Emerald - PC can't see ECU

[Solo]

Probably a numpty question.....

 

It's MOT time again so I was planning to remind myself what I need to do to coax the car through the emissions. My laptop has been rebuilt since last year, so I've loaded up the Emerald software plus the USB adptor - using the same CDs as before. When I hook up the laptop to the ECU I just get errors messages saying there's no ECU connected. I've tried uninstalling and reinstalling the software, restarting the laptop, different USB ports on the laptop, and obviously I've checked all the connections a few times . Any suggestions?

 

Oh, and if this could be in any way related, the engine has just been out for a gearbox rebuild....

 

Cheers

 

Steve

[Tony Whitley]

Numpty answers: have you powered up the Emerald? Are you connecting to the right connector on the Emerald?

[Solo]

Yes to both I'm afraid!

[Graham King]

Steve, I have found with mine that I have to do things in the right order. I have to ensure both the PC and Emerald are powered up first, plug in the USB cable to the PC then to the Emerald.

 

Otherwise it does as you describe.

 

Graham.

 

R7 GPK

Superlight #85

[Solo]

Thanks Graham

 

Just tried things in that order but it didn't work!

[djg]

Silly thought on this, if it is a USB to serial adaptor, the software can call the serial port No something really daft, like com port 27 or something.

 

I expect the emerald software is looking for com port 1.

 

It may be worth having a look to see if the com port No of the serial adaptor is correct.

 

Doug

 

 

[oilyhands]

Make sure the USB port you are using shows up in your list of hardware. The Emerald software should give a choice of the com ports that it sees (reported from the BIOS). Try selecting a different port.

 

Oily

[Solo]

Okay, I've had another go this evening...

 

Scenario 1 - Emerald loaded, cable connected. Power up the ECU and the blue lights flash on the connector. Click refresh on the 'select port' option and the blue lights flash again, with 'COM3' being the only port found. Click 'OK' but there is then no connection to the ECU. When I look under My Computer nothing is listed for the ECU, etc.

 

Scenario 2 - power up ECU first and then plug in the USB. I then get an 'ATI CATALYST ® Control Center' menu pop up and it flashes all over the place. The mouse doesn't work so I can't cancel it

 

So, does this mean there's something wrong with my laptop? Is there anything else I should be doing to check?

 

I don't have a spare laptop so I can't readily check to rule out this option. (Is there anyone on here close to Colchester who's got a laptop with Emerald on I could check?)

 

Thanks

Steve

[oilyhands]

Sounds like you have a device driver there that thinks the ECU is a mouse connected to the USB port. Check to make sure you dont have a USB mouse driver installed.

 

Oily

[Solo]

How would I do that Dave (apologies if that's an ignorant question).

 

We've never used a USB mouse on this laptop so I'd be surprised if there was a driver for it.....

[Rich N]

It might be possible to change the COM port using device manager incase something else is using COM 3..

[Mark-G]

Hi Solo

 

Not sure if it would help but i have just installed a new emerald after engine upgrade and was having exactly as you describe in 2 scenarios. after many hours of settings, drivers and even a new usb to serial converter, i found that i had the incorrect version of the emerald software installed, if you give emerald a ring they should be able to let you know what version of software you need for yours

 

 

hope this helps

Mark

 

 

[Mankee]

I had exactly the same problem as Mark-G but from reading your initial post, it sounds like you've had it working in the past, albeit with a slightly different laptop spec. As mentioned, it's something to do with the drivers (built-in or otherwise) messing about as my touchpad went a bit mad when I was initially trying to hook up my Emerald!

 

If you are still really stuck, drop me a line as I'm only up in Ipswich and have the Emerald K3 software on my laptop. My USB/serial adaptor is 25 miles up the A12 though, but I don't mind experimenting with your adaptor to see if we can get it to work.

[Solo]

Thanks guys.

 

Got a friend (who is rather more computer savy than me) to take a look this morning and we've got it working. Clearly something was different when the laptop was rebuilt. Now just need to remind myself what to do at the MOT centre....

 

Cheers

 

Steve