Help with software/firmware versions

[AMGmercedes]

First post here. My project is a 87 Mercedes 2.3-16v, motor rebuilt with 11:1 compression and a few other goodies. Finally coming to the point where I get to start the car for the first time under efi! I have all the hardware/wiring done, but I'm rather confused with which version of the firmware/software to use.
I bought the system about a year ago and at that point Megatune was used. I can't seem to find it anymore on the wiki, only Vemstune, but that seems to have so many versions and beta versions that I'm not sure what to use. I'm using a 2 tooth trigger (with gt101) and the stock distributor if that makes any difference. The laptop is either an older IBM with serial port and XP or a new laptop with XP and USB (with some sort of serial converter). I'm sure I'll be making some mistakes etc already as I learn the system, so I would like to keep software/firmware mistakes out of my control (an understanding at this point) to a minimum. Which firmware version should I use and should I use Megatune or Vemstune (also which version)?

[rob@vems.co.uk]

Your trigger setup sounds like this guy's http://195.159.109.134/vemsuk/forum/index.php/topic,1149.msg12308.html#msg12308
I think that you'd be best to follow his lead.

[AMGmercedes]

I downloaded and installed the latest Vemstune "Install-2010-01-08.exe" that wasn't a testing version. I was able to connect with the ecu easily. The ecu has firmware 1.0.73, should I upgrade this to 1.1.67 or something else? What advantages do the newer firmwares have over what is on the ecu already? The motor is NA.

As far as the trigger settings on the linked post, the settings make sense for the tooth count etc, but what should I use for the ignition output and reference tooth screens? I have one traditional coil.

One other question deals with the map sensor. I'm using a standard gm map sensor, how do I go about calibrating it with Vems or are the Vems map sensors the only ones that work with it?

[rob@vems.co.uk]

I used the latest testing version - they're all testing versions even that one, so I'm told.
The coil can use any of the IGBT connections that you have, take a look at
Step 3 - Connecting Output Components on:
http://www.vems.hu/wiki/index.php?page=MembersPage/PhatBob/UserGuide

And example of which is here:


GM map sensor... what range is it?  If you know that in kpa you can set the MAP sensor range and then find the local air pressure to set the calibration.

Rob

[AMGmercedes]

Thanks Rob, really appreciate it! Mostly making sense. Got the map sensor going well and the coil. I went through and was able to populate most fields in the various windows but came across some that I wasn't sure what to put in.

1) The temp sensor calibration curve source: what's the difference between flash table and 17 point curve? I have the IAT and CLT from the Vems store, both seem to read about 10C high.

2) In the [H]2 table screen, what value should be used in for the "ignition outputs in use in [H]2"? All I'm using is the first output for the coil.

3) There are boxes for "ignition adjust cold" and "ignition retard clamp", what are these and what should they be?

4) For overrun fuel cut, what should the values be for "fuelcut rpm" and "fuel resume rpm"? Are these needed on a NA car? If not, what values disable the feature?

5) What's a good number to start with for the prime pulse?

6) The warmup scaling/ cranking settings/ afterstart settings/ warm up enrichment curve are a bit of a mystery to me. What values are good starting points?

7) The Vemstune update frequency hovers between 10-18hz, is this normal or is my old laptop bogging down? I've noticed it is a bit slow navigating between differnt windows in Vemstune.

I have two teeth on my crank, why does the post linked above recommend a tooth setting of 4? Is it since he is using cam sync? I just have the two teeth and my stock distributor.

I'm running the latest Vemstune and 1.1.67 FW, all seems good!

[rob@vems.co.uk]

1) The flash tables are the original way to set the thermistor curve, using the 17 point curve will mean that you can adjust the settings to get the temperature spot-on for your sensor.

2) Not sure try 01 00 01 00 01 ... or 00 00 00 00 ... or 01 01 01 01 ...

3) Ign adjust cold - no idea have you tried pressing F1 when that screen is open?  The pop-up help should tell you.  Ign retard clamp sets a limit to the amount the ign will be retarded.

4)  Fuel cut RPM is the point where if you take your foot off the throttle the ECU cuts fuel until the fuel resume RPM - they'll save you fuel.  Try somthing like 2500rpm for the fuel cut
and 1800 for the resume, then adjust accordingly.

5) I never run a prime pulse, its a squirt of fuel delivered when the unit is powered on - personally I only like fuel to be going into the engine when its cranking and sparking so cranking fueling is the first time injections events will occur.

6) This is really dependent on your engine, and they've changed the way these things work - there is a default setup in the VEMSTune app, if you drop that file onto the open priming cranking afterstart window you should see some "sensible" defaults.

7) I have no idea! Its a new feature.

From what I've seen with Gints last post only 1.1.70 on should be used due to a problem with fuelling corrections.

[AMGmercedes]

Thanks again for your help Rob! There was no info in the F1 help feature for the above questions, but that help/explanation feature is really nice when it's there for a given field!  I was able to get a msq file for my motor from someone with a similar setup. It's a 12x12 table, and seeing how I would rather the car ran somewhat reasonably during break-in etc I decided to revert to FW 1.0.73 as that seems like a stable version. Any issues with that one you know of? I think I'll wait until there is a stable version of the newer FW (and I have a better grasp on the system) before going with that.

I am having one issue now that I'm on 1.0.73. I reverted back to it using the firmware tool in Vemstune, but I'd like to use Megatune to interface with the ecu. I downloaded the MT 1.0.73 bundle and opened MT, all was well. I opened the msq file I was sent and everything was filled in correctly it seems, although it did say there were some errors, but I couldn't find them (looked in the audit function). The issue I'm having is that MT connects with the ecu once, but when I cycle the power to the ecu I can't connect to the ecu with MT until I connect to the ecu with VT (which has no connection problems, but the spark angle is off by -64 in it). After connecting with VT I get connection with MT, until I cycle the key and back to VT I go to connect with the ecu again...  good times. Should I use the firmware with the MT bundle (the same by number)? How does one upload the firmware without the VT interface if so? Also was I correct to open the msq file in MT?

Every time I open MT it gives me a list of 4 projects to choose from before going to the main screen (the 12x12 normal is what I choose). Should I have a personal project in that window to choose? If so, how do you create one?

The car will be running shortly...