Anyone else encountered this? It just up and died on me half way through a flash and now the car is immobil, and will not connect. Read the quote below for info...
Few things I've noted - odometer still has a reading, is that data located on the VCM? HPTuners MPVI unit is getting power from the OBD2 plug. Bringing up the HPTuners info it reads that my VIN is null.
Quote:
Hi guys,
I'm really quite frustrated right now. I was in the middle of doing a flash to the car, when it got to about 75% and started retrying for some reason, retried 20 times then failed. Now, when I try to flash it again (of course the car won't start anymore), it says 'Can't locate the VCM'. I searched on these forums, said to delete VCM Suite.cfg, so I did. Re-entered key, same thing happened, so I tried it again, and again - no change. I've had my HPTuners for about two weeks, so everything (mainly the cables as most posts suggest) should be relatively new, and I have been very gentle with it. I tried connecting to another laptop with the same result.
I will try using the usb cable from my printer, however I don't think that's the issue since when I connect it to the laptop it makes the beep. I don't have another ODB2 cable to test so I can't be sure whether that's a problem or not.
The car is a 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier... this is the info I got from the VCM suite info:
Operating system: Windows XP
Microsoft Net: 1.1.4322.2032
VCM Suite Product: VCM Scammer 2.1.12.0
Hardware: 121
Firmware: 112
(And VCM not found so anything else that seems relevant is not there)
Just checked the battery... 12.6volts. Checked the voltage across the PCM fuse, which is also 12.5 volts
Plugged HPTuners into my mom's 2004 Sunfire and it reads fine. I checked the voltages in her obd2 plug compared to mine, and all the values are more or less exactly the same. I'm worried that the program messed up the computer in my car somehow when it failed during the writing? It was just a calibration write (as I always do...).
I've now connected the laptop to the network and am updating the software (though I doubt this has anything to do with my problem?).
Edit: It did nothing new...
I'll email this to the support email, but if anyone has any suggestions please let me know.
" To study and not think is a waste. To think and not study is dangerous. "
Its probably toast, the only way to fix it is to get the dealer to flash it.
You need to be extremely careful to watch your battery voltage on both the car and the laptop while flashing. Its also important to follow the rules if a flash fails, namely DO NOT TURN THE KEY OFF. Try again with a battery charger connected and the lap top plugged in.
The mileage is stored in the BCM, which is not flashed.
4cyltuner.com - Information Source For 4 Cylinder Tuners
Buy stuff from CarCustoms Ebay! Won't be disappointed!
Okay thanks Shifted... You make it sound like its pretty easy for the dealer to fix it, or is it labour intensive? Hopefully nothing needs to be replaced, I'll just push the car to the dealer (5 min walk). Yeah I wasn't aware of the key bit - but I definitely tried flashing a few times before I took it out, all times it would not connect. The battery in the car and the laptop were okay this particular time...
But yeah, if it's not too bad then I'll just suck it up and head over there.
Thanks again
" To study and not think is a waste. To think and not study is dangerous. "
.. well you don't live near me, i have access to a TEC-II, its simple, and flashing pays 2/10, so its pretty cheep.
Chris
'02 Z-24 Supercharged
13.7 @102.45 MPH Third Place, 2007 GMSC Bash SOLD AS OF 01MAR08
Quote:
Its probably toast, the only way to fix it is to get the dealer to flash it.
Unless GM did something different with this pcm, it's all done. The flash process usually starts with the pcm uploading code which then uploads the calibration. If the initial bootloader becomes corrupted the only way to fix it is to desolder the flash chip it normally resides in, then program the flash chip outside the pcm. I'd be looking for a spare / junkyard pcm (always a good idea anyway).
-->Slow
Just figured I'd let you guys know that I just tried again tonight to flash the computer (I did absolutely ZERO different), and it connected the PCM. It then promptly failed while writing, but after retrying, it said 'recovered' at the first point in the flash list, then completed the flash 100% and now the car is running perfectly. I have no idea what happened, but I'd like to thank Bill @ HPTuners for his very quick (and at odd-hours) replies to my questions!
Thanks guys
" To study and not think is a waste. To think and not study is dangerous. "
That's good news for sure.
-->Slow
Good to hear HPT is standing behind there stuff when problems occur, and good to hear you got the car running. I would recomend a second computer....just incase.
So it happened again... flashed it easily 10-12 times since it happened the last time with no issues... Not sure what is wrong, but I'll email Bill again.
" To study and not think is a waste. To think and not study is dangerous. "
Well I gave it 30 mins with everything powered off... then went back out, nothing worked. So I did what I tried last time (but never mentioned on the forum - because it didnt seem to do anything then) - I unplugged the two cables/harness things going to the computer in the engine bay. Then plugged them back in, tried flashing the car and voila.
I think it has something to do with those wires or the connections on the computer.
" To study and not think is a waste. To think and not study is dangerous. "
