Steven,

serial link works fine ! you can use the COMLINK program and talk to the ECU the old way ok (as with old chip) but PCLINK wont. I think its a version problem with the program, as its a 6row link but the programs a 10row so im sure somethings not right there (??) but as i said, we need more time to play on the car, with the laptop... hopefully before the 19th!

Steve

 

 

Need it up and running to log the runs on the 19th

Yes it is your old Serial Link

I have been looking into running software on the PDA (but not getting very far )


Sorry guy should have mentioned it was from an early chip. As Steve said I have now fitted the latest chip, but having problems with the PClink software now
I'm going to try and have a play with it today (If I get time!!)

 

PCLink is the same for all versions of the ECU, I have used mine on both WRX97Q and V5Q and V5R ECUs.

As for the PDA software - I think Steve has seen the Link monitor in my car?

I did some COM port tracing on PCLink and got the command set it uses to talk to the ECU, I then used this directly from an Atmel uController hardware UART (TTL->TTL no RS232 conversion in the way) to talk to the ECU, it requires a couple of signal diodes to loopback some of the lines in the 14way ribbon to the ECU so it thinks there's a Serial/USB Link connected and not the Handcontroller.

The monitor has been totally reliable for about 18months now, it also has analogue inputs including a feed from my TE WB so I don't need a separate display for that.

I can send you some details of the Link protocol if you like? Its actually just clear ascii text.

If you are still having problems with PCLink feel free to ring me to compare settings, Steve has my home phone number.

Andrew...

 

Ok Andrew you just lost me after the bit...In non-techincal speak could you use a PDA with either a serial cable or USB connection to the Link via a LinkUSB or Linkserial.

If not what would I need to make a connecting cable, and do you have any plans? Would someone who can just about use a soldiering iron be able to complete the task.

Is there a need for addition software for the PDA. I have a redundant Ipaq which I could use as a monitor and it would be even better if it could function as data logger.

I currently secure the laptop under the passenger seat (not ideal) while sprinting so I can compare data logs between the two drivers and monitor the car's performance post race.

Mark

 

You could connect to the Link using a PDA and either the SerialLink or USBLink.

You would need some software to trigger the ECU to start logging using the protocol that I mention above.

My monitor is not PDA based, it uses an Atmel microcontroller which talks to the ECU and drives an LCD similar to the ScoobyMonitor I developed sometime ago.

Andrew...

 

Mark,
you would need some kind of hardware (like the serialLINK) as the LINK ECU doesnt natively talk RS232 serial (hence the box in the first place). What Andrews done is taken a microcontroller 'chip' and interfaced it directly with the LINK (with a few tweaks that are necessary to 'tell' the LINK its talking to what it thinks is a PC). In this case, just a few components.

AFAIK, there is no LINK software for anything like a PDA. I've steared clear of PDA's mainly coz i hate them so not sure even how or what would need doing to get a simple comms program with you're own front end working.

I'm thinking of doing something similar with the APEXi via the DataLogIT box. I know there is the commander, but somedays you just want a nice graphical display with big dials
Natively the Apexi talks in its own serial stream,which is far to 'pain in the ****' to deal with, but im sure the DL-IT box has converted it into something nice , like ASCII !

Steve

 

Holly CRAP ! i've just found the entier way the Apexi talks (and DataLogIT by the looks of it) and its not too much different than the OEM ECU.

anyone fancy doing anything with it ?

Steve

 

Eh?

I have thought about doing doing something for the Apexi but I don't have one. Although I know a few people who do

Andrew...

 

yes so do i
and a much growing market .. but the commander kinda replaces anything i think.
except the gauge type display on a PC / PDA...

what i've found is the complete (well almost) protocol that the Apexi talks in. all the hex bytes etc, and what it returns - so like all the stuff we found from the OEM ecu many moons ago...

 

And only a quick trip down the M61

I think the commander is pretty good. The only thing that it needs is additional inputs ala SECS etc. So you could have oil temp/pressure etc. I don't fancy having 5 gauges etc in the car and have been thinking how to sort this for a while. PDA based nice graphics etc would be good with the additional inputs. As long as the PDA stuff is windows based so i can run it on my 02 XDA 11s .

Tony.

 

Tart

 

Windoze would probably be easier to create ... and agree on extra inputs etc, but to make the full functionality of the commander would be quite an excersice. monitoring bit would be all i'd be interested in.

