Ok, I keep hearing about a free scanning software by Craig Moate that I can get. Everyone that keeps telling me about says I obviously need a cable that goes from the ALDL box to the PC. They said I can buy one for about $100 or I could make my own. My question is how? Is there a tech article somewhere on how to make your own cable? If so, I'd like to know where it's at. Also, where can I get the free software?

Another thing... what can I learn from this scanning while the car is sitting still and running? The reason I ask is because right now I don't have a laptop and can't afford even a cheap one and I was thinkin' about setting my desktop outside and running an extension cord to scan the car. I'd appreciate any help/advice. Thanks in advance.

------------------
1986 Trans AM
355 TPI
4 Wheel Disc Brakes
9 bolt Borg Warner Rear (2.77's....oh joy) :P
6" rods, approx. 9.7:1 Compression, Stock TPI (soon to be ported), 24#/hr LTI injectors (cleaned and flowmatched by Cruizin Performance), Hedman Shorty Headers, 3" exhaust with 80 series flowmaster, SBC 993 heads completely redone and modified for 1.6 RR, 1.52 RR (for now), Comp Cams XE262-14 TPI Cam, Holley AFPR, TPIS airfoil, MSD wires, MSD 6-AL Ignition, Hypertech 53,000 volt coil.

Track times to come.

You can make your own interface for roughly $5, the two-transistor deal. Do a search, the link will pop up. Look for "Andy Whittaker ALDL" and it'll be there. It works.

If you want to take the show on the road, put your PC in the back seat and get a power inverter, probably $30-40 off Ebay or one of the local CompUSA or something. Don't get it at RadioShack! If you're bent to stay 'on the porch', you can still learn some things, you can get your initial injector sizing right and look for serious issues, assuming you can get into closed loop with the cold weather and all. Of course, the program will tell you the state of the system.

By the way, the 2-transistor circuit is very easy to do, should be able to get all but the 1N4148, and that should be available in stock at a local electronics supply outfit.

Best of luck,
-Craig

Thanks... i was looking at a couple diagrams last night and was beginning to figure things out but it was 3am so I was getting too tired to think hard. I'll have to do a search that you were talkin' about and see if that's the link I've been too. The one I was looking at last night uses the MAX232 chip. I'll find this other link. Thanks

Oh yeah... where can I get your software?? I guess that's most important... even if I make the cable I can't exactly do anything without the software.

------------------
1986 Trans AM
355 TPI
4 Wheel Disc Brakes
9 bolt Borg Warner Rear (2.77's....oh joy) :P
6" rods, approx. 9.7:1 Compression, Stock TPI (soon to be ported), 24#/hr LTI injectors (cleaned and flowmatched by Cruizin Performance), Hedman Shorty Headers, 3" exhaust with 80 series flowmaster, SBC 993 heads completely redone and modified for 1.6 RR, 1.52 RR (for now), Comp Cams XE262-14 TPI Cam, Holley AFPR, TPIS airfoil, MSD wires, MSD 6-AL Ignition, Hypertech 53,000 volt coil.

Track times to come.

I started this project a couple days ago, I got the diagram for the MAX232 config from http://members.tripod.com/moatesenhe...ecm/index.html by clicking on the "max232.jpg" link. If I didn't have an extreme love for electronics I would have sent for a complete kit from some company, but with my curiosity I headed over to Radio Shack ("You've got questions, we've got blank stares.") to buy the stuff. Well I found that they only had about 3 of the things I needed, so I sent in an order for the rest of the stuff, should be here in a week. You'd probably be better off ordering the electronical parts from someone other than Radio Shack, sometimes I don't think they could organize a two horse caravan ... So with that in mind I doubt I'll actually get what I want in the mail in a week... But once I get it built I'll expand a howto and take lots of pictures!

Later, Tony

I'm building the two transistor cable myself. No Max232 chip involve... MUCH simpler. Only reuires 2 transistors, 4 resistors, a diode, and the 9 pin serial connector. I got the resistors, diode, and serial connector at radio shack but I'm gonna have to order the two transistors. By the time I get the cable done I'll probably have already bought an auto xray scanner.

------------------
1986 Trans AM
355 TPI
4 Wheel Disc Brakes
9 bolt Borg Warner Rear (2.77's....oh joy) :P
6" rods, approx. 9.7:1 Compression, Stock TPI (soon to be ported), 24#/hr LTI injectors (cleaned and flowmatched by Cruizin Performance), Hedman Shorty Headers, 3" exhaust with 80 series flowmaster, SBC 993 heads completely redone and modified for 1.6 RR, 1.52 RR (for now), Comp Cams XE262-14 TPI Cam, Holley AFPR, TPIS airfoil, MSD wires, MSD 6-AL Ignition, Hypertech 53,000 volt coil.

Track times to come.

Check your local electronics supply places, just look in the yellow pages under 'electronics parts'. They're much more knowledgable and more helpful that RatShack, and can get anything you want. Have a lot more items on hand.

Yeah the two transistor design is much easier, but as I said before I love playing with junk and I'd be afraid I'd do the easier one too quick and then be bored the rest of the day I'm probably gonna end up buying the scantool and software that EASE electronics has, kinda pricey ($315) but it looks to have every single bit of information that anyone could ever want to know.

I saw the two transisor desighn but, I am not 100% sure as to where to put the terminals for GM. he says it is for the lotus espirit and that you may need to add two diodes with a resistor to make it reliable. where at for one? and like I said what goes where does some one have this drawing for the GM ? I hate to be asking this but, I really don't know and would like to know what really works

Hi folks. If anyone wants a copy of the schematic I used for the 2 transistor interface let me know. and you don't have to have the specific transistors that are mentioned any general switching transistor will work.

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

Yeah sure, I wouldn't mind seeing it, I'm currently building the MAX232 config but I'd like to see what the two-transistor setup is all about. And it may clear up the earlier question as to the placement of the two diodes after the base of the transistor. Thanks!

I would also like to see this too!

btt

Would Moates' software work with the one transistor cable used with Jonas' software? I wouldn't mind building a second or third cable, but if it'll work with the one I already have, that would be alright.

ttt

Sorry guys! I was expecting email from you all so I never rechecked this thread. WHen I get home I'll post a picture of the schematic. I didn't use any diodes just 3 resistors and 2 transistors and an LED.

In a word...no.

double post..

You can find the link here.
http://turboesprit.tripod.com/ALDL_Cable/index.html





And Rat Shack carrys 3904 transistors. Have built several cables, one for the car, the other for my ECM bench and both work great. All in all 5 bucks in parts.

Well like I promised here's a picture of the schematic with a couple of my own modifications (Removal of Diodes, addition of an LED and addition of self powered instead of external)




and here is a picture of it all completed boxed up and done




If anyone is interested I could build one for a modest price contact me at my email and we'll talk about it.

Oh, keep in mind the schematic Saturn posted is for an esprit so your ALDL won't have a +12v power. You'll have to get it from pin4 on the serial port (it's actually +5v).

Oh wow.. That post was from a good while ago.. I've come a long way, lol.

lol, it sure was! I just saw it again and figured I'd finish posting.

Could you rehost the pics so they come up? Or send me an email maybe. Thanks.