Voltage too low to burn changes
 

Went to burn some changes tonight and get a message saying it couldn't connect because the Megasquirt voltage is too low. I've had some other weird electrical issues lately -- interior overhead light stopped working, remote entry stopped working, power wasn't there when I plugged in the OBD-II reader. What the hell is going on??? This all happened rather suddenly a few weeks ago. Someone PLEASE help me.

Haven't made any changes lately other than having to reflash the system a few weeks ago, but I burned once or twice since then without trouble. Actually, the latest round of trouble (remote entry, etc.) all happened after I had a PCV issue on the dyno ... but I can't fathom how that might be related.

This doesn't help you at all but did it turn out to be nothing more than the PCV?

I think so. Replaced the PCV with a rubber cap and metal clamp, then drove normal boost for a few days, checked the pipe where we found oil before, it was still dry .... then I purposely drove in high boost for a few days, checked the pipe again, STILL dry. So I think all is well. Meanwhile I got the turbo (323 GTX) PCV but haven't put it in yet.

Thanks for asking. Anyway, right now my focus is the electrical gremlin.

Glad to hear it. I hope someone can chime in here, electronics are not my forte.

My car did this. The battery was low.

I tried to do the normal reflash, didn't work. I tried the boot jump & it kept ging me that message, and then wha wha? and ~" and "". Then I pulled the boot jumper and hooked jumper cables to the massive battery on my 350 chevy, and had a buddy rev it to 2200rpms.
It re flashed the firmware then. LOL

Good Luck!

Hmmm. I did help some random driver jump start a big ol' 80s sedan recently ... maybe that drained all the electrons. :)

Maybe I can swap in a "known good" Miata battery from someone else's car and see if things start working. Simple experiment.

The problem is likely caused by the last thing you wired into the car. So if you just added some remote opener thingy (and hmm, it's not working anymore, and all-of-a-sudden neither is X, Y, and Z...) then I'd suggest removing it.

Actually the last electrical thing added to the car was the Megasquirt itself, way back in the summer.

By "remote entry" I meant the stock Mazda keychain gadget. Yes, I tried replacing the battery and made sure it's installed in the right direction. :)

Update: When I got the voltage-too-low error message a few days ago, it was just a few minutes after I started the car. I didn't mention that because I didn't realize it's relevant. Tonight I drove around for 20 minutes, got the car warmed up, then I was able to successfully burn a new msq file. So .... what's the mean? Does that also indicate a battery on its last legs? If so, then how come I've been able to start the car without any trouble? (I always learned that starting the car is what puts the most stress on a battery.)

Still can't get the keyless entry / overlight light / etc. to work though.