Memcal ID Tool

[The1]

I thought id let everyone here know about a program ive been working on, this program is nothing new and not hugely special but i guess there's been some come and go over the years and have never done the job properly, i had some time available so i thought id do one up and wrap it up properly, even if your not into tuning you might find this useful.

This tool contains all holden memcal information that i have been able to find, also contains bins and xdf's.

Thanks to all the guys at delcohacking for there help and for hosting the program, Providing the files and also ID Tool.

Download and Changelog can be found here
Memcal ID Tool

[immortality]

thats not bad. well done mate

[The1]

cheers Mate

[2DIE]

I have been to the delcohacking site many times but there is no intro of what is what, they just jump straight in and talk about things I have no idea what they are talking about.

Wouldn't mind giving it a go my self if someone broke it down for people that are not familiar with the terms and explained what everything is.

[vc81]

I have been to the delcohacking site many times but there is no intro of what is what, they just jump straight in and talk about things I have no idea what they are talking about.

Wouldn't mind giving it a go my self if someone broke it down for people that are not familiar with the terms and explained what everything is.

Here here mate I'm with you there. Would be awesum if somebody could do that.

[The1]

Ill help where i can, i understand where you guys are coming from i went through the same thing, problem is there is only limited people available to hold your hand so to speak and they are all busy trying to break down bins and ecu code so we can get more out of it and also start defining new models vx,vy etc so people can start tuning them using factory delco ecu's instead of paying $1000's for a aftermarket ecu or they are to busy trying to make money back from all the 1000's of hrs spent getting it all working in the first place which is fine

Problem is it's not like carby days change a screw and ya done, it's much more complex then that now, fire away i can't guarantee i know everything im still learning!

[The1]

I have been to the delcohacking site many times but there is no intro of what is what, they just jump straight in and talk about things I have no idea what they are talking about.

Wouldn't mind giving it a go my self if someone broke it down for people that are not familiar with the terms and explained what everything is.

Read this for starters delcohacking.net • View topic - Getting Started Guide

[2DIE]

Yes thats the one I read about x10, I get lost in that very easily.

For example from the first few lines I cant even tell what the ECM and PCM is.

"the ECM is stored on the EPROM that is part of the memcal" I cant tell if ECM is hardware or software from that description. I do know what the EPROM and memcal are though.

PCM = Powertrain Control Module, reading about that it sounds like softare but the M on PCM leads me to belive it is hardware. Then the term CPU and another chip called the FMD, it says what it is but I cant even make out if it is relevant or not or if I am trying to understand so many things at once and 90% of it I don't even know while I should be concentrating on the important bits.

Something more along the lines of:

ECU =
Memcal =
EPROM =

For example would be good for beginners (most people should know what they are anyway but just in case they don't).

Basiclly they need a memcal to start with or if they want to go through the trouble soldering they could use a EPROM.

Then what PC board they need and some details about it, like myself I don't even know if I can use it in only a pc or can you get them with USB cables ect?

Then the programs to use and how to do it, probably start with how to copy existing tunes and then go in to a little detail of how to tweek tunes and what does what ect.

All the current info at once goes straight over my head and I know I'm not the only one, I have talked to others too and they cant work out heads from tails and would rather pay $200-300 for a tune that try and decipher that getting started guide.

I think the guide is good, it does have a ton of information but it seems like some guy knows tons about everything memcal related and is showing off what he knows and losing everyone in the process. Kind of like when you start talking to your grandmother about your fully sick RB30 running 15 psi, ported and polished heads, even going in to details of cam specs and and bores and quarter mile times and going on and on. If they dont understand you cant just go in the deep end and give them info they dont need to know. She will probably only remember its a shiny red car anyway.

I know its not brain surgery but to me trying to read and understand all that at the moment it might as well be.

More to the point assuming people know what the memcal is something along the lines of this..

-Where to source memcals (wreckers, ebay ect)
-PC board needed, possibly where to get and how to identify the one they need.
-Software needed to copy existing tunes and how to do it.
-Anything else needed to know.. baby steps with tunerpro?

Im not knocking anything on the site and I am sure it is all relevant in 1 way or another but knowing what I need to know and what I dont need to know for now would make a big difference.

For example if I was to watch you or anyone for that matter copy some good tunes over to a memcal, I could probably copy them myself after watching 1-3 times. It would probably be something like plug in the memcal to the pc board, erase data, copy new data files, done?

From there, understanding the basic things in detail without going over board and overloaded with information would be a better introduction than brushing it off because it all seems to hard. Once someone could do that and understand a little more they could progress on to data logging, real time tuning or using tunerpro in whatever order is easiest.

I admire VL400 for putting all the info out there to share with everyone but even explaining leads to more confusion. I think it would be very good to do my own tunes but at this stage it seems impossible.

