P38A EAS COMMS Problems - '95 4.6

How do all,

I am struggling to communicate with the EAS on my 4.6 '95 I've recently acquired. I cannot get the EAS suite to achieve a good idle and i am out of ideas now, so any help gratefully appreciated!

The car has a soft fault so fortunately is still driveable, but i can see it leaking from the valve block, thanks to the soapy water technique, so bought it cheap planning to sort the EAS out as had converted my last P38 from coils back to Bags last year. I was aiming to clear the faults and deflate the bags so i could sort the leak. I have also replaced the delay timer with the yellow relay and that has solved the battery drain.

Using the same laptop and version of EAS suite that talked to my last one fine i am unable to connect.

I have tried using a USB to Serial adapter, not the preferred method i know, but to no avail.

I have tried using a separate laptop on XP with 2 different usb adaptors and correct drivers but no good.

I have 2 different OBD2 to serial EAS Comms leads but neither work.

I have checked the 5 Amp diagnostic fuse in the engine bay fuse box.

I have sacrificed one of the EAS leads and spliced it directly into the corresponding wires to the OBD2 port, as its showing some signs of corrosion. I know have a stealth EAS Serial port in the glove box, but still doesn't connect.

I have checked the EAS ECU connections and they all look fine, sometimes you can drive for 30mins before the soft fault kicks in.

I have removed both side front lower kick panels to check for any wiring/corrosion damage, but every things fine.

I have been in contact with the EAS wizard, aka Datatek, and the only thing that stands out is when i plug the lead into the laptop, i do not get the "SLOW, MAX SPEED 35MPH" warning on the dash. So i'm guessing there is no comms connection whatsoever?

Luckily i bought 2 P38's to get me back in the game, as this ones trying its best to achieve donor car status!

It is very important if using a serial to USB adaptor to load the driver for that adaptor BEFORE you plug the adaptor into the laptop. If you don't Windows loads a generic driver that does not work.

I'm still P38 less at the moment so you are welcome to try my Datatek supplied lead and usb adaptor if any use to you, they have worked faultlessly in the past for me. Can stick it in the post any time.

Stufer said:

I'm still P38 less at the moment so you are welcome to try my Datatek supplied lead and usb adaptor if any use to you, they have worked faultlessly in the past for me. Can stick it in the post any time.

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FFS, Norfolkshire to Somerset, that will take months and you have missed the Mail coach.

I had a simler prob. If you can get as far as the main screen use the drop down menu . Comms. And try every port. Mine eventually worked on port 12, other than that i cant help. Sorry and best of luck.

Thanks chaps, unfortunately i let my Datatek lead go with my last P38. I only really tried the USB adapter in desperation as i know they cause problems. I installed the drivers first from the disk that came with the adapters.

I have tried all the comm ports in the EAS Suite.

On my old P38 it worked on Com1 which is what my serial port is set too on my laptop.

Weirdly the closest i get to achieving a good idle is using the serial port, COM1 on my laptop, and having EAS Suite set to COM3. Only then does it return the right values in the buffer box and occasionally flashes up good idle for a second or so, i have tried adjusting the sliders. Also changed my serial port on my laptop to be COM3 and selected that in EAS Suite.

Might take you up on that offer Stufer, thanks a lot its worth a try, happily cover postage.

Is there anyone on here who uses a Serial port for EAS? The only thing i can think is from using the laptop serial port with several different LPG softwares over the last year i may ha changed a setting causing this issue? I can post what my default COM1 serial settings are for reference.

PM me address any time and I'll send, can sort postage later

Where exactly are you? I'll be down that neck of the woods next weekend. I could plug in my nanocom and see if that talks. If so, it rules out the car.
If it's not too far out of my way, happy to call in for a brew on my way.

First clean the diagnostic socket again . . . .

Finding correct com port on WinXP and Win7 :-

• Right Click on "My Computer" (or whatever your is called), and select "Manage"
• Select "Device Manager"
• On right side you should see "Ports (Com & LPT)"
• Expand this section, and you should see the USB Serial Port number.
• Select that port on EAS-Unlock.

Alternatively, select Control Panel --> System --> Hardware Tab --> Device Manager.

Right guys i have sorted this. I cut the OBD2 end of one of the cables and spliced into the corresponding wires and fed the serial cable into the glovebox. Still nothing.

Obviously i have been away from P38's for to long, as it was whilst emailing Datatek that he triggered my memory. I had made a schoolboy error by removing the EAS delay timer and replacing with a yellow relay from under the engine fuse box, to prevent battery drain. Obvioulsy what i had forgotten is that you can only communicate with the EAS if the Delay timer relay is plugged in!!!

Plugged it back in and got a good idle straight away. At least i know have a handy EAS lead in the glove box.... Seems that i am getting a broken signal from one of my height sensors. I will try cleaning it up first and see if that improves the issue.

Thanks for all your input, i am in south somerset, i am about to go on the LZIR to find someone with a Nanocom as i need ABS diagnostics on my other GEMS 4.6. Its never ending

Wazzajnr said:

Where exactly are you? I'll be down that neck of the woods next weekend. I could plug in my nanocom and see if that talks. If so, it rules out the car.
If it's not too far out of my way, happy to call in for a brew on my way.

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Am in TA18 if your nearby be very useful for me, maybe even a pasty or two in it for you......

Funny you mention the yellow relay, I did exactly the same thing and forgot, tried for ages to get comms. However, I started the car a couple of times with the diag cable plugged in and did get comms and reset the EAS. Somehow you can communicate with the yellow relay, it is bloody quicker with the timer relay in though
Having fixed the EAS and many other things it appears my BECM has decided to do a swan dive, its a never ending story, I am getting to the point of ditching the old girl, it seems that I fix one thing and another decides to appear, I drive with a puckered bum everytime I go out in anticipation of the beep, beep from the message centre. Rick the pick has my BECM so watch this space ;(

Rick the Pick is the man for the job! I know how you're feeling my 2 are p*ssing me right off! ABS & more EAS problems not to mention all the other bings and bongs that show up on a daily basis!

Only one cure for the bings and bongs- find the little speaker and disconnect it

Where is that speaker, I want to set fire to it.......

The speaker is on the back of the instrument cluster, it seams to be the only part of a p38 that doesn't go wrong

Don't speak to soon, everything goes wrong on a P38 in the end....

On one of mine I currently get a minimum of 8 beeps come up before I've even set off, I will try and find that speaker

PastyMuncher83 said:

On one of mine I currently get a minimum of 8 beeps come up before I've even set off, I will try and find that speaker

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Fix the faults you won't get the beeps. It's not rocket science.

That's the problem, whenever I fix one item and ask the old girl to behave she decides that she is lacking attention and finds another problem for me to take care of. Very similar to the proverbial Forth Bridge syndrome