CANBUS Issue

[bmarco]

Posted a request for help in the Forscan thread but hoping to reach others that might not go there frequently but might be able to help me. Yesterday I used Forscan to try to activate my diff temp gauge. I had previously activated my trans temp gauge successfully. Renewed license, paired same laptop I had used prior, got into the IPC module, found the code, changed only the characters required for the change in the code, clicked on the “write” button. Procedure begins, then gets interrupted. Says that “this adapter has canbus compatibility problems”. Rechecked the codes, repeated several times, with the same result. OBD MX link was brand new when I activated the trans temp gauge, has only used for that purpose. Is it likely the link that is causing the problem ? Anyone able to help an old computer challenged guy out ?

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[JAJ]

I suspect the reason nobody's answering is because nobody knows the answer. I've done a bunch of this and I've never had a problem like this one. Are you on the same version of Forescan as before?

If it were I, what I'd do a classic Windows "three-finger salute" (restart the computer) and see if it happens again. If it's consistent, then it's either a defective adapter, or a corrupted driver, which means uninstalling the Bluetooth device and reinstalling it.

If that doesn't work, you'll have to ask someone who's smarter than me. Good luck!

 

[bmarco]

Hey, thanks so much for your advice, gives me a place to start. Will try today and post what happens. Hope I did not hit a button in error somewhere and screw something up. On my first attempt, when I tried to initiate the procedure, the voltage had dropped but I got an error message about the voltage before it did anything, so I shut down, charged the battery and started again. Activating the trans temp went flawlessly. Yes, using the same version of Forscan as before. since the error message gave no clue as to what "adapter" may be at fault, I thought it could be the BT adapter, the OMB MX plug in or even the Forscan software. The BT seems to be working just fine, so I suspected that the MX might somehow be at fault.

 

[Tank]

Hey, thanks so much for your advice, gives me a place to start. Will try today and post what happens. Hope I did not hit a button in error somewhere and screw something up. On my first attempt, when I tried to initiate the procedure, the voltage had dropped but I got an error message about the voltage before it did anything, so I shut down, charged the battery and started again. Activating the trans temp went flawlessly. Yes, using the same version of Forscan as before. since the error message gave no clue as to what "adapter" may be at fault, I thought it could be the BT adapter, the OMB MX plug in or even the Forscan software. The BT seems to be working just fine, so I suspected that the MX might somehow be at fault.

As a general practice, you might want to consider keeping the battery on a trickle charger as you work w Forscan.
For your current issue, do you have access to another computer? Also, the OBDMX adapter has a button to push after you install to link it w your computer. No offense intended but did you press that button?

 

[bmarco]

Oh yeah, fully connected, thanks, Jim. I had changed the characters to add the diff temp to the trans temp (to see both), double checked that I had entered the right characters, hit the "Write" button'. Procedure starts, see the progression line/%, then it stops and the error message appears about incompatibility of the adapter. After the voltage problem, did keep the trickle charger on as you suggested for second attempt with full charge. Weird though because I had driven the car just the day before, had not taken long to get in and get setup. Wonder if I have a battery problem. Car has never failed to start but I have gotten low battery notices on occasion after it has sat for a bit. Pretty low reserve capacity if not defective. Guess that is why others have asked about finding batteries with higher CCA that would fit.

 

[bmarco]

OK, followed Jim's advice, restarted my laptop, let the battery get up to full charge in both car and laptop, got paired, got back in to the IPC module, changed the codes to display both trans and diff temps, hit the procedure button and viola, went to 100% and said the procedure was successful. Followed instruction to cycle ignition off, then on. Exited. Started car, pulled up the gauge display. Dash shows trans temp but no line item for diff tem. From what others have said, expected to see the line item with no temp since the sensor is not yet installed. Reconnected, went back in and sure enough, the changed codes were there in the profile. Now one thing that occurs to me is that there are two "Save" buttons at the bottom of the profile. One says "Save" and one says "Save All". When I went back in the second time, I hit "Save" and a box pops up that shows a file called the "Forscan Directory". Should I have selected that ? Are the code changes you make in Forscan and not in the as built file in the ECM ?

 

[JAJ]

The save buttons are for backup copies of the settings in the module. They save some or all the settings on the screen into a file on your computer, so that you could put them all back later if you needed to. They don't write anything to the module itself.

It sounds like you've programmed it and now you'll have to wait until you have a sensor to find out if it works. The absence of a sensor will generate an error in the module that reads it, so look for DTC (diagnostic trouble codes) in the system and see what comes up. Until you put in a sensor, you won't know if you were successful or not.

 

[bmarco]

Thank you so much. I figured that might be the case but for what others had said. One other question I had was that once you get Forscan connected, a popup asks if you want to save an existing profile. Since my GT350 is the only car I have used Forscan with, it lists 3 profiles with my VIN but it does not indicate date or time so I do not know if I should save any or if one, but which one ? In the past I have saved the top of the list, figuring that would be the newest one but have no way of knowing.

 

[JAJ]

It doesn't matter which file you pick - they're all the same. They're just the configuration settings (like which modules are installed and which bus they're on) that it detects when you connect so it doesn't have to figure them out all over again every time you connect.

 

[bmarco]

Thanks, that is good to know. Planto do the wiring this weekend, will report back.

 

[bmarco]

Wiring done, diff temp gauge functional. Thanks for all the help and advice.

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