I'm ready to learn, where to start??

[pfk]

Since the tuning software thread goes back to 2004 I thought maybe we could get some condensed info in a new thread.

hardware requirements:
Laptop
ALDL cable
Burner
Chip(s)

Software requirements:
datalogging - tts datamaster,WinALDL
prom editing - tunerpro


Now everyone knows what I know :D
I have burnt a couple of chips already using a bin from brian, I have done a fair amount of datalogging but unfortunately still trying to track down a data error problem.

Where does a guy go from here?

[1BadZ71Tahoe]

Since the tuning software thread goes back to 2004 I thought maybe we could get some condensed info in a new thread.

hardware requirements:
Laptop
ALDL cable
Burner
Chip(s)

Software requirements:
datalogging - tts datamaster,WinALDL
prom editing - tunerpro


Now everyone knows what I know :D
I have burnt a couple of chips already using a bin from brian, I have done a fair amount of datalogging but unfortunately still trying to track down a data error problem.

Where does a guy go from here?

Alright Man,

First of all we need to know what style ECU your running, by looking on your ECU, and also telling us the year of the vehicle. Unfortunately there are a dozen or so ECU's for this style year vehicle, and it just happens to turn out that there are a lot of different Tables/Constants/Scalars etc for EACH one. Some obviously have the same characteristics.

First thing to do is to get a hold on the Flags first, then the Constants/Scalars, THEN last but not least the tables. I have organized them according to there level of easy (IMO at least).

What I did is I exported my BIN, where it shows all your values for each of these. Then you need to cruise around message boards (Here will hopefully be your prime source, but please start visiting ThirdGenOrg also so that you can learn and convey information from over there to here. When you cruise around the forums, mark down wherever someone like Haulin@$$ explains a term and write that down in your little notes. Trust me, if you didn't like taking notes in school, you sure as H3ll aren't going to like this, so get used to them.

That will get you started, please be more specific on what you need. There's Air, Fuel, and Spark, you need just the right amount of each. There is all the info here on the net to properly tune your vehicle.

Good Luck,

- B

EDIT: I didn't realize your getting a data error. What program is displaying this, and be more specific on the contents of the Error Message.

[pfk]

I'm having issues with my log from datamaster. (I will attach one at the bottom of the post) I just went for a test drive to see if my updated ground wires helped or not, unfortunately they did not :(

I know I have either a 16196395 or a 16197427 puter (I forgot to write down which one) but I believe both are the same. 95 OD.

I started this thread to sort of start things off. I know there are a lot of people interested but nobody seems to want to ask the silly questions.

Since I do have a bin to start off with (which I know others may not) it would make it a little easier for me to get into it, provided I knew where to get the definition file for it. As I mentioned before, the stickies about prom editing refence things from 2004 and things have changed a little bit since then. I believe tunercat is now tunerpro (unless I just havent found tunercat yet :D )

So, to start from scratch,I bought the hardware and d/l the software;

1) What bin would I start with? (is there a copy of a default bin along with the def file?)
2) Where do you find the def file for different computers (I see a lot of people emailing them to each other but is there somewhere where they are all available?)

I figure these would be the first 2 steps.

I'll finish this post with that and ask some more questions after, hopefully I can compile enough info to write up a decent FAQ for starting off.

[HaulnA$$]

I'm having issues with my log from datamaster. (I will attach one at the bottom of the post) I just went for a test drive to see if my updated ground wires helped or not, unfortunately they did not :(

I know I have either a 16196395 or a 16197427 puter (I forgot to write down which one) but I believe both are the same. 95 OD.

I started this thread to sort of start things off. I know there are a lot of people interested but nobody seems to want to ask the silly questions.

Since I do have a bin to start off with (which I know others may not) it would make it a little easier for me to get into it, provided I knew where to get the definition file for it. As I mentioned before, the stickies about prom editing refence things from 2004 and things have changed a little bit since then. I believe tunercat is now tunerpro (unless I just havent found tunercat yet :D )

So, to start from scratch,I bought the hardware and d/l the software;.....
I looked quickly at the log. Most of the time when I see so many "Data Errors" as your log shows, it more often that not turns out to be sparks from the plug wires jumping into the PCM harness. When was the last time you replaced your wires? Second, for all intents and purposes the 16196395 and the 16197427 are the same although I have never seen a '95 with other than a 16197427 PCM. Next, TunerCat and TunerPro are not the same. You can find it at http://www.tunercat.com/ and TunerPro is at http://tunerpro.markmansur.com/ . You can get definition files for TunerPro at the TP site and also at http://www.moates.net/fileman/ along with other useful information. This site is password protected but it is not secret, it is just to keep the spammers at bay. The username is "moatesuser" and the password is "moatespassword".

1) What bin would I start with? (is there a copy of a default bin along with the def file?) The best .bin to start with is the one from your stock file from your PCM. Read it from your burner into a file. You can buy an adapter for reading your .bin from the Memcal from Moates. Definition files do not come with a .bin file. It is always best to start with the stock one from your computer.

2) Where do you find the def file for different computers (I see a lot of people emailing them to each other but is there somewhere where they are all available?)

I figure these would be the first 2 steps.

I'll finish this post with that and ask some more questions after, hopefully I can compile enough info to write up a decent FAQ for starting off.See above. HTH

[pfk]

I looked quickly at the log. Most of the time when I see so many "Data Errors" as your log shows, it more often that not turns out to be sparks from the plug wires jumping into the PCM harness. When was the last time you replaced your wires? .......................

