Firmware Corruption

[Stag76]

I've had a couple of firmware corruptions occur lately while tuning. The car stops dead, with no activity at all (not even fuel pump).

On the JimStim, the LED's show only a dull, randomly flickering glow, and the NoteBook won't connect to it. Downloading Firmware is the only way out of it, and will only work if you use the boot jumper and tell it that you are replacing B&G code with MS-Extra (which is not the case), or using HyperTerm to (W)ipe the processor.

It's only happened when I've had my NoteBook connected via USB-Serial adapter, and I'm suspecting that is the cause, as lately it's been losing connection without reason, and has once or twice stalled the engine and left the injectors open and fuel pump running after burning changes.

I'm running MSExtra, 029y4, MS1 on a V3 PCB.

Has anyone else experienced anything like this?

[jsmcortina]

I know this isn't much help, but I've not seen this on my car.

Are there any possible ground loops? How are you powering the notebook?

James

[Stag76]

This appears to have been fixed by switching from Points to Lumenition module. Using distributor points was producing multiple resets, stalls with the fuel pump left running, and partial (spark would stop) or complete firmware corruption. We tried a V2.2 based ECU, then a V3, new points with gaps ranging from .005 to .025, with and without condensor(new), different coils, and new (resistive) plugs...finally gave up and hooked up a Lumenition Module. Since then all problems have disappeared and the engine (Triumph PI. 2.5 6 cyl) runs much better right throughout the range.

[jsmcortina]

Actually, I have seen this kind of behaviour ONCE six years ago and it was caused by my ignition coil being wired backwards and taking the tach signal from the coil negative.

James