Error message "Timeout Reading Run Time Data"

Post by **brentp** » Thu Jan 21, 2010 12:38 am

Hi Mike,

Yes, if you're careful you can apply 12V directly to the voltage regulator input pin. I would personally recommend using a 9V battery for safety reasons, instead of a 12V power supply or car battery.

The 1n4004 diode you're most concerned about is D2, seen here:
http://www.autosportlabs.net/asl_dist/m ... v3_sch.png

this is a reverse protection diode, placed between the molex connector and the voltage regulator.

Try applying voltage from a 9V battery to both the molex connector and directly to the voltage regulator input pin. You should be able to measure 5V on the output of the voltage regulator. And, as an FYI, the input to the voltage regulator is the pin *closest* to the molex connector.

Let us know what you find out!

KoolKat · Post by **KoolKat** » Thu Jan 21, 2010 2:55 am

Hi, OK I've run again a complete power test and I have 5V+ where I should have and 12V+ where its suppose to be, such as the input pin on the voltage regulator. I did check 5V+ on U2 / MAX232 chip and I have power there. Hooking up the circuit board with a serial cable to my XP computer, I still get a "Runtime error" message. I've replaced the MAX232 chip and also the T2 transistor. Previously, when I had the board in my car and got this error message, I was able to attach the serial cable to another car, no changing anything, and was able to communicate with the computer, no problems. Wonder if I have a bad
DB9 plug. How can that plug be tested?
Thanks for all your help,
Mike Goodwin
KoolKat 1968 E Type Jaguar
Phoenix, AZ

NITROPIXIE · Post by **NITROPIXIE** » Thu Jan 21, 2010 10:49 pm

Hey Mike

To test the 232, take the processor chip out of the board, use a small length of wire to connect pins 11 and 12 of the processor chip socket together then follow the instructions on this page http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/tutori ... als_id=104, where the paragraph starts "Mkay", underneath the 3 screen shots. You only really need to follow the 3 paragraphs here as they contain the info you require but you can read the rest if you want to further your knowledge of the 232.

Since you have changed the 232 we can assume that it is good. I very much doubt there is anything wrong with the connector
as they can take a couple of amps before it fails and it wont be anywhere near this much when working correctly or when the 232 fails for that matter.

Another option i think could be the problem now is the processor chip is defunct. But we can further test this when you have got results for the above.

KoolKat · Post by **KoolKat** » Fri Jan 22, 2010 3:55 am

Hi, well just before I started to unsolder the MAX232 chip I decided to run a power check and all power locations checked out with 5+V, & 12V on the voltage Regulator input pin. Then I decided to hook up to the computer and got the following error message:
"Could not read controller version - Could not open port" this was from the "Help" dropdown menu, on the monitor screen it just said "Could not open Port" so I check and tried the settings for all COM 1-10 ports and then changed serial cables, nothing changed. But, this is a different error message that the "Runtime" error message I had received before. So, what does this "port" message mean and should I still do the MAX232 socket test, I have the Hyperterminal setup and ready for the ping.
Thanks,
Mike Goodwin
1968 E Type Jaguar
Phoenix, AZ

Post by **brentp** » Fri Jan 22, 2010 7:14 am

"Could not open port" in the software means that the software was set to use a non existent COM port on your computer. You want to set it to be the same COM port as what you have the MJLJ connected to. Say the MJLJ is connected to COM1 on the back of the computer, then you should set the software to use COM1 as well.

You can check "device manager" in windows to find out what COM ports you have installed on your computer.

The loopback test should be used with hyperterminal. This simply shows that the "data" can flow from your serial port to the processor chip, and back again (that's what the jumper wire is for).

If you established that this works (by observing echos back from Hyperterminal) then you can carefully put the processor chip back in, and re-test with the configuration software.

This part of the operation guide shows how to check Device Manager for this information:
http://www.autosportlabs.net/MJLJ_V4_Op ... n_Software

There's another way to determine if the unit is basically "alive": Does it control ignition advance when hooked back up to the engine? If you can verify this- using a timing light, for example- then this is yet a different way to show the MJLJ is operational.

So there's some information. Let us know what you find out!

KoolKat · Post by **KoolKat** » Mon Jan 25, 2010 1:55 am

Greetings, well I tested the circuit board using the Hyperterminal program with no positive results. Checked with Device Manager to be sure I was on Com 1 regarding the "Port" error message. Checked for power on all the power check points and had correct power at those points. Still no ability to talk with the computer and no tach signal. I reinstalled the unit into my E Type and have great performance through the gears, its just amazing how fast and quick a 42 year old car can be. So, with all the time and effort that I've put out, learning a bunch along the way I've decided to order a new V4 kit and just start from scratch and will keep this V3 board for further testing. Super thanks to Brent & Ryan for their efforts to help and teach, their emails were just great and what I've learned will help with the new V4 board.

NITROPIXIE · Post by **NITROPIXIE** » Mon Jan 25, 2010 9:54 am

Mike

Sorry to hear it's still not communicating, but if your getting all your engine power back then the processor must at least be good. Looks like the problem could well remain around the 232 still.

If you get a V4 at least you will then have a spare unit to megajolt something else, lol.

Keep us posted and get some phots in the powered by section, quite interested in how this one looks and how you have mounted the triggerwheel/sensor.

Ryan

KoolKat · Post by **KoolKat** » Tue Jan 26, 2010 3:41 am

Hi, I promise to get some phots uploaded in the "Powered" section and share the 4 maps I have. The trigger wheel is interesting as there is none....so to speak, go to You Tube and search for "EDIS Jaguar" and take a look at what I did. The sensor is a non-adjustable custom mount that a buddy of mine and I designed and cut out of aluminium. I'll post some photos soon. And, my V3 board is not done with testing, just time to move on to the V4 board and play with some tuning ideas I have.
Super thanks,
Mike Goodwin
1968 E Type Jaguar
Phoenix, AZ