Superspec Ecu Analysis

[alanrichey]

Having looked at 3 other Superspecs recently I have at last managed to find the data port on my Rover ECU (It was on a flying lead tucked out of sight).

 

Has any other Superspec owner ever managed to use this data port to look at the ECU settings ? Any idea what lead and software is required ? Can we adjust the mapping ?

Al

[knights_templar]

http://www.shengltd.com/tvrextras/docs/14CUXconnector.pdf

http://www.pscan.eu/

 

any use?

Edited October 31, 2015 by knights_templar

[alanrichey]

It could be. Further research has shown this system is nothing like as comprehensive as the OBD2 standard (probably not surprising as it is pre-1995), it is simply 2 wires (and an earth). They are labelled Diagnostics IN and Diagnostics OUT and use Pins 10 & 15 on the ECU. Your reference has 5 wires and refers to Pins 30 & 38, and these are not used in our ECU. Although it could be that 2 of the wires are for the TestBook Socket using Pins 30 & 38, which we don't have, and 2 of the wires are for the Reader (Diagnosis) port using 10 & 15, and the 5th wire is a common earth.

 

 

I assume it is some sort of Serial Port so you need a cable with 3 wires leading to a USB plug. Although I suspect you can only access it using specialist equipment and not a laptop. In which case I am screwed

 

Fascinating stuff.

Edited October 31, 2015 by alanrichey

[alanrichey]

More research and I found this:

 

http://alum.wpi.edu/~colinb/14cux_interface.html

 

which basically tells me I need to do major surgery to a cable and even then a modern PC probably wouldn't read it.

 

and this article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucas_14CUX appears to say that the diagnosis port is only for getting fault codes. But it is interesting that the ECU could contain 5 different fuel maps, although switching between them is not a trivial option. Although it appears that all the ECU does is control the fuel mixture for starting and at slow speed, once you actually get going it switches itself out of the loop.

 

I think i will give up on this idea and leave it alone.

[Bob Tucker]

We should have stuck to dizzy & points.....

Progress??......yah boo sucks

Edited October 31, 2015 by Bob Tucker

[Longboarder]

Nothing to stop you fitting megasquirt or a commercial ecu like emerald or omex.

 

Nigel

[alanrichey]

No point. As the saying goes, 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it'. And thanks to Jez I have a spare ECU waiting in the wings. This was more of an intellectual exercise as I try to learn more about how the Superspec works.

[Guest QuadraDave]

Hi Al try this it tells you parts you need to use a laptop or android phone on a rover 3 pin socket allows you to download free app then once you have it working you can pay for app that gives you more features go to web site www.memsdiag.blogspot.co.uk this tells you all about mems 1.6 and 1.9 and plugs and sockets you need to make leads. I will do this for myself when I get time HTH Dave D

[alanrichey]

Fascinating stuff. I have found everything I need to build the cable so I might give it a whirl

[bullfist]

Useful site for MEMS 1.6 commands - could almost build a cable and plug into PC's serial interface (legacy interface) and use (e.g.) teraterm, typing in individual commands

http://alum.wpi.edu/~colinb/mems_interface.html

-steve

 

(oops - repeating what's already been said)

Edited November 6, 2015 by bullfist

[alanrichey]

It's been a couple of months, but I have cracked it Built the cable, installed the software (a bit of a challenge to get the port working) and I am now 'talking' to the ECU. Here is the first screenshot off my laptop:

 

 

Pleased to see there were no Fault Codes flagged up and everything is looking good. Have extended the cable into the passenger footwell so I can rest my laptop on the seat during a test run. First thing I want to check is the exact engine temperature when warmed up. Next stage is to delve further into the ECU and make sure the lamda sensor is working properly.

 

If any other Superspec owner wants to try this, I actually bought 4 of the connector shells while I was in the USA as they are not generally available over here, so have 3 spare. And I had to buy 50 of the metal connector pins so have 47 of them extra. Happy to sell them on, £5 for a shell and 10 pins (to allow for mistakes, you only need 3). You will also need a TTL to USB lead, £13.75 from Mouser UK (http://www.mouser.co.uk/ProductDetail/FTDI/TTL-232R-5V-WE/?qs=OMDV80DKjRpCUAS6UR9QpQ%3d%3d)

 

What fun

 

Al

[alanrichey]

All the ones I have seen are the same, 3 wires coming out from the loom near the main 36-pin ECU plug, with a white plastic 3-pin connector protected by a black rubber cap with a 1/2" 'nipple' on it to help pull it off.

 

I am happily using the Mouser cable with Windows 10, you just have to tweak the driver a bit, but that is easy now I now I have figured out what to do.

[alanrichey]

£5 covers my costs, just PM me your address

 

Cheers

 

Al

[alanrichey]

If any other Superspec owners are interested in this, I have done a lot of work after building the cable. I have a written a software program to analyse the ECU outputs while I am driving. Here are a three screen shots as an indication. You can see the parameters we can analyse across the top of the window)

 

First the temperatures. My coolant temp is now reasonably well under control

 

 

Next the Ignition Advance, which again seems OK, moving between 5-25 degs

 

 

Finally the lambda sensor voltage. That seems to work OK for a couple of minutes then sits at full rich. Haven't figured out yet whether that means it is broken or I am really running too rich.

 

 

Fascinating stuff And I still have one plug shell and connectors left if anyone wants them

 

Al

[sj-bradley]

What did you use to write the software program? Looks interesting.

 

Simon.