I need help chosing software to use on my laptop. My car is a 1985 Corvette. My computer is a new Dell with the new vista operating system. What software would work best on this car WinALDL, TunerPro, etc. At this point I just want to read ECM output. If I ever am competent I might someday try burning a chip. If someone is currently using a program to download data I would like to know what data is available from that old ECM, I understand it is limited. Lastly once I am able to download this data, how do I know what a normal reading should be. For example, if I take my temperature and I get a temperature of 101.2 I know that it should be close to 98.6 so I know something is wrong. What I need is a book "1985 Corvette Scanning for Dummies". It would be great if someone could post the readout data from an 1985 Corvette. Any help will be greatly appreciated.
What you need is a real old computer ( the sort people throw away ) running Win 98 or 95. People have reported problems with Vista
TunerPro has definitions for '85 ECM.
If you were to get more serious , the upgade to the later '165 ECM is a worthwhile upgrade as far as data stream and tuning support http://www.eecis.udel.edu/~davis/z28/ecm_swap/
There are three options that I am aware of, all that I personally use (or have used) on My 85.
1.)WinALDL, which does work but you have to lie to it about the baud rate. It's the only one of the choices that builds a Table of the BLM values, although I find it of limited usefulness overall. Only does scanning and data loggong, not an editor like the other two programs.
2.)TunerCat or TunerCat RT. The correct definition file is out there, but it does require a bit of massaging to work correctly (whoever wrote it made a couple of errors in addressing the datastream). This is the program I find the easiest, and the one I generally use.
3.)TunerPro. Like TunerCat, the correct definition file is out there. Not as user friendly as TunerCat, but that's just my opinion. Works fine.
All of these run fine under Windows XP. I've no idea what happens under Vista.
Keep in mind that you also need the correct cable to connect with the ALDL plug - one With the 10k (I Think that's the value) resistor.
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'85 automatic coupe. 276K and counting, 330hp Crate Vortec heads, SDPP base manifold, BBK TB, true duals w/3 muffler setup (that's right - 3), driven daily year round - snow tires a Must!
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Scan Software For A 1985 Corvette
