ecu software and cable wont connect!
Discussion
ok then, to help my sort out my shotgun sounding issues ive got hold of the software and cable and latptop as well to see the problems
anyhow, the bloody thing wont connect, the cable i have is a standard male to female serial, is this the correct one? does it need to be modded in anyway??
i would search but its not working! :(
any help, once more , appreciated lol!!
GRant
anyhow, the bloody thing wont connect, the cable i have is a standard male to female serial, is this the correct one? does it need to be modded in anyway??
i would search but its not working! :(
any help, once more , appreciated lol!!
GRant
here we go, sorry guys !
its a 4.2 V8 Cerbera 97
connecting via the rs232 serial port inside the MBE
direct serial cable male to female
COM 3 (modem disabled in windows)
COM 1 running on IRQ4 and baud rate of 4200
fuel pump priming and car turned on!
GP
>> Edited by gcpeters on Monday 15th August 20:19
its a 4.2 V8 Cerbera 97
connecting via the rs232 serial port inside the MBE
direct serial cable male to female
COM 3 (modem disabled in windows)
COM 1 running on IRQ4 and baud rate of 4200
fuel pump priming and car turned on!
GP
>> Edited by gcpeters on Monday 15th August 20:19
There are two types of RS232 cables, one type has the data pins (2 & 3 on a 9Way D) swapped, the other type go sraight through. Not certain what type is required, perhaps someone else knows. If you don't use the right cable then it wont communicate.
Looks like straight through connection required from above post.
>> Edited by mike_e on Tuesday 16th August 08:51
Looks like straight through connection required from above post.
>> Edited by mike_e on Tuesday 16th August 08:51
still not working! what a nightmare
tried a straight through cable (numerous ones) and still no joy, ive taken out the network card and modem and still no joy!
tomorrows plans are....
1) re-install xp on the laptop with modem and net removed
2) test with another laptop just in case
3) get the offical MBE cable made up and try with that
is anyone local to bristol/bath with a laptop that we can try it out ????
also can someone send me a copy of the software (its only about 3mb) just in case somethings gone wrong/ missing there. My email is Grant.Peters@blueyonder.co.uk or Grant.Peters@gmail.com
anyhow, thanks again people...
GRant
tried a straight through cable (numerous ones) and still no joy, ive taken out the network card and modem and still no joy!
tomorrows plans are....
1) re-install xp on the laptop with modem and net removed
2) test with another laptop just in case
3) get the offical MBE cable made up and try with that
is anyone local to bristol/bath with a laptop that we can try it out ????
also can someone send me a copy of the software (its only about 3mb) just in case somethings gone wrong/ missing there. My email is Grant.Peters@blueyonder.co.uk or Grant.Peters@gmail.com
anyhow, thanks again people...
GRant
GreenV8S said:
Bits per second 9600
Data bits 8
Parity None
Stop bits 1
Flow control None
gcpeters said:
baud rate of 4200
You need to get the correct com settings otherwise it is unlikely to work regardless of the hardware.
Nope, the software sets up the com settings when it runs. It doesn't need you to adjust any com port settings. Apart from selecting which com port in the settings of course.
From an electronics perspective, a standard Asynchronous serial port (the kind that uses a 9-way 'D' connector), is usually configured in hardware to work at 9600 baud, 8 data bits, no parity and 1 stop bit.
Just by default that's the way hardware engineers do RS-232. Your PC can handle all of the alternatives, but you only usually need them when communicating with other high end computers. Its a bit like holding a knife in your right hand!
You may or may not need flow control, but this is usually done in software rather than in the serial port, so I'd not bother, i.e. no flow control.
The cable options are either straight through or "null modem". The null modem swaps Tx and Rx, the straight through does not.
On the 9 way connector pin 2 is Rx and pin 3 is Tx. On the 25 way connector pin 2 is Tx and pin 3 is Rx.
So;
If the connectors are both the same, and you want a null modem the pin numbers should be swapped. If the connectors are different and you want a null modem then the pin numbers should not be swapped.
RS-232 is a "single ended" signalling system so it is very important that there is a ground connection between the two ends of the cable.
On the 9 way connector, pin 5 is ground, on the 25 way connector pin 7 is ground.
You are very unlikely indeed to need any of the other connections on the cable.
RS-232 ports are quite susceptible to static (ESD). It's not at all uncommon to have them fail. The only fix for that is a new serial card.
