what would you do? EFI conversion issues
 

On Dec. 23rd I removed my CIS injection system and started the install of a ITB EFI setup. This setup uses a Megasquirt ECU. I have been trying to get this setup running for aprox. 2 months with no success. The company I purchased this from has been excellent in responding to try and get this running but so far no success. I have posted on the Megasquirt forum my issues and the best efforts of the folks there have not worked. I have a few more things to try this weekend and if it doesn't work at that point I have to do something else. If you guys were in my shoes would you try a different brand of ECU or would you chuck it all and convert to PMO carbs? This is for a street driver 83SC and I don't have emission testing to deal with. The problem I am having with the EFI setup is no matter what we do we can't communicate from the laptop to the ECU and it seems like we have tested/tried everything. All the experts say it should work but it won't. Any advice is appreciated as I am going nuts without my car!

Have you asked the company to replace the ECU....perhaps it's defective....

I had some trouble connecting my laptop to my megasquirt but I eventually solved it by trying all the ports until one of them worked.

Have you tried another laptop? Another USB adaptor? Another serial cable?

Otherwise Iwould be trying to get another ECU. Maybe the company you bought it from woul swap you 1 for 1.

I've gone thru 2 relay boards and 2 ECU's already. Each time the ECU was tested at the facility that built it. I hook up the cable from the relay board,hook up my laptop via DB9 cable and try to power up and communicate and the firmware in the ECU gets scrambled/lost and I get a error message stating "can't communicate". Thanks for the comments................keep them coming.

No ideas on the problem, but let me know if you are going to sell the EFI pieces.

If it were mine, I would have put my CIS back on long ago and dealt with whatever issues it may have had which I doubt would ever be as complicated as the EFI nightmare you are about to create.

Cheers,

Joe

ms has allot of buges quirks ect. if you run another ecu that should solve the problem, ive seen this so manytimes with the ms systems.

You know DB9 Serial communications are a real PITA on modern day laptops, first have you changed the port address in the BIOS? Did you disable any infrared devices that may be taking up necessary IRQ's?

The next step is to go to Radio shack and get one of these:

http://home.comcast.net/~sramnit/P1010151.jpg

This connector comes with some simple usage instructions to help you make the "hand shake" between devices.

I would also add that if you don't already have one get a USB to Serial adapter, they are much more user freindly than the onboard ports, and are not restricted to the original 4 IRQ's.

If you can't find one of these I'll mail you mine, I have a few.

Don't give up! Megasquirt is pretty capable once its up and running. So I'm told.
I built a MSII for my datsun using only the directions and some help from the forums. Has anyone suggested that you build or buy a STIM to check out your setup? I had all kinds of problems getting my MS to talk to my laptop so I flashed the memory of the CPU with a different version of firmware. The hard part was going into Megatune and configuring it to work with the version that the CPU was using.

Our problems were most likely similar but what helped out so much was having a STIM board to check everything. Your MS is probably ok but it takes some trial and error to get the laptop and the CPU on the same page so to speak. The stim just makes things a little easier. The kit is 40 bucks or 90? assembled.

I am learning as I go and yes some of this megasquirt stuff is difficult to understand but it is the future. Find Lance on the Megasquirt forums and you have a good chance sorting this out.

FWIW, yes its pretty scary taking apart a car thats running great( my 260 Datsun with su's) and swaping a MSII controlled turbo motor in its place. Wish me luck
Chuck

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1141950561.jpg

I'm in similar boat - I'm putting in Megasquirt to replace my CIS in the next month or so (engine being assembled as we speak).

Megasquirt can be temperamental IMHO - firmware on the board has to match approrpriate release of MegaTune so that might be one of your problems. In my case, the vendor I bought my unit from is very helpful so I have full confidence so far of making it work as I know (think) I'll get appropriate support when I need it - something you'll want/need no matter what brand of ECU (or products) you buy.

The minimal I would try if nothings works is to ask you vendor about connnecting the unit to a known good (or his) laptop....

Hey, are you guys buying your stuff from this guy?
http://www.diyautotune.com/catalog/index.php

Good guy

DIY Auto Tune is who built my equipment. I received a stimulator today from the company I purchased this setup from so I hope this weekend will achieve great things. My laptop is a 2-3 year old Dell Lattitude running Windows XP and I am hooking a DB9 cable directly to the DB9 port on the back of the computer, from what I was told this is preferred vs. a USB port and a adapter at this point I don't know. As far as the suggestion by Scott R to change the bios, not sure how to do that but I'm all ears as I'll try anything at this point. And no I won't be selling this setup,it will run or go back for a refund. Keep the suggestions coming!!