The log is from my new 383 with brand new msd wires on it. I thought it may have been a ground issue since I had no errors on my logs prior to my fans dying on me (only on for 2 max hours and 40 km :mad: ) , but it wasn't the grounds. I will see if I can relocate the main harness slightly behind the engine as it has not been properly secured yet, awaiting more parts.



Second, for all intents and purposes the 16196395 and the 16197427 are the same although I have never seen a '95 with other than a 16197427 PCM. Next, TunerCat and TunerPro are not the same. You can find it at http://www.tunercat.com/ and TunerPro is at http://tunerpro.markmansur.com/ . You can get definition files for TunerPro at the TP site and also at http://www.moates.net/fileman/ along with other useful information. This site is password protected but it is not secret, it is just to keep the spammers at bay. The username is "moatesuser" and the password is "moatespassword".

Now I feel like a goof (kinda figured they were different programs) evrytime I went to that d/l page I could have sworn I already had it :D I guess I probably should have used the cd that came with all of my moates stuff, probably would have found the def files pretty easily.

The best .bin to start with is the one from your stock file from your PCM. Read it from your burner into a file. You can buy an adapter for reading your .bin from the Memcal from Moates. Definition files do not come with a .bin file. It is always best to start with the stock one from your computer.

See above. HTH

I kinda cheated and paid Brian to make me one :D I knew I was making a lot of changes on the mechanical side so I did not want to chance anything or spend the time required before hand (otherwise it would be another 6+ months without my truck) so I bought my first one. I will enjoy learning about all of it so I can modify it myself in the future with whatever other mods I may do or hell, even my next project.

Last question for you, have you ever seen spark jump cause driveability issues? I don't mean misfires but interference with the way the computer is handling the data? I have noticed transmission shifting issues when the errors are present but not when they aren't as well as some other things that appear to be "data error" related.

thanks

[HaulnA$$]

...Last question for you, have you ever seen spark jump cause driveability issues? I don't mean misfires but interference with the way the computer is handling the data? I have noticed transmission shifting issues when the errors are present but not when they aren't as well as some other things that appear to be "data error" related.

thanksYes I have. The first time it happened to me, I thought my tranny was fried until I looked under the hood in the dark and saw the dreaded blue sparks dancing all around the engine compartment. Also, just because the wires are new doesn't mean they're not bad. Could also be the coil is bad or needs a better ground. HTH

[pfk]

Yes I have. The first time it happened to me, I thought my tranny was fried until I looked under the hood in the dark and saw the dreaded blue sparks dancing all around the engine compartment. Also, just because the wires are new doesn't mean they're not bad. Could also be the coil is bad or needs a better ground. HTH

OK good, so maybe I'm not crazy :D

I did check for wire issues themselves (all of them past a water test) but my msd coil is only attached with 1 bolt since I am waiting on a fuel enrichment spacer and only want to fab up one set of spacers for the coil and throttle cable bracket. I did try a seperate ground wire to the coil however and it did not seem to help any.

I will focus on it tomorrow after work. I'll start with the wires again, then move the main harness over, I'll even pull out the spark plugs if I have to. I still for the life of me can't figure out why the errors started after my Efans died on me :think:, anyways, I'll post back tomorrow with my results

thanks again

[pfk]

Well I rerouted my plug wires and then the main engine harness. Errors are still there. I shut off all of the lights in the shop and squirted everything down with water once again, no miss and no spark action. I am probably going out on a burn here tonight but I'll leave it in the shop and I guess I'll have to pull the plugs tomorrow to take a look. Maybe I'll crawl up again and check out the reluctor in the distributor to make sure there is nothing visible there (new cap and rotor already, but I might as well look I guess.

[pfk]

well it's now 3:30 in the morning, and I give up for the night :mad:

I was burning up the highway a little and noticed more of a bog now then ever, then it was gone. ( I know I'm gonna kick myself whenever I find it)

I came upstairs and pulled out the laptop to keep reading up on things and decided to open up my 2 bins in tunerpro along with the correct xdf file. (at least I think so :think:,I d/l the 0D one)

I'm just poking around for now to familirize myself with the software and I am attempting to figure out one of my issues that I am having. When the truck shifts into 4th, the engine seems to bog as if underpowered or shifted too early (like when you start off in 2nd gear from a stop) so I wanted to see what the shift points were at.
1-2 is at 37mph and 4800 rpm
2-3 is at 70mph and 4800 rpm
3-4 is at 100mph and 4200 rpm

My questions are:
how is the rpm vs speed chosen by the ecm (is it based on tps qualifiers?)
what are safe limits to play with?(ie is there a rule of thumb)

I'm just looking at some logs here, and I have found one spot where I can actually see where one of my data errors showed 6150rpm one frame after being at 3975rpm, then the next frame it shifts into 2nd gear, shortly there after it shifts into 3rd gear at 4525rpm and 52mph.

From all of the test drives that I have done, and all of the logs that I have (errors or no errors) I have not seen a shift from 2-3 at 70mph or 4800rpm.or 3-4 at 100 or 4200rpm for that matter.

Here I am figuring I'd look at something simple to kill some time until I'm in the shop again tomorrow and I find more questions for myself :D