MicroSquirt.com read only forum (Jan.15,2018)

Hi,

It seems as if our Microsquirt is corrupted again. Last time fixed our issues by reloading the firmware using MegaSquirt Downloader 2.0. This time around, I'm not able to load anything to the Microsquirt. I've tried different computers. Port Checker finds the serial port just fine. Here is the error.

MegaSquirt Download 2.00

Reading C:/Program Files/MegaSquirt/Firmware/MS-II/Monitor_v2.891.abs.s19:
Detected MS-II (HCS12) code.
Entry point: 0x0000
Code range : 0x4000-0x3db420
File read successfully.

Opened comm port 1 at 115200.
ERROR: Timed out reading response, 0xE0
Elapsed time: 14.92 seconds


If anyone could help we would really appreciate it!!!

So with further inspection, it seems there is a problem with the Ampseal connector on our harness. Pin 13 (Rx on the serial connector to the computer) is not making any connection at the ampseal between the harness and the microsquirt. I don't get how that could have gotten screwed up. I actually loaded firmware and a tune using a second harness that we have sitting around. I used this harness by connecting 12v, ground, and grounding the bootloader (just with a car battery). So I know the microsquirt is good. I'm really scratching my head here wondering how we are having so many problems. We haven't even been able to "abuse" this microsquirt yet...but are having problems left and right. The really annoying part is the fact that we were talking to the Microquirt with this harness perfectly fine only a few days ago.

Anyone else experience problems with the Ampseal connector on your harness??

uofu_fsae wrote:...Anyone else experience problems with the Ampseal connector on your harness??

I had an early unit with a VR wiring fault, but I have seen the same error loading firmware...persistence pays, sorry you are having issues. I have four units and overall they are very reliable, but I had an issue with one secondhand unit, that displayed the same symptoms, come to think off it, it cured itself, but I was unplugging it, so I will check the ampseal/jackplug.

I have bought recently a RS232 diagnostic plug, that displays RX TX RTS CTS status etc via LEDs, i reckon this might be a useful tool in your case.

I figure I would post up what our problem was in case it helps anyone in the future. The reason we were not able to load any firmware (all of a sudden) was a failure in the AMPSEAL connector. Basically the connector on the engine harness side was not making a good enough connection to the microsquirt. With further inspection we also found the the VR + was loose as well. We had to take the plastic cover off the connector and adjust the female pins. We basically "squished" them slightly so that the male pin would connect the female better. The thing is we never even got a chance to really get any use or abuse out of the MicroSquirt yet so I'm surprised we had failures. Hopefully this helps someone in the future.