I can flash the car regularly, but I need to flash the ROM from another car. (Ralliart to Evo X) When I do the ECUflash "write from bootloader" recovery option, I get "no response to any code" (both on bench and in car)

To reiterate, regularly flashing, and it works fine. Obv I can't flash a ROM from a different car, "write to protected area" error is stopping me.

I couldn't find anyone having something like this online. Anyone have a clue what might cause this? My alternative is buying a $400 used GSR ECM, and waiting 2-3 weeks for it.

 

You can try Tephra's registry modifier to see if will be able to do a regular flash (http://www.tephra.it/v3/) or maybe try to run ECU Unlocker before opening ECUflash.

 

I've just written a USDM Final Edition 5MT ROM on my EDM SST ECU using the bench method. Are you sure you are doing it the right way?

 

I'm not sure at all. I pulled it out and did all the wiring, tried it a couple of times over, but no dice. The adapter itself was lighting up on it's own, so I know I at least had the power wired up properly.

I don't think the car is tuned, but I tried ECU unlocker anyway, can't seem to get it to work. All I get is a black window and a small image. There's also an exit button if I hover over it.

Is it possible that an ECM could be damaged or locked outside of that? I may or may not have created sparks with an unhappy battery terminal, but otherwise it's operating fine.

I'd send pictures of my setup, but I'm back at work for the rest of the week. I ordered a cheap Evo ECM from eBay, but its gonna take a while, so I wouldn't mind getting this solved in the meantime. If not, no big deal.

 

I don't think it's damaged or locked (as you have said it's not tuned). It's odd, bench flash has never failed on me before. If you can post some pictures any time in the future, I'll take a look.

 

I'll give it another go this weekend. I seem to recall you said that the car battery was good for 12v? I'm running from a Tactrix cable to laptop, ECU and car battery.

 

Yes, as long as it is in good condition. I usually do bench flashes using the laptop on his own battery and ECU connected to car battery. I made a cable using some salvage ECU connector, so I can bench the ECU without removing it from the car.

 

Alright. I took your idea for using an old harness, and I've wired everything up. However, I can't seem to get the tactrix cable to light up anymore. I made sure it's actually still working by plugging it into the car by itself, and it still works.

I've used black cables for both 12v and ground, and red for cables that go from the ECU to the adapter.






Here's what I have. I'm not sure if you can check yours, but I have 12v going to red-white-silver, white-silver, blue-white-silver. Ground goes to black-silver. Between the ECU, red-black-silver, yellow-blue-silver, yellow-green-silver, red-white-silver.

I've checked power and ground on the tactrix adapter, but I haven't made 100% sure every cable on the harness-thing is making contact properly, but it should be all fine.

I'm assuming all the cables come out of the same hole they go in. With that, I spliced each corresponding wire.

Am I missing anything?

Edit: the voltage on the battery is slowly draining, so I would assume that something is plugged in properly. Maybe the ECU?

Edit 2: I can measure 12v from various pins on both the adapter and the ECU (L side). Maybe that means there's only a problem with the connection between the ECU and adapter, and not power?

Edit 3: apparently my huge super-splice from earlier this afternoon disconnected itself at some point. That was my issuse with the adapter not lighting up. Will post back.

 

Success! I don't know what I was doing wrong before 😅

Using the old harness was a genius idea. I lost hours last week trying to careful insert wires onto pins. As I speak, it's running right now. Fingers crossed this solves my problem.