 

Yep... just monitoring too for me.

Have you had a look in the Datalogit box of tricks to see what electricery lives in there?

Tony.

 

something not too dissimilar to this i think !

 

Right back on track!!


I had the car on the rollers at PE (Hants RR day, Thanks Terry).


Been having a few Turbo/ boost issues latly!
Boost is creeping up to 1.4-1.5 bar
I've been trying to run 1 bar on a 1.2 bar actuator (I hadn't realised Mark had spec'ed an uprated Actuator)

Anyway, to cure the boost cut I have loosed the wastegate so iit is bleeding off some of the air and increase the boost limit on the Link. It takes ages for the power to come in on the road due to the bleeding off.

I explained the saga to Chris at PE before the run and told him not to take it above 6000 RPM or it would cut!! and ruin the coast down reading
I knew it wouldn't show the best figures but I just wanted a figure! Plus I had organised a Sweepstake on the Power on the day for charity


Well the graph is pretty slow to rise. There is no point were it shows the power coming in like it should do.
As Chris lifted off at 6k the graphs were still rising

But it recorded 303BHP / 297lbft

Lots more to come once the wastegate has been ported some more

Booked in for another shoot out at the Surrey rolling road on the 19th March, so need to get the turbo off soon!


I have tightened the wastegate and reduced the boost limit on the ECU again for road use. Power comes in much earlier and makes it soooo much more usable

 

Oh, I raised £20 for charity so thanks to those that put there money where their mouth is (literally)

 

bad luck on the turbo issues mate. was unfortunate as i think you should have been up there with the top runners if it would have actually spooled the turbo (which it didnt sound like it was doing at-all )

best get the thing apart and sorted. although i have been thinking about that actuator. if you only plan to run 1.2 - 1.4 bar, then IMO 1.2 bar actuator may be too high (??) especially if you are at the lower end of that scale (for the gearboxs sake)

discuss

 

you don't have the graph kicking round do you.

My 2.5 goes to mapped this friday. i hope all goes well as i fell for my clutch.
http://img14.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img14...scf18334oj.jpg

 

/chants MORE POWER, MORE POWER, MORE POWER

 

Makes my 20g look tiny.
Graham.

 

megrac,
I do have the graph, but no way to scan it

What FMIC are you running? Looks good

 

just one of those cheap hybrid ones Dyney. i got the one little one with the 450mm long core in the hopping it would flow more than the 600mm core as its shorter. and also it aloud me to make my pipes the way i wanted to. it should still cool enuff for the power im after.

http://img167.exs.cx/img167/800/dscf20916nl.jpg

http://img167.exs.cx/img167/2270/fmic5bg.jpg

 

Where did you run the piping on that FMIC ? - My hybrid fits the other way up and the pipework runs under the bodywork at the front (i.e. under the corner of the wings)

Mark

 

Any idea of the cost / benefit of STI heads over 'simply' fitting my 98 UK ones ?> (limit to the 98 ones due to the different cams?)

Obviously this means taking the car off the road for longer, but may be LOTS cheaper than trying to source other heads/cams etc. Also, would my fuel rails match OK to sti heads (Think they're phase 1 - what's the difference with the phase1.5 engines ?)

I assume that the PFC would be OK with either pair of heads ?

Mark

 

PFC - yes.
heads - 98's have overbucket shims, so are RPM limited ( ~7000 / 7500 at a push ?) STI heads are underbucket, so 8500 + ?
head design is IIRC the same for similar years Euro/STI. cams i think are slightly different yes.
fuel rails are dependant on the manifold type. which will obviously be dependant on head type (1, or 2)

Steve

 

Sti and wrx heads of that year have the same castings the only changes are what scoobyduck has said. Fuel rails bolt to the inlet manifold and not the heads.tha phase 1 fuel fails will not bolt upto a phase 1.5 inlet manifold.

With a bit of cutting they fit under the headlights.

 

Aha - Thanks Gents - I don't think 7K limit will be a problem, as I'm obviously at that now - I'll see how the money goes at the time (Just had my gearbox/service bill, so the 2.5 is now effectively parked for a while )

Mark

 

Are you still having PCLink issues Iain??

 

Nope all sorted now.

Uninstalled all the Link software on the laptop and re-installed from the CD supplied

Still need to try logging though