Zach's Carbs to Microsquirt conversion thread, 7/20/18 update Options

[Dtjaden]

MS, carbs, stock FI, etc ALL have only one purpose in life -- to accurately dispense the proper amount of fuel for the quantity of air entering the engine. Measuring the correct fuel amount for varying conditions is the challenge and some setups are better than others. But a CORRECTLY tuned induction system will not 'make more power' over another. Power is more accurately attributed to air flow. Increasing the airflow through your engine (by reducing restriction in the intake or exhaust, or by increasing the size of the air pump AKA displacement) makes more power.

Think of is this way, you can't take a stock 1.7 and just add more fuel until it makes 125hp.
BUT you can increase the airflow to where it makes 125hp. This is EXACTLY what a turbo does.

Thanks for the info, Mark. How about fuel efficiency, then? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

With my Megasquirted 2056 I have seen mileage in the high 30s on the highway at 70 - 75 mph.

[poorsche914]

... How about fuel efficiency, then? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

With my Megasquirted 2056 I have seen mileage in the high 30s on the highway at 70 - 75 mph.

Thanks for that bit of info. Currently with my dual 44s I get mid to upper teens. Looks like it would be worth the expense to go with a MS setup.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

[Mblizzard]

I'd like to know more about the PWM valves.

My biggest issue right now, and I'm pulling my hair out over it, is that I can't get the ECU to talk to my laptop.

Mark and the tuner were both able to connect. My laptop had connected in the past. I've gone through all the trouble shooting guides. Loopback tests work for the cable and serial to USB adapter. All the wires have continuity to the right places. All my drivers are updated. It just wont connect and I'm going nuts trying to figure out why.

Mark, could I get screen shots of your port settings? This is where I am sitting.

If anything here looks weird please let me know.
Zach

Did you install the correct driver? I had isssues until installed the drive from DIY AutoTune.

[jpnovak]

Are you running PortCheck at the same time as trying to connect to uS ECU?

The PortCheck will open and hold the connection and prevent the ECU from connecting.

I suggest to close the port check program, reset the COM port (USB adapter) and then run the ECU search function under "connection" tab in Tuner Studio.

If you can see the port, the ECU should connect, assuming that you have the physical connection in place. I had issues with the phono jack not seating properly at first.

I am a fan of hardwire connections not wireless comms.

[mepstein]

... How about fuel efficiency, then? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

With my Megasquirted 2056 I have seen mileage in the high 30s on the highway at 70 - 75 mph.

Thanks for that bit of info. Currently with my dual 44s I get mid to upper teens. Looks like it would be worth the expense to go with a MS setup.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

I used to get mid 20's with Weber 40's. 44 is a lot of carb if you have a 2.0.

[poorsche914]

... How about fuel efficiency, then? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

With my Megasquirted 2056 I have seen mileage in the high 30s on the highway at 70 - 75 mph.

Thanks for that bit of info. Currently with my dual 44s I get mid to upper teens. Looks like it would be worth the expense to go with a MS setup.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

I used to get mid 20's with Weber 40's. 44 is a lot of carb if you have a 2.0.

It's a Raby-built 2056. I have a set of 40s I may try at some point. I used them on a euro spec 2.0 many years ago and got mid 20s.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

[VaccaRabite]

Are you running PortCheck at the same time as trying to connect to uS ECU?

The PortCheck will open and hold the connection and prevent the ECU from connecting.

I suggest to close the port check program, reset the COM port (USB adapter) and then run the ECU search function under "connection" tab in Tuner Studio.

If you can see the port, the ECU should connect, assuming that you have the physical connection in place. I had issues with the phono jack not seating properly at first.

I am a fan of hardwire connections not wireless comms.

I'll try it. Have not touched it in a few days. I needed to step away from it.
Its frustrating as Mark and the dyno tune shop were able to connect. I'm not. So I know it will connect, if I can get the magic right.

The other issue is not being able to work on it until late at night after the kids are in bed and I'm already tired and prone to make mistakes. Maybe some day in June I'll have a weekend day free where I can be alert and methodical and figure out the issue.

Zach

[VaccaRabite]

Bit the bullet and bought one of the refurbished Dell 630 laptops with the serial connections.

Man I hope it works. I'm tired of fighting with my Acer and trying to get it to connect with the RS232-USB adapter.

Zach

[VaccaRabite]

I got the VW air valve, and am looking forward to wiring it in on my car.
How are you getting the ECU to control it?

