by autophysics » Fri Aug 25, 2006 4:05 pm
I just started using ecuflash and ths is the procedure I followed successfully 4 times so far. YMMV.
1. Car off - key out of ignition.
2. If applicable remove UTEC or any other piggyback or device that might interfere with flashing - ensure that ECU connections are back to normal.
3. Connect the two sides of the green connector near ECU - under the passenger carpet on the left side of the ECU where the firewall meets the transmission hump.
4. Attach Tactrix cable USB side to your laptop or whatever. (assuming you have the correct drivers already installed)
5. Attach Tactrix cable to OBD II port near hood release lever (driver's side under dash near door)
6. Start ecuflash on your computer.
7. Look at options/port to ensure that it has found the port for the Tactrix cable. If not, then you need to check your drivers and go back to 4. If you notice a new com port and a Tactrix port on your list of ports then the Tactrix port should be selected by default. This may work for others but I found more success using the newly created com port (highest com port) instead.
8. Select Read from ECU
9. Choose correct vehicle and click READ - if it says unable to connect to interface then check the connection of the USB side of the Tactix cable. Go back to 4.
10. When dialog box opens instructing you to turn the key on and then press OK button, be prepared to click the OK button quickly.
11. Turn key in ignition to the full-on position then immediately press the OK button on the computer's dialog box. If you get an error then turn ignition back off and go back to 8. It may require half a dozen attempts in my experience before it is successful. For some reason I had more success using the new (highest) com port (see step 7) instead of the defined tactrix port. Don't worry if you hear the car's radiator fans cycling on and off. This appears normal for my car and the reading/writing still worked fine. Once a successful connection is established the fans were no longer cycling.
12. After successful reading, if that is all you are going to do, then you can turn off the ignition. If you are going to write to ECU, then this is the ideal time since you've already established a good connection.
13. After you are finished reading/writing then turn the ignition off and remove the key.
14. Disconnect the green connectors from 3.
15. Disconnect Tactrix cable from ODB II port.
16. Start Car. Don't be alarmed if takes quite a few cranks or a couple attempts to get the car started. If after starting you have the cruise light flashing or CEL (check engine light) on, then turn off car and start it again a few times to see if it clears. It cleared for me after 3 starts when it happened the first time I tried using ecuflash. It's not happened again in subsequent uses.
17. Enjoy.