TBI Diagnostics - Need WinALDL Help

I recently installed a TBI retrofit system on my Chevy 350, and all is well with the exception of a surge at idle and a slightly rich smell to the exhaust...

I did some research on the web about TBI diagnostics, and it seems that everyone uses one of several free downloadable data logging programs in conjuction with a simple cable that connects a PC to the ALDL port. Of these, WinALDL seems to be the most popular, so I downloaded my copy. Since I'm not an electrical guy at all, I ordered a pre-manufactured ALDL communication cable, and it arrived last night...

Well, I followed the instructions, hooked everything up, and fired up the engine. For some reason, I'm not getting sensor data?? I get a few bits of raw data on one of the main screens, but it's not populating all of the data and not doing any conversions. Also, one of the screens within the program is supposed to mimick a set of dash gauges (RPM, water temp, MPH, etc.), but mine isn't registering at all... Is anyone out there familair with this program that might be able to walk me through getting it setup properly so I can fix my junk???

How about some info. Is the system 100% stock. Eraly Sb or later . What kind of intake ect ect..

Freshly rebuilt to stock specs 1976 SBC, Edelbrock Performer intake, shorty headers, Proform HEI distributor. I went with a retrofit TBI system from Affordable Fuel Injection, supposedly tuned to my specs.

Everything went in great, zero issues with the install or initial startup. It just surges a bit at idle once it gets warmed up? To cure the issue, their instructions discuss setting the base idle manually, but I can't seem to access the adjustment screw they are talkng about because the "removable cap" on my TBI sure doesn't seem to be removable!!!

tobyw said:

Freshly rebuilt to stock specs 1976 SBC, Edelbrock Performer intake, shorty headers, Proform HEI distributor. I went with a retrofit TBI system from Affordable Fuel Injection, supposedly tuned to my specs.

Everything went in great, zero issues with the install or initial startup. It just surges a bit at idle once it gets warmed up? To cure the issue, their instructions discuss setting the base idle manually, but I can't seem to access the adjustment screw they are talkng about because the "removable cap" on my TBI sure doesn't seem to be removable!!!

Click to expand...

Gm used 2 types of plugs. One was soft metal--use a pick and shove into the cap and pop it out. The other ws a hardoned cap--had to chissel the side if the tbi to knock it out.

Di9d it come with a new prom?

Yes, brand new and it was supposed to be setup (burned?) for my specs with regards to the intake and headers...

If you disconnect the iac does it stop surging?

Make sure the ECM type is set correctly in the config screen (should be 1227747 if its from AFI). Other than that I don't remember having to do any set up other than choosing the COM port, but if you got that wrong you wouldn't be getting anything at all.

benw said:

Make sure the ECM type is set correctly in the config screen (should be 1227747 if its from AFI). Other than that I don't remember having to do any set up other than choosing the COM port, but if you got that wrong you wouldn't be getting anything at all.

Click to expand...

Thats what has totaly confused me--he says he's getting "some" data....:eeek:

And whats funny is they tell you to adjust the mim air rate. I can't see how that can change anything unless there fuel mapping is screwed up...

crash said:

If you disconnect the iac does it stop surging?

Click to expand...

No, in fact with it running if I disconnect the IAC, there is no change at all... I did go through the first steps of manually setting the base idle, which tell you (with the key ON but not running) to jumper A and B on the ALDL, unplug the IAC, remove the jumper, then turn the key off. Then you start the rig, and the idle is waaaaay low. At this point, it tells you to remove that cap I referenced above and use the set screw to bump the idle to ~600rpm in Drive. Can't get there yet, I need to try and get that damn cap off!!

benw said:

Make sure the ECM type is set correctly in the config screen (should be 1227747 if its from AFI). Other than that I don't remember having to do any set up other than choosing the COM port, but if you got that wrong you wouldn't be getting anything at all.

Click to expand...

I triple checked the ECM setting, and it is indeed the 1227747. My setup defaulted to COM 7 for the USB connection, which is the only option that gave me anything at all. However, I only get a few bits of RAW data, nothing else??? I've also sent an email to WinALDL, hopefully they respond??

In that case setting the mim air rate isn't going to do a thing unless the tps is off because thats the only thing thats going to affect how it runs since you have basically bypassed the iac by disconnecting it...

So you don't think I should mess with the mechanical adjustment then? Advice?? I know you are quite familiar with TBI, so I'm WIDE open to your input here...

tobyw said:

So you don't think I should mess with the mechanical adjustment then? Advice?? I know you are quite familiar with TBI, so I'm WIDE open to your input here...

Click to expand...

GET reading the data thing solved and lets go from there....

crash said:

GET reading the data thing solved and lets go from there....

Click to expand...

Fair enough. I'll reply here as soon as I get a reponse from WinALDL and actually get the readings coming...

tobyw said:

However, I only get a few bits of RAW data, nothing else??? I've also sent an email to WinALDL, hopefully they respond??

Click to expand...

Is what you're getting coming all at once or sporadically? I'm betting either bad connection/wire, or the device is faulty. Do you have anything like pocket pc or palm software on the computer that might be trying to listen in on the port?

I don't have anything like that I know of, but I'm about the furthest from a computer tech as you'll find, so I can not give a good answer to that... It's an IBM Thinkpad using XP, so if you can tell me how to look for such, I'd be grateful?!

As for the data stream, in the RAW data screen only, it will populate the first 10 rows steadily but it's not every cell within those rows. The ones that do get populated seem to get updated regularly, but like I said it's not every cell... And there is nothing in the next 10 rows down, and nothing in any of the other screens/tables. Looking at the example screenshots from the WinALDL website, it *should* be populating every cell on every row...

If you have either of those running they'll have an icon down in the tray by your clock. Look for a round symbol with arrows going in a circle, similar to a recycling symbol.

tobyw said:

As for the data stream, in the RAW data screen only, it will populate the first 10 rows steadily but it's not every cell within those rows. The ones that do get populated seem to get updated regularly, but like I said it's not every cell... And there is nothing in the next 10 rows down, and nothing in any of the other screens/tables. Looking at the example screenshots from the WinALDL website, it *should* be populating every cell on every row...

Click to expand...

That sounds really wierd, like the ECM has some stuff turned off.

tobyw said:

I triple checked the ECM setting, and it is indeed the 1227747. My setup defaulted to COM 7 for the USB connection, which is the only option that gave me anything at all. However, I only get a few bits of RAW data, nothing else??? I've also sent an email to WinALDL, hopefully they respond??

Click to expand...

Sounds like you are using a USB to serial adapter? That might be your problem, some of those things don't work right. There should be a config utility for that converter, make sure the baud rate in WinALDL matches what the port is set for. Set data bits to 8, Parity none, stop bits to 1 and flow control to none on the port too.

Nothing like that in the tray... Thanks for the input though!!

I'll get in touch with AFI to see if maybe they can enlighten me a bit on the data stream too.

benw said:

Sounds like you are using a USB to serial adapter? That might be your problem, some of those things don't work right. There should be a config utility for that converter, make sure the baud rate in WinALDL matches what the port is set for. Set data bits to 8, Parity none, stop bits to 1 and flow control to none on the port too.

Click to expand...

Sweet jeebus... I'll have to get Geek Squad over here to help me out with that business?! :redneck: Actually, I did fumble my way into the setup for COM 7, and made sure the baud was set to 2400 which matches the WinALDL software setting. I didn't check the other stuff, so I'll try all of that when I get back in front of it this evening. Thanks for the help!!!!!!!!