I just bought an akm cable for my 95 and I am not sure I installed it correctly. I tried to run the freescan software and it is not recieving any information. It just keeps giving me this "unrecognized header" message. Does this mean that the cable is not installed correctly? Or am I not running the program correctly? Any help would be great.

 

Best way to verify one way or the other would be to download TTS DataMaster and see if that works. From what I remember, Freescan always had issues working for me...besides, DataMaster is a MUCH better program.

 

Thanks. I'll try that. I'm new to all of this. I'm going to start out scanning. Maybe tune someday.

 

On the FreeScan main 'Control" tab page did you select the Force Data 'Interact' radial button, also load the AKM cable driver and verify the correct com port to FreeScan. It gets tricky, but communications to OBD1 is only two wires to the PCM in the ALDL connection (serial data and ground) no voltage or other connections needed. Not a lot to cause problems at the PCM end. Usually all problems are laptop software related. What PC OS (XP, Vista, W-7) are you running ? You do have the ODB1 with OBD2 physical connection cable, is it USB, serial, or are you using any USB-Serial adapter ? We should be able to get you working..

 

Thanks Bobdec. I switched interact and it works great now. I knew it would be something little. I really started this set up to read codes because my car is running fine until it warms up then it just dies while I am driving. I am guessing this is a fuel or ignition problem when it goes into closed loop. However as I see all of these values aand no codes I realize that I need to do my homework. Is there anywhere that I can read what the air, fuel, and spark values should be. I am very excited about scanning and tuning one day so any direction would be helpful.

thanks again

 

Freescan is a basic (free) logging tool, it reads a block of storage sensor data and DTC codes from the PCM a few times a second displays the sensors on the screen and creates a log of engine operation in CSV data format. TTS DataMaster is a much more sophisticated logging package and as you progress you may want to try it. You get 20 free logs with DataMaster, then it cost to license it. However neither of these programs reads nor can edit the actual settings in the PCM required to actually "Tune" the car. You will need TunerCat "Tuner" ($69 Tuner + $19 $EE Definition File) program or "TunerPro RT" (free). TunerCat "Tuner" will read PCM settings, provides an editor to alter the settings and then has software to store the new tune into the PCM. TunerPro RT reads and edits but can not store data to a '94-95 flash memory PCM. You will need 'Winflash" (a $19 program from TunerCat) to store the TunerPro tune. Here is a good place to start reading , click on the Tuning Tips tab http://www.lt1pcmtuning.com/about/ .. By the way there is a very good Sticky above in this forum on using TunerPro, worth reading..good luck

 

Ref to your problem " running fine until it warms up then it just dies while I am driving " if you do not have any DTC's it could be the ICM dying on you. They notoriously fail when they get hot , OBD1 has none to extremely poor monitoring of the ignition high voltage system. And it does not look at the fuel system. It monitors the 5V PCM to ICM signal, but does not look at any thing from the ICM output to coil HV to plugs (no misfire like the OBD2). Same with fueling, but since it only fails warmed up the ICM or coil is suspect.. Do some searching and you will see lots of hits on the forums..Opti failures will cause the same problem, but usually set an Opti or ICM DTC, no SES light, but a DTC code will show when scanned..

 

thanks guys. I did recently replace the opti and cured my running rough issues. I had ICM tested but they said it was fine. Guess it is worth the few coin just incase.