Connecting with a laptop with Tuner Pro RT and DIY cable.

[Georgeb]

I wanted to connect my laptop to my truck and do some diagnostics and it was suggested to make a cable and do it so I poked around on the internet a bit.
I was pointed towards this thread.
http://www.gearhead-efi.com/Fuel-Injection/showthread.php?719-Uber-easy-DIY-USB-ALDL-Cable

This led me to buy this adapter:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Arduino-FT2...main_0&hash=item3cbfdfc861&afsrc=1&rmvSB=true

Then I made my cable like as seen in the images below:

Then I needed this driver to operate the adapter and found
I needed to use the CFA_2.08.14_WHQL_Modified.zip
Open and run it then follow the USB Module Driver_ Tutorial_windows_7 from the same page if you are running Windows 7. You can get the driver and tutorial here:
https://forum.crystalfontz.com/show...dows-7-2008-and-64-bit-support-fix-(temporary)

I wanted to use Tuner Pro RT because I could log live data and burn chips later on so I got the software from here:.
http://www.tunerpro.net/downloadApp.htm

I downloaded Tuner Pro RT and then I needed to do the cable installation so I followed these instructions:
http://www.gearhead-efi.com/Fuel-Injection/showthread.php?1557-Cable-Installation-to-TunerPro-RT

Then I needed to figure out how to work Tuner Pro RT so I read this a couple times.
http://www.gearhead-efi.com/Fuel-In...er-Tutorial!-New-users-this-is-a-must-read!-)

Then I needed the .adx and .xdf and .bin files to load into Tuner Pro RT so it knew how to read my ECM chip so I got the info off my ECM as seen below:

And I went here:
http://www.gearhead-efi.com/Fuel-In...o-Definition-Files-Wiring-Diagrams-Tuner-Info!

And looked for my part number ECM which was 1227747 so it took me here:
http://www.gearhead-efi.com/Fuel-Injection/showthread.php?304-1227747-ECM-Information-42

And I selected the most current versions of the .adc and .xdf files and saved them to my PC in a folder I created in my C: drive so I could find them later.
But I didn’t find my ECM bin file which was AFMX so one of the guys on the site pointed me towards one that will work so I saved it to my PC in the same folder. They are really helpful over there too! I ended up using this one for my truck which worked fine for logging data and doing general diagnostics.

You will need to create an account on the Gearhead site to download stuff and I would suggest doing some reading here and there to gain some knowledge. Getting to the point of connecting to your truck is fairly easy and it only cost me $10.00 to make the cable. The software was free. The next level of tuning and burning chips is still way over my head but as time allows I will dabble in that too.

Here are a few of the threads that helped me get started:
http://www.gearhead-efi.com/Fuel-In...tion-Writeups-Articles-and-How-to-New-and-Old
http://www.gearhead-efi.com/Fuel-Injection/showthread.php?3256-Tuner-Pro-FAQ-and-Tutorials
http://www.gearhead-efi.com/Fuel-In...tion-Writeups-Articles-and-How-to-New-and-Old

There is much, much more on that site so look around!

 

[Georgeb]

This has been incredibly useful for me. So far I have set my TPS, checked my MAP for proper operation and reset the stop screw on the TBI to get the correct IAC counts at closed throttle. I could also watch many other data streams. I intend to get a chip burner and some chips so I can tune things a bit. If I couldn't tune this thing to run the way I want I would switch it to a Q-jet and standard HEI in a heart beat. This tool just may sway my opinion!!!

 

[Green79Scottsdale]

Will be coming back and reading more in-depth later. Been slowly gathering stuff to do a TBI swap onto my '79. The computer part is the only thing I haven't fully hashed out yet. Good work GeorgeB.

 

[89Suburban]

I wanted to connect my laptop to my truck and do some diagnostics and it was suggested to make a cable and do it so I poked around on the internet a bit.
I was pointed towards this thread.
http://www.gearhead-efi.com/Fuel-Injection/showthread.php?719-Uber-easy-DIY-USB-ALDL-Cable

This led me to buy this adapter:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Arduino-FT2...main_0&hash=item3cbfdfc861&afsrc=1&rmvSB=true

Then I made my cable like as seen in the images below:

Then I needed this driver to operate the adapter and found
I needed to use the CFA_2.08.14_WHQL_Modified.zip
Open and run it then follow the USB Module Driver_ Tutorial_windows_7 from the same page if you are running Windows 7. You can get the driver and tutorial here:
https://forum.crystalfontz.com/show...dows-7-2008-and-64-bit-support-fix-(temporary)

I wanted to use Tuner Pro RT because I could log live data and burn chips later on so I got the software from here:.
http://www.tunerpro.net/downloadApp.htm

I downloaded Tuner Pro RT and then I needed to do the cable installation so I followed these instructions:
http://www.gearhead-efi.com/Fuel-Injection/showthread.php?1557-Cable-Installation-to-TunerPro-RT

Then I needed to figure out how to work Tuner Pro RT so I read this a couple times.
http://www.gearhead-efi.com/Fuel-In...er-Tutorial!-New-users-this-is-a-must-read!-)

Then I needed the .adx and .xdf and .bin files to load into Tuner Pro RT so it knew how to read my ECM chip so I got the info off my ECM as seen below:

And I went here:
http://www.gearhead-efi.com/Fuel-In...o-Definition-Files-Wiring-Diagrams-Tuner-Info!