You can test that the ports on the computer are working by looping, say com1 to com2, with a null modem cable. Use two instances of hyper~terminal (free with windows) to connect to each port. If everything is O.K. then you should be able to type in each instance of the program, with the charaters appearing in the other.
Good luck.
Edited to add;
The easiest way to generate static is by drawing your hand along a cable that is not connected to anything. The first end of the cable that you plug in is the most likely to receive ESD damage. Once the cable is plugged in the any static is quickly dissipated before it can build up.
The notable thing is to plug the cable into your computer before your ECU. PC serial cards are as cheap as chips, but your ECU isn't.
>> Edited by dilbert on Wednesday 17th August 12:31
Just by default that's the way hardware engineers do RS-232. Your PC can handle all of the alternatives, but you only usually need them when communicating with other high end computers. Its a bit like holding a knife in your right hand!
You may or may not need flow control, but this is usually done in software rather than in the serial port, so I'd not bother, i.e. no flow control.
The cable options are either straight through or "null modem". The null modem swaps Tx and Rx, the straight through does not.
On the 9 way connector pin 2 is Rx and pin 3 is Tx. On the 25 way connector pin 2 is Tx and pin 3 is Rx.
So;
If the connectors are both the same, and you want a null modem the pin numbers should be swapped. If the connectors are different and you want a null modem then the pin numbers should not be swapped.
RS-232 is a "single ended" signalling system so it is very important that there is a ground connection between the two ends of the cable.
On the 9 way connector, pin 5 is ground, on the 25 way connector pin 7 is ground.
You are very unlikely indeed to need any of the other connections on the cable.
RS-232 ports are quite susceptible to static (ESD). It's not at all uncommon to have them fail. The only fix for that is a new serial card.
You can test that the ports on the computer are working by looping, say com1 to com2, with a null modem cable. Use two instances of hyper~terminal (free with windows) to connect to each port. If everything is O.K. then you should be able to type in each instance of the program, with the charaters appearing in the other.
Good luck.
Edited to add;
The easiest way to generate static is by drawing your hand along a cable that is not connected to anything. The first end of the cable that you plug in is the most likely to receive ESD damage. Once the cable is plugged in the any static is quickly dissipated before it can build up.
The notable thing is to plug the cable into your computer before your ECU. PC serial cards are as cheap as chips, but your ECU isn't.
>> Edited by dilbert on Wednesday 17th August 12:31
As usual, Julian64 is correct. If it isn't working then there is something else going on, although you seem to have done everything correctly. Maybe your copy of the software is corrupted?
Grant - if you haven't got it sorted soon, you can always nip over when I'm next at Mech Repairs in Cheltenham and we can have a go. Obviously I'll have my laptops and cables, etc.
With regards to USB adaptors - I hate them all! I have a huge pile of them here (mostly top names too) and they seem very fussy about what they are going to work with.
The best solution for modern laptops is to use a PCMCIA serial adaptor. This works like a charm in every laptop I have tried it in. Although these things are horribly expensive, they are worth every penny. I get mine from:
www.betterbox.co.uk/acatalog/Product_List__Serial_Cards_1223.html
They get my highly recommended sticker - excellent service.
Grant - if you haven't got it sorted soon, you can always nip over when I'm next at Mech Repairs in Cheltenham and we can have a go. Obviously I'll have my laptops and cables, etc.
With regards to USB adaptors - I hate them all! I have a huge pile of them here (mostly top names too) and they seem very fussy about what they are going to work with.
The best solution for modern laptops is to use a PCMCIA serial adaptor. This works like a charm in every laptop I have tried it in. Although these things are horribly expensive, they are worth every penny. I get mine from:
www.betterbox.co.uk/acatalog/Product_List__Serial_Cards_1223.html
They get my highly recommended sticker - excellent service.
[quote=Mark Adams]
The best solution for modern laptops is to use a PCMCIA serial adaptor. This works like a charm in every laptop I have tried it in. Although these things are horribly expensive, they are worth every penny.
quote]
Keep an eye on ebay, I got mine for £20 and it's just dandy...
The best solution for modern laptops is to use a PCMCIA serial adaptor. This works like a charm in every laptop I have tried it in. Although these things are horribly expensive, they are worth every penny.
quote]
Keep an eye on ebay, I got mine for £20 and it's just dandy...
Most of the computers I have had in pieces have buffers between the outside world and the superio chip and I've never had a buffer blow with static yet.
Maybe stop wearing your plastic socks on your shagpile
. Although point taken. 
The software def does change the port settings on both my desktop and laptop. (is it possible there is more than one version of the software going round?)
