Can't connect to laptop running vista

Alex1380 · Post by **Alex1380** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 12:34 pm

HELP, spent ages building the kit wiring up the car and i can't get this laptop to let me connect it. The firmware program doesn't seem to work and te MJLJ Config program can't connect to the unit, just get the Time out reading Cylinder count error. Please help. Im not computer techy so im really stuck.

Post by **brentp** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 5:48 pm

Alex,

Controller version:
Are you running a V3 controller (silver enclosure) or V4 (red enclosure)?

V3 controller: download V3.2.1 config software here: http://www.autosportlabs.net/MJLJ_V3_Downloads
V4 controller: download V4 config software here: http://www.autosportlabs.net/MJLJ_V4_Downloads

If you built from a kit, did all of the voltage checks pass during the kit build process?

Note regarding processor: The processor you received already has the firmware installed, it should be ready to go- you do not need to flash yours with new firmware.

Alex1380 · Post by **Alex1380** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 6:28 pm

V4 in the red case. Ok, i'll stop trying the firmware, just the problem connecting the config program then.

Alex1380 · Post by **Alex1380** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 6:47 pm

I've just re-checked all the voltages and it all looks fine, I build my own cable but i have check that over with the multi-meter and that looks fine. I am using a USB-serail adaptor but i have also tryed it on a laptop with a serail port and on xp and it gives me the same results. please help.

MartinM · Post by **MartinM** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 10:07 pm

Alex1380 wrote:I build my own cable but i have check that over with the multi-meter and that looks fine

What pins on the RS232 serial connection did you connect to what RJ-11 pins?

Post by **brentp** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 11:10 pm

To advance Martin's question, double check the pin numbers for the DB9 according to this diagram:
http://autosportlabs.net/MJLJ_V4_Operat ... rial_Cable

If you soldered the wires to a DB9 connector, make sure the numbers match. The number markings are on the DB9 connector- usually very faint and hard to see, but there none the less. It's easy to get turned around and have the wiring in mirror-reverse.

Alex1380 · Post by **Alex1380** » Mon Jul 07, 2008 6:57 pm

hi guys, swaped the cables around. I hadn't realised that the pic on the diagram is a pic of the mega jolts socket not the front on the RJ11 plug. I have double checked the pins on the RS232 connect and that seems right. But i still get the same fault on the config program.......

Post by **brentp** » Tue Jul 08, 2008 7:10 am

Good that you corrected the orientation.

Per your other post it seems that you saw an improvement according to different behavior from the firmware flashing software.

It seems the TX (transmit) line might be wired correctly, but the RX (receive) line may be wrong. The rationale is that the bootloader on the chip send out a short message every time the unit powers up; this is what the firmware flashing program is detecting.

In contrast, the config software sends out periodic 'pings' or requests for runtime data which the unit receives on the RX line. If the RX line isn't wired correctly, it never gets the request.

I've updated the pinout on the wiki: http://www.autosportlabs.net/MJLJ_V4_Op ... rial_Cable

Make sure the appropriate DB9 wires go the the corresponding pins on the RJ11- use a meter to confirm each pin assignment.

Alex1380 · Post by **Alex1380** » Tue Jul 08, 2008 7:20 pm

hi, i've checked the cable over and it all matchs up.
pin 2 on the DB9 goes to pin 1 on the RJ11
pin 3 on the DB9 goes to pin 2 on the RJ11
pin 5 on the DB9 goes to pin3 and 4 on the RJ11

Still getting the same faults. Do you english phone cable isn't thick enough for this? cos the pics on other posts the cable seems thicker. wondering about chucking my unit on ebay and spending the extra on the pre-built unit and the cable.

Post by **brentp** » Tue Jul 08, 2008 8:54 pm

Alex,

As long as you can verify pin wiring the cable you have should work fine.

The other way to verify the unit is basically 'alive' is to see if the unit controls ignition advance on a running engine.

Do you have the EDIS portion running on your engine yet? If so, you can hook the MJLJ into the harness, use a timing light and observe if the timing adjusts by varying RPM.

Try the following- it's worth going over again:

1. Re-check your solder connections- in particular U1 and U2, and all of the surface mount 0.1uF capacitors (C3,C4,C5,C6,C7,C10).
2. Make sure there are no solder bridges or cold solder joints.
3. Verify all the components are installed in the correct orientation- all of the ICs and especially the oscillator (QG1)
4. Also re-verify voltages when powered up according to the build instructions.

The blip of activity you observed with the firmware uploading software-- after you fixed the serial pinout-- is promising. It appears to be an indication the processor is alive enough to output a message upon power-up.

Would be especially interested if you can observe the unit controlling ignition advance. this would be significant.

Let us know what you find out,

Alex1380 · Post by **Alex1380** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 6:57 pm

PROBLEM SOLVED well sort of,
Right turns out its the USB to serial problem again, I connected the unit to my dads old pc tower updated the firmware (didn't need to but it proved coms worked) the problem now it the old tower is running win 95 and the config program won't run on that operating systerm. Is there a patch or somthing to make it work??? the plan it to some how get the data on to my old laptop (also running 95) and program it from there.

thanks all for the help so far. I must say not bought a bit for my car with so much backup suport ever before.

thank you again.

Post by **brentp** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 7:04 pm

What error are you getting with Windows 95?

We have 13 computers running for various purposes (don't ask

) and not one of them is set up to boot into Windows 95/98!! One would think...

However, the software should in principal work on win 9x as its' not doing anything special regarding Win32 stuff. The one reported problem was with the splash screen not dismissing on Win98, but I didn't have a chance to verify this.

Alex1380 · Post by **Alex1380** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 8:56 pm

an error comes up requiring some .DLL files so i added the missing file from the internet and then i got a message telling me to upgrade to a new version of windows and it won't run. The problem i have is my laptop on 95 can't connect to the net to get any missing files.

Post by **brentp** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 9:30 pm

Got it. Please, next time you attempt, note the missing dll files and let me know which ones they are.

Edit:

you might've put DLLs from a newer version of windows and this is tripping up Win95- in which case, you would need the Win95 version of these DLLs..

Alex1380 · Post by **Alex1380** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 7:38 pm

IT WORKS!!!!!
got my old laptop working got it all loaded and they talk to each other woooooo now to troall the map library for a good starting place for tuning my 1380 mini.

thank you all