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• AutoProm FAQ
General
Where can I find
more information on the AutoProm?
Is the AutoProm
right for me?
Will the AutoProm
tune my car for me?
Does the USB AutoProm
require a driver, and if so, where do I get it and how do I install
it?
What does the vertical
switch on the rear of the AutoProm do?
What does the horizontal
switch on the rear of the AutoProm do?
What is the firewire
connection on the rear of the AutoProm for?
Features
What chips can I
burn and read with the AutoProm?
Why does the USB
version support writing 27SF512 chips, but the serial version
does not?
What chips can I
emulate using the AutoProm?
What are the 3 additional
channels of analog to digital (A/D) conversion for and how can
I make use of them?
Troubleshooting
Where can I get
help with my AutoProm?
I've hooked up the
USB AutoProm to the computer, but the software cannot find or
detect it.
Emulation does not
seem to work. The SES light flickers and/or the cooling fans come
on when I turn the key on.
After uploading
my bin to the AutoProm, verification fails.
I can't seem to
read or write a chip. What am I doing wrong?
I can't seem to connect
to my ECM with the AutoProm.
•The Answers
General
Where
can I find more information on the AutoProm?
http://www.moates.net/
Is
the AutoProm right for me?
That really depends on a number of things. The
AutoProm combines the functionality of a number of devices into
one. It is an emulator, a chip burner, a data acquisition device,
and an ALDL interface. With all of this functionality, it is not
a simple device. It requires knowledge on how to use a computer.
More than anything, it requires at least basic knowledge of tuning
a car's EFI system.
Will
the AutoProm tune my car for me?
No! Though we believe anyone can use the AutoProm
after some studying and patience, the AutoProm is most recommended
for people who already posess basic tuning knowledge. The AutoProm
makes tuning simpler by providing all required tuning hardware
in a single device and software interface. The AutoProm also reduces
the time necessary to tune, since it allows the technician the
ability to test their tune in real time (without burning chips).
However, the AutoProm does not tune your car for you! Expect a
learning curve.
Does
the USB AutoProm require a driver, and if so, where do I get it
and how do I install it?
The USB AutoProm does require a driver. You can
download it form http://www.moates.net/.
Instructions on installation can also be found there. Without
the driver, the AutoProm will not function.
Note that the serial version does not
require any special drivers.
What
does the vertical switch on the rear of the AutoProm do?
The vertical switch on the backplane of the AutoProm
changes the resistance between pins A and B on the ALDL interface
cable. The topmost position places 10k ohms between the pins.
Some ECMs require this 10k resistance in order to connect to the
ALDL datastream (1227165 is an example). The middle position opens
the connection between A and B (infinite resistence). This is
the "default" position. Most cars can be datalogged
in this position. Cars that require 10k to connect can be switched
to this position after connection. The bottom most position shorts
the connection (0 ohms). Most GM ECMs dump trouble codes when
pins A and B are shorted. This switch position makes doing so
simple and convenient when a PC is not available.
What
does the horizontal switch on the rear of the AutoProm do?
The horizontal switch, called the bypass
switch, switches whether the PC communicates with the AutoProm
CPU or directly to the ALDL interface hardware. When the switch
is towards the serial or USB port, the PC communicates with the
AutoProm CPU. This mode is used for changing data in the emulation
buffer, for acquiring A/D data, and for ALDL datalogging in "AutoProm"
mode (TunerPro only).
When the switch is switched away from the serial
or USB port, the AutoProm is in bypass mode. This mode allows
the PC to communicate directly with the car through the ALDL cable.
This allows the AutoProm to function as a simple ALDL cable. Use
this mode to communicate with your OBDI vehicle using most ALDL
data acquisition software such as WinALDL, CarBytes, Datamaster,
etc.
What
is the firewire connection on the rear of the AutoProm for?
The firewire connection on the backplane of newer
AutoProm units is used for connecting (via a special connector
available from moates.net) the 3 channel A/D module.
Features
What
chips can I burn and read with the AutoProm?
The Serial and USB AutoProm can read the following:
2732A, 27C128, 27C256, 27C512, 27SF512, 29C256,
29F040, Moates F2A Ford Adapter, Moates F2E EEC reader
The Serial AutoProm can write to the following
chips:
29C256, 29F040, 27SF512*, Moates F2A Ford Adapter
* USB AutoProm only
Why
does the USB version support writing 27SF512 chips, but the serial
version does not?
Because of the simplicity and size of the USB
connector, there is more room on the hardware layout for the electronics
necessary to write to 27SF512 chips. The serial version does not
have enough room for the required components.
What
chips can I emulate using the AutoProm?
The AutoProm can emulate virtually any chip up
to 64MBit in size (64KB) with 28 pins or less.
What
are the 3 additional channels of analog to digital (A/D) conversion
for and how can I make use of them?
With the AutoProm, you can monitor and datalog
up to 3 channels of analog data. This can be used to monitor external
temperature sensors, voltage levels, etc. To make use of the this
feature, you need the appropriate interface connector available
from www.moates.net. Once connected, you can use TunerPro to monitor
the data or datalog the data in the normal ALDL stream (see the
TunerPro help documentation).
Troubleshooting
Where
can I get help with my AutoProm?
In additional to this FAQ, the best place to
get support for your AutoProm are the moates.net user forum at
http://www.moates.net/phpforum/index.php.
Additionally, you might try the TunerPro forum at http://www.supportfitness.com/tunerproforum/.
Finally, there are many AutoProm users at the Thirdgen.org
DIY-PROM message board. If you cannot find help from these
sources, you may email Craig Moates (creator of the AutoProm)
or Mark Mansur (author of TunerPro).
I've
hooked up the USB AutoProm to the computer, but the software cannot
find or detect it.
The USB AutoProm requires a driver to be installed.
See the appropriate question in this FAQ for more information
on finding and installing this driver.
Emulation
does not seem to work. The SES light flickers and/or the cooling
fans come on when I turn the key on.
There are a few things to try or check.
1) Make sure you do not have a chip in the ZIF
adapter. At no time other than reading or writing a PROM should
you have a chip in the AutoProm ZIF.
2) Make sure your checksum is correct or disabled
if your ECM requires it. Checksums can be disabled on GM ECMs
by uploading 0xAA to the Mask ID byte.
3) Make sure the chip header is installed in
your ECM correctly. Make sure pin 1 is oriented correctly and
that all pins are making contact. This may require making adjustments
to your ECM chip adapter.
4) If you're using a C3 ECM (7747, etc), make
sure you've soldered in your chip adapter correctly. Make sure
your car runs as expected from your stock (or known-good) chip.
5) Make sure your emulation header cable is not
too long or in a place where electrical interference could be
an issue.
After
uploading my bin to the AutoProm successfully, verification fails.
There are generally two causes for this: 1) You
have a chip in the AutoProm ZIF, 2) Your USB cable is bad or inadequate.
Try a different brand or type of USB cable.
I
can't seem to read or write a chip. What am I doing wrong?
Make sure the chip is properly oriented in the
AutoProm ZIF. Pin 1 should be towards the back (connection) side
of the AutoProm, and the chip should be all the way towards the
front of the ZIF, such that any unused pins are between the chip
and the ZIF handle.
I
can't seem to connect to my ECM with the AutoProm.
If your AutoProm is in bypass mode and you're
using TunerPro, make sure TunerPro is configured to use "Max232"
as the adapter interface. If you're using a USB AutoProm in bypass
mode with WinALDL, make sure WinALDL is configured to use 4800
baud. There are a few ECMs that cannot be connected to un non-bypass
mode. Please contact Craig or Mark for more information if you
continue having difficulties connecting.
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