ecu lead thingy question: hardly tedious at all

[nervous]

now i know that, like me, this post is old and dull (and somewhat ironic after earlier postings last week) but i cant seem to make the ecu lead work with my laptop. i have the software installed, and i have the correct lead (mine is the one that goes from the serial port to the fly lead beside the ecu, not inside). and i know the lead is OK cos it was kindly gifted to me by the dealer and i saw it working on my car. but when i plug it in its just saying 'error unable to open serial port' or something like 'no connection found' or 'no car connected' or something.

so what am i not doing? do i need drivers or summat? i cant find anything in the help files.

and, i know i deserve it, but if we could bypass all the 'well, you can buy it on ebay' jokes, that'd be great.

got a mil light and a running problem and really want to be able have a look see before i get it low loadered all the way to my dealer, especially if its just a wet lambda sensor like it was last time.

any help you could offer would be greatly appreciated.

if it helps, my laptop is a Compaq nx9005.

best wishes,
N.

>>> Edited by nervous on Wednesday 20th April 16:23

[whitey]

Is the software the same for the speed 6 engine as for the AJP V8?

[nervous]

i dunno, when i was at the dealer, they had the software running on a computer and it looked like the same user screen and stuff to me. i don't think he was running a different programme for my car, though that is a possibility? anyone know?

[Steve_T]

Sounds more likely to be a configuration issue on the laptop to me.

[nervous]

ok, erm... how do i fix that?

[redleicester]

Buy a V8.

[Julian64]

did you press the 'on' button in the car. I only ask this because I often forget.

[nervous]

yep, i have trying it with the engine running.

[Steve_T]

You may need to configure the COM port on the laptop to the right baud rate (speed), number of stop bits etc. If both sides (ECU and laptop) do not agree on how they talk to each other, then nothing happens.

Steve.

[nervous]

bit rate at 9600, that ok?

[Steve_T]

I don't have the settings, I can only talk in general terms I'm afraid. I'd suggest you need to find a friendly dealer or independent with the software configured. Also, I don't know if the software requires a particular operating system on which to run.

Steve.

[nervous]

thanks steve.

anyone got any additional suggestions? (on this subject, not my haircut)

[Mark Adams]

The software ONLY uses COM1. It has to be a proper on-board serial port, or PCMCIA one - not a stinking pile'O'pooh USB adaptor.

It is the same software for S6 and V8 motors, as long as you have all the config files present.

[nervous]

ok thats what ive got, and ive checked and the port is enabled (im told they can sometimes be turned off). so what am i doing wrong? grrrr!!!

[Julian64]

I think you can actually tell it to be com2. But it def defaults to com1.

This is gonna be a tricky one. All the advice so far should have sorted you.

You don't have a modem in the laptop do you?

[nervous]

god, maybe, possibly. how would i know if i had? up until recently i was on a dial up account, but weve just switched to bt broadband (other suppliers are also available) and that has an external modem thingy, so does that mean i do? why? im afraid im a bit thick at all this stuff, sorry.

[Steve_T]

To go back to Mark's point - do you have all the configuration files present?

[nervous]

how would i know if i didn't? other than it wouldn't work? i have everything i was given when a kindly soul gifted me the software. anyone have a list of files i can check against, or is there a better way of doing this? I'm sorry gang, I'm really dumb when it comes to 'pooters (and women) (and basic geometry)

[tvr-fan]

[quote=Mark Adams]The software ONLY uses COM1. It has to be a proper on-board serial port, or PCMCIA one - not a stinking pile'O'pooh USB adaptor.

quote]

I have a usb adaptor and mine works fine!! yes you need to be configured to com port 1 or it wont work.
I made up my lead myself and absolutely no problems using my laptop.

[Julian64]

Okay, the modem is an important bit cos it sits over a com port and will effectively stop it functioning.

Look up your modem in either your control panel or hardware devices. Look to see how its configured.

Being a laptop, the modem could be

a) removable.
b) removable in bios.
c) or a winmodem and therefore removable in software.

If you have another computer then a simple null modem lead between two hyperterminals will prove the com ports working and free of interference.

YOU DO NOT NEED to configure the com port on a conventional (non USB) com port as the software does this automatically.

If all this confuses you then a slightly easier way is to find someone with a working system and look at theirs

If all this sounds like sandscrit, then, I'm afraid you are gonna need someone to set it up for you.

I'd offer, but Brands hatch is a long way from norfolk.