Did you tried connecting with the same laptop and same DB9 cable to a different application and it worked.
The problem may be in the PC or the cable..

When purchasing a USB-to-Serial shop around for one that has internal buffering and that uses a good well known chipset.

MSI or II? Probably ver 3 board. Just asking so I can go over to http://www.megasquirt.info/ Somewhere in the directions it specifically shows how to configure megatune to run with your CPU. Ask me how I know. I had some problems the first 10 times that I did it.

Chuck

Sorry, fixed the link

I don't have anything else to try my laptop/DB9 cable on but I did try a DB9 mouse and when I plugged it in XP recognised and installed and the mouse worked so I know the DB9 port works in that application.

If I was to change brands of ECU what would you guys recommend? I am trying to stay within a budget but will listen to all suggestions. Preferably one with good phone support or possibly support in Orlando Fl. I really hope the stim will determine the problem.

If it were me I would find someone with a working set up and try my parts on their car. Is there someone local that is running MS? If not mail your crap to someone who is willing to help you out. Or you could try a new cable first if you haven't done that yet. Are your port configure correctly?

Dean

I don't know about mega squirt but where I work we use Serial
com to set up various PCB's and network boxes. Make sure the cable your using is the correct "flavor". That is do you require
straight through or null modem. There are even different
varieties of null modem cables as well. Are you using hyper-terminal to get in? If not try it and see what happens. It's in the accessory folder under communications if you have MS windows. In there you set the Baud rate stop frame and some other info then AT.

niner11 it is a MSII version 3.0 running firmware 2.33. I had Jerry from DIY Autotune walk thru my config files step by step and he said it all looks fine and was perplexed why it didn't work. I will try to figure out if my DB9 port is configured correctly. It sure sounds like my problem is laptop config. problem vs. a hardware/miswiring type problem.

Check out my above link to megasquirt. Go to step 40 letter f under assembly of ver 3 board (msII)

That is where I had a problem and it might be a good read for your issue as well. Its telling you how to configure megatune to interface with the MS ecu. I'm no expert but your problem is likely in how megatune is configured. Just my guess. Good luck.
Chuck

Perhaps you can overnight your laptop to the shop and ask them to bench test with the equipment they have at hand.
Also, I have a serial tester if you'd like to use.....

Make sure your port is configured correctly. This is a cable/laptop issue, not an ECU issue, in my humble opinion, of course. You need to make sure the OS port settings match the settings in the MS software.

bb80sc I agree I have a config problem, unfortunately I may not know enough about computers to fix this. Do any of you "IT" guys think I would get better/more stable communication useing the USB port with a DB9 adapter/converter?

Yes, and most of the USB versions have some debug software with them.

You know I forgot to post something last night, you may need to mach the flow control settings to the MSII, do this here:

http://home.comcast.net/~sramnit/device.JPG

and then right click on the COM port and select properties..

http://home.comcast.net/~sramnit/device2.JPG

try setting it to Xon/Xof or see of Megasquit has a required com port setting and match your settings to it.

Cool, between what Scott posted, and this from MS, should be able to get close. Also, in MS, under Communications menu, select the Diagnostic Log option and look in that log file after you make the attempt to communicate with the ECU. I don't know where the log location will be, but probably in the same as the MS install directory. I agree with Scott in testing the various flow control settings.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1142055768.jpg

All of this is good info. If you can't get megasquirt up and running in a few days consider finding someone in your area who is familar with ms and has experience configuring pc's.

Orlando is a big place and your best bet is to have a fellow ms'er help you out. This setup is anything but plug and play and there will be more problems down the road.

Maybe post something on the ms forums and see if anyone local responds.

Thanks guys I really appreciate all the advice. Most of what has been suggested we have already tried but not all. As far as I'm concerned if it doesn't run by Sunday I'm changing something, either another brand of ECU or PMO's as 2 months of chasing this ghost has worn me out. To be honest I thought ( my error ) that the Megasquirt was much more plug and play than it is, not sure if it's the same for other ECU's? I'll post my weekend results.

I really think you should stick it out and get it working. I cannot imagine how insane you will go if you buy another ECU and have the same issue :) I'll be in Orlando in a couple of weeks and may have some free time if you want a hand.. Heck, you could even try calling Best Buy and have them send out a Geek Squad dood and work on it right there and have them bring a couple different DB9 cables as well.

I don't think any EFI systems are plug and play if you DIY. You are going to have to fiddle with something. If one important check box or # is wrong your motor will not run or not run very well. My DTA system did run the first time I tried it and it has been running for 2 years. But it could use more fiddling with to get it to run better. So EFI can be very frustrating and very rewarding.

verry true but most other efi sytems do not have any comm issues and as long as you have your trigger setups in the ecu right and sensor gaps right they will start, as far as getting your dta to run a little better thats a tuning issue not a ecu issue.

