Building 16pin ALDL USB cable (94/95 Camaro)

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06-10-2015
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2 Attachment(s)

Building 16pin ALDL USB cable (94/95 Camaro)

Bought a Red Devil River USB ALDL connector last year to program my son's 95 Camaro LT1 engine/tranny swap now in his 37 Chevy. Using CATS WinFlash last year everything worked fine. This year couldn't get the laptop to recognize the connector. Learned that it was the 4 pin female USB connector mounted within the 16pin ALDL connector.

Wanting to get the flash done I just cut and soldered a USB cable with male end to the connector. PC now recognized the connector...but when I try to copy the bin to the laptop, it starts but stops with the window message: INCORRECT MESSAGE SENT

Here is the WinFlash definition:

INCORRECT MESSAGE SENT – This error message indicates that the message that was actually sent to the PCM is not the message the program is trying to send. This indicates that there is a problem with the RS-232 to ALDL Signal Converter or the connection to the PC or there is some local source of electrical noise interfering with the communications

To make a long story short I found these on ebay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PL2303-USB-T...0ed8cd&vxp=mtr

-and-

http://www.ebay.com/itm/USB-To-RS232...56015296&rt=nc

Also attached a picture of the inside of my Red Devil River connector...wondering if I could just swap out the converter adapter? Would R/R the resisters.

1) Since I already have the bench PCM harness with ALDL connector...could I use the Moates 16 ping connector for $30?

2) Any instructions out there on how to make my own ALDL to USB since I already have the parts

3) Who sells another cable at a decent price.

Thanks
06-10-2015
sturgillbd

I have tried the pl2303 based usb to serial adapters. I could get them to work for the old 160 baud ecms, but could never get them to work with anything faster. I could occasionally get it to connect to my 8192 baud stuff but could never get good data. I have a FTDI based usb to 5V TTL serial cable that works but occasionally get errors in datalogging on bitmask $0D. I wouldn't even trust it to flash my LT1 PCM. I built a max232 based cable that seems to work flawlessly but it uses a 9 pin serial port. There are others here that have tried the PL2303 based converters and they had problems also. Before I start playing with the LT1, I will buy a moates cable. They are a little pricey but there seem to be fewer issues with them.
Hope this helps
Brian
06-10-2015
EDZIP

Brian

Been trying to open the Moates.net web site...it won't display for me. Have had problems with that site displaying before.

Anyway..they have a 16 pin ALDL USB cable (94/95 LT1) for $30...wondering if that will work.

Thanks
06-10-2015
jthompson122183

this is the same as the red devil unit that I can see. looks identical.http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item...810765&alt=web
06-10-2015
EDZIP

Quote:

Originally Posted by jthompson122183

this is the same as the red devil unit that I can see. looks identical.http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item...810765&alt=web

Sure is..just need one 1000 ohm resistor and one diode.

Thanks...
06-10-2015
EDZIP

FYI: Today I tried my other laptop with Windows 7 (the other had Vista -worked last year). Plugged in the USB ALDL cable and let Windows 7 search and install the drivers. Didn't use the Red Devil River software.

Installed WinFlash and set compatibles properties as XP SP3...and it works! Looks like I'll just start using the Windows 7 laptop.
06-10-2015
EDZIP

From the picture above I see that the resistor is a 1K ohm 5% have any idea the value of the diode?
06-10-2015
jthompson122183

check out this video https://youtu.be/c7doKzdQYpg
06-10-2015
EDZIP

Quote:

Originally Posted by jthompson122183

check out this video https://youtu.be/c7doKzdQYpg

Thanks the video doesn't indicate which diode..first he says get a diode without stripe, then says position the stripe toward the board???

Looks like my ecm is toast now anyway..............
06-11-2015
jthompson122183

1 Attachment(s)

Attachment 9086 its a 1000 ohm 1/4 watt carbon film resitor and a zener glass diode
06-11-2015
EDZIP

Quote:

Originally Posted by jthompson122183

Attachment 9086 its a 1000 ohm 1/4 watt carbon film resitor and a zener glass diode

Thanks..really appreciate the help.
06-11-2015
sturgillbd

I just looked at the video. It is probably a small silicon signal diode such as a 1N914.

Brian
06-11-2015
EDZIP

Quote:

Originally Posted by sturgillbd

I just looked at the video. It is probably a small silicon signal diode such as a 1N914.

Brian

Brian...Thanks for the help.....about an hour ago I ordered some: 1N5244 1N5244B Sealed Glass Zener 500mW 14V diodes...hope they will work out.
07-07-2015
EDZIP

Quote:

Originally Posted by jthompson122183

Attachment 9086 its a 1000 ohm 1/4 watt carbon film resitor and a zener glass diode

As a FYI only..I contacted the video author..he said don't use a zener - any diode other than a zener will work.

Brian..looks like the silicon signal diode such as a 1N914 would work.