Softronic ECU tune

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May 10, 2011 | 12:15 AM

pureporsche

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Softronic ECU tune

I've purchased the Softronic ECU tune and having problems downloading the ECU information. Curious if any one has experienced similar problems or if any one has any clue as to what the solution may be.

I follow the instructions exactly (except for having the car connected to a charger and the laptop is running on battery and wifi (have to do it this way as I'm in an apartment/townhouse complex.

I get to the second screen and get this error.
I know for a fact that the ECU is stock, so this error makes no sense.

I've gone as far as reinstalling Windows 7 and .Net 3.2 and still it stops on exactly the same point (screen 2).

May 10, 2011 | 12:16 AM

pureporsche

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error...

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May 10, 2011 | 12:40 AM

k_ddsl

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Does your car still run?

May 10, 2011 | 12:48 AM

pureporsche

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Yeah it does - the error happens when trying to read the ECU, so as to upload the "read" file to softronic.

Although I'm seriously concerned if I have this type of problem now, what may await me when/if I finally get the ECU read and have to write the new file to the ECU.

I'm a pretty astute when it comes to software and for the life of me can't figure it out. Spoke with some one over at Vividracing and their recommendation was to use a different PC. Can't see how that would be different form reloading windows (fresh). but will give it a go tomorrow anyway.

May 10, 2011 | 01:04 AM

k_ddsl

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I have the Softronic tune in my car.
I've gone through several versions of the software so I have had to flash my car on several occasions.

I can tell you than the software and ECU are very finicky when it comes to your laptop's configuration.

Ideal configuration is:
1- Windows 32 bit OS, not 64 bit
2- 3 GB Ram
3- Wifi or wired internet connection, not 3G, etc...
4- Laptop should be plugged in to electrical outlet to prevent power fluctuating on you or worse, laptop powering down
5- No screensavers
6- No firewalls
7- No antivirus

The good news is, since your car is still running, you haven't bricked the ECU.

I would suggest that you remove the battery lead for about an hour.
Reconnect the battery lead and drive the car for about 10 to 15 minutes.

Get the properly configured laptop, as above, or as close to the above configuration as possible.

Try again.

While re-uploading the tuned software, you should have the same config as well.

Worst you can really do (unless you are really really unlucky) is brick your ECU, in which case it needs to be removed and sent to Softronic or Vivid to be bench flashed. Inconvenient, but not a catastrophy.

Hope this helps.

May 10, 2011 | 04:45 AM

speed21

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Addendum to K_ddsl's excellent advice.

"Noob advice" deleted. Often the best lesson is the hard one. OP feel free to PM if any detail is required.

Last edited by speed21; May 10, 2011 at 05:02 PM.

May 10, 2011 | 05:57 AM

mathys

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Agreed with the 2 posts above. If your apartment complex doesn't allow a power supply for your laptop, go to a friend's place with a good laptop

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May 10, 2011 | 06:55 AM

dinorocz

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I had an issue with mine also, had to remove my ECU and send it out to Softronic, they sent it back the next day, everything was fine, great service from Scott and the team.

BTW wait till you have it installed, its like a whole new car

May 10, 2011 | 08:02 AM

venkatreddytx

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Quote:

Originally Posted by dinorocz

+1 Same here early 997TT build(Nov 06)

May 10, 2011 | 08:10 AM

#10

FadeToBlack

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Make sure UAC is not running on Windows 7. Disable it from the Users Control Panel.

May 10, 2011 | 08:21 AM

#11

f360c5

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Quote:

Originally Posted by pureporsche

error...

<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w

oNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>AR-SA</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w

ontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w

ontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> I had the same issue when I done the ECU programing for my 2008 997tt.
The problem was with the cable I used to do the programing. I contacted Dan from Vivid and he sent me anther cable and everything worked perfectly and it took less than 5 min to program the ECU.

I think they are 2 types of cables, first generation that will not work with some of the 2008 and 09. The second generation will work perfectly
I hope this will help

May 10, 2011 | 08:50 AM

#12

pureporsche

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Thanks guys - the laptop is a 1.7GHz CPU and 1 GB Ram... that could be the issue(?). I have another laptop at work however that one runs a 64 bit Windows 7 OS.
[k_ddsl]: you mentioned not to use a 64 bit, not sure why this would be an issue - can you elaborate?

If that doesn't work I'll try the plug in option this weekend, however can't see how this would be an issue (unless you actually run out of power). The battery is good for a few hours on my laptop... but willing to try whatever it takes.

May 10, 2011 | 09:08 AM

#13

FadeToBlack

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64 bit is not an issue if there are drivers for it and new programs have such drivers. The problem might be with the operating system and disable the antivirus. You might want to take my advice and disable UAC in Windows 7 and also don't run it on battery, as the program might not want to update the ECU (it might think the battery may run out of power and the ECU will be a brick afterwards). RAM is not an issue unless you're running a game or very complex program and I don't think that an ECU update requires such large RAM, like 3GB or more.

May 10, 2011 | 09:26 AM

#14

pureporsche

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Quote:

Originally Posted by FadeToBlack

64 bit is not an issue if there are drivers for it and new programs have such drivers....RAM is not an issue unless you're running a game or very complex program and I don't think that an ECU update requires such large RAM, like 3GB or more.

Exactly what I thought! Couldn't figure out why 3GB ram would be needed unless it's a monster of a file being loaded into memory. Same as 64 bit - shouldn't be an issue if it's running on the .Net framework.

Will try dissabling UAC - and give it another go this evening.

May 10, 2011 | 09:48 AM

#15

FadeToBlack

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My advice is to not get into the typical "n00b, everything can go wrong" advices and try to follow a more logical way. My best advices are:
-disable UAC;
-disable any security software (antivirus, non-Windows firewall, malware scanners, etc.)
-close all programs (this might slow down the process).
-if running for a long time you might want to restart the laptop (this works wonders with some programs that try to access some files locked by other programs).
-always update the needed files (.Net, etc.).

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