I recall reading in the carbytes documentation that you have access to the PROM section of the memory map with a scan tool, and that you could read in the entire PROM image with carbytes and the correct cable.

For some reason though, the author didn't really seem to grasp how profound this really is.. I think it would open a whole new world of BIN files to us if we could do that. Has anybody tried doing this? Did anyone read the section I read and think the same thing?

 

I wrote a program which has a function to do this for you. It works with the AKM-style interface. Some issue with the final bytes and a checksum, but that was all. If you want, I can refresh my memory on it and/or send you a copy of the software. I think you're right, it would provide a great opportunity to more efficiently collect the code from a variety of cars!
-Craig

 

that would be great. maybe it can be made available here on thirdgen? this should be a great way for us to get our hands on a wide variety of BINs.

Since you don't have to tamper with anything, it shouldn't be too hard to find people willing to let you plug in and download their prom images!

 

Hate to play the devil's advocate here...

But, "some issue with the final bytes and a checksum" is a big problem. We need BINs that are 100%. Missing a few bytes at the end could result in a major problem. However, with that said, if you are getting all the code from the fronthalf of the PROM(i.e. tables and constants) and missing part of the GM code in the second half of the PROM, then this procedure might be useful SOLELY for viewing the tables and constants. But, when all is said and done, 100% intact and true GM BIN files should be the only ones made available due to the fact that many people will use these BINs for the base images that they develop. This would be a very bad thing if certain parameters in the GM program at the end of the PROM were incorrect.

Tim

------------------
TRAXION's 1990 IROC-Z
Best Time = 12.587 @ 107.97mph (1.710 60ftr) on the long runner setup.
All Natural. No Force. No Drugs. Stock Bottom End. Stock Body Panels. Stock Wheels. No Weight Reduction.
Gunning for NA 11's with the MiniRam II and Hooker LT Headers.
-=ICON Motorsports=-
Moderator: PROM board at thirdgen.org

 

Is it just a debugging issue, or is there some hardware limitation preventing the last few bytes from going through correctly? Tim's right, it would do more harm than good to release imcomplete and/or corrupt BINs. Hopefully though, this technique can be made to work for the whole PROM data!

 

I'm sure its a debugging issue. I looked at the code comparison, and it's every 64th byte that got botched, not just the last one. I'm going to look into fixing the routine tonight. I'll make it available the instant I can verify it works properly. It's set-up for the MAF 165 right now, but you cound mod it for anything ele if you can do a little BASIC programming. It works with AKMattei-type interfaces.

I'll keep you posted ASAP.

 

Craig -

That's HOT! That would be -very- cool if you could get that worked out. Woohoo!

Tim

------------------
TRAXION's 1990 IROC-Z
Best Time = 12.587 @ 107.97mph (1.710 60ftr) on the long runner setup.
All Natural. No Force. No Drugs. Stock Bottom End. Stock Body Panels. Stock Wheels. No Weight Reduction.
Gunning for NA 11's with the MiniRam II and Hooker LT Headers.
-=ICON Motorsports=-
Moderator: PROM board at thirdgen.org

 

Definitely looks like it was the byte sequence I was pulling. Added some checksum rejection functionality to ensure accurate reads. Anyone have a MAX232 or 233 up & running to try out on an 86-89 MAF 165 setup? I'm gonna try a little bit more debug to make sure, but I'll post it for download this weekend.
-Craig

 

Please, anyone using the MAX232-type circuit, help me out. I need some beta-testing. Download the following:
http://members.home.net/craigmoates/E5.ZIP

Shold be pretty self-explanatory (E5.exe). Take a gander, I think it will effectively load up the contents of the EPROM in one form or another. I'm still cross-checking some BINs to see what the deal is. Anyways, it also makes a nice stand-alone, modifiable Diacom-like program. Tell me what you find and what you think.

Thanks! -Craig

 

OK, verified - definitely works. Problems were with my address indexing. It's set up for a default read of the MAF 165 27C128, from C000-FFFF. Uses ALDL mode-3. Used to use mode-2. That would work, too, but I got bored & tried the mode 3. Makes a perfect read of my stock ACXS1088 bin through the ALDL while the car's sittin in the carport with the key on. Flawless bin read through the ALDL! Has total C/S cross-check, so it'll be good.

HOWEVER, and this relates to a question I posted some time ago with respect to good chips...reading about any chip I've burned (AMD 150ns 27c128's) returns anomalous and consistent bytes (maybe 18 on the whole EPROM) that don't match the original bin. Maybe it's my chips, maybe the 'Pocket' programmer. I'll try some new chips, but I think this traces back to the problems I was having. The ECM is actually seeing some of the bytes in the EPROM as they were not originally intended to be. Any comments?

Somebody play with the software, and have some fun for God's sake!

By the way, who's going to shed some light on mode 4? Nobody ever talks about it, but they should!!!!! It looks hot... I can't make heads or tails of it yet, though.

-Craig

 

OK, strange bytes figured out. Tried using little 486-75 laptop instead of the C-450-o/c desktop with the Pocket-Programmer to burn a couple chips and guess what? Every byte reads accurately through the ALDL post-burn! Looks like the faster computers can have some problems burning chips with the PP, even if they verify.