And looked for my part number ECM which was 1227747 so it took me here:
http://www.gearhead-efi.com/Fuel-Injection/showthread.php?304-1227747-ECM-Information-42

And I selected the most current versions of the .adc and .xdf files and saved them to my PC in a folder I created in my C: drive so I could find them later.
But I didn’t find my ECM bin file which was AFMX so one of the guys on the site pointed me towards one that will work so I saved it to my PC in the same folder. They are really helpful over there too! I ended up using this one for my truck which worked fine for logging data and doing general diagnostics.

You will need to create an account on the Gearhead site to download stuff and I would suggest doing some reading here and there to gain some knowledge. Getting to the point of connecting to your truck is fairly easy and it only cost me $10.00 to make the cable. The software was free. The next level of tuning and burning chips is still way over my head but as time allows I will dabble in that too.

Here are a few of the threads that helped me get started:
http://www.gearhead-efi.com/Fuel-In...tion-Writeups-Articles-and-How-to-New-and-Old
http://www.gearhead-efi.com/Fuel-Injection/showthread.php?3256-Tuner-Pro-FAQ-and-Tutorials
http://www.gearhead-efi.com/Fuel-In...tion-Writeups-Articles-and-How-to-New-and-Old

There is much, much more on that site so look around!

Nice post, thanks for the info.

 

[hatzie]

With the demise of Windows XP there are more than a few Dell Series 520,30 620,30 & 820,30 and similar model families showing up on Evilbay.
New Lithium battery packs for that series of laptops are cheap and available.
XP is the last OS that has a reliable NT Virtual DOS Machine. It should be more than sufficient for ALDL, OBD II, & Basic CAN diagnostic software.
You don't want to know or find out what the prior owner did with your new prize. Remove and smash the HDD then do a clean Windows install on a new HDD with the OEM video, Ethernet, and USB drivers and you're good to go.
I wouldn't surf the web with XP but it's more than sufficient to listen to 160 baud CLCC & 160/8192 baud TBI rigs over a USB ALDL interface and OBD II/CAN with the proper USB interface. Don't bother with bluetooth for Winblows unless you like premature gray.

Get em while the getting is good.

 

[Camar068]

You could also run a virtual machine of Windows XP on a windows 7/8/10 computer. We have to do that to use some service software for some of the medical equipment we work on that doesn't support anything after XP. We normally have to get a little support from the IT guys to get it to work. I know it's possible though.

 

[hatzie]

You could also run a virtual machine of Windows XP on a windows 7/8/10 computer. We have to do that to use some service software for some of the medical equipment we work on that doesn't support anything after XP. We normally have to get a little support from the IT guys to get it to work. I know it's possible though.

Tunerpro and winaldl will run on 7. Not sure about 8 or 10. I was pointing out that a laptop isn't a show stopper right now.
Vmware works better than the mickeysoft virtualisation software and it runs on Linux and windows. You can install software from a USB stick.

Sent from my SM-P605V using Tapatalk

 

[4WDKC]

Is this the same module ?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/FT232RL-USB-to-TTL-Serial-Module-level-5V-3-3V-for-Arduino-USB-Cable-dupont/361455471221?_trksid=p2047675.c100012.m1985&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D36469%26meid%3Da49bff847bcc4a2dbcbc4ba6a987f48f%26pid%3D100012%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D10%26sd%3D260917151841

 

[Georgeb]

Sure looks like it.

 

[4WDKC]

How did you connect the wires to the pins on the board? In your pic it looks like there is no room for the wires to push down onto them.

 

[Georgeb]

The board came with some little jumper wires that had connectors that fit the pins. I cut the jumpers and soldered them to my wires.

 

[4WDKC]

Mine did too but they arent able to do 90* for a tight fit. i must have missed something as mine isnt communicating with the truck.

 

[Georgeb]

The only communication issue I had was with the driver for the board. Once I got that working and did the cable install it worked.

 

[4WDKC]

The only communication issue I had was with the driver for the board. Once I got that working and did the cable install it worked.

Mine tests good when not connected to the truck but, it never connects to the truck.

 

[Georgeb]

Double check that it is accessing the .adx and .xdf files correctly. Are the files saved on your C: drive and not on a memory stick?