I could probably just get what I need and ask people for advice along the way but I am sure it would drive them crazy with the amount of questions, especily if I was PM'ing them 4-5 times a day for things that are simple to them, they would end up saying go search for it on delcohacking and I would be back at square 1.

Sorry for the huge rant but I can assure you most people feel the same way and are unable to get a start because they cant get around all the technical specs and terms to start with, if it was "do this do that do this and that" I know tons of people would give it a go them self for a small amount and then learning and progressing rather than everyone putting it in the too hard basket and flooding tuners on here with enquiries that have got sick of doing tunes for other people, are too busy, dont have inbox space or any other reason they cant do it.

I think maybe I went in to too much detail trying to explain but I'm just trying to point out why the general majority of JC users including my self have never gone though with trying to start out. After all it is scary stuff if you jump right in the middle and do serious damage to your motor and easier to pay someone than risk that. If it was explained simply little at time I would have been copying stock tunes a long time ago and probably progressed further and have a better understanding. Information overload put me off.

[2DIE]

Ill help where i can, i understand where you guys are coming from i went through the same thing, problem is there is only limited people available to hold your hand so to speak and they are all busy trying to break down bins and ecu code so we can get more out of it and also start defining new models vx,vy etc so people can start tuning them using factory delco ecu's instead of paying $1000's for a aftermarket ecu or they are to busy trying to make money back from all the 1000's of hrs spent getting it all working in the first place which is fine

Problem is it's not like carby days change a screw and ya done, it's much more complex then that now, fire away i can't guarantee i know everything im still learning!

LOL! I should have read this before my big ass post.

Easier to ask questions here than PM?

I only have 2-3 questions atm.

[The1]

ok

ECM/ECU is Engine Control Module / Unit (whichever works for you)
PCM is Powertrain Control Module (electronic auto gearbox)

Some ecu's are manual only so it's just a ECM or ECU, no automatic controlling capabilities.

Auto control is both in memcal and ecu. You can change some tunes from auto to manual just by checking a flag in tunerpro. Like VS V6 ecu's can run either a auto box or a manual/getrag, You can't really change a manual tune to auto there's just to much missing.

To start with download tunerpro 5 RT, there's a link to the download in the about page on the latest version of the memcal id tool, ive just updated the link in it because it just came out of beta.

Next thing to do is note this,

BIN = Copy of Memcal Data
$PROGRAM ID = Type of bin file and how values inside are referenced
XDF = File to use in Tunerpro, XDF references program id so you need matching xdf for bin, xdf contains the references needed so you can see real world values converted on your screen (instead of seeing binary data or hex)
$ = Hex reference

So next step, open memcal ID, pick a vehicle to have a play with, so VR V6 manual for example if you look in memcal id tool under VRV6 and pick BLCD it's program ID is $12, which means you need a XDF $12 file to be able to reference the bin so you can be able to edit it.

So hit XDF button on that screen, copy the link and go into tunerpro and hit the XDF menu and select XDF, then goto the location you copied and open the relevant $ xdf file.

Next step, go back to memcal ID and hit Bin button, copy the location go back to tunerpro and go file open bin and go to the location you copied go $12 and select the BLCD.

Now you will have a screen where on the left is all the options, this is stuff you can edit, it will be defined into FLAGS, SCALERS, TABLES

One thing to remember with this is if you want to alter one thing, it will probably take 5 different things to make it happen, have a play and dont save any changes, if you want to save your changed bin save as so you keep the memcal bins stock in memcal ID tool.

To be able to get your bin into the vehicle you need a eprom burner, i use a Willem GQ-4X, prob one of the best value burners on the market, some cheaper ones require you to change jumpers and stuff and i just think it gets messy and is a pain, usually im doing a burn on the run so i want to chuck a memcal in and do it.

If your doing stock chips and are not changing the eprom chip from uv to ee then you will also need a uv eraser to wipe the eprom so you can program it again, i just use the $10 ones on ebay from china.

eprom = needs uv to erase
eeprom = electronicly erasable in programmer

You will need a adaptor to interface you memcal chip to the programmer, otherwise you will need to desolder the chip from the memcal which can get messy, i make and sell the adaptors for both holden memcal types. Picture below of VS memcal on the burner with interface adaptor.

[2DIE]

Thanks for taking the time to explain all that. I am downloading net framework 4 now then Ill download the memcal ID's, then tuner pro 5 RT.

I see tons of memcal programmers, both of my PC's are dead so I was looking at USB memcal programmers.

I found the Willem GQ-4X for around $100 but I was also wondering would something as simple as this work? Mini USB Microchip PIC EPROM/EEPROM Programmer Kit 149 (eBay item 360331309324 end time 25-Jan-11 19:57:40 AEDST) : Business, Office Industrial
Or is there programmers with different amount of pins or different compatibility issues ect? (or change jumpers as you said)

I have found EPROM erasers about $10-16, they all pretty much say they do the same thing so I assume it is safe to get any.