 

Craig, good stuff! Im sure Trax can get up on the board as a download

as for the speed issue regarding programming, ive actually read about this in a few places and it doesnt just affect teh p.p. but most programmers. Ive been told to run a processor intensive program along with the eprom programming software if you ever run into problems like that. Winamp soaks up some good speed FYI

 

Craig ... Theoretically - can this program be configured to work for a 730?

Tim

------------------
TRAXION's 1990 IROC-Z
Best Time = 12.587 @ 107.97mph (1.710 60ftr) on the long runner setup.
All Natural. No Force. No Drugs. Stock Bottom End. Stock Body Panels. Stock Wheels. No Weight Reduction.
Gunning for NA 11's with the MiniRam II and Hooker LT Headers.
-=ICON Motorsports=-
Moderator: PROM board at thirdgen.org

 

Absolutely! I was thinking of externalizing all the protocols into *.cfg-type text, but since I only have a '165, I've thus far lacked motivation. But yeah... The 730's take 256k chips, right? So the code should reside from h$8000 to h$FFFF.

If I'm not mistaken, the ONLY change that would need to be made is the comm initiation trigger byte, which for the '165 is h$80, and for the '730 I think it'll need to be h$F4. If you poke around the code a little, it will become clear what I'm referring to. Try it and see, I'd love to hear about it working. If you need any assist, let me know.

 

Coo.

Whenever I get/make a cable I'll give it a try.

Tim

------------------
TRAXION's 1990 IROC-Z
Best Time = 12.587 @ 107.97mph (1.710 60ftr) on the long runner setup.
All Natural. No Force. No Drugs. Stock Bottom End. Stock Body Panels. Stock Wheels. No Weight Reduction.
Gunning for NA 11's with the MiniRam II and Hooker LT Headers.
-=ICON Motorsports=-
Moderator: PROM board at thirdgen.org

 

By the way, as if life wasn't complicated enough, I've found that to get the program to work, I need to modify the ALDL MAX232/233 design to supply +5vdc from the 7805 regulator to the #6(DSR) pin on the serial port. Any help in understanding 'why' would be appreciated, but it has thus far been the case.

 

I can't find the thread where someone here said they got free samples from MAXIM, but I just got mine and I can attest to the fact that it works! You don't even have to talk to anyone, just go to www.maxim-ic.com and fill out their request form. Ask for a catalog, CD, and samples of both MAX232CPE and MAX232ACPE (that way you get four chips total, they only give two of each part number requested Took a LONG time though, at least for me. Got the catalog ASAP, but it was about a month before the chips showed up. They were backordered on one of the samples apparently, because they shipped three initially and one a week later. I don't mind, now I have two anti-static carriers to put chips in!

 

WOw, who would have thought.
Now if you could address the extra memory in the CPU, you could write on the fly.
On some pcms like the 8625 this is possible. On the **updated** 730 they have an extra chip that can be written to.

For a while I was wondering if you were just talking about the C3s where there is program stuff in the ecm itself.

You have no idea how neat this sounds to me.

 

I hate being a dumba$$, but what's the MAX232 setup?

 

Don't hate it, after a while you'll embrace it like I do

Anyway the "MAX232" is a TTL-RS232 line driver IC. Its purpose as it relates to your car's ECM is, since the ALDL port under the dash has a TTL-level serial data line, and your PC's serial port expects to see an RS232-level signal, you need a converter between them to change the voltages. Lots of chips are available for this purpose, but the MAX232 is nice because you need only a bare-minimum number of external components in addition to the IC. And, as mentioned before, they can be had for *FREE* which is my favorite reason to use it

 

I wrote you off list and no reply, is there a problem?

 

As far as the updated 730 goes, is it the
8262? And if it is, am I reading correctly that this would be a good starting point for emmulation? I have no knowledge of running an emmulator, but it is something that might capture some of my free time over the next couple of months. -Matt-

 

Do you know if this could work with a flashed OBD1 computer? Im going to mess with it and see if I can get it to work with my 727 computer once im not so sick. Im also going to try a slower computer, since it has been having problems writing to my chips lately.

Thanks

 

Bad URL. Page Not Found...

I guess I'm missing something here...I've been using your prog(s) to download the BIN through an AKM cable since (my!) day 1...What does this new prog do???

Are you talking about programming the chip "in place"???

 

No, you've got it. The newest version is at
http://members.tripod.com/moatesenheimer/gmecm

Some folks have had some difficulty with the new version, others not. Works fine for me. No new functionality for programming in-situ or changing parameters on-the-fly yet.

-Craig

 

...???...

I've had that one for some time (since you requested volunteers to test it)...

What is this "E5.EXE"???

Am I replying to a months-old thread or something???

...I'm more confused than a blind lesbian in a tuna cannery...

(Update) Hey, this is from *last year*!!!

How'd this thread get back to the top?!?!?!?


[This message has been edited by Sarkee (edited December 02, 2001).]