ECM codes

[b00sted87]

just starting to get back into the turbo buick world after a few years. im wondering if anybody out there has broken down a stock ecm and figured out all the codes. reason being, i've been around some guys in the DSM community that use ECMlink which is a tuning software that has basically a re-flashable chip. this enables tuning on the fly which allows to alter a map or rom rather than getting new chips burned every time an upgrade is made to tune the car. buicks have all the tools to make this possible such as the map, maf, knock sensor, cam sensor, etc. wire up a wideband and its very comparable. Im sure Red, Cal, or TurboTweak has done this.

here's a link to ECMlink's site and see if we can figure something out

ECMTuning, Inc.



Thanks!

-Cody Radevski

 

[b00sted87]

"I have no doubt in my mind that someone has the Buick GN code all mapped
out already, though. I can't believe there aren't ECU based tuning
solutions available already (assuming it's fuel injected and ECU
ignition controlled).

Thomas Dorris
ECMTuning, Inc."


this is a reply i got form the tech at ECMlink! some has something out there!!

-Cody Radevski

 

[ijames]

I know you don't want to here this, but read the archives . Then go to Turbo Regal Web Site and in the tech area there is a spreadsheet that lists all the data locations in the chip, including the definitions of the error codes. Then get the disassembly listing of all the code in the rom and the code half of the chip if you want to really see what is going on. If you have any questions about the code operation post them here and I'm sure either I or Dennis Leek or others will try and help. In stock form the ecm uses an eprom, not a flash chip, so on-the-fly changes are not possible. Various people have adapted flash solutions, including the one sold at Welcome to www.moates.net! : Moates.Net if you want to experiment with that. I've made a lot of chips and I really don't think on-the-fly would have helped me much since I tend to log data, then stop and examine it and think what to do next, then burn the next chip, so the slow step isn't really the burning. Anyway, yes people like Red Armstrong and Eric Marshall have done lots of creative stuff with the stock ecm; Eric's website is TurboTweak Home and Red doesn't have one .

 

[mikestertwo]

I used to use a ROM EMULATOR to do programming on the fly but like Carl said it doesn't really buy you much. Properly analyzing the data before burning a chip is where it's at.

 

[b00sted87]

thank you both for your feedback! well the emulator which is the ostrich (i assume thats what your describing) is similar to a piggyback in which i agree that it is not very productive for the money or time. at the same time burning a chip after reading a log is time consuming as well and you have to go through your fair share of chips. this program im describing is neither of which. not a piggyback but you have a programable chip so to speak. it also data logs both saving logs and the option to veiw live logs. its very comparable to that of a computer off of an evo or subaru where its flashable, meaning to go back and change a eprom that has previously been saved (like a map). so your not burning a new chip. i really think its possible because the only big difference between this program working with DSM's is that their ECM's are OBD2 which shouldn't matter. the version 6 chip from turbo tweak mated up with the power logger is really close to what im looking for. you can wire up a wideband and have almost all you need. the only thing im wondering is the limit of control and change. do you tune through the powerlogger to change the parameters on the chip such as timing and fuel?

here's a link to the newst version of DSMlink Version3. Check it out!!

http://www.ecmtuning.com/wiki/v3summary


thanks!

-Cody Radevski

 

[b00sted87]

Also what i need to know is what brand/style of CPU the ECM has inside? is it of Motorola variety or Intel? Please let me know guys!! This will be super benefical to everyone!

 

[ijames]

Proprietary Motorola 6800.

 

[b00sted87]

Thank you Carl! I will let you know if anything else is needed. If we could duplicate there lastest version to work with the ECM, it will contain the logic to expand both the EPROM space and RAM space available to the processor! So it's still possible to do some stuff never seen before on the stock ECM (like speed density operation perhaps!).

-Cody Radevski

 

[ijames]

Thank you Carl! I will let you know if anything else is needed. If we could duplicate there lastest version to work with the ECM, it will contain the logic to expand both the EPROM space and RAM space available to the processor! So it's still possible to do some stuff never seen before on the stock ECM (like speed density operation perhaps!).

-Cody Radevski

Well, Steve Yaklin did speed density with his ME-R chip setup at least five years ago, and Eric Marshall worked with Steve and now offers speed density as well. Oh, just so you know, the map sensor on a stock tr is not connected to the ecm, it only goes to the dash boost gauge. The ecm has to be modified and wiring added to connect the map sensor for the speed-density setup. Some more code space would be nice because most of the really radical stuff like a shift light using the check engine light, or speed density pretty much requires throwing away the egr and maybe charcoal cannister code. The real limitation, however, is the clock speed of the processor - there are spots in the code already that are at the edge of not having enough time to get finished each loop through the code.

 

[machinegun]

I personally use the autoprom, it is a prom emulator and does work well.

I use it to get the tune I want and then burn the chip for the customer.

I have also converted 2 ECM's to work with flash chips. However they are not flashable through the data port just by the autoprom.

You are right in that it is expensive for the user, It does give me an advantage to tune with.

TR pro and Tuner cat pro are the apps I use. They have no scan capability so i must rely on my old direct scan for this car. I think I need to update to something moe modern for this.

FYI I use this setup for tuning all my LT1 stuff and other TPI GM apps.

 

[b00sted87]

[/QUOTE]TR pro and Tuner cat pro are the apps I use. They have no scan capability so i must rely on my old direct scan for this car. I think I need to update to something moe modern for this.[/QUOTE]

Is TR Pro/Tuner Cat the same as Tuner Pro? I found it TunerPro and TunerPro RT - Professional Automobile Tuning Software