LT1-LT4 Modifications 1993-97 Gen II Small Block V8

I got the pcm blues

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Old 08-13-2006, 07:21 PM
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Default I got the pcm blues

Ok i got my tune from madz28 and i hooked up all my cables and turned the car into the on position (not running) and tried to read the pcm from my computer and it says no responce from the pcm. so iwent and got my friends laptop and it still didnt work. But i am able to use DataMaster EE v351 and read the pcm while the car is running but only in short bursts before losting the pcm connection and during that time there are lots of error reports (like 7-10 in like 5 seconds) so that leads me to think my cables are ok. Ideas?
Old 08-13-2006, 07:48 PM
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Well, error messages are a bad sign. You shouldn't be getting any.

Do you have a Scanmaster hooked up to the data line? If so, it needs to be off.

If Datamaster is dropping packets like that, it sounds like something else is running on the laptop and interfering. Virus scanner, some sort of synchronization software, or something else?

What cable are you using (USB or RS232), and are you using a USB to RS232 converter?
Old 08-13-2006, 07:58 PM
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no just RS232 and im using my desktop pc with a 25' serial port extender to my car out in the yard but when i used my friends laptop i didnt use the extender i just used the cable. If i try to read the pcm when the car is on it will tell me the car is on so it is making some sort of connection. I also dont have scanmaster and its obd1 For my 94 z28
Old 08-13-2006, 08:44 PM
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Wow, I am having the same exact problem! I have a RS232 cable and I get the same exact message, my fans even turn on when I start the program... I wish I could figure out why the heck this is happening!

EDIT: I have the same year car and no scanmaster as well

Someone help US,
Bill
Old 08-13-2006, 08:54 PM
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Well, I've run cables 25-30 feet or so before, so length probably isn't the issue - though I usually don't recommend running them that long.

Most laptops that I've had issues with - had infrared ports enabled (bad). Or they had something like Palm Hotsync software installed (or some other communications package). http://www.akmcables.com/serial.doc has some things you might try.

Have you tried running PCMread from Carputing?

http://carputing.tripod.com/pcmread.exe

It usually works fairly well at reading.

Without actually being there, this kind of thing is tough to diagnose. I'm certainly not going to rule out a cable issue, but 99.9% of the time, it's not a cable issue...

-Andrew
Old 08-13-2006, 09:06 PM
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yea me and wild bill are in the same boat, my fans kick on as well and i tried pcmread and it still wont work
Old 08-24-2006, 08:35 PM
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So I guess I have a $75 tune and $40 cable that is useless? sweet. Ohh and I know it aint the computer bc i tried it using the floppy disk method, boots in DOS and I still get the same message...

HELP!!!
Old 08-24-2006, 08:42 PM
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Keep working on it. I know it's fustrating but youll get it. The one thing that would always own me was setting up the comm ports. Once F'ed that goat I was good.
Old 08-24-2006, 09:51 PM
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I am going to guess bad grounds or othe bad connections. Andrew is right. I have tuned hundreds of cars with his stuff and every time I had issues it was due to bad grounds or other interferance
Old 08-25-2006, 07:50 AM
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I had the same problem with my car.Open Tunercat i think it was in Options change your com port to a different port and try that i was getting the same message i had to change it from com port 3 to com port 2


If that doesnt work re check your hyperlink connection on the laptop
Old 08-25-2006, 07:48 PM
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I went to my local chevy dealer and had them check out my pcm and they said that it was working fine, so there went 65.00 down the drain
Old 08-25-2006, 08:04 PM
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Originally Posted by Chris18927
I went to my local chevy dealer and had them check out my pcm and they said that it was working fine, so there went 65.00 down the drain

im telling you need to check the com port that Tunercat is trying to connect through
Old 08-25-2006, 08:06 PM
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I said the same thing. Usually that's it.
Old 08-25-2006, 08:13 PM
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Hey guys,

I have tuned at least a dozen lt1 cars. I get that message (no response from PCM) EVERY TIME. I don't know what it is, must be something with my laptop or whatever.

But it always works eventually for me if I keep trying it. What I've found is that I have to try it at exactly a certain time after the security lights goes off (about 15-20 sec) and then it will work.

So it's not hopeless, again I get an error every time, but it has also worked for me every time if I just keep trying it.

If you get the error, turn the key to off, wait like a minute, turn it back to on, and then wait varying intervals after the security light goes off before trying again. This method has always worked for me. Sometimes I have to do that 4-5 times though.

Last edited by infinitebird; 08-25-2006 at 08:19 PM.
Old 08-25-2006, 10:06 PM
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Alright guys, thanks for the tips I will try it tommorow prob. I have tried different COM ports and only Port 1 seems to work. But I have no idea on the hyperlink setup on the computer, very confused, but like I said I will try and mess around with it waiting for the security light to turn off, I don't think I was letting it turn off normally...

Bill
Old 08-25-2006, 10:55 PM
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Originally Posted by x Wild Bill x
Alright guys, thanks for the tips I will try it tommorow prob. I have tried different COM ports and only Port 1 seems to work. But I have no idea on the hyperlink setup on the computer, very confused, but like I said I will try and mess around with it waiting for the security light to turn off, I don't think I was letting it turn off normally...

Bill
Yeah what I said was assuming you already have the correct COM port and other settings right. Nothing will work if that is set wrong.

For me COM3 was the one it installed to. It depends on the cable you have though.
Old 08-25-2006, 11:52 PM
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Are you using an RS232 port coming out of the back of the laptop or is it a PCMCIA card??
Old 08-26-2006, 09:30 PM
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Haha, well it is a serial port coming out the back of a desktop... I didn't get a chance to try it today maybe tomorow...

Thanks for the help,
Bill



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