Resets & Corruption

MiseryQ · Post by **MiseryQ** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 4:43 pm

I have'nt started an actual thread with my problem so here it is.

Most of the 29X codes, on my car, "develop" random corruption to the point,worst case, where the settings have to be reloaded in order to start the car.

Sometimes just cycling the MS will get it running again but the engine will be flooded very badly when this happens.

Again this is only with 29, 24s14c works flawless.

Since 29o I've dumped the serial port for a USB converter.
So far I've had no corruption, But...

Now I'm getting a lot of resets. Seems to happen most when releasing the throttle slightly, but for the most part also seem to random.

Nothing in the datalogs besides a dip in all but the AFR before the reset.

Where do I start troubleshooting this? I've gone over all the conections and they're good. This also happens on both my v2.2 & v3.0 boxes.

My only far out theory is that the resets have been there and causing the corruption with the serial port.

Post by **jsmcortina** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 6:14 am

I do not know what the problem is - I am perplexed as 029p ran fine on my car last weekend datalogging every run down the strip.

If you can do a Communications->Diagnostic log and capture the corruption that is a starting point. The resulting comm.log in your car directory may be rather large, but zip it up and email it to me jsm@jsm-net.demon.co.uk

PhilR has reported some weirdness too, but until I can observe or replicate the problem I don't have anywhere to start.

cheers

James

MiseryQ · Post by **MiseryQ** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 8:11 am

I'll go back to the serial and see if I can get something. It's random though. Sometimes right away and repeatedly, like the other night, sometimes only a couple times a week.

Thanks for the reply.

woh · Post by **woh** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 1:02 pm

MiseryQ

I had one reset recently that was likely a corruption of some sort. But since most people are having good luck with o,p & q I suspect it is something marginal in the install. So I looked at the power input of MSIv3 and tried running it from different parts of the wiring.

As you can imagine there are all sorts of noisy signals running around on any of the wiring. Running MS off the ignition switch creates all sorts of noise from both the car and from MS. I assume it is because of the length of wiring and the inductance of the wire. Running it off the the large wires that are normally associated with before the ignition, and close to the battery also had problems and noise spikes.

Regardless where and how I connected it I was able to see severe spikes. It was not due to poor grounds. One solution that significantly improved any source for MS power was to put a ignition suppression condensor on the +12 wire going in to the MS. These are found on the Ford EDIS coil on an Escort and can be bought over the counter. Adding a 50V 15uF tantalum capacitor further improved it. If you use a tantalum capacitor, make sure it is on the fused side.

I can't say this fixed my problem since I only saw it once. But it does noticeably improve the power going to MS. I think it is worth a try.

MiseryQ · Post by **MiseryQ** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 2:11 pm

I've been meaning to install a filter on the MS just to make sure there's no noise. But...

If the resets/corruption was due to noise then would'nt the previous codes have the same problem? Like I mentioned, 24s runs great.

Post by **jsmcortina** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 2:16 pm

I would have expected all codes to behave similarly to power supply noise. Let's hope you are able to capture something in a comms log.

James

woh · Post by **woh** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 2:17 pm

I think it is possible that noise on the supply will act different for different code, but I'll let James answer that.

You can't be sure it's the code version until you change the code back a couple of times with the same results. That's very difficult when you have an intermittent.

BTW I also tested one of those radio Filters, I don't recommend it.

keithmac · Post by **keithmac** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 3:05 pm

I`ve never had a corruption running the 025, 027 or 029`s, I use distributor mode and a separate TCI-H unit to dive the coil.

MiseryQ · Post by **MiseryQ** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 3:17 pm

woh wrote:You can't be sure it's the code version until you change the code back a couple of times with the same results. That's very difficult when you have an intermittent.

I have changed back and forth. I went to 26i with MTb710 then 24s14 with MTb710 then 24s14 with MT2.25.

None of the problems. Went back to 29o and the settings were corrupted right away.

What strange it that I ran the car most of the week with the computer connected and a USB convertor and had no problems.

woh · Post by **woh** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 4:01 pm

yes, strange.

I went back to 029o from p just to be save. Now you have me wondering if I should go back further. I'll be doing a 1500 mi trip in a couple of days. I'll stick with 0290 for now and see what happens.

MiseryQ · Post by **MiseryQ** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 4:15 pm

I've only had the problem with the computer connected.
The computer runs on the battery while tuning so it's nothing I would worry about.

I'm not even sure if I get the resets without the computer connected.
If so it's not noticable.

GintsK · Post by **GintsK** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 2:30 pm

Hm...I suffered from one serious firmware crash on 029 too. Injectors stayed opened and fuel pump running

First time since my several installations. Yes and strange kind of resets too.

MiseryQ · Post by **MiseryQ** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 3:11 pm

Not sure on the resets.
The last couple days I've had my MS-2 installed so I have no time diagnosing MSNS-E.

Tonight MT stops responding, all gauges were red, I close and restarted MT and the engine died, put the car in neutral and tried cranking, no start, cycled the key then the engine started.

This is again with my serial port. I don't believe this is a MSNS-E problem.

woh · Post by **woh** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 3:32 pm

MiseryQ

Are you powering the PC from the car or is it running on battery?

MiseryQ · Post by **MiseryQ** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 4:29 pm

Always from the battery.

goodyearsmokesignals · Thu Apr 27, 2006 6:20 pm

ive been seeing simliar firmware crashes. Car dies and fuel pump stays on. Dattalog shows that when it is crasshed the rpm and dutycyle and everything else for that matter flatline at whatever value they were at before the crash.

I also have times where the connection to megatune is lost, all the guages just go red, if i turn off the key and turn it back on then it will come back or if i just pull out the usb adapter and then plug it back in it will come back as well.

I'm running 029n3 but it did it with 029l as well as 029i. my setup and more description of my problems is posted at http://www.msefi.com/viewtopic.php?t=17986. I havent tried 024s9 yet but probably i should just to see.

goodyearsmokesignals · Sun Apr 30, 2006 3:20 pm

I just got back from trying 024s9. It does the same things. I agree that this is not an MSNS problem. I have one MS2 unit that does the same thing. However i also do not think that it is a battery voltage problem either, as i have tried running without the alternator plugged in. Wich would eliminate the possibility of alternator interference and it still has all the same crazy problems.

MiseryQ · Post by **MiseryQ** » Sun Apr 30, 2006 4:41 pm

What version of Megatune are you using?
Are you using the computers serial port or USB convertor?

goodyearsmokesignals · Sun Apr 30, 2006 6:24 pm

using megatune 2.25 and a usb convertor. But i dont think this is an issue.

I have two MS2 units identical to each other, one loses connection and has firmware freezes like my MS1 unit and the other never does. They both have identical firmware and are run in the same car.

slappala · Post by **slappala** » Mon May 22, 2006 11:56 am

this is strange since I have same problems too. I could try to get the log file today and post it. I have tried 24s9a and 29q2 for now. both do the same but 24s9 was working little smoother. Does the edis unit need to be in the same ground point where megasquirt goes too ?