FC commander problem-help!!

[zzt231 gr]

Here's how it's done:today I installed my datalogit and two weird things happened!!

One is that the datalogit's plug was something like bigger on the plastic guide that is inside the plug(and a real PITA to make it smaller to fit)and the other is that my commander froze to the APEXi logo when I plugged it on the datalogit.It started showing normally after 15 minutes or so ,but then it froze again on the numbers!!Can you please help me on that?

Thanks in advance,guys!

[zzt231 gr]

Anybody??

[zzt231 gr]

Bump...:faint:

[pioneer_sti]

Never used it before, but I will in about a week. I remember reading an older FC Edit manual that stated the following (copy exactly from the manual):

[I]Min din Socket
o Plug Power FC commander into

[zzt231 gr]

Min din Socket
o Plug Power FC commander into “Min din Socket” so commander will
function
• A Power FC Commander will pause while FC-Edit or FC-Datalogit is
communicating with the Power FC.
• A Power FC Commander doesn’t update while you are data logging.
I read that in the manual.The only thing I did w/ the laptop was to READ ALL from the PFC and save the map.Then i exited and unplugged it.

Can't answer anything with any certainty, (will be able to by next week) but you might want to make sure there is no logging going on, and make sure no monitor windows or watches are up, just the plain FC Edit screen with the tables, and see what happens. I reconnected the laptop and exited the plain FC Edit screen once again after the datalogit's communication.

If the commander is still pauesed/frozen, try using FC Edit to monitor parameters and see if it's working fine. If the datalogit is functioning correctly, then maybe just ignore the commander being frozen.
The commander is very usefull for everyday driving-you can view vital parameters of your engine.

If you plug in the commander by itself does it work fine? It worked for about 2 years now...

I am going for a ride now and see what happens again.I want to check if the commander froze when I READ ALL from the PFC and needs some time running to start working properly...

Thanks for your help,my friend!

[zzt231 gr]

I am going for a ride now and see what happens again.I want to check if the commander froze when I READ ALL from the PFC and needs some time running to start working properly...Same thing again...starts after some minutes but works with pausing intervals...

[pioneer_sti]

Same thing again...starts after some minutes but works with pausing intervals...

Like I said I haven't even played with it yet, but what I am suggesting is that when you wish to tune with the FC Edit, if FC Edit finctions perfect, then ignore the commander being frozen. When you are finished using FC Edit, if you wish to use the commander, then remove the datalogit completely and plug the commander directly into the Power FC. If the commander then functions fine, problem solved.

I guess what I am asking is the following, have you tried completely removing the datalogit and plugging the commmander directly into the Power FC after you had this problem?

Really hope it's as simple as that, and not the commander, or worse the Power FC going faulty. :(

[zzt231 gr]

I'll try that,too!But I want to have both plugged as everyone else!!Why the heck does the datalogit has the Commander plug,then?I am waiting for some answers from the datalogit group in New Zealand also...

[pioneer_sti]

I'll try that,too!But I want to have both plugged as everyone else!!Why the heck does the datalogit has the Commander plug,then?I am waiting for some answers from the datalogit group in New Zealand also...

Should be interesting to hear what they have to say.

Hmmm.... their site had this to say:

Q: Can I have your unit be hardwired to the car? And always running the FC Commander without a laptop?
A: Yes

So you should be able to have the datalogit and the commander hooked up to the Power FC. Have you tried it without using the laptop? In other words plug the datalogit into the Power FC, then plug the commander into the datalogit, but do not hook anything up to your laptop, and see if the commander functions properly.

[zzt231 gr]

Should be interesting to hear what they have to say.

Hmmm.... their site had this to say:

Q: Can I have your unit be hardwired to the car? And always running the FC Commander without a laptop?
A: Yes

So you should be able to have the datalogit and the commander hooked up to the Power FC. Have you tried it without using the laptop? In other words plug the datalogit into the Power FC, then plug the commander into the datalogit, but do not hook anything up to your laptop, and see if the commander functions properly.

Right now,I plugged the commander directly to PFC and...sucks!!!The same thing!!!All these happened before and I didn't have the laptop hooked up...Might be a bug with the new firmware...?

And the datalogit guys don't answer me!!!!It is very annoying!!!I'll try and check the commander's cables with a multimeter and see what's the verdict...

[pioneer_sti]

Right now,I plugged the commander directly to PFC and...sucks!!!The same thing!!!All these happened before and I didn't have the laptop hooked up...Might be a bug with the new firmware...?

And the datalogit guys don't answer me!!!!It is very annoying!!!I'll try and check the commander's cables with a multimeter and see what's the verdict...

That does suck. :(

I installed my Power FC recently and the commander runs fine connected to the datalogit. The only time the commander freezes is when the Datalogit is logging or updating.

Tell me about it. I registered about a week ago for the e-groups and still haven't received a reply from Datalogit. Probably doesn't really matter though, as I have heard the e-groups is also fairly useless.

[SuperDave]

^ Yep, nothing on the e-group so don't feel bad about not being on there.

The usual reason is incompatable commander version to the PFC, but as you said it worked fine before hand. Sorry I can't help, the rx7club have the issue too http://www.rx7club.com/showthread.php?t=475747

[pioneer_sti]

Thanks for the heads up on the e-groups :)

I don't know if it's worth mentioning, and it doesn't have any bearing to this, but it might be worth putting the info out there. I bought a new 12V A/C adapter for my laptop, and when I hooked everything up and turned on the ignition I could see the Apexi commander screen displaying the logo bright and then dim, and it would then go to the next screen thats shows version info, and then back the the logo screen. Tried to start the car, but it wouldn't start. Since everything was working fine before, and the only new thing was the adapter, I unplugged it, and everything went back to normal. Plugged it back in to test if it really was the adapter, and yep, same thing. Strange that an adpater charging the laptop could send interference through the USB port. :wtf:

[zzt231 gr]

Hey,there is something strange with this thread-I don't receive email notifications!

Anyways,the problem is fixed!!!FYI,the yellow cable inside the commander was cut and you could barely see it-only the multimeter test showed the malfunction.I weld it back and everything runs fine!!Thanks for your help,guys!

So,the user groups are useless?No need to registrate to learn any new info or tips and tricks?

[SuperDave]

It's free to join to usergroup, so join up if you want to have a look around. Someone else might find something useful there I didn't though.

[pioneer_sti]

Hey,there is something strange with this thread-I don't receive email notifications!

Anyways,the problem is fixed!!!FYI,the yellow cable inside the commander was cut and you could barely see it-only the multimeter test showed the malfunction.I weld it back and everything runs fine!!Thanks for your help,guys!

So,the user groups are useless?No need to registrate to learn any new info or tips and tricks?

Congrats man, and good job figuring it out! :) Thanks for posting what caused the problem and how you fixed it.

[Jesse IL]

And the datalogit guys don't answer me!!!!
FYI those guys never answer. That is not a new problem.

[zzt231 gr]

They gave me one or two answers but with a delay and not really helpfull...