ECU Software? (again!)

[THE BIG DOG]

Well I have read all the threads and took my PC out to the car hooked her up and can not for love or money get the bleeding thing to connect!
Yes I have tried all the COM ports etc.
Yes I have the car switched on.
Every single way that has been posted.
Now just to make sure, am I using the correct cable!
I brought one like this. Its a USB 2.0 to 9 pin RS232 COM Port Serial Adapter/Cable sold Via Ebay - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/USB-2-0-to-9-pin-RS232-COM-P...

The only thing possible left for me to think was I have brought the wrong lead? 4hrs later no joy!
So, before I make a call and kick her little backside all the way to Dulfords would anyone know where I may have gone wrong?

[alinton]

I was using my old laptop which had a serial port last weekend to tune the car.

On the fifth run, I came back into the drive and drove over the laptop. So I tried using my new laptop, which doesn't have a serial port, with a cable as you describe, USB to 9-pin serial.

But it just connected and disconnected repeatedly - useless.

I think those adaptors are a pain in the ar$e to use with the MBE software.

So I went on Ebay and bought an old model Toshiba laptop, with serial port, for 45 quid. Came today. Perfect.

Result!

A.

[AlVal]

alinton said:

I was using my old laptop which had a serial port last weekend to tune the car.

On the fifth run, I came back into the drive and drove over the laptop. So I tried using my new laptop, which doesn't have a serial port, with a cable as you describe, USB to 9-pin serial.

But it just connected and disconnected repeatedly - useless.

I think those adaptors are a pain in the ar$e to use with the MBE software.

So I went on Ebay and bought an old model Toshiba laptop, with serial port, for 45 quid. Came today. Perfect.

Result!

A.

probably didnt have the baud rate correct, or some older software demands that the port be of the "com1" or "com2" format, some can't handle com3 or other variations which dont use standard com1/com2 interrupts/irqs

[alinton]

Nope, I know about this sort of stuff, and the com, baud, irq, etc all correct.

A.

[Byker28i]

Do you have the imobiliser off, i.e. pressed the button. That was my mistake. You don't just switch on the ignition.

I use a usb to serial and it works fine for me. I just moved my com ports around so it was always Com1.

[Byker28i]

Which version of ecu software do you have? Have you tried both?

[jonbarrett]

I bought a copy of the software from ebay and could not get it to work. Then i downloaded a copy from the internet, chose the version with yellow car back ground and bingo. I'm using a pure serial to serial cable. I've never tried serial to usb but would avoid any form of conversion if possible.

So, borrow a laptop with pure serial, get a standard serial cable, and try different versions of the software. I tried all this and when I got the right mix it burst into life immediately.

I have found that during a run, the laptop will sometimes loose its connection for no reason.

By the way, it's facinating to watch as it works.

[Byker28i]

The software is here:
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/dave.hinns/software.h...

I run the newer software.

[THE BIG DOG]

Byker28i said:

Do you have the imobiliser off, i.e. pressed the button. That was my mistake. You don't just switch on the ignition.

I use a usb to serial and it works fine for me. I just moved my com ports around so it was always Com1.

Yep, imobilliser is off. Even had the car running and no joy! Though its sure is chomping on alot of fule!!

I have not been using laptop. I chucked our whole desk top in the car and get no joy. Only thing left is to get my hands on a 9pin - 9pin lead.
Only thing left I can think of I've not done yet

[Byker28i]

I made my own lead - really easy, when I was having problems. In the end I mailed it to someone on here as the one supplied and fitted to the car worked OK.

[THE BIG DOG]

I just brought a the male / male rs232 cable.(.39p)Bargain!
I think the USB vs 9pin might be the problem.
Will chuck the desktop back in the car when I get it via the post around Tuesday'ish

Just wondering why she is guzzling the fuel (Tis a bit rich) and now starting to show signs of lumpieness around 2k'ish
Just been out in the rain and her bum stays very tight and given it a coupl of blips to see it I could make her bum wag but nowt.
I have been reading my handbook and I have a section about Hydratrak.Will this limit the amout of tail movement? Or have I realy lost that much GUMPH?
And please, no I'm not try to missuse my car I only wants to get to know the car so I don't leave myself wide open to make a mistake.
Thanks again all