MS driver/megatune something problem?
 

I added this to one of adbradleys recent threads... and realized its probably in need of its own thread.

"Following my own link for uploading...(http://www.diyautotune.com/faq/troub...unications.htm) and the other link for latest 2.25...(http://www.msextra.com/manuals/MS_Ex...nual_Index.htm) and then the 029w link for latest extra code....(http://megasquirt.sourceforge.net/ex...alpha/029w.zip)

I use hyperterminal by the book to upload... use the latest 2.25 and bring the 029w over.... and get an error.

Expected "MSnS-extra format 029q*********" (found in ini file)
Received "S - what???Boot>" (from controller)

Retryed uploading the 029w and seeing if that was the problem.. still wierdness.

Kinda driving me nuts... if i load hyperterminal and hit X... gets me nice lights on stim and MS. I close Hyperterminal... open up Megatune and its showing everything working....
Unpower MS, exit Megatune. Repower MS, open Megatune... NOTHING.

Argh.

try re-flashing the ecu with the .bat file included with the firmware. I've had the best luck using the DOS based flash script.

if that doesn't work try using the boot jumper even if it shouldn't be necessary with the firmware you have installed. If the flash got corrupted then it won't be able to use the no-jumper trick.

I'd definitely start with reflashing the firmware, you could try using download.bat as it is more direct and to the point than hyperterminal is...

Is this on an ECU that's been working properly or one you've just built or?

Just built and just back from Peter for repairs. I finished the rest of the ecu 65+ on the build and did the Miata specific mods from the DIY provided page. Nothing else.

I found with the bootloader in i can get this going with the .bat...

"1. Turn off Megasquirt
.
.
Press any key to continue . . .
2. Install Boot jumper (or short out boot resistor)
.
.
Press any key to continue . . .
3. Turn on Megasquirt
.
.
Press any key to continue . . .
.
This should count up to 1700+ lines
.
src\download.exe -c6 msns-extra.s19
MS Download 1.10

Boot>w Complete
Boot>u - waiting ...
Sending file 1 of 1 - msns-extra.s19
Line 550"(counting up)

It finishes like this
"1. Turn off Megasquirt
.
.
Press any key to continue . . .
2. Install Boot jumper (or short out boot resistor)
.
.
Press any key to continue . . .
3. Turn on Megasquirt
.
.
Press any key to continue . . .
.
This should count up to 1700+ lines
.
src\download.exe -c6 msns-extra.s19
MS Download 1.10

Boot>w Complete
Boot>u - waiting ...
Sending file 1 of 1 - msns-extra.s19
File sent, 1761 lines, 27805 bytes.
Complete
Boot>

Boot>x
Signature: MSnS-ex
Signature: tra format 029q *********
Controller battery voltage: 0.00
It appears that you still have the bootload jumper installed.
If this is not the case, and you have removed the jumper, then
something is wrong and your download probably failed.

If MS doesn't reboot, type "download -help" and check out the -v switch.
Press any key to continue . . ."

At this point... all blinky and working. I can open MS and everything reads normally.

I pull the stim, and power.... then power it back up.... and nothing blinks... and megatune just doesn't read or gives wierd errors.

Thoughts?

Check your setting in codebase and output fonction. Set it for msns distributor and check if works.

The next time you try to flash the extra code, do not install the boot and when it ask if you upgrade from BG original code, type "N", it will load normally.

I would also try to not pull the stim out before you turned the power off.

I've tried to run it as "N" and it just errors.

I'll double check the megatune stuff, but the thing that bothers me is that when I open up Realtime... i get 0 information in there.

sounds like you are getting the program into the memory, but not the flash.

everytime you boot the MS it loads the firmware from the flash memory and loads it to the active memory. this is the reason you can make live tuning adjustments (active memory) but unless you hit "burn to ecu" (flash memory) it will be lost when the ecu reboots.

I don't know how to solve the problem, but I hope this info helps someone with suggestions.

edit* check for continuity between your two jumper points with no jumper installed... you may have a short in the jumper line.

When its jumpered it errors differently then when not, so I believe it isn't a short at the jumper.

The hardest part of this... is I can flash it with hyperterminal... or the .bat... hit X and get lights... leave it on and Megatune can see it and I get live data and stim controls.... Once off... it stays off.

Sigh.

Hurm... just thought of something... when i get data... realtime... Batt should show voltage right?

My battery shows voltage when in realtime mode.

Yah, I remember voltage too. I'm using a wall power unit... i tried it with battery and does the same thing.

Hurm.

Maybe MS just dislikes me?

I just tested that power works... I ran off wall power and off 9v... both got same results with hyperterminal and X activating the ecu... then closing hyper and opening megatune... gets me live readings. With realtime up.... everything that should move/work does... except 0.00 under Batt volts.

Thoughts?

I just went through hyperterminal and set reflashed mine with .029w, it fixed my .ini errors i was getting and smoothed out my realtime simulations as well. Everything but RPM is working with the Stim. I used the boot jumper and a 9 volt, worked perfect by the book. I have no idea why yours would be doing that.
Can you hook it up to someone elses computer, might just be a weird thing with your computer?

Interesting... just doing things over and over again and looking for a hiccup.

I just used the .bat and gave a "Y"... it did the turn off/put in boot jumper/power up.... i have no jumper in... went through that menu and its loading the program to it.... Something has to be off somewhere... Bah.

