Got my PCM back from repair after the "invalid message sent" error during programming killed it. So here's what I did when I got it put back in. I made 6 initial reads on the pcm using Tunercats older DOS method. My first 2 reads ran fine. The 3rd gave me the "invalid message sent" error. Then next 3 reads ran fine. Then, I did another 5 reads using Tunercats new windows based programming. The first 3 reads ran fine. Then on the 4th, while it was reading, I turned on my headlights, kicked on the highbeams, turned on the radio, and even kicked on the A/C and cranked it up high hoping to make a voltage drop to kill it. It kept reading and finished. Considering that the car has not run for 2 weeks now and then on top of that I did all that stuff and didn't get an error, i'd say that kills my low voltage theory. Then on the 5th read, I jiggled the cable a bunch around all the connectors, and even ran other stuff on the laptop like Microsoft Word, I messed around in the Control Panel, open up Microsoft Outlook, but still, it completed the read without error. I only have a P233 with 96MB of RAM. Have no idea why my 3rd read in DOS errored out. It errored at about 40%. I did nothing different that time vs the other 5 times in DOS. Too weird. I haven't attempted a program yet. Probably this weekend, but only after a few reads and it will all be under the same contitions so if it errors again, i'll be at a loss. Thats the scoop. Anybody make anything of that? Thanks.

Ken R. 95Z

 

Hmm, well i was really interested in getting tunercat for my car but have been doing some searching around and it seems this is a common problem. Have you contacted the tunercat people to see what they say? I don't want to buy something that might wipe out my computer

 

Actually, you risk that anytime your programming your own computer. You can run into the same thing using LT1 edit. Just a risk that's involved. It would be nice if I knew exactly what caused it though.

 

RogueDriver... I responded to the other 2 page post you had going, that taking out my ABS relay seemed to help... I got 3 reads (or something like that...) in a row to work doing that. I really thought it was because of the voltage theory. Glad to hear you got things working again and that the PCM is good this time ... You shoulda just had Andrew program it with the file you wanted and you won't have to worry about reprogramming it now! hehe... I'm really wondering wtf this error message is about 'cause it's unbelievable with your high beams and a/c on that it still finished... Do you like the windows version of the flash read/write better? Maybe I'll try that next too...

 

Have you guys tried tunercats updated tuner 1.98. I just did my first read with it and it worked perfectly. Also if you look on their sight you will see that their update corrected alot of errors some of them being errors during ecm read, like the ones alot of people here seem to have.

 

If I upgrade to TunerCat 1.98, does that give me a new version of the DOS flash/read utility or do I have to use the Windows one with it?

 

I ran the windows one. I did not install the wintuner program but the web sight says when running $EE w/1.98 it automatically works with windows. So I dont know if you could run it in DOS.

 

Well unless if they delete the old files you'll still be able to run it in DOS, I was just wondering if they updated the DOS version or if it's still the same old one.

 

Man, I'd be interested to see it but Windows makes me NERVOUS. DOS is diehard.

 

So far I am lovin it. I will try to run it in dos and see what happens, also I know they integrated the read/program file into one.

 

Tried pulling it up in dos...no dice

 

I'm not 100% understanding this whole "PCM is fried" part. Why can't TunerCat just make software that will write to a PCM without first erasing it? (Simply for cases like this, where there was an error doing it the regular way.) What I think I'm really asking is, when the TunerCat gives you an error 1/2 through a write to the PCM, is the chip really burnt up or is the problem just that there's no info on it and it's useless because there's no software to save it? I think TunerCat should come out with software that will let you FLASH a chip that has no info on it to begin with. Any of this make sense?

 

When you supposedly fry your ecm it simply means the the flash chip is no good not the ecm. The chip is replacable. Once the chip is burnt you can no longer do anything with it. If it was just blank all you would have to do is down load your file again.

 

you have 2 chips which have a base program on them. the first one is for the first 50% and the last is the second 50%. so depending on where the error occurs determines which is replaced.

as for as running it in windows. arent you afraid of a program coming on while its in the flash process or screen saver kicking on or crappy windows being itself and screwing up?...the possibilities are endless. i dont trust it!

 

What program will come on? I dont keep much on the lap top besides the tuner, also when you get ready to read/write, a warning screen comes up telling you to disable your screen saver and to shut down all open programs. I like the new system, more user friendly and they fixed about a dozen problems the old software has.