TDS TurboLink User Manual

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Turbo

Data

Systems

Technologies

TurboLink

™

Version 2.13

User Manual

Revision 16

TDS Technologies

c/o Ken Mosher

3368 Tammy Street

Omaha, NE 68123

Voice: (402) 292-6707

Fax: (402) 291-9012

Internet: kenmosher@turbo-link.com

http://www.turbo-link.com

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Page 1 Turbo Data Systems Technologies TurboLink ™ Version 2.13 User Manual Revision 16 TDS Technologies c/o Ken Mosher 3368 Tammy Street Omaha, NE 68123 Voice: (402) 292-6707 Fax: (402) 291-9012 Internet: kenmosher@turbo-link.com http://www.turbo-link.com...
Page 2: Disclaimer Of Warranty
November 7, 1999 1.0 Introduction Thank you for buying Turbo Data System's TurboLink™ scan tool. We believe it is an essential tool for tuning your car to its performance and efficiency peak. You may be familiar with other scan tools available on the market, but we believe that this package is the most cost effective tool available for the turbo Buick and GM TBI owner.
Page 3: Technical Assistance
This can be done from the DOS prompt or from the Windows File Manager. Be sure that you put TurboLink in a directory without any previous versions of TurboLink present, as this will cause problems with both versions trying to use incompatible defaults files.
Page 4 The following is an example installation from MS DOS: 1. Insert the TurboLink™ MASTER diskette into the A: floppy drive and reboot the computer. 2. Follow the prompts and instructions as the computer boots. This should successfully install the program.
Page 5: Basic Operations
TurboLink™ V2.13 USER MANUAL November 7, 1999 4.5 Basic Operations TurboLink™ operation consists of a few basic concepts for the selecting of options and entering of data. 4.5.1 Standard Keys The following general methods are used throughout the software: •...
Page 6 Be sure let it record for a few frames before stopping it, or you may have an empty buffer. 4.5.3 Malfunction Code Viewing TurboLink™ displays an indication of "Malfunction Codes Detected" in the Numerical mode or the "Malf. Code" screen LED box is filled in the Graphical mode any time the ECM reports a malfunction code (also referred to as "Trouble Codes").
Page 7 November 7, 1999 4.6 Connecting TurboLink™ to a Vehicle The basic TurboLink™ package is very easy to hook up. Be sure that all equipment is powered off and the ignition switch is in the OFF position before connecting or disconnecting any cables.
Page 8: Troubleshooting Tips
“pig tail” connector. 4. If all connections are clean and tight, the car ignition is "ON" or the car is running, and TurboLink™ is running in the Realtime Display mode and the data being displayed has bad values or will not display then try the following: a.
Page 9 TurboLink™ uses to communicate with the ECM and usually resolves most compatibility problems. If all connections are clean and tight, the car ignition is "ON" or the car is running, and TurboLink™ is running in the Realtime then try the following procedure.
Page 10 POSSIBLE CAUSES & SOLUTIONS 1. You are using an old version of DOS. TurboLink™ uses some advanced system calls to do some of the screen layout and drawing. A work around is to exit the screen and then return to force a redraw.
Page 11: The Main Screen
2. Your printer cable is wired incorrectly or is incorrectly connected to the PC. Double check all connections. TurboLink™ CSV File Importing Problems PROBLEM When I try to open a file that has been saved as a CSV file by TurboLink™, my spreadsheet program will not allow it. POSSIBLE CAUSES & SOLUTIONS Most spreadsheet programs have an "IMPORT"...
Page 12: Numerical Display
If "*New Recording*" is displayed, data is being held in preparation for saving to disk via the "Disk Utilities" menu. TurboLink™ will allow you to proceed and overwrite this data, but will ask you to confirm your choice. If a file name ending with ".ECM" is displayed, a file has been retrieved via the "Disk Utilities"...
Page 13: Graphical Display
The display in the top left corner of the screen shows the current mode that has been commanded by TurboLink™ to the ECM . Notice that in the Vehicle Status area, there is an ECM mode parameter that reports what mode the ECM is ACTUALLY in. This can be important, since if the reported mode differs from the commanded mode, it might indicate a problem with the ECM.
Page 14: Disk Utilities
The file is then loaded into memory and can be reviewed using the Replay Recorded Data function. 6.5.3 Change Working Disk Drive This option allows you to change the disk that TurboLink™ uses to store and retrieve files from. When you Page 14 TDS Technologies...
Page 15: Current Settings
6.5.4 Change Working Directory This option allows you to change the directory that TurboLink™ uses to store and retrieve files from. When you choose this option, TurboLink™ will prompt you to enter the new directory. Enter the directory in normal DOS style, with the "\" character separating the various levels of subdirectories.
Page 16: Display Units
This parameter should not be chosen unless all other trouble shooting has been accomplished. 6.6.6 Set Default VIN Number This option allows you to enter a VIN number that will be stored with any data captured by TurboLink™. This helps you determine which car the data was captured from. 6.6.7 Record Trigger This option allows you choose either the Space Bar, TPS Threshold, or Malfunction Code as the trigger for capturing data in the Realtime Display mode.
Page 17: Print Utilities
6.7.2 Auto-Condensed Printing This option should normally be set to ”Automatic”. TurboLink™ will send a command string to your printer to command it to print the output in “Condensed” or “132 column” mode. This allows the data to fit on a 8.5”...
Page 18 The Condensed Print parameter shows whether TurboLink™ will send a command for your printer to print in 132 column mode or whether TurboLink™ will rely on you to control the output via the printer’s front panel controls.
