't work out.


I get a good chuckle when someone says you have to swap injector wires when running $58 on a 730.

junkcltr

iTrader: (1)

Using the org 0x2000 for the CAL data does work and it creates a 64k-0x2000 bin (54K). You can then remove all of the zeros between the CAL and CODE sections. It is kind of a pain though if you assemble a lot. I am going the search and replace route.

MonteCarSlow

For those that have one of these nvram modules, be aware that I came across one today that has a flakey ecm connector (it been so long, I don't remember if I picked the bad one out of the lot). Just something to be aware of...

And... damn that's cool being able to upload a bin over ALDL while the engine is running!!!!

junkcltr

iTrader: (1)

Yeah, but your system is more reliable than what is out there right now. I have had far less ECM connection problems than ZIF socket problems. Looking to change the romulator cable to a 32 pin header to attach to my MEMCAL adapter boards.
I started building a new and improved testbench to start playing with your ALDL NVSRAM module. I hope to have it running by the end of the weekend. Then it is on to testing the $58 with the ALDL uploader.
Thanks again,
Junk

MonteCarSlow

I opened the "bad" ecm today to look at the flakey module. I'm such I dork. I plugged the memcal in backwards... I'm having one of those days today. LOL!

vernw

iTrader: (2)

Are these still available? If so, I'd like to get an assembled one. Maybe I can do the 3 wires on the ECM side, but no guarantees...

MonteCarSlow

Sorry. They are all gone unless someone wants to sponsor a run of boards. I released it as a diy non-profit project, but I'm open to ideas.

drb930

Can you tell me how to change the memory battery?
Also anyone have anymore stock on these?

Thanks,
Dave

JP86SS

iTrader: (1)

They are listed as obsolete.
An alternate part number may be able to replace it (haven't checked all the specs on it yet)
http://www.digikey.com/product-detai...ND--ND/1087559

drb930

JP86SS

iTrader: (1)

After reviewing this all morning, this one appears to be the best replacement.
It is Pin for Pin compatible but...
I do not know if all the programming voltages, etc are the same.

Can someone who works with memory chips confirm this will work in place of the original?
Datasheets below
Original Chip = BQ4011YMA 256k (32k x 8)
http://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/bq4013y.pdf
Replacement = DS1230Y-70IND
http://datasheets.maximintegrated.co...AB-DS1230Y.pdf
Purchase info: http://www.digikey.com/product-detai...ND--ND/1087559

drb930

JP,

Brian on here was nice enough to burn me a prom with my current tune (which is not that good) without VATS enabled.
The ElCo is back running again as it was.
I'm still a believer in this NVSRAM as it is already paid for and installed and seems to work well.
I hope we can find a solution for the battery problem as I really need to do some more tuning.

Thanks,
Dave

RBob

iTrader: (1)

The ST M48Z35-70PC1 is a direct replacement:

http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/...s/M48Z35-70PC1

The only down side is like the original BQ device, it is only available in commercial temperature range, 32* F to 158* F.

As for the Maxim device JP posted, it is over double the price of the ST device. But it has an industrial temperature range of -40* F to 185* F.

As long as it isn't below freezing either will work. {edit} Wanted to add that the Maxim device will also work below freezing temperatures along with higher temperatures. It is the better choice.{\edit}

As for the device with the dead battery, I'd cut the top off and see if the battery can be replaced.

RBob.

drb930

Rob,

Thanks for answering on this thread.
That's a good idea... as long as it can be replaced I might as well try some surgery on the original Semi-Conductor :-)

Thanks,
Dave