I think that would be pretty much set apart from the adaptor from the programmer to the memcal, how much are they worth?

Once again thanks for taking the time to do this, I hope your not getting frustrated with "noob" questions already

[delcowizzid]

there is a good how to tune your own memcal thread on here done by greenfoam 8 years or so ago

[The1]

i havn't used those cheapie ones, i bought the willem cause it's usb, great software, easy to use and covers pretty much every eprom chip ever made, you'l prob find alot of the cheap programers will only program the common eproms. For the price the willem is a steal really. All the eproms you need to usually program are 28 & 32pin.

i have the cheap $10 UV Eraser like this UV Eraser only problem i had with it i had to pull it apart and cut the opening bigger so i could fit the memcal in the tray.

$25 posted for a memcal adaptor or $40 for both posted, the darker blue top small memcals that vs/vt use need a longer adaptor 32pin chip vn-vr use 28pin chip so shorter adaptor, as the pins need to line up in the programmer properly so you need one longer and one shorter. Or the other option is the by some breadboard and header pins and make your own if your soldering is upto it.

i look out for ecu's and memcals on ebay and local wreckers for less than $50 or $20 for a memcal, i picked up 5x vr manual memcal's for $70 just recently. Depends what you want and how quick you want it, some ecu's like the vr manual are rare and hard to find.

[The1]

there is a good how to tune your own memcal thread on here done by greenfoam 8 years or so ago

is that the memcal socket install page stickied at the top?

[delcowizzid]

nah theres a full how to tweak a tune one somewhere

[2DIE]

I have the VT V6 Auto 1.85 open in TunerPro but it looks to me when I click on anything, everything is set to zero. Not that I am going to try and make my own tune any time soon but I was just checking it all out. Would it be fine to copy over just like that or am I missing something?

I have been told S2 VT is a more aggressive tune than the S1 tune, so I assume if I was to copy the S2 tune over to a spare memcal and throw it in there should be little better right?

My car was made on 9th month 97 that would make it the first release, and the 1.85 file is the latest (5th version)? Should be a slight improvement I guess.

Never thought Id understand any of this but its not so hard as I first though so far.

[The1]

i found this one, might be it
Basic Performance chip

[The1]

The C and K variant xdf are slightly different i think from memory so try both $A5 xdf's, first thing i check to start with is auto shift points and spark map to see if it looks ok, what bin and are you trying to open, like DJLX4957? try the V1.85 $A5F xdf with it. If you just wanna update a stock eprom with another stock bin no need to have anything to do with tunerpro, just erase the chip and burn the bin to it.

[The1]

My car was made on 9th month 97 that would make it the first release, and the 1.85 file is the latest (5th version)? Should be a slight improvement I guess.

Never thought Id understand any of this but its not so hard as I first though so far.

Go write down your body number it will start with L, then go look in the memcal id tool Body number ranges are in there. I wouldn't determine memcal revisions as better either, depends what your after, some are worse than others, vs v6 pulled timing in later revision but upped shift pressures, one and half a dozen of the other. when you get comfortable in tunerpro start using the difference tool in there, you can flick through 4 different bins at the same time to see what changed.

[2DIE]

Got it thanks, $A5C worked.

Just looking at everything in there now, so many options especially with the gears.

I wouldnt touch the MAF, spark and air/fuel settings till I was 100% sure what I was doing.

Edit:
I was opening DJLX4957

[The1]

one other thing to invest in is some form of logging device, be it software on a computer or scantool so you can see the changes before and after a modification. I use Efilive V4 for VR/VS tunerpro can also be used to log, you use a ADX file, they are listed on delcohacking as well, you can get non obdII aldl usb adaptors on there as well.

[The1]

Got it thanks, $A5C worked.

Just looking at everything in there now, so many options especially with the gears.

I wouldnt touch the MAF, spark and air/fuel settings till I was 100% sure what I was doing.

Edit:
I was opening DJLX4957

easiest for me to start on was shift points, so in that xdf have a look at "Normal" which is eco mode, upshift and downshift tps vs kph, there's one for each shift like 1-2 and 2-1 obviously you dont want set the upshift lower than the downshift, so if you adjust one adjust the other you need a margin as well otherwise you'll find sometimes it'l swap back and forth to much.

[The1]

went through my bookmarks, have a read of this site also, has all the basics spelled out pretty much.
LT1 PCM Tuning - Tips & Tricks for DIY Tuning!

Should be plenty enough in this thread now to keep you entertained!

[2DIE]

Nice, l scanned through it just now and bookmarked it to read properly later. Tons of detail about the fine tuning there at a glance. Id read it all now but I have to get ready to go out

[The1]

New version of the program is done 0.94 ive fixed the issues people were having with windows xp and ive also changed it back to dot net 2.0 so the requirment is low for older pc's, no more stuffing around installing dot net 4.0, most old xp machines should already have 2.0, let me know if there's any other issues