I'm having my PCM programmed by MadWolf, But i have an extra one and i decided to make a Bench setup and try to learn about programming, flashing, etc. for the future.

Bought a laptop 2 years ago with LT1 edit on it (locked to previous owners VIN ), a Datamaster program on it and a program that works with autotap.

I performed the Benchsetup connections and used a car battery as power source.
I can't seem to make a connection to the PCM (using an original AKM cable !)

How or with what program is it quite simply to AT LEAST test if the laptop and PCM are communicating ???

Loaded LT1 edit but it only allowed me to load a LT1 edit file and showed all sorts of info, i however don't have the idea it was really communicating as it shows the very same details when the cable is not connected.

The Laptop is very old, win95, using an OBD1 style AKM cable on the COM port.

ANYBODY ????????????????

 

Datamaster has a Test Comm funtion you could use. Another way is to try and download the program from the PCM as a test..

Tails

 

Yes, well how would i do that (download the the program from the PCM) ?

It's my first time and i have this feeling my setup isn't all wired up properly, isn't there anything i could download that's simple and will test the connection ??

Anyone here ever created the bench setup ?? I think i didn't properly wire it up and this part here confuses me:

"This part confuses me:

"Now for the ALDL Interface. You need at least two wires - ground (Pin 1 on my converters), and serial data (Pin 5 on my converter, D30 (Blue 30) on the PCM."

That Pin 1 on the converter is connected to what ?? to Ground (negative battery pole ??

Pin 5 is connected to the Serial Data pin the PCM (D30) right ?? This is obvious ......

What happened to Mode select ??


Anybody ?

 

Am i the first person who created a bench setup ?
Can somebody clarify this please ....

 

I just went and bought this:
http://www.speartech.com/compreprog.html

Scroll to the bottom and look for OBP harness's.
Yes I'm lazy..

Tails

 

Very handy but it's possible to create a similar setup (less flashy and durable thought) for about $5 and that's what i did ... According to the instructions on AKMcables.com

I'm just worried/confused about 1 pin connection and was hoping somebody could help me out.

P.s. I'm just trying to experiment here and get used to it all, if i was doing (or planning) this for a living and programming a couple of PCM's everyday i would certainly buy a complete bench setup, no doubt ... But in my case that's just too expensive.

 

Didn't say I did it for a living. I'm really just lazy.. I wanted to use a bench harness on my pcm for curiousity's sake. I'd rather not spend a ****load of time trying to piece one together.. Course $125 isn't that much to me. Anyhoo..

Your sig says you have a 95. So I take you're OBDI with an OBDII connector. If so here ya go:

C1 Red connector:

Pins 1 and 18 are grounds------------------------------> ALDL port 5

C2 Black connector:

Pins 3, 15, 30 and 15 are ECM Bat 12v -------------> ALDL port 16

C3 Clear or Grey connector:

Pins 2 and 32 are grounds

C4 Blue connector

Pin 30 is the uart data line------------------------------> ALDL port 9

 

Ok thanks !

So the ONLY wire needed from the ALDL port in a bench setup is the Serial data pin (30 Blue) ??

I'm getting both 4x ground and 4x 12v straight from the battery.

Seems i've added one wire too much as the bench schematic from AKM stated to connect 1 wire to ground aswell on the ALDL connector.

I'll try this next !

 

Oh any tip on what program to use to verify quickly if i have a solid connection ?

I have LT1 edit (expert) installed on the laptop and Datamaster.
So far the only things i could do was to LOAD an previous dumped ROM file or captured data (logging) from a previous event.

I was hoping for LT1 to notify me that the current PCM's VIN is not matching (registerd to 1 VIN number) it would have at least told that the connection was working.

 

I don't of a "program" that tells you that you have a good connection. If you can connect, load, and capture data that's usually a sign that the connection is good from the computer to the PCM..

As far as the connections are concerned I'd double check them with the schematic above and make sure everything's in working order..

Tails

 

Don't know if you've got this sorted out now or if I'm understanding your situation but here's my simple suggestions: Download PCMcomm and / or FreeScan (both free). They will read your pcm but not write to it and tell you if you're connecting.

Here's a link to something that tells you what pins are data and ground on your 95 OBDII style OBD1 ALDL

http://www.andywhittaker.com/ecu/ecu_software.htm
http://carputing.tripod.com/9495LT1Edit.htm
http://shbox.com/1/xraycable.jpg

 

Thank you so kindly for your cooperation !
I will certainly look into these programs and schemes.
Haven't tried the setup these past few days but i will retry it this weekend and see if i can make 'contact' with the PCM.