You'd think I'd just get it RIGHT one of these days...

Several more improvements. Please comment on your experience, positive or negative.

Anyone have this prog working with the 'simple' 2-transistor interface?


[This message has been edited by Craig Moates (edited October 07, 2001).]

 

Craig, quit updating for a while, I cant keep up with the beta testing unless I run the same software for more than half an hour

BTW, I am running the two transistor interface, and it runs beautifully, links up every time and is very stable with no error count!

Cheers and keep up the great work.

Richard

 

There will be no more updates for about a week or two, and it will be based on feedback from you guys.

Thanks for the update on the successful use of the 2-transistor deal. If you'll forward me the schematic of what you're using, I'll add it to the program site.

 

Email on the way.

Which is better: 160 baud or 8195??? v8.45 seems to work in both modes, but I can't tell any difference. (I'm stuck in idle due to dead laptop battery --> 110v power).

I still don't believe the 45RPM idle, or 80* spark advance @ idle, but rest looks close/OK!

 

The program does not work with 160-baud yet, but it is on the way. Take a look at the footnotes in the menu.

The values shown on Page-1 and the subpages are the 'raw' byte values from the ECM. The values on Page-4 are the correct calculated values. Hope this clarifies things.

 

Craig,
The two transistor interface I use is depicted, (along with several more complex designs) at the following site:

http://www.andywhittaker.com/ecu/aldl_hardware.htm

Cheers again

Richard

[This message has been edited by 88gta305 (edited October 07, 2001).]

 

Pardon my ignorance guys, as I'm new to the whole ECM stuff and I just used Craig's software for the first time this morning...What is the two transistor interface?



------------------
1987 Camaro IROC-Z
350 TPI (L98), HyperTech Airfoil, K&N Filters and modified airboxes, AC Delco RapidFires, Taylor SpiroPro 8mm wires, Energy Suspension polyurethane bushings for front and rear LCAs and sway bars, KYB struts and shocks, BFG g-Force Z-rated tires, MAC STB, MAC SFCs, JET low temp stat, CarSound Hi-flow Cat, 3" Mandrel-bent pipes, Flowmaster muffler, Corvette Servo, TransGo Shift Kit, Corvette 2000 Stall, TruCool LPD tranny cooler, T-tops.

2001 Sunfire GT
2.4L, 5-speed, K&N cone filter, interior detailing, 200W Monsoon Sound System (8 speakers), Silver Metallic exterior with grey interior.

Web: http://www.angelfire.com/on3/whitelightening

 

Everything seems good for me Craig. It doesn't lock up on my old Toshiba now!! You DA MAN! (again) The TPS readings and everything else look good. I logged a few runs with the abbreviated list and everything looked pretty good at first glance. Nice Job, and thanks again from all of us

------------------
1987 GTA L98 MD8
355, TFS Heads, LT4 Hot Cam
My GTA

The Minnesota F-body Club

 

Irocker,
The two transistor interface is about the simplest interface between the ALDL port and the serial port on the PC.
It does not provide the signal isol,ation or the noise immunity of the more complex MAX232 based interfaces, but mine works really well and gives no problems.
I also incorporated a 10 K resistor and switch in the box containing the PCB to trigger the ECM into diagnostic mode.

Cheers

Richard

 

SWEET! I can't wait to try it with my WinME in safe mode and see if it works any better!!! Gonna have to futz with it tonight.

Thanks for working on this Craig...


------------------
GregF
87 IROC

 

Thanks Richard.



------------------
1987 Camaro IROC-Z
350 TPI (L98), HyperTech Airfoil, K&N Filters and modified airboxes, AC Delco RapidFires, Taylor SpiroPro 8mm wires, Energy Suspension polyurethane bushings for front and rear LCAs and sway bars, KYB struts and shocks, BFG g-Force Z-rated tires, MAC STB, MAC SFCs, JET low temp stat, CarSound Hi-flow Cat, 3" Mandrel-bent pipes, Flowmaster muffler, Corvette Servo, TransGo Shift Kit, Corvette 2000 Stall, TruCool LPD tranny cooler, T-tops.

2001 Sunfire GT
2.4L, 5-speed, K&N cone filter, interior detailing, 200W Monsoon Sound System (8 speakers), Silver Metallic exterior with grey interior.

Web: http://www.angelfire.com/on3/whitelightening

 

Tried 8.45 around the block tonite. Synced up right away, cut a nice looking log file. (Knock retard @ WOT? Huh?) I'm using the 4 transistor + Max233 circuit now, the diode + resistor + Max233 (Gargano circuit?) didn't work at all.

Hope to try the 2 transistor circuit soon.

I think I will try to derive the 12v from either RTS or DTR or both to make it a 1 wire hookup ('86 doesn't provide 12v at the ALDL). 12v isn't sacred here - it's only needed to bring 5v up to RS232 level, which by definition RTS and DTR are already at. Doesn't look like a whole lot of amps are used, either.

If 8.45 doesn't turn these on for me, then it's back to E6 to go:
OUT &H3F8+4, INP(&H3F8+4) OR 3
which will force RTS and DTR on for Com1 without changing other bits. (hint, hint).

I only know just enough about transistors to be dangerous, so can somebody explain how that circuit can invert the signal from the computer but not the signal from the ECM and still work?

Jim

 

how that circuit can invert the signal from the computer but not the signal from the ECM and still work?

Nevermind, they both invert. Doh.

 

I noticed that I am not getting any knock or knock retard with the updated software except one or two counts during startup. Is everything working ok with this or is my car just not getting any knock? What is everyone else seeing?

------------------
1987 GTA L98 MD8
355, TFS Heads, LT4 Hot Cam
My GTA

The Minnesota F-body Club

 

I'm seeing noticeably fewer knock events also. I'm not sure if this is indicative of Craigs' software, as I've been upgrading knock sensor, ESC module, newer MemCal/BIN; wiring connectors, etc.

 

I can get lots of knock counts on my car. It should be working OK. The knock counts are actually calculated at the ECM, and the running total from the ECM is transmitted to the interface/program. So the program doesn't do the counting...

 

Hey, thanks for the heads-up on the COM pokes, I need more insight like that! Have any other commands to dictate what the COM port settings are?

Thanks again...

 

Time to dial in some more timing then........ hehe.

------------------
1987 GTA L98 MD8
355, TFS Heads, LT4 Hot Cam
My GTA

The Minnesota F-body Club