J2534 pass thru & Vgate vlinker

[55trucker]

Can anyone tell me if this model adapter is J2534 capable?

I recently purchased this adapter (on the advice of a forum member) to upgrade from my older switchable interface.

The adapter runs fine when plugged into my 2018 Ford Escape pcm, but when I try to interface with the pcm in my 98 Ford Ranger I'll get a *service interrupted* message when I attempt to run the service mode for the *control* items that I want to alter.

The firmware for the Vlink is FTDI based, is this the stumbling block I am running into?
Do I need a j2534 adapter to properly access the functions needed to reprogram this 26 year old pcm to what I want to?

[tractmec]

Can anyone tell me if this model adapter is J2534 capable?

I recently purchased this adapter (on the advice of a forum member) to upgrade from my older switchable interface.

The adapter runs fine when plugged into my 2018 Ford Escape pcm, but when I try to interface with the pcm in my 98 Ford Ranger I'll get a *service interrupted* message when I attempt to run the service mode for the *control* items that I want to alter.

The firmware for the Vlink is FTDI based, is this the stumbling block I am running into?
Do I need a j2534 adapter to properly access the functions needed to reprogram this 26 year old pcm to what I want to?

I was that member and I assume vLinker FS since you did not specify, and assume the Adapter capability error message is no longer present with the vLinker FS in 2.3.59 which has since upgraded to 2.3.60 !

vLinker FS is not a J2534-Passthru and does not use the the J2534 protocols!
Modern FTDI adapters like vLinker FS and OBDLInk EX adapters should be just as capable in FORScan as J2534-Passthru adapters!
The vLinker FS is the only FTDI adapter with the 18 volt PCM FEPS Firmware or Calibration file Programming capability! This is needed for PCMs up to ~2008! PCM's from `2009 on are firmware configurable with Secondary boot loader software rather than FEPS!

This FEPS programming capability is not yet available in FORScan for SCP/PWM PCMs older than ~2004! It is available for PCMs on the HSCAN network from about 2005 and up to 2008(and still experimental)! I have been told by the FORScan team that PWM PCM firmware programming is being worked on but with no idea of it 's beta testing or release!

The external switch would not have mattered in a 98 Ranger anyway as there is no HSCAN or MSCAN network in these older systems and the networks are on different Pins(PWM 2 and 10 and ISO pin 7) in the DLC connector and those networks are very limited as far as diagnostic software is concerned!

What "Service Mode" or Control Items specifically are you attempting to run(Should not be very many available in these old PCM's) on a PCM of this first OBDii PCM Generation(98 Ranger)! There is not much that is customer or owner configurable on these old Networks(SCP/PWM and ISO) even with Ford IDS and a VCM2 adapter which is a Proprietary Ford only J2534-Passthru Adapter!

"Service Interrupted" usually means The service or process is not available or supported in this module but since the service is available on the majority of the modules FORScan works with, it is always in the menu!

I have two vehicles with PCM's on these networks(PWM/SCP) and the service process(assuming you are asking about PCM reset which results in this Interrupted error on both vehicles or clear Transmission Adaptive tables which runs on one but not the other)with either my VCM2 or an older FTDI based OBDlink Adapter(ELMScan5)
This type of error usually will have nothing to do with the adapter being used!

More information and screen shots would help?

[55trucker]

I purchased the truck new in '98.

For the longest time I've wanted to reprogram the pcm to command an idle rpm of approx 820 rpm.
This would be engine hot ..park/neutral/in gear/ac out/ac in.....currently the base idle rpm is 780 rpm, but the pcm as it *learns* raises the idle rpm to 970 & keeps it there, this has a negative effect on the throttle overrun which when the base idle is restored drops to 1050 when one takes their foot off the throttle, but when the pcm raises the idle to 970 the throttle overrun is also raised to 1400 rpm & the rpm doesn't come down until AFTER the vehicle stops & then the throttle lazily falls. It;s an irritation I want to get rid of.

Also wanted to reprogram the trans upshift/downshift sequence..currently it is 1,2,3, converter lockup,4th...change that to 1,2,3,4, converter lockup.
This would remove the pcm constantly commanding a downshift from 4th to 3rd (between 68 & 63 kmh) while the converter is still locked up.

[55trucker]

Given the restrictions that the older pcm's were manufactured to is it possible to make use of a later software design pcm that would've been installed into the same truck mirroring the same powertrain options, same bcm options but make small alterations to make the control aspect the same as what the 98 pcm would have control over?

It seems that no aftermarket rebuilder will or wants to put together a pcm for my year of vehicle & not use the old pwm/feps format that my pcm is built upon.

suggestions on how to get around this outdated software design

[55trucker]

I have now discovered that my particular pcm is one of the few 90's Ranger (and only Ranger) pcm's that were untuneable.

The pcm would need a replacement with an upgraded piece that is NOT locked.

yahoo