Getting started with oBDII-EEC-V PCM access & manipulation
Posted: 2023 Feb 23, 08:06
I have been working on and now restoring antique classic Mustangs and never have had the need to know much about electronic engine controls until now. I'm pro Ford and recently have purchased 1997 and newer Fords that have PCMs. I have searched the internet until bug eyed and most of what I find is GM LS information. That doesn't help me much as it has to do with FoMoCo products other than understanding the basic theory of tuning or as I called it, PCM manipulation. I've read what applies to Fords on tunerpro's forum, a lot here and keep re-reading Decipha's information too. Each time I pick up a bit more.
I understand the basic pieces that I need and know that there are some logical steps that I will have to take. I have PCs at work and home but I know that a laptop is best suited for this task as it has to do with the portability of it. I have been picking up the neccesary pieces and I still have a couple of more to acquire.
3 weeks ago, I purchased a junk yard 1998 explorer PCM and connector and data link connector for $20-, to make a bench harness to connect the PCM to the laptop via a pass thru device. Also the cheap PCM is to experiment with. Pic of PCM at bottom. I can't figure out how to rearrange pictures. I also purchased a nearly new laptop, a Dell with Windows 10 pro and an equipment case for this endeavor. I also purchased an inexpensive vLinker to connect to a vehicle to read the DTCs. I know that this is nothing more than a device to do such, but it is something that I should know how to do. The next piece that I need to access the PCM is some sort of pass thru device. I see Michael recommends a Mongoose however I haven't found a cheaper but equal device. Also, there is the J3 port way to access the EEC and it appears to me that it used to be the only way as it relates to EEC-IV OBD1 and involves a Quarter Horse however I'm not going to be doing anything OBD1 and the Moates people recently retired. So that points me towards the J2534 way of accessing. I saw where Cougar281 asked a question about this. Now I can't afford a FoMoCo Rotundra device which is a very nice tool but costs over $1000- dollars. This method of access would be good for me because it would allow me to flash program IDS updates, turn off PATS and a couple of other maintenance functions. It again seems like another logical step forward. Here is a link and picture to a J2534 knock off device. Has anyone used this particular one with success? It's not very expensive and if anyone and particularly Michael P. thinks it will work, It come with software for itself I presume. I can even ship it to him to try out before I try to use it. I'm not much of a PC guy so this does not help. It is a challenge for me to convert a picture from one format to another.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/225395312695?h ... R7aX_c3MYQ I know there will be IDS software involved and I'm going to purchase TunerPro RT to have available for when the time comes for that.
I know that this will be a long term learning process and it wouldn't hurt for me to get some basic PC training to where I can do more that just search the internet and post pictures to forums.
I also watched a video as it is to do with Ford IDS that I may need to have Internet Explorer instead of Edge as my browser. I would like to think that there is a striped down and cleaned up version of IE that wouldn't allow the invasive and annoying updates that seem to make matters worse after each time it updates. This may just be an EDGE issue but that goes to show how little I know about personal computers and the internet.
Thanks for any help and guidance that anyone can give me as I make my way through this long process. Also forgive me in advance if I tend to annoy or bug anyone with excessive questions as I learn. Thanks, Greg in north Alabama, just north of the Rocket City.
I understand the basic pieces that I need and know that there are some logical steps that I will have to take. I have PCs at work and home but I know that a laptop is best suited for this task as it has to do with the portability of it. I have been picking up the neccesary pieces and I still have a couple of more to acquire.
3 weeks ago, I purchased a junk yard 1998 explorer PCM and connector and data link connector for $20-, to make a bench harness to connect the PCM to the laptop via a pass thru device. Also the cheap PCM is to experiment with. Pic of PCM at bottom. I can't figure out how to rearrange pictures. I also purchased a nearly new laptop, a Dell with Windows 10 pro and an equipment case for this endeavor. I also purchased an inexpensive vLinker to connect to a vehicle to read the DTCs. I know that this is nothing more than a device to do such, but it is something that I should know how to do. The next piece that I need to access the PCM is some sort of pass thru device. I see Michael recommends a Mongoose however I haven't found a cheaper but equal device. Also, there is the J3 port way to access the EEC and it appears to me that it used to be the only way as it relates to EEC-IV OBD1 and involves a Quarter Horse however I'm not going to be doing anything OBD1 and the Moates people recently retired. So that points me towards the J2534 way of accessing. I saw where Cougar281 asked a question about this. Now I can't afford a FoMoCo Rotundra device which is a very nice tool but costs over $1000- dollars. This method of access would be good for me because it would allow me to flash program IDS updates, turn off PATS and a couple of other maintenance functions. It again seems like another logical step forward. Here is a link and picture to a J2534 knock off device. Has anyone used this particular one with success? It's not very expensive and if anyone and particularly Michael P. thinks it will work, It come with software for itself I presume. I can even ship it to him to try out before I try to use it. I'm not much of a PC guy so this does not help. It is a challenge for me to convert a picture from one format to another.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/225395312695?h ... R7aX_c3MYQ I know there will be IDS software involved and I'm going to purchase TunerPro RT to have available for when the time comes for that.
I know that this will be a long term learning process and it wouldn't hurt for me to get some basic PC training to where I can do more that just search the internet and post pictures to forums.
I also watched a video as it is to do with Ford IDS that I may need to have Internet Explorer instead of Edge as my browser. I would like to think that there is a striped down and cleaned up version of IE that wouldn't allow the invasive and annoying updates that seem to make matters worse after each time it updates. This may just be an EDGE issue but that goes to show how little I know about personal computers and the internet.
Thanks for any help and guidance that anyone can give me as I make my way through this long process. Also forgive me in advance if I tend to annoy or bug anyone with excessive questions as I learn. Thanks, Greg in north Alabama, just north of the Rocket City.