Zach

FIDLE using PWM was able to do the testing in the test part of tuner studio.

Putting this here for reference later.

[VaccaRabite]

The Dell laptop with the native serial port came in. Still not connecting but getting a different failure mode
In the Tunerstudio's Mini terminal, with the ignition on and the Microsquirt powered up, it is acting like its doing a successful loopback test. IE, anything I type into the upper window is looped back to the lower window, just like I had jumped the pins for a loopback test.

The cable does not do this on its own - it has to be plugged into the Microsquirt ECU.
I loaded up the newest versions of tuner studio and made sure my port settings were correct.

Hopefully this gets me closer to being able to connect. Thoughts?

Zach

[Dtjaden]

The Dell laptop with the native serial port came in. Still not connecting but getting a different failure mode
In the Tunerstudio's Mini terminal, with the ignition on and the Microsquirt powered up, it is acting like its doing a successful loopback test. IE, anything I type into the upper window is looped back to the lower window, just like I had jumped the pins for a loopback test.

The cable does not do this on its own - it has to be plugged into the Microsquirt ECU.
I loaded up the newest versions of tuner studio and made sure my port settings were correct.

Hopefully this gets me closer to being able to connect. Thoughts?

Zach

Hi Zach,

Some things to check on the serial comnnection:

1. The cable sould be a straight through cable. This means that pins 1-9 on one side of the cable should connect to 1-9 on the other end. This us not always the case. You can check this with an ohm meter.
2. The default baud rate for MS is 115,200. Make sure that this is the baud rate set on the Dell notebook computer.

[VaccaRabite]

I've gone round and round with the ECU connecting.
DIYautotune support thinks that the ECU itself is bad at this point. Either the coms chip or the coms ground going bad will cause the echo I'm seeing.

They have recommended a shop in Virginia Beach that will test and repair the ECU if needed.

If the ECU tests okay, I'm going to bring my laptop, cable and ECU and get the tuner there to show me WTF I'm doing wrong. This is right down the road from Scott, and I head down that way about monthly.

Zach

[hot_shoe914]

This is right down the road from Scott, and I head down that way about monthly.

That's why you can't get shit done!

[Dr Evil]

Did you turn it off and turn it on again?? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

[Spoke]

What version of Windows are you running?

We've had troubles with Windows 8+ running some programs that use USB or serial ports. It seems like the program is running but it really isn't connecting to the peripheral.

We had to turn off something in Windows which authenticated the port or program. I don't recall the exact procedure. Had to do it for several different programs.

[VaccaRabite]

What version of Windows are you running?

We've had troubles with Windows 8+ running some programs that use USB or serial ports. It seems like the program is running but it really isn't connecting to the peripheral.

We had to turn off something in Windows which authenticated the port or program. I don't recall the exact procedure. Had to do it for several different programs.

The "new" old dell came with Windows 10 loaded. My Acer laptop that I was trying to connect with the USB adapter also has 10.

I hate 10. But I don't see a way around using it these days.

If you can think of what you had to change, I'd like to hear it.

ZAch

[McMark]

I still have the three spare tester units. I can throw them in a box for you today if you want.

[VaccaRabite]

I still have the three spare tester units. I can throw them in a box for you today if you want.

Yes please. Thanks!

Zach

[Spoke]

Zach, about loading a program in Windows 10, I described your issue to my colleague and his response is:

There's a special startup sequence that you go through with Windows 10 to load unsigned drivers. But you only need to do that if the driver fails to install. It sounds like this is a different kind of problem.

[bigkensteele]

What version of Windows are you running?

We've had troubles with Windows 8+ running some programs that use USB or serial ports. It seems like the program is running but it really isn't connecting to the peripheral.

We had to turn off something in Windows which authenticated the port or program. I don't recall the exact procedure. Had to do it for several different programs.

The "new" old dell came with Windows 10 loaded. My Acer laptop that I was trying to connect with the USB adapter also has 10.

I hate 10. But I don't see a way around using it these days.

If you can think of what you had to change, I'd like to hear it.

ZAch

Look on the bottom of the Dell to see if there is a Windows key sticker. If it was originally built with Windows 7, and the key is still legible, you can reload that version (Home Premium or Pro) onto the machine and use that key. There are registry hacks that will prevent an upgrade to 10, but I don't know if you even need to do that anymore since the upgrade is no longer free.

I hate 10 too, but it is "lighter". I have found that it breathes new life into some older machines.