I'm having problems getting your program to link up. I have tried every thing I can think of and done a search on the board, But I still need help. When I "keep hitting the 1 key" all I get is a "sending request: 80-56-1-29" And at the bottom of the screen "last bit from com port:0" And the data LED I have in the converter will blink for a minute, then stop. I'm using the 2 transistor circuit with a 1N4001 as the diode, two 2N2222 transistors, and three1k resistors (I tried it with 10k resistors first and had the same results). I have tried with and with out the 10k resistor at A and B. I have turned the heater controls and radio off (should not be RFI at this point). Now the steps I have take so fair. I tried re-downloading the program, same results. I have check the COM port with hyper-terminal, checked good. If I disconnect the converter form the car (and leave to connected to the laptop) then "keep pressing 1" I get a "Receiving Echo/Response:80,56,1,29 (and of course no linkup). I have disconnected the converter form the computer and ONE time got a "No link, try again CKSum:0/64", but I only got that once. I have gone in to Device Manager" and turned all but the COM1 port off, then re-checked with Hyper-Terminal (having the converter connected to the laptop but not the car), again tested good, but the program still will not link. I have gone through every step in the trouble shooting tips I found at AKM's web site. The computer will talk to my Auto-Xray. What Have I missed. The car (the one in the sig.) has the stock computer and a JET stage two chip. Thanks for all the help and I can't wait to start burning.

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Now I HAVE_A_Z
89 IROC 350 TPI

 

I need to put together a FAQ list...

Here's what I'd try in order:
1) Check your CMOS setup on the PC and make sure COM-1 is properly enabled.
2) Try booting MS-DOS or Win95 MS-DOS reboot.
3) Quadruple-check your circuit, especially at the car. Check for proper power supply.
4) Get a 1N4148, maybe the 4001 is OK, don't know. Check for continuity throughout.
5) Scratch head. Try another PC.
6) Try the MAX-233 circuit.

You ought to see the '00' and 'FC' values flicker prior to link attempt. If not, something's wrong with the com port config or the hardware.

Hope this helps...
-Craig

 

Well, just as a little bit of info on this kind of problem. If you've done a search on this kind of problem, I'm sure you have seen my name pop up. I had all kinds of problems with getting Craig's Scantool Software on my laptop (Toshiba Satellite Pro 400CS - pretty old) to get linked up and stay linked up, until I came to the conclusion that my laptop just cannot sustain the connection when the battery gets below around 50% capacity. I'm sure that this is due to the battery being old and worn out. But basically it works perfectly when the battery is freshly charged and stays linked up until it runs down lower then 50% - then it kind of locks up the scanning program. I have used a power inverter to remedy this problem and when I use the inverter to power the laptop, it will stay linked for ever.

Now, you are not using the MAX-232 converter that I am, but that may or may not be the problem. And of course, your problem doesn't sound like it is exactly the same as mine, but you may want to make sure that the laptop is completely charged up and see if that helps it link up. It may be worth it to see if the state of charge of the battery has any effect on the problem.

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

The Minnesota F-body Club

 

Thanks, I really appreciate the help. Craig, I’ll check the CMOS and try booting in MS-DOS. I’ve check the circuit and even run a square wave (0-5v, 0-12v) through the circuit and wave stay good and square up to 22Mhz. At 22Khz the distortion is minimal and stays minimal till around 34Khz. I use the 1N4001 just because had one handy and from the test it seems to be a good sub. I’ll see if I can borrow a friends PC. I have put a MAX232 on order, but I see that some people are having good luck with the two transistor circuit, I’m just not one of them. If this doesn’t work I’ll wait for the MAX232. Matt, I did see your problem and should have included that I have try with the ac adapter (car just idling out side the house). Thank for the help.!.!.!

[This message has been edited by NEEDAZ (edited November 27, 2001).]

 

I've never had success using windows yet. It only works if I boot with DOS.

 

I had a nightmare trying to link up too. I tried everything. I did finally get it using a WIN95 boot disk BUT I don't think that was the main problem.

I went to my mechanic who helps me out and he got me a new(re-manufactured) ECM at no charge. That was it, linked on the first shot! For some reason when I treid to start the car with it linked up the ECM blew but that might have something to do with the 12V source off the AKM cable being on too long or something but not sure yet. Either way I'm getting yet another ECM to try again.

The ECM that's in the car now runs the car fine but will NEVER link. If you can get another ECM to try without spending bucks I'd try that before going too crazy. You never know, it just might work, it did for me.

[This message has been edited by ryn28 (edited November 27, 2001).]

 

Thanks for the input black87c4 and ryn28. Well I tried rebooting the computer in MS-DOS with no luck. The computer is only 3 months old (remanufactured 7165), I know I know, new doesn’t mean good, so I’ll look into swapping the computer (but my auto-xray will link????). I’m having a hard time finding a friend that will let me plug my circuit in to their laptop. (That could be read two ways ). I will make a boot disk up and give that a try.

Didn’t I read a post where someone had to put a +5V supply to one of the pins on the RS232 port to get one of the scan programs to work? Dose anyone have any info on this? I’m willing to give anything a try at this point. When I get this up and running I’ll have to put an FYI post up with all I’ve tried and what I found. Maybe help someone else that is having a similar problem out down the road.

 

The +5v power supplied to the DSR pin trick might work if you were getting a flickering "Last Byte Read" other than 00 and FC, but since you are getting zero, I'd bet it won't work for you. Works for my Thinkpad 755C though.

 

WOW!!!! Got it working last night! Great program Craig! I didn’t get a chance to play with it to long but what a good program. Well, last night I dragged the o-scope out to the car to see what was going on. I looked at the data coming out from the car and right away saw the problem. My data 5V was getting pulled down to 3.6V (WTF??). I looked at the circuit and added a 4.7K resistor in series with the 10K on the base of the car to computer transistor. Still a little low so I took the LED out of the circuit and, BAM!!!! Now I’ll put together A check list of all the things I found and been told to check and post it as an FYI. Thanks to all for the help, and especially to Craig for the grate work on this FREE program for all of us.

 

I"m using a two transistor interface with an LED on an 87 IROC-Z. once I built the circuit it linked up fine. if anyone is interested on seeing my schematic let me know and I can email it since I don't have it up on the web page. ANY transistor will do as long as it's a General Switching transistor. hell it can even be a general switching/amplyfing transistor and it will work. just be careful how many diodes you put in the circuit because eventually you will lose your meager +5V. I didn't use the diode in the 2 transistor as it appears to be perfectly useless.

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1987 IROC-Z T-Tops wait... GUTTED MAF!