Ok guys, I just got my diacom plus through the GP and I went to try it out and it will not link in either mode. I just have 2 choices which are ALDL or diagnostic mode, and when I choose either it just says linking to vehicle... and just stays like that. I read and tried all the things in the manual and searched this board for an answer, but could find nothing. I do have the special tpi 006 cable. My SES light works, all the prongs on the cable and ALDL are there, my cable is hooked up secure and correctly, all my fuses are ok, I mean I've checked everything. I'm stumped. Can anyone please please help me out. I'm just running a 133mhz IBM, so I don't think its too fast. I'll check and see if it is or has a turbo mode on the comp or something. Thanks in advance.

 

Do you have the special adapter that is sometimes needed for the 86-89TPI cars?


Brendan

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1987 IROC-Z L98,SuperRam,EB 6085's,LPE 219/219 Roller, Crane 1.6RR, EB TPI Base, 58mm TB, ADS 24#, AFPR, K&N, EB TES, Catco Cat, 3" Borla Cat-Back, Accel cap,rotor,distro/other crap, MSD 6AL, MSD Blaster 3, Aluminum DS, 94 Disk Rear, Adjustable Valve, Precision 3.73 Gears, Sub-Frame Connectors, Hotchkis Lower Control Arms, KYB Shocks/Struts, Suspension Techniques Lowering Springs, Polyurethan Bushings all over the place, Moog Upper/Lower Ball joints and Tie Rods ends/Idler Arm,

To see the ROC, Check out the webpage Here

 

Brendan

I sure do. Thats what I have been trying to use. The part # i think is 91006 or something. Anybody else?

Oh yeah its a 88 350 TPI if that helps any also there is a ADS superchip in it now, thats what was in the car when I bought it.

 

BTS, when I first got Diacom I had a bit of problem with the way the cable to the ALDL and the cable to the parallel port connected. I had to "play" with the connection a bit before I got mine to finally "link". If you move the "plastic sheathing" you will see a metal clip that may come loose. This may be your problem.

Also, if I recall, some TSRs that run in background in DOS may cause some conflicts.

 

Glenn,

Thanks I'll have to check that out tomorrow. And sorry I'm new to this whole thing, whats TSR's?

Also I have the disk set up as a system disk so it loads straight to DOS without ever booting windows, if that has anything to do with what your talking about.

 

Yes Glenn was talking about if you were running it through Windows. The TSR's are the programs that are resident in memory i think?

Brendan

 

whats TSR's?


TSR = Terminate and Stay Resident

Something you don't see too much of anymore
in the windows world. Sidekick was a good example of a TSR, so were some old NDIS drivers...

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89 Firebird Formula
WS6 package,ZZ4 Crate engine
SLP 58MM TB, Edelbrock TES Headers
Random Tech 3" cat, SLP 3" stainless exhaust
9 bolt rear, Hotchiss swing arms, Lakewood panhard rod
Corvette 2/4 servo, kevlar band, full poly rear.
Centerline 16x8 rims, B.F Goodrich drag radials

 

TSRs are special programs that got loaded by AUTOEXEC.BAT or CONFIG.SYS when you fired up DOS that would remain resident in the memory until you turned off the computer.

As mentioned above, Sidekick is an example of a TSR, also Double Buffer, DOSKEY, EMM386 are some other common examples of TSRs.

Its quite awhile since I got Diacom, but I remember having to contact Rinda to resolved the issue. The ALDL cable being one problem and the way I had my memory configured being the other.

But, you MUST be in DOS for Diacom to work. You either have to be booted in DOS or have your computer "Restart in MS DOS" via the shutdown command. You cannot execute Diacom by executing it within Windows as you get "unpredictable results".

Might want to give Rinda a call. I found them very helpful when I had my initial problem and they even gave me a new ALDL cable for free. Rinda DOES care about its users.

If I recall, certain computers also need to be reconfigured with some "switches", but I never had this problem.

 

Thanks for all your help guys. I tried out what you said Glenn and still couldn't get it to work. I'm going to try it on my sisters 95 Grand Am when she gets home today and see if it will work with the other cable they gave me, before I go and call Rinda.

 

I had the same problem when I initially setup my diacom. There is some confusion on what they call LPT1,LPT2,LPT3.

At the main menu go under "configure" then "communication" and choose "2)LPT2". If that doesn't work try "3)LPT3". If that doesn't work try "1)LPT1".

Most computers I used Diacom on worked only under the "2)LPT2" setting. Your single parallel port address is (more likely than not) address 0378, which they are calling "LPT2" (which is actually "LPT1" for you and most others), you will see the address listed and hopefully know what I am trying to say... anyways just try it

[This message has been edited by TunedPort350 (edited April 04, 2001).]

 

TunedPort, Thanks alot. I will try that out. I just found out my laptop that I just got is very sensitive to bumps and when it gets bumped the screen blanks out completely and won't come back, I found a good deal and have another one on the way, hopefully this one won't do that. I guess thats what I get with a refurbished one huh. Too bad i'm not rich. Hopefully thats just the problem though. Thanks again.

 

Thanks for forwarding me here TunedPort350. I should have looked before I posted my other thread.