I'll be in Davenport visiting Disney Sunday thru Wed.
I can pack my laptop, cables, stim and my backup
MS1 ECU if you want.
I don't have much experience working with MS2
but I have put together my own ECU and stim
and I've been running megasquirt for almost 2 years.

irnwill that is a very generous offer, are you saying you will be in Orlando tomorrow ( Sunday ) or next week? You can PM me and we can work out details. Thank you very much.

http://www.pelicanparts.com/support/...s/beerchug.gif


To good people!

It sounds like a comm issue, but that leaves a lot of options on the table.
I am assuming the motor has never been started since the ITB/MS conversion. If so, have you determined the board is wired up correctly to power? Check to make sure you don't have any "floating grounds" on your harness. Are those LED's on the chassis for diagnostics? Do they indicate the various CPU state level on power up?

Ok, I'm a little confused. You had some earlier posts with questions about your TPS sensor. If you can't get your laptop communicating with MSII, how would you know what the TPS readings are? You need to carefully define what is going on so you're not trying to fix the wrong thing.

1. Do you have the Megatune software installed and configured correctly for MSII on your laptop? Megatune 2.25 is the current version. If it's configured for MSII you'll see 8 gauges on the display, one should be labeled Dwell and another is labeled Ignition Advance.

2. Is your laptop configured to use its external serial port? First check the Bios settings. Just after you power it on hold down the F12 key for a few sweconds. On my Dell laptop that gets you to a boot menu that has a menu option that will get you into the Bios settings. If this doesn't work for you, you'll have to go to Dell's web site and find out how to get to the Bios configuration settings for your laptop. Once you get into the Bios configuration, there should be a list of settings on the left, you use the up and down arrow keys to navigate. Choose the section titled "Onboard Devices". Highlight this enttry and hit "enter" and you should see sub entries under it. Look for the subentry with "IR" as part of the description. Select it, the panel on the right will now show the device settings. It needs to be off, if something else is selected change it to "off". Next use the down arrow key to highlight the "Serial Port" settings. It should show "COM1" as the setting. If it's not com1 change it to that.
My bios may not look exactly the same as yours, my PC is a little newer, just be sure to read the instructions that are displayed on how to navigate within the Bios settup.

3. Your DB9 cable should be straight through, as was mentioned in an earlier post, there are many variations of this sort of cable. If you have the wrong one, it will never work. If you have a meter that measures continuity, just make sure there's connectivity between the same pin on both ends of the DB9 cable. You could also check this easily using a flashlight bulb and battery with a little wire. You just want to make sure current flows from pin 1 on one side of the cable to pin one on the other end. The cable will have a male connection on one end and a female connection on the other end.

4. Is MSII getting power when you turn on the ignition key? The red leds on the front should at least flash briefly when you turn on the ignition switch.

5. Did the ECU come with the MS firmware loaded? Is the jumper on the MSII daughtercard connected, it should only be connected to load new firmware versions.

6. Now connect your laptop to the megasquirt ECU with the DB9 cable and start Megatune. Select "Communications" and then "settings" off the menu bar. The pop-up window should display COM1 as the port, 50 as the timer interval, and 115200 as the serial data rate. Now click the "Click to Test" button. The results will tell you if you are connected to the ECU.

Try this and post the results.

-Mac

I'll be in town this Sunday (Tomorrow morning) I'll PM my number and we can work out details.

I second the CIS re-install.

Screw CIS, not only is it giving up but how would you like to buy a fuel distributer or aar, or warm up regulator when it fails. If it was motronic I'd say put if back on but CIS isn't a good enough alternative

911mac you are correct in the first stages of this install it appeared we had communication but couldn't get a TPS signal. We thought it was a bad relay board so we replaced it. That didn't fix the issue so we tried different things with still no results. At some point in time we started getting the "can't communicate with ECU" message. I have checked my DB9 cable pin for pin and it is a straight thru type which I believe is what I want. I'm not sure if we ever had communication with the ECU. Today I purchased a USB to DB9 cable so I have that to try. I will NEVER go back to CIS as I hated that system. I do have the 8 gauges on my screen and I have had two "Megasquirt experts" confirm that the Megatune software is configured correctly. I am now in the process of figuring out if my DB9 port is configured correctly per the suggestions of others in this post. Yes my ECU came with the firmware loaded. I now have in my posession a Megasquirt stimulator which I hope will assist in the testing. I am encouraged by the support here and will keep going, failure is not a option!!!