Page 19 ECM setting a TPS High Malfunction Code during a run. A value over 4.55 volts is sufficient. It can be helpful to catch numerous runs with TurboLink™ and then use the export functions in the Print option to make CSV files. These CSV files can then be imported into a spreadsheet tool and graphed.
Page 20 C:\tlink>turbolnk <ENTER> TurboLink™ will now initialize and come up with the Main Screen. You are now ready to start receiving data from the ECM. This screen allows you to perform all the major functions of TurboLink™. The Realtime Display option will link with the ECM and show data as it is read from the ECM. You then have the option to save the data or just view it.
Page 21 November 7, 1999 7.2 Tutorial 2 - Capturing Data Using TurboLink™ This tutorial assumes that you have the TurboLink™ package correctly connected to your PC and your car, as described previously in this manual. To capture data using TurboLink™, choose the "Realtime Display"...
Page 22 A requester is displayed and you are prompted for a file name consisting of 8 characters or less. Type "Tutorial1" and hit Enter. TurboLink™ will prompt you to enter a brief comment at the bottom of the screen at the "->" prompt. Type "Tutorial One containing some test data from my car" and hit Enter.
Page 23 The status area at the bottom of the screen will display "Saving Tutorial1 to disk ..." as TurboLink™ writes your data to a file on the disk. When it is finished, TurboLink™ will return you to the Disk Utilities Screen. Choose Return to display the Main Screen again.
Page 24 Buffer From Disk" option. Once the data is shown in the Buffer Contents field on the Main Screen, we can proceed. Choose "Replay Recorded Data" from the Option Requester. TurboLink™ will prompt you for a display mode, either Numerical or Graphical.
Page 25 TurboLink™ V2.13 USER MANUAL November 7, 1999 graphs on the screen. The first gauge on the left displays Engine vacuum or boost (Manifold Absolute Pressure) if you have the optional Boost Sensing kit. If you do not have this kit, or if you do and you select the MAT option in the Preferences menus, this gauge will not be present and MAT will be displayed in a numerical box at the right side of the screen.
Page 26 Not all cars will have all data values available in all modes. The display automatically adjusts for the amount of data available for the chosen vehicle and ECM mode. TurboLink™ also “remembers” the ECM mode and vehicle for any data saved and recalled from the disk. Some cars display much more data with the ECM in the ALDL mode.
Page 27 Choose the CSV file option from the displayed requester. Now enter a file name (without the extension). An example would be "RUN1" and TurboLink™ will save the output to a file named "RUN1.CSV" in your working directory. This file can be imported into several popular spreadsheet applications.
Page 28 TurboLink™ V2.13 USER MANUAL Rev 15 November 7, 1999 Optionally, you can choose the "Normal file" option and the file will be saved in a text format that can be imported into your favorite word processor application as formatted text. A “Normal file” can be printed directly from MS DOS via the “print”...
Page 29 TurboLink™ V2.13 USER MANUAL November 7, 1999 8.0 ECM Information 3rd Gear Switch When this parameter indicates "ON", the ECM is reporting that the transmission 3rd gear switch is enabled and the car should be in 3rd gear, if it is illuminated by itself. This indicator is also “ON” when the transmission is in fourth gear.
Page 30: Coolant Temperature
The programmed fan temperature can also affect this. 8.11 ECM Mode This field indicates the mode that ECM has been commanded to be in by TurboLink™. When the field indicates “NORMAL”, the ECM is in Road Mode (normal driving mode) and all available data is displayed.
Page 31 TurboLink™ V2.13 USER MANUAL November 7, 1999 8.15 Idle Air Control (IAC) This field indicates the number of counts that the Idle Air Control (IAC) motor performs to maintain the idle speed requested by the ECM. This field is also shown as a percentage.
Page 32 This field is located at the top left corner of the screen and indicates the EPROM's number as a Hexadecimal number. This can be useful to identify different chips being used. Some chip makers will use this field to send other data (injector pulse width, e.g.), but TurboLink ™ expects this to be PROM ID. Page 32 TDS Technologies copyright ©...
Page 33 Visit this site often to obtain product announcements, service bulletins, current news, tricks and tips, and upgrades. My personal World Wide Web address is: http://members.home.com/kenmosher Be sure to read the tips_and_tricks for latest information regarding the operation of TurboLink™. Page 33 TDS Technologies copyright © 1994-1999...
Page 34: Mat Sensor
Connecting the OPTIONAL Boost Sensing Hardware The following describes how to connect your optional BST- 001 Boost Sensing Hardware kit to your car so that TurboLink™ will display and record boost/vacuum. When MAT Connector you unpack the kit, you should make sure that you familiarize yourself with the harness and the kit contents.
Page 35 TurboLink™ V2.13 USER MANUAL November 7, 1999 Step 2: Next locate the TPS sensor (Figure 3 ). This is the three wire sensor on the passenger’s side of the throttle body. Route the boost sensing harness in a manner that doesn’t interfere with the alternator or other engine components over to the TPS.
Page 36 TurboLink™ will “remember” this calibration on all saved runs so that later review is accurate. Also, note that occasionally at the end of a run you may see TurboLink report a slight “spike” in the boost reading just as you get off the throttle. This is due to the fact that the throttle has closed and there is a slight spike in the boost that is hard to catch on a boost gauge.
Page 37 Therefore, you must treat TurboLink™ like any other copyrighted material (e.g., a book or musical recording). Paying the license fee allows you the right to use one copy of TurboLink™ on computers your PERSONALLY own. You may not rent or lease TurboLink™, nor may you modify, adapt, translate, reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble TurboLink™...