Sorry that this will be a little long....hoping some of you young guys can help an old fella out.
I'm finishing a 3 year project to restore my 85 vette from the frame up...now I'm to the point where I'm ready to drive it, but it's not running too well. During the restoration, I had to replace a lot of the old wiring, and in the process, converted my '870 ecm to a '165. Now, when I'm trying to scan the ECM, I'm having troubles. Being 60 years old, electronics remains a mystery to me, and I'm hoping some of you young guns can help me out. I can't get any software, or my OTC 4000e to connect to the ecm. I've checked all the voltages at the ecm connector, and they match what I've found on ChevyThunder.com, but nothing connects. The cable passes all the datamaster cable tests, and datamaster sees the ecm as a 160 PCM, but won't sync. Neither does tunerprort, freescan, or moates 852. WINALDL will not connect with the 10K resistor, but will connect and spit out data with A&B in 0.0K mode, or as WINALDL calls it "Diagnostic" mode. I have collected data in this mode (but only at idle in my garage), and I can see where it goes to closed loop, the O2 reacts as it seems it should, but the INT and BLM numbers are strange. The INT numbers fluxuate in open loop all over the place, but in closed loop, they settle out to around 92-96...the BLM numbers are at 108 across the board, rather in open loop, or closed loop. everything else reads ok, from what I've read..IAC counts are about 40, maf is about 7-8 gps...funny thing though, I can adjust the TPS from .54 to about .72, and the BLM numbers will jump to 128, and seem to be more in line with what I would like to see.
Sorry this is so long. Hoping you can help an old man out...I'd like to figure this thing out, before I'm too old to drive it!!
If you have ANY suggestions as to why this ecm won't connect please let me know. I feel like it's something in the wiring, but I can't figure this one out....

 

Good to hear you have it all back together. What year is the 165 ECM? More important is what year is the PROM / MEMCAL in the ECM? All of the 1986 - 1988 PROMs I have come across WILL NOT connect at 8192 (non-WINALDL) speed. The 1989 PROMs I use will connect at 8192 (the 10K resistor) Datamaster, TunerPro mode.

Since it reading with WINALDL at 160 baud. I am betting that the PROM is older than 1989. From memory, the ECM wants the TPS at less than .60 volts at closed throttle / idle. It is probably entering different code when you adjust it higher. Someone else will have to verify.......it has been a while since I used the 165 ECMs.

 

Well, I'm trying to use an ARAP $6E code, I've programmed on a 128 chip...seems to work, but no connect....I suspect it's something with my conversion, but it can't be too bad, as the car actually runs, just not too well....

 

Yes, the $6E should connect right up. The check engine light comes on with the ignition on, engine off........and then stays off when the engine is running?

 

yep, light blinks, then stays off, unless I get a code....just cleared up a code 23, so I would assume by that, that the ecm is working correctly....but we all know what assuming is....