I would have put my money on modem before you removed it. Most modems act like com3 but the cheap winmodems are a software hack. Com1 and Com3 share identical irq's and in some configurations identical mem locations. Most modems will affect Com1 operation to some extent and I would make sure its removed and its software uninstalled.
Next I would go into your bios settings. Del at the startup, and tell me which mem location your serial port is mapped at. Usually this is changeable between one or two locations.
The mistake the dealer software does seem to make is to assume a default location for this port. It doesn't use the high level windows app for communicating with the port as you will see if you delete or rename the windows dll for port communcation it has no effect on the softwares ability to work.
So I think the bios location for port1 and the fact that you point the software to port1 in its options is likely critical.
I probably ought to go away and test that hypothesis?
Meanwhile the lead is important. As said already the lead is a standard null straight through. But BEWARE the other pins on the 9 pin socket ARE USED FOR OTHER DIAGNOSTIC PURPOSES.
To this end do check the cable you buy for your connection. (Safer to make it). Some cables you buy connect a lot of the leads together inside and call them all earth. These are usually cheap cables and perfectly all right for computer use but don't use them on the CERB.
. I did this by accident the engine fan came on and would not go off even after the cable was removed, neither would the car start. You have been warned.
Maybe stop wearing your plastic socks on your shagpile
. Although point taken. The software def does change the port settings on both my desktop and laptop. (is it possible there is more than one version of the software going round?)
I would have put my money on modem before you removed it. Most modems act like com3 but the cheap winmodems are a software hack. Com1 and Com3 share identical irq's and in some configurations identical mem locations. Most modems will affect Com1 operation to some extent and I would make sure its removed and its software uninstalled.
Next I would go into your bios settings. Del at the startup, and tell me which mem location your serial port is mapped at. Usually this is changeable between one or two locations.
The mistake the dealer software does seem to make is to assume a default location for this port. It doesn't use the high level windows app for communicating with the port as you will see if you delete or rename the windows dll for port communcation it has no effect on the softwares ability to work.
So I think the bios location for port1 and the fact that you point the software to port1 in its options is likely critical.
I probably ought to go away and test that hypothesis?
Meanwhile the lead is important. As said already the lead is a standard null straight through. But BEWARE the other pins on the 9 pin socket ARE USED FOR OTHER DIAGNOSTIC PURPOSES.
To this end do check the cable you buy for your connection. (Safer to make it). Some cables you buy connect a lot of the leads together inside and call them all earth. These are usually cheap cables and perfectly all right for computer use but don't use them on the CERB.
. I did this by accident the engine fan came on and would not go off even after the cable was removed, neither would the car start. You have been warned.Right heres the latest update....
Laptop is an IBM T21 with the inbuilt nic and modem removed (hardware taken out!)
tested today with hyperterminal talking to my other laptop with a null modem cable. worked lovely!
MBE cable made by myself with the pins all the right way round and wired
tested. still no working arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!
do i need to put the resisitors onto the cable as well?
this is really really starting to bug me now
the mem the serial port is using is IRQ4 and 3F
one is getting peveed now! ]
can someone send me a new version of the software just incase? again grant.peters@blueyonder.co.uk
or grant.peters@gmail.com or gcpeters@hotmail.com
ta!
oh and also incase im being really thick here you dont need the engine running do you? i de-imbolize, hear the fuel pump and then try the software.
oh and also my software is
48 files
3.00 MB (3,153,256 bytes) size
3.14 MB (3,301,376 bytes) size on disk
is everyones the same??
>> Edited by gcpeters on Wednesday 17th August 20:54
Laptop is an IBM T21 with the inbuilt nic and modem removed (hardware taken out!)
tested today with hyperterminal talking to my other laptop with a null modem cable. worked lovely!
MBE cable made by myself with the pins all the right way round and wired
tested. still no working arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!
do i need to put the resisitors onto the cable as well?
this is really really starting to bug me now
the mem the serial port is using is IRQ4 and 3F
one is getting peveed now! ]
can someone send me a new version of the software just incase? again grant.peters@blueyonder.co.uk
or grant.peters@gmail.com or gcpeters@hotmail.com
ta!
oh and also incase im being really thick here you dont need the engine running do you? i de-imbolize, hear the fuel pump and then try the software.
oh and also my software is
48 files
3.00 MB (3,153,256 bytes) size
3.14 MB (3,301,376 bytes) size on disk
is everyones the same??
>> Edited by gcpeters on Wednesday 17th August 20:54
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