I'm having the same problems BTS is having and here is what my other post said:

Quote:

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">I have an '86 T/A with a TPIS Miniram, and TPIS's "90 and up Vette Computer" along with
the "Level VI PROM"

I've tried linking to the computer, but all I get is the "Linking...." message and no data.

I've tried "Diagnostic" "Normal" "ALDL" modes with no luck. I've configured my computer
to run on the slow setting. All my parallel ports match. I've tried both connectors, and
even the optional parallel cable power cord with no luck. I used a dummy VIN in order to
show the proper fields for a '93 chevy 5.7 with no luck. I've tried several different VIN
combinations including my original VIN with still no luck.

I'm at a loss here guys, any ideas?

Thanks,

I'm going to try to mess with that TSR stuff mentioned above by Glenn....Does it have anything to do with boot-up or memory configurations in my BIOS menu of the laptop?..Seems I remember seeing some stuff like that in the BIOS. I'm going to try to mess with it again tonight after work.

Any other suggestions would be wonderful. Thanks again guys.

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86 Trans Am WS6 Black with tinted windows, shaved door handles
ZZ4, Mini-ram, true duals
***Too many other mods to mention***

"In the future, cities will become deserts,
roads will become battlefields, and the hope of mankind
will appear as a stranger" The Road Warrior

[This message has been edited by Steves ZZ5 (edited April 05, 2001).]

 

Also, look at "Configure" and the Lpt for "Vehicle Port". I had to set mine to LPT2 for "Vehicle Port" and LPT1 for "Pringer port". I remember having to play with this setting too.

 

Thanks everybody! I finally got it working! At least in ALDL mode I did, I didn't really try to get it to work in diagnostic mode after I got it working in ALDL mode though, I'm sure a little bit more playing around and I will be able to though. I had to set both my printer and vehicle port to LPT2 for it to work though. Hopefully that trick might work for you TunedPort. Good Luck getting yours worked out. Thanks again everyone.

 

Congrats BTS!!! Glad to hear you got it working. Were you one of the guys that got in on my GP for the Diacom? If so, good deal huh?

I still need to tinker with my settings to get mine to work....Tonight when I get home, and then I'll repost to let you guys know if I got it going, or what Rhinda says.

 

Does your ecm support "Normal" mode along with ALDL? On my SD car, I also have a "Normal" mode which is what you should use if its available. If not, then ALDL mode it must be.

So the LPT2 was the trick. I knew there was something funny that I had to setup (I too went through the same pains as you did).

In the future, if you find yourself not linking properly, look at the connection between the two cables. That is my most common problem now when I cannot get it to link. I ended up taping the two together.

 

Thanks, but I had that problem a long time ago when I originally bought Diacom around 1995. Sounded like you were having the same problem that I did, so I was trying to explain to you how I solved it. I was trying to say to try the "LPT2" mode, I guess my previous post was confusing...

[This message has been edited by TunedPort350 (edited April 05, 2001).]

 

Glenn, Yeah I know what you mean, I already taped mine together because they don't stay together very good. Oh yeah, all that I have offered for settings is ALDL and Diagnostic, I don't have any of the other modes, so I just go with ALDL, however, when I hook up to my sisters Grand Am it brings up all the modes. Just depends on the car I guess and also probably that yours is SD and mind is MAF.

TunedPort, Sorry I just got you mixed up, I meant to tell SteveZZ5 good luck! I just got mixed up. Thanks a lot for helping out though!

Steve, Yes I was one of the guys in on the GP, great deal. Thanks alot! Hope you can get your all figured out.

 

Shewwwwwwww.....finally got it.

I had to mess with the VIN to get it to work correctly with my car. (different computer than original requires a different VIN).

I messed with the parallel ports too, but I think the VIN is what did it. It's working in all modes for me now...Speed Density system.

The only problem I have now is getting a MPH reading. TPIS doesn't have the VSS hooked to the ECU, so no MPH readings.. I need to figure out a way to link the VSS into the computer I guess.

Thanks for all your help guys.

 

Steve,

Congrats! I was starting to almost get frustrated with mine! Somtimes I wish I had more patience.

Did you get the OBD-II cable with yours? I called but they are still out of stock. Who will they know who to send the cables to? Or do I just have to keep checking back?

[This message has been edited by BTS88IROC (edited April 05, 2001).]

 

BTS,

The inclusion of an OBD-II 16-pin connector was news to me when I opened up the packaging. I was confused when I saw that little note inside the package.

I didn't think Diacom was compatable with OBD-II, but I guess it must be when used with this adapter thing that's on backorder.

If your unit was shipped direct from Rhinda Technologies, they have your address. If John Rovner shipped it, then he hopefully gave Rhinda the addresses to ship this backordered connector to. Mine was shipped direct from Rhinda.

I will let you know when I get mine, that way you will know when to expect yours.

 

Thanks alot Steve!

 

Why do the tpi cars need a special adapter to work, Is the data not from pin M or what does it do?

 

I believe that the TPI cars require a special adapter to get the high-speed data. You can use the standard adapter and get the low-speed data, but the high-speed is on different pins, IIRC.

 

Thanks AFGUN, but does any one know exactly what the adapter does? Like pin for pin? I ask because I bought a laptop off a guy and it had diacom installed on it, so I found a site that showed how to make a cable and I did but I haven't had a chance to try it yet, (IT's Winter up here!), so if any one knows could they give me a reply.
Thanks