This is what makes me nervous about the squirt... (and why I haven't ordered it yet) keep plugging away at it!

not everyone has these troubles... and those who do can take solice in the fact they saved hundreds if not thousands of dollars over a different ecu choice.

Agreed, I'm still excited for my MS... I just need to get over these hurdles.

I wish I could help, this is totally out of my abilities. Have you asked at msextra.com?

Have you tried Eric's downloader program? Not sure if this will fix things, but it's often the most reliable of the downloaders. Although marked as an MS-II downloader, it works for MSnS-E too.

I will try it tonight :) I've only used hyperterminal and the .bat included with the MsNS-extra zip files.

I posted info up at msefi.com in the v3.0 forum about it and it was moved to a temp MsNS area... I'm just not certain its MsNS thats the issue... we'll see if i get feedback there. I referenced this link for ongoing stuff... so hopefully someone has a shot of inspiration for me.

I havent even gotten that far and I am having problems. At least you are local to diyautotune.

Just used the MSII updater. Works just the same as the hyperterminal or .bat usage.

Someone help! I'm so close! It reads almost 100% normally if i let the lights run after upload... and just open megatune immediatly. I get no battery voltage though. Once its turned off... it won't work with MT again until I log into it with hyper/.bat/msII updater and get the lights going that way.

Please!

I just measured Ohms at the bootloader... 9.8. Anyone confirm a reading there? Or do I have some crazy short I can't see.

I've used MS1 base and MS1-extra stuff... all get me 0 volt readout. I think this is my last hurdle. I bet its lack of seen voltage is preventing a proper burn. It gets uploaded and runs while powered up... but once off... its gone.

9.8 ohms across the holes on the bootloader? You should have around 10,000 ohms across the bootloader instead. What do you have in R6? If that is 9.8 rather than 9.8 K, it sounds like you may either have a short or a wrong resistor putting your Megasquirt into permanent boot mode.

9.8k, sry. So very close to 10000. R6 has the brown/black/orange/gold (which my meter has at 9.8k)

I also just went back and did the serial tests and the power to the 40pin socket tests. All the components with directionals are correct, have quadruple checked them.

Have you tried downloading to the ECU with EasyTherm?

I can't download anything onto my ECU using the usual method but I have a 100% success rate using EasyTherm to download the file.

Ok i tried following the hyperterminal method and same thing ... s19 would download, everything works fine, then turn off the power, pull the bootloader and megatune no longer recognises the board. Im trying the easytherm meathod right now, so ill see if that helps.

and so far so good. Powered off, then back on and it still worked. Now to input my settings and see if i can get something started.

I'm leaning towards a possible problem with the processor, or maybe the ECU itself... but I bet if we can get the same info you've got above into a thread at msextra.com James (MSnS-E lead coder-guru) will chime in and clear it up pretty quickly. The MSEFI.com admins must have moved it because it was MSnS-E related as they've divided the forums to ease administrative burden a bit.

I really don't think a different programming tool will necessarily do it for you, the bottom line is there are a few ways to program the processor, and all of them should work all of the time. If any of them aren't then something is wrong... Let's figure out what that is and help you get it taken care of.

BTW- I don't get out here everyday so I missed watching this thread super-close, but feel free to shoot me an email if you need to grab my attention, and I do try to drop by regularly...

Just tried easytherm, same results. Sigh.

I've got a post open in the MSEFI.com v3.0 section, we'll see where that heads. I don't believe its anything firmware .... so hardware help is where I'm headed.

Man, buying a new processor already is stinky :p.

Thinking of a small order. USB conversion, 2 aluminum iat/clt bungs, MS1 processor, gm IAT with connector... I think that would cover it.

Would it be the processor though if I can load code... and view it working in MegaTune? It just isn't storing it for some reason and not showing battery voltage :(

Also, do you guys have a diy kit together for the boost controller yet? I didn't see it on the Mods section of the e-commerce site.

It's possible the processor has a problem with saving things when the power turns off - although it almost seems like it's coming up in bootloader mode. You could check to see if there's a voltage between the square bootloader hole and ground - a problem with the voltage there might make it go into boot mode.

We still need to do a bit of testing on boost controllers before we offer a kit for that.

So like pin 20 on the 40pin as ground and the square boot loader hole?

If so... nothing.

I get 11.5(wall power) between 20 and 13.

No voltage there... interesting. Check the voltage between each side of R3 and ground, see what you get. I'd use one of the ground holes in the proto area for this test. (Note: I'm assuming this is a V3.0 board - let me know if it isn't.)

It is v3.0. Just tested that. No voltage between either side of R3 and the proto grounds. I ensured they worked too by testing and getting 5v between the proto gnd and +5v.

Matt Cramer is my hero. Was a damaged trace (i must have scratched it while soldering in the middle leg of Q12. He had me trace power backwards and get it working. Ran a jumper from middle Q12 to R3.

No one should have this issue... or fear it. Was a mistake on my part.

DIY rules!

Ima try to do harness tonight and order up my GM sensor. Once thats here... I'll try to get the car running briefly NA on the MS to test it.

Thanks for everyone who took the time to help me figure this darn thing out :)

-Dave

Holy crap man, glad you figured that out. After all the input you have gotten from people in this thread i'm sure that all questions have been answered seeing how you had about 10 different options for flashing the ECU.
Glad to hear it's working.