ECU won't speek to me

[Thunderroad]

I'm kind of hoping that I'm doing something fundamentally wrong here, like not turning something on, so i have included a couple of pictures so all you "techno guru's" out there can chuckle to yourselves and marvel at how crap i am at stuff that your all pretty good at!

"So why has he embarked on such a task, if he knows hes crap at it"! I here you ask..... Well, i'm not really sure?..... BUT, if people like me didn't do things like this.......... Erm...... Well....... Probably, a lot less things would get broke!.... But i've started it now and i'm determined to conquer it!....... So someone, please help me!!!!

So, this is what i have done so far:
1. Got old laptop with xp on it and downloaded the diagnostics software from the website.
2. Got a usb to RS232 cable and connected usb to laptop and RS232 directly onto ecu PCB. (The ecu does have a little female 2pin 8 inch long lead coming out of it but i don't have the male connection for it).
3. Turned laptop on and started the diagnostics software (as in photo).
4. Pressed the black start button on steering wheel ( ignition lights come on, no change on laptop screen).
5. Pressed button on keyfob (mil light comes on, no change in laptop screen).
6. Started engine under bonnet somewhere (loads of noise, neighbours complain that its 1030 and the kids are in bed, pressed red button on steering wheel but managed to notice still no change on laptop screen).

I have included the second picture of the ecu in the hope that someone who has seen a few of these may nottice if something is not right, this is the only one i have ever seen so i can't really compare it to anything else.
I was wondering if the white sticker on the eprom may indicate that the eprom had been changed.
Or maybe to the trained eye there is something here that stands out as "not original" which may explain why the ecu and software won't connect?

[Thunderroad]

Second picture didn't upload, also forgot to say the car is a 4.2 1996.
Many thanks.

[pmessling]

I think you have to change the comm settings for the USB port to get it to work if I remember correctly.

[pmessling]

Bit of googling and you have to make sure that the usb is set to comm1 something that the software is programmed for.

[Jabbah]

You need special cable wired like this:

http://www.mbesystems.com/Mapping_Lead_Picture.gif

You don't need the resistors, but pin 1 on the ECU side needs to be connected to pin 5 on the PC side to enable comms on the ECU.

Then as pmessling says, you need to change the USB serial adapter to be COM 1 as the software will only connect to COM 1. Alternatively do a search for EvoOli's software which will let you choose the COM port and is more stable than the official TVR software.

[Tanguero]

The original software will let you switch between COM1 and COM2, you need to press one of the function keys, F7 I think off the top of my head.

[Juddder]

Yes it sounds like the guys above are right - it listens on COM1: by default

To change that in the USB settings you have to follow this little guide (section 2 is how I did it)

http://cedrus.com/support/rb_series/tn1045_usbport...

You might need a reboot too for it to take effect

[Thunderroad]

BINGO !!!!!!

WOW, thats great, i would never have been able to do that without your help!
You were all correct, many thanks to all of you for responding!
Great link Judder, I followed the steps in the second paragraph and it all burst into life!
Just got to work out what it all means now!