I finally finished assembling my cable and connected it up to the car, loaded up Moates software, but when it tries to connect it just sits there. I am a little confused on exactly how I am supposed to be doing this. I have heard that I need a resistor for a MAF car, is that built into the cable, or do I need to do something extra. I checked all my connections and everything seems to be functioning properly.

Here is my set up:
'89 Iroc 350 TPI
Moates software (running in DOS)
Steve Ruse cable (connected to the two far right wires on the ALDL)
Toshibe P100 laptop

Thanks guys...

 

You need 10k resistir across pins A and B - this places the ECM into the diagnostic mode)

Which cable have you build. I have tried 3 different once but only one seemd to work for me - 2 resistor cable

Have you build it right?

My cable only works with the old Craig's software. Which one are you using?

Is COM1 working properly. Check it by running a program on a diskette from DOS that detect your com.

That is what I can suggest to you.

Good luck!

 

I got my cable from steve Ruse, (http://www.geocities.com/steve3034/cables.html) I don't know what style it is, it was the unassembled one that he said would work. I am going to go down to radio shack and get the resistor and try that. I believe everything is connected right, I doubled check them all.
Where can I get a program to check the com port?
Should I try and make the connection with the car running?
Which is the option to do the basic scans?
How long does it usally take to make a connection?

Thanks a lot! Sorry about the newbie questions.

 

Quick list of things to check in no particular order:

1) Make sure your CMOS setup on the laptop has the com port enabled, not as an IR/DA. This is pretty common as an issue.
2) Check for that 10K resistor.
3) Make sure you're getting flickering values of '00' and 'FC' right before you try and 'connect' with the program.
4) Make sure the connections are at the right places. Sometimes the 'M' connector has no wire in it and you need to go to 'E'. 'A' is ground.
5) A note on the 10K resistor: If you're not connecting to pin 'B' at the ALDL, you can't have a 10k installed since it has to go across A & B.

It should connect on the first try in 8.45, really. Might try one of the older versions also. You can do it with the ignition on or with the car running. Once you get connected, go with option '4' for calculated values display and try 'L' for toggling data disk logging. Then you can go back and look at your values later.

Hope this helps,
-Craig

 

Thanks for the help, but I am still having troubles. I am confused about the ALDL connection. I am wired into the top and bottom far right wires. (How do you read it by letter?) Which two should the resistor be across?

My com port checks out ok. I am not getting any flickering values. I select 4, and it says
"Sending request: 80-56-1-29 Receiving echo/response:"
After awhile it says
"Last byte from com port: 0" (or something like that)

Thank you again!:hail:

 

Hmm, the layout is:


EDCBA
GHKLM

or something like that.

10k should be across A & B, ground should go to A, and data should go to M or E (look for connector in the hole).

Hope this helps some more...

 

Hmmm, well I am currently wired into A and M, guess that is where my problem is. Thanks again, time to go do some rewiring.

 

Do you know what your BAUD rate is? If its like mine and is 8192 you need to make a interface card. I am making mine now(cost about 15 bucks to make yourself) I have tried hooking directly to a Laptop through the A/B M ports and have not read anything. The interface acts like a buffer to allow the 2 comps to talk properly.

I did a search on ALDL Interface and got my circuit board design.

 

My com port is running at 9600 bps, I don't know how to find the baud rate. I have an interface card, a steve ruse one. I am going to try connecting through A-B instead of A-M like I am now.

 

A-B will give you the rouble codes. What comp fo you have the 7730? if so then your BUAD is 8192, and you need that BAUD interface WITH the MAX 232 or similar chip. Trust me I am in the process of going through this. The direct connection of the 10K resistor between A&B and read at E or M does not work on my comp either. I needed to build/buy this damn interface. 89 has got some amples of the MAX232 on the way so that saved me a few bucks. I can email you the diagram of the ALDL Interface if you want when I get home.

 

At this point, I'm going to bow out and refrain from further dialogue.

 

Ok, I am in over my head here... I am getting confused. If I need this other interface then what did I pay $45 for?

I connected to A-B, does nothing with the car on-not running. With or with-out the resistor in place. No flicker on the screen, doesn't do anything new other than what I mentioned. I started the car, got erratic RPMs, and random flashing from the SES light.

Its a stock (computer wise) '89 MAF TPI so it would be the 165 ECM.

Here is the cable I am using http://www.geocities.com/steve3034/cables.html The cable kit unassembled. Did I get the wrong thing?

Thanks again... I am just excited to get into this, it is so frustrating. Plz don't give up on me Craig...

 

Ok you have the 165 comp which means you have the 160 BAUD rate. You want your DATA hook up to PIN E. You want the power lead on B and the Ground ON A(I may have the A&B mixed up but anyway. do a search on ALDL INTERFACE, it will bring you to a page that shows you how to connect the 10K resistor between A&B and what PINS to solder those feed wires into the SERIAL PORT CONNECTOR that goes into your laptop.

me and RS are using CARCHAT. I like it. Sad to say that even if you know nothing about soldering of connectors you could spend 15 bucks and make that connector that you just spent 45 bucks on.

I will email RS and have him post the directions that we did to make the one for his '165 comp. The one for his car works just fine and costed maybe 7 bucks to make.

 

Heres the pic of the connector(but you already know what it looks like) If you connect A&B without the resistor, you will get the error codes from the comp. The SES will flash when you have the key to the "on" position. DO NOT START THE CAR, YOUR ECM WILL NOT LIKE IT.

With the resistor there, and the "E" pin hooked up it will go into DIAG mode and feed INFO OUT. now the thing is to make sure your SERIAL connections are right. 5 is ground, I think 2 is data and I forget the other. I will have RS post.

 

yeah dood

this is the circuit..
http://w1.601.telia.com/~u60113744/s...dl/winaldl.htm

it costs liek 7 bucks ...

if ur camaro is 90 or earlier ..(i think)

that circuit works 100% its pin E 160 baud its slow...but it works ..pin M 8192 ill work with that this week and see if i can make it to work (my car has both connectors..) but hunters has only the 8192.. so go out and see if u ahve a coneector in PIn E if it exists download the software and build that circuit and it should work..

w/o the 10K in place ull not read much data and it wont translate itll still show raw data..but with the 10K in place ull read fine(watch out dont put any other resistor in there it basically selects the modes)