The adventure begins...... I just got finished putting all the parts together on my speed desnity system 383, hooked all the cables and wires up to the 730 ECM and plugged my laptop into my PROMinator. I turn on the key and voila! the laptop recognizes the PROMinator! But, when I try to upload my slightly modified AXCN.bin file (just modified injector constant, cylinder volume and turned off VATS and EGR) to the ECM it gives an error message.

NOTES:
When I turn the RAD switch to position "0" (AUJP.bin I think is what Ken and Bill put there) the SES light goes out. In any other position of the RAD switch, the light is on. (engine not running, key on)
When I crank the engine it will start and run (like crap, but I expected that. possibly in "limp-home"?)

Does anyone have any ideas on why I can't upload a bin file to any of the 7 remaining available positions of the PROMinator? Do I need the latest version of the PROMinator software?

I didn't know whether to ask this question here or at the prominator forum...if that is the better place to ask let me know.
Thanks in advance.
Russ

 

I had a similar question about the prominator a few weeks ago. I was directed to the following link for a software update that doesn't appear with the normal Tunerpro RT download.

Index of /beta/Builds


use the one that says "setuptunerproRT"

It will add a check off box to your preferences screen to allow the software to interface with the Prominator.

After you install it go into Tunerpro RT > tools > preferences > ALDL/Emulation.

On the right side menu under emulation a new checkoff box appears called "enable prominator support" Yup, click on that puppy.

You are one step ahead of me. I gotta clear some fouled cylinders first and steal my daughters laptop before I can see what happens. I figured out that the solid check engine light was not a good thing, that it means you just found an empty memory.

Hope this helps, keep in touch... we can share horror stories!


Dave Buchholz, Rochester NY

 

Hey lakeffect2,
Thanks for the info but I'm not sure that will totally do the trick. (It might, but I will have to wait a week to find out). The problem is when I try to write a .bin file to the prominator using Ken and Bill's Speedtronics software, it says "verification failed" usually at a different address each time. Other than that, Tunerpro and the Prominator software both recognize the prominator as being installed......just can't write to it.

 

Hmm, I have to tag this thread. I'm getting a PROMinator and I'll need to do this to mine as well.

 

Not sure what I did but I finally successfully uploaded one .bin file to my PROMinator. Was only able to upload one file and couldn't do it again in other settings on the RAD switch.

But..... it was enough to get the truck to start and run well enough set the timing and find a vacuum leak at the intake gasket. Guess I'll take what I can get for now!

If anyone has any suggestions, I'm all ears!

 

'If anyone has any suggestions, I'm all ears!"

After noticeing your avitar and name, I can't help but wonder if those are ears of corn.

Here's what Mr. Bill sent me recently:

Just set the switch to the position you want to use (BTW with the switch disconnected it defaults to "0"), start the software, plug in and power on when it prompts you to, load your file and click on the Upload button (green arrow). That's it!

If you want to, before you upload anything, you can check the ROM contents with the Verify button in the software (if you're using my software). Just load the file you want to check against and click on the Verify button (yellow check markl). If the verify fails then the ROM contents do not match the file that's loaded. Now, there is a "bug" in the Verify only routine in the software. There is a "safety" feature in the software such that if a upload or a verify fails then the software will force the ECM into limp-home mode. Well, if you use the Verify button by itself it will put the ECM into limp-home whether the verify passes or fails. Just disconnect the cable and close/restart the software (restarting the PC itself is not necessary, just the Prominator software) after doing a Verify only. Or, performing another upload will take the software out of the condition of forcing the ECM into limp-home. If this is confusing just let me know.

A word of caution...do not close down the software with the Prominator connected and powered up. Unless the Prominator software is running I have no control over the parallel port, and the ROM contents can be corrupted. I'm working on adding a prompt to the software to this effect when it's shut down, but that has not been released yet.

With your ECM I believe the "key" is to watch the CEL (or SES lamp, whichever way it's labled). You should see one single flash of the lamp when you turn the ignition on (engine not running). If you do, then the ECM is running on the ROM contents, if you do not see the single flash then it is in "limp home" mode, and depending on your engine mods it may or may not run like crap in limp-home mode. If the ECM is not "happy" with the file that's loaded into ROM it will go into limp-home (and set a "BAD EPROM" error code, 51 I believe?).


I'm wondering about the "do not close down" part if that was part of the issue. Another possiblilty is before switching the RAD dial, to disconnect the cable switch the dial and reconnect. Don't know if that will help or not, but might be related.

I Think I've got some bad injectors (borrowed and used) clouding my issues, so I'm going to try clearing that up first before playing further. No fault of the guy who was kind enough to loan them, but my fault for not testing them first.

Keep in touch. Dave

 

Well, I just ordered my PROMinator and I'll be using my dad's older laptop to tune it, can't wait!

 

Ears of corn aren't out of the question by any means! Just too dry down here to grow very many of them! lol.

Well, lakeffect, I have some good news.....and some bad news. The good news is that I was finally able to upload several .bin files in a row with no error messages at all. The bad news is that I have no idea what was different this time so I don't know that I can contribute to your cause! I'll go back and look at the stuff you mentioned above too see if it all checks out.

Downzero, I think you should be pretty happy with your PROMinator. From what I've found, lakeffect and I are among the minority when it comes to problems. Right now I agree with Bill, I think the PROMinator just may not like Windows XP Pro very well. Unfortunately, it's the only laptop I have with a parallel port.

 

I don't have a laptop with a parallel port at all. I am either going to have to use my Dad's or use some type of interface to USB to use mine.

I'm totally new to this and I really am hoping I can get it to work well. I'm pretty nervous considering the 40% increase in power that I have to feed.

 

I received a reply from Mr bill which may be helpful to others on download issues concerning setting the Bios in the laptop (whatever the hell that is... is that like a biograghy? I started out in life as a little silicon wafer...)


"Try also changing the parallel port settings in the BIOS. If it isn't already, try using the "standard" setting (ie not EPP or ECP or bidirectional). Try to make sure there are as few applications running as possible."

 

Well, it's back. I was able to load the same .bin file to several locations on the prominator a few weeks ago. That .bin file got the engine to run (much better than I expected I must say!) I logged a little data on the truck and found a few things I'd like to change based upon that. Well $#%@#. Now I can't upload a .bin to my Prominator again!