pcmhacking.net

Hey guys,

I've got a ALDL USB interface I purchased from here years ago. I haven't used it for ages but thought I would pull it out to do some playing around with a VY PCM on the bench.

As soon as I plug it in, its recognised in windows and all drivers installed etc BUT when I hit connect hardware in tunerpro it says hardware not found.

I've got a status LED connected to the ALDL line on my bench setup and noticed it holds the ALDL data line low permanently when connected, regardless of being connected to PC or not (SO no other modules can communicate on ALDL with it connected).

In device manager it shows as an FTDI device with driver version 2.12.28.0

I pulled the case off and on the PCB it has "MPR" "delcohacking.net" "rev 1.1"

Its been stored well and I don't believe its been broken or dropped. There no sing of physical damage.
I have noticed C6 on the PCB is lifted and disconnected at one end only, but this looks intentional (the other side is still soldered to the PCB fine)

I remember something about counterfeit FTDI chips, but I wouldn't of thought that would hold the ALDL line low if it had been bricked by the latest FTDI drivers, and I know it would almost certainly be a genuine FTDI chip anyway.

Whats the potential problems?

I have the 2 earths, ALDL and battery voltage connected to the diagnostic port on my bench

Thanks

I googled the serial number of the FTDI chip after finding it in device manager, and nothing came up (so its not a known common fake)

Heres what it looks like with close up on the lifted capacitor

Most certainly isn't a fake. That'll be the build number/serial ect of the chip.

have you configured the plugin for this or the right com settings etc ?

also try the flash tool and see if it will detect the pcm ?

I wouldn't expect the cap to be lifted on purpose if it wasn't needed it would be removed

i dont think c6 should be disconnected either but i'll check against the later versions and compare againt you pic. the aldl line does have a resistor on it so i dont think its shorted to ground, just pulled to ground. if you open say putty (google it) with comms chosen and the right com port typed in, can you see whatever you type echo back?

its def not a clone, we have had no issues with that since day 1 by using reputable suppliers.

That would make more sense (removing it completely)

Yeah its not shorted to ground, its just pulled to ground permanently (I can still see the status LED on my bench slightly flicker as other modules try and communicate, but the LED it still very much lit up constantly, and goes out completely as soon as I disconnect the interface)

I have opened putty, selected Serial, typed in COM6 (correct com port with the interface connected I found in device manager), left speed at 9600 and then hit open.
It opens, big black window appears, I type something in (eg. "hello world") and press enter
I can still see "hello world" in the window, its just the green cursor has moved back to the top left corner (on "h").
Does this mean its been echoed back?

Should I try re-soldering the capacitor properly and see if it works?

Thanks

I tried fixing the capacitor but it has made no difference

How is your led wired in it could be an issue

ALDL is wired to the base of a 2N3906 PNP with a 10k resistor in series.
When ALDL is low it allows current to flow to the LED from a 5v regulator that's powered from battery voltage