ECU connection

[volospian]

Right, I'm having a hard time of this... I have a nice new 9pin male to 9pin female null modem cable, a laptop with a 9pin serial set to com1, 8,N,1,4800 running XP. I have both the new and the old software (why does it log you out when you close the app ) and have pressed f10 and checked the serial settings... and I still can't connect.

My thinking now is that, being an early car, it may have the earlier version of the ECU that, I believe, requires the cable detailed in the diagram in the old software folder.

Anybody think that sounds feasible?

Anybody got any other ideas?

[longbow]

I assume you've turned the 'ignition' on and disarmed the immobiliser?

[volospian]

Yeah, even started the engine. Nada

[mikesr]

No the early cars work just fine with a null modem cable. The resistors don't contribute to the handshaking between PC and ECU at all.

All the tuning and mapping work that Trackcar does is with standard cables.

[andyoleary]

Not sure why it's not working for you, have you tried changing the baud rate to 9600? Also, if you hold down CTRL+A when closing the software, it prevents the restart/log-off issue.

Andy

[Byker28i]

I've an early car (97 4.2) and it works fine with a standard serial, via a usb convertor.

Make sure your serial port is set to Com1 - it makes life easier.

[marcus1970]

volospian said:

Right, I'm having a hard time of this... I have a nice new 9pin male to 9pin female null modem cable, a laptop with a 9pin serial set to com1, 8,N,1,4800 running XP. I have both the new and the old software (why does it log you out when you close the app ) and have pressed f10 and checked the serial settings... and I still can't connect.

My thinking now is that, being an early car, it may have the earlier version of the ECU that, I believe, requires the cable detailed in the diagram in the old software folder.

Anybody think that sounds feasible?

Anybody got any other ideas?

Have you tried pressing F5 a couple of times?

MB

[volospian]

andyoleary said:

Not sure why it's not working for you, have you tried changing the baud rate to 9600? Also, if you hold down CTRL+A when closing the software, it prevents the restart/log-off issue.

Andy

I've tried it at all speeds, and I've set the baud rate on the PC itself to match, and 115k and all speeds in between

[volospian]

Byker28i said:

I've an early car (97 4.2) and it works fine with a standard serial, via a usb convertor.

Make sure your serial port is set to Com1 - it makes life easier.

Yep, set to com 1

I know the serial port itself works OK as I was using the laptop to talk to a Cisco router before I unplugged it to use on the car.

[volospian]

marcus1970 said:

Have you tried pressing F5 a couple of times?

MB

Yep, tried that as well

I found a whole thread on here about it and have tried pretty much everything suggested. I must be missing something though...

[andyoleary]

Is it possible that the port is tied up doing something else and your notebook wont release the port for the diag software? Long shot....not even sure if this is a feasible scenario...have you re-started the notebook? (of course you have....)

Andy

[Tanguero]

Is anything else sharing the same IRQ as your com1 port? Typicaly a com3 will by default even if it is not a physical port on the machine. Try disabling all other com ports in the BIOS and Device Manager and look for any IRQ conflicts. This has been an issue for me in the past.

HTH

[andyoleary]

Type devmgmt.msc in the "run" box (within the start menu) and expand your ports (Com & Lpt) section of the tree. I think if it shows Com1 being used in there already then you might well have a conflict. Another option is to buy an RS232 to USB adaptor (I got one from Maplins), install the software and let Windows manage the port allocation itself. Worked fine for me...I don't have a serial port on my notebook.

Sorry can't help any further, hope you get it sorted,

Andy

[volospian]

Tanguero said:

Is anything else sharing the same IRQ as your com1 port? Typicaly a com3 will by default even if it is not a physical port on the machine. Try disabling all other com ports in the BIOS and Device Manager and look for any IRQ conflicts. This has been an issue for me in the past.

HTH

Hmmm, don't think so, but I'll have a look around.

[volospian]

andyoleary said:

Type devmgmt.msc in the "run" box (within the start menu) and expand your ports (Com & Lpt) section of the tree. I think if it shows Com1 being used in there already then you might well have a conflict. Another option is to buy an RS232 to USB adaptor (I got one from Maplins), install the software and let Windows manage the port allocation itself. Worked fine for me...I don't have a serial port on my notebook.

Sorry can't help any further, hope you get it sorted,

Andy

I have already checked if the port is being held open by attempting to run hyperterm when the ecu software was running. HT told me that com1 was in use. Then I shut the software down (logged back on ) and just opened hyperterm, which happily connected to the com port, so it doesn't look like anything is hogging the port, and it looks like the software is grabbing the port correctly when I open it.

I may have to get a USB to serial converter and use my other laptop, see if that helps.

[andyoleary]

Sheesh...you must be pulling your hair out now then, you've pretty much tried everything I reckon! Either it is something ridiculously simple or it just aint gonna work

I'm stumped mate, hope you get it sorted though, good luck!

Andy

[JensenA]

Seems like you've tried everything, so how about trying another seial cable, you, never know. Oh dont tel me! You'e treid that too

[andyoleary]

Or you could try a different car? Seriously though, could it be the connection between the ECU and the flying lead or even the terminals in the flying lead connector - could they be at fault?

That's my last ditch....

Andy

[Byker28i]

Whereabouts are you. Is there anyone else nearby could help?

[volospian]

JensenA said:

Seems like you've tried everything, so how about trying another seial cable, you, never know. Oh dont tel me! You'e treid that too

lol, no I haven't. I manage an IT department and I can't find one poxy serial cable in the whole building. What is the world comming to??

I had to order it from a supplier.

I'll maybe make up a probe this weekend and check the actual cable itself, make sure there's no broken connections or anything.