MJLJ Program locks up

boostedmini · Post by **boostedmini** » Mon Dec 13, 2010 10:23 am

Hi all,

I have my car running, now to cut a long story short, i have done a full engine rebuild (mini turbo A series) and for the MJLJ the onlt chance is a new bracket for the crank sensor (same spot as before)
now i am using a different laptop than previously and for some reason after around 5 seconds or so of engine running the screen and the MJLJ program just locks up - freezes. i am running V3.2.1.

I think it must be PC related, however i do not have any problems running other programs on the PC, I have uninstalled and reinstalled but no change to operation.

any thoughts?

thanks

Grant

Post by **brentp** » Mon Dec 13, 2010 5:56 pm

It's likely the problem is either around

1) USB-Serial adapter driver issues. If using a USB-Serial adapter, try updating to the latest driver, test with a different adapter, or a computer with a built-in serial port
2) Display drivers. The 3D graphics on the tuning screen sometimes causes heartburn with certain display hardware / drivers. try updating the display driver to the latest.

boostedmini · Post by **boostedmini** » Wed Dec 15, 2010 8:04 pm

thanks for the feedback as always Brent,

SO i have swapped cables and updated the graphics card but still no luck, I have never used this old laptop on the car before, lets call it (PC1), i got this as a second hand unit, so i thought i would try my work laptop (call it PC2) it is on Windows 7 and i can see the prolific adapter in the device manager on com9 but the megajolt still gives me a timeout reading run time data. I did have a few issues loading the MJLJ program on it so maybe i need to reload it again and test.
now i used to use my old work laptop (calll it PC3) Laptop when the car was last on the road and never really had a problem, I might see if work still has this PC and if i can use it for testing.

however this does not explain why my PC1 laptop is still locking up when the engine is running.

any other thoughts?

Grant

Post by **brentp** » Wed Dec 15, 2010 8:53 pm

Does it never lock up with the engine off?

If so, that's been observed before with ignition / electrical noise affecting the USB-Serial adapter electronics. This particular case was solved by physically distancing the USB-Serial adapter *away* from the engine- in this case, adding an extension cable. Wacky, I know.

Post by **brentp** » Wed Dec 15, 2010 8:55 pm

Ah, here you go. see this thread:
http://www.autosportlabs.org/viewtopic. ... 6&start=30

boostedmini · Post by **boostedmini** » Thu Dec 16, 2010 5:50 am

Ok

soooo this could be very spot on, as i have just put the motor back in the car to just get it running to ensure all is well before i put the engine on the engine dyno etc and i have not mounted the MJLJ ECU in its normal place as i was to put it all back out again for Dyno, s it is only sitting on the windscreen scuttle........hhhmmm

I will move it tonight and retest.

fingers xed.

Grant

boostedmini · Post by **boostedmini** » Thu Dec 16, 2010 10:36 am

well no luck,

same thing all ok while engine is not running, can adjust anything and everything for long periods of time, played for 10 mins minimmum.
as soon as i started the car 5 or seconds and bam froze MJLJ program, would not restor communication and had to reboot PC twice before it would work again.

I will try again with another cable and report back.

any other thoughts?

thanks again Grant

NITROPIXIE · Post by **NITROPIXIE** » Thu Dec 16, 2010 10:13 pm

What spark plugs are you using with the megajolt system? They should be resistive. Non-resistive spark plugs can cause interference and it may be what your experiencing, but that isn't for certain.

boostedmini · Post by **boostedmini** » Fri Dec 17, 2010 2:05 am

I am using BP7ES plugs and have done for ages with the MJLJ.
I will try resistor plugs tonight.

just dont understand as it all used to work ok, that is why i think it could be the laptop.

thanks

Grant

DannyP · Post by **DannyP** » Sun Dec 19, 2010 3:58 am

Hav.en't ever used resistor plugs on my v3 install,3 years running

boostedmini · Post by **boostedmini** » Sun Dec 19, 2010 4:26 am

Ok, So i fitted Resistor plugs and swapped to my original cable and it works, however it does occasionally lock up, but i think it is the PC not the MJLJ software.

Thanks for all your help guys (especially Brent) it is appreciated, this Forum is one of if not the best for getting clear and great help, its a credit.

Grant

NITROPIXIE · Post by **NITROPIXIE** » Sun Dec 19, 2010 10:33 am

DannyP wrote:Hav.en't ever used resistor plugs on my v3 install,3 years running

Some people do need them, some don't. I can't put my finger on why but I'm guessing makes too much interference on some systems. I have noticed some systems like boostedmini's initially doesn't but then some how does require resistive plugs in the future, as can be seen.

I guess the morale of the story is to use resistive plugs in the first place. I do for one!!

NITROPIXIE · Post by **NITROPIXIE** » Sun Dec 19, 2010 10:39 am

boostedmini wrote:Ok, So i fitted Resistor plugs and swapped to my original cable and it works, however it does occasionally lock up, but i think it is the PC not the MJLJ software.

Thanks for all your help guys (especially Brent) it is appreciated, this Forum is one of if not the best for getting clear and great help, its a credit.

Grant

My computer sometimes locks up too using 'squirts megatune. I put mine down to the Computer system but its not much of hindrance and isn't very often.

Glad we got somewhere near the bottom of it.

DannyP · Post by **DannyP** » Sun Dec 19, 2010 1:29 pm

Glad you sorted it out. I do remember how much help I got at the beginning before I got a clue!

These unique installs and all the differences in computers and cables makes for a pot luck of end results. You never know how it is going to go. I had a weird glitch through my turn signal circuit and rewired the whole system to get rid of it. The ignition would cut out for a second when you first moved the turn lever. Rewired it and glitch is gone. So it goes to show that you never know how or why these things go the way they do.

Post by **brentp** » Mon Dec 20, 2010 9:28 pm

Thank you for being persistent! It might've come down to interference on the USB-Serial adapter you were using. In any case, resistor plugs should work just fine for you.