I've decided to make a complete tutorial for beginners on how to connect a Trionic 5 (T5) ECU to a computer for custom tuning and live monitoring abilities. This article's knowledge is out there, and common for some people. I spent countless hours researching several things across the web to figure out how this is done. This is the no bs, simple and conclusive connectivity solution for those of us with t5 ECU's. Let me save you hours of researching.
First off, this method uses the most modern CAN USB. There are several methods of connecting the ECU to a computer, and new methods seem to be discovered all the time. This is the method I found the easiest.
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This article is pertinent to the T5 ECU. However, the technique is almost identical to those of you that have T7 on your 93's. How do you know if you have T5? If you have a red Direct Ignition Cassette, you have T5. This ECU software was used on all 900's and 9000's from 1994 to 1998.
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Now, first we will go through how to connect your ECU to your computer for live monitoring purposes. This means the ability to be able to have a laptop in the car with you while your driving and monitor hundreds of different things. There is also the ability now to live tune your ECU while you are driving, but that will be covered later. The main use for this is to test a tune.
Things you need
-Lawicell USB to CAN converter (CANUSB)
https://imagecraft.com/jumptocan.html
This is expensive for most people, but well worth it. CAN is an old technology that many modern PC's dont have. This adaptor makes it possible for new PC's (Win XP,Vista,7,8) to have CAN connectivity.
-DB9 Female Adaptor
Amazon.com: PCCables.com 6ft DB9 Female to Mini Din 8-pin Male: Computers & Accessories
This is how you will connect to your ECU from the CANUSB adaptor. If you have some old printer cables lying around, you may be able to find one. They are also sold at radio shack in the drawers with electrical parts. You can pick one up there for around 6 bucks too. Just try to find on that already has wires coming out of it, it makes it much easier. Also, if you want to have the ability to do live monitoring as well as full ECU flashing, pick up two of these.
-Windows PC (Laptop)
Must be running Windows XP, Vista, 7, or 8. Using Windows 8 is a little trickier. I would recommend not using 8, but you can. If you do, read this article http://www.can232.com/?p=340 This regards installing the CANUSB drivers on a Windows 8 PC. I did it, so I know its possible.
-Electrical Multimeter
Most people already own one of these, if not, pick one up at Radioshack or Walmart for about 25 bucks.
-General Electrical tools
-Pliers, Wire Cutters, Wire Strippers, some spare wire, wire nuts ect.
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TUTORIAL
Install drivers for CANUSB at http://www.can232.com/?page_id=75
-You need FTDI drivers as well as the CANUSB DLL driver package for your operating system
-Take a DB9 connector and locate pins 2,3, and 7. These 3 pins need to have
wire leads on them that are stripped. Use your multimeter to figure out which wires are connected to which pins and use the corresponding wire when connecting to the SFI. This is what will be connected to the SFI connector on the car.
-Locate SFI connector on car. The SFI connector is located on the same wire loom as the ECU. The ECU exists in the passenger side foot well. The glovebox must be removed for easy access. Once you have located the ECU, follow the wires up about 1 foot and you should find a connector there with nothing attached to it.
![Image]()
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-The above picture shows the schematic for how to wire the DB9 to the SFI connector. (and a picture of the SFI connector itself)
You can either just memorize the colors of the wires on the SFI and cut and solder/wire nut them or you can crimp terminals and slide them under the pins. Either will work.
-At this point, you will need to download/install t5suite 2.0
http://trionic.mobixs.eu/
NOTE: I highly recommend reading the t5 documentation PDF, as well as the t5suite 2.0 manual PDF. They are very well written and very informative pieces of literature explaining in great depth how every aspect of the ECU of our cars work, how to tune, and flash, as well as t5suite itself.
Now, with the DB9 leads connected to the SFI, plug the DB9 into the CANUSB and plug that into the computer's USB.
Start t5suite and go to the Online Tuning tab. Then start the car and press Connect ECU at the top left. Then at the top is a button "Configure Realtime Panel". At the bottom right corner of the screen should say ECU connected.
If no errors come up, and the numbers are changing, you are done. Enjoy live monitoring, as well as an AFR gauge.
PS. I will add more pictures of my setup in the next few days. I wrote this late at night. Please excuse any errors, and as always, use at your own risk.
First off, this method uses the most modern CAN USB. There are several methods of connecting the ECU to a computer, and new methods seem to be discovered all the time. This is the method I found the easiest.
_________________________________________________________________
This article is pertinent to the T5 ECU. However, the technique is almost identical to those of you that have T7 on your 93's. How do you know if you have T5? If you have a red Direct Ignition Cassette, you have T5. This ECU software was used on all 900's and 9000's from 1994 to 1998.
_________________________________________________________________
Now, first we will go through how to connect your ECU to your computer for live monitoring purposes. This means the ability to be able to have a laptop in the car with you while your driving and monitor hundreds of different things. There is also the ability now to live tune your ECU while you are driving, but that will be covered later. The main use for this is to test a tune.
Things you need
-Lawicell USB to CAN converter (CANUSB)
https://imagecraft.com/jumptocan.html
This is expensive for most people, but well worth it. CAN is an old technology that many modern PC's dont have. This adaptor makes it possible for new PC's (Win XP,Vista,7,8) to have CAN connectivity.
-DB9 Female Adaptor
Amazon.com: PCCables.com 6ft DB9 Female to Mini Din 8-pin Male: Computers & Accessories
This is how you will connect to your ECU from the CANUSB adaptor. If you have some old printer cables lying around, you may be able to find one. They are also sold at radio shack in the drawers with electrical parts. You can pick one up there for around 6 bucks too. Just try to find on that already has wires coming out of it, it makes it much easier. Also, if you want to have the ability to do live monitoring as well as full ECU flashing, pick up two of these.
-Windows PC (Laptop)
Must be running Windows XP, Vista, 7, or 8. Using Windows 8 is a little trickier. I would recommend not using 8, but you can. If you do, read this article http://www.can232.com/?p=340 This regards installing the CANUSB drivers on a Windows 8 PC. I did it, so I know its possible.
-Electrical Multimeter
Most people already own one of these, if not, pick one up at Radioshack or Walmart for about 25 bucks.
-General Electrical tools
-Pliers, Wire Cutters, Wire Strippers, some spare wire, wire nuts ect.
_________________________________________________________________
TUTORIAL
Install drivers for CANUSB at http://www.can232.com/?page_id=75
-You need FTDI drivers as well as the CANUSB DLL driver package for your operating system
-Take a DB9 connector and locate pins 2,3, and 7. These 3 pins need to have
wire leads on them that are stripped. Use your multimeter to figure out which wires are connected to which pins and use the corresponding wire when connecting to the SFI. This is what will be connected to the SFI connector on the car.
-Locate SFI connector on car. The SFI connector is located on the same wire loom as the ECU. The ECU exists in the passenger side foot well. The glovebox must be removed for easy access. Once you have located the ECU, follow the wires up about 1 foot and you should find a connector there with nothing attached to it.
-The above picture shows the schematic for how to wire the DB9 to the SFI connector. (and a picture of the SFI connector itself)
You can either just memorize the colors of the wires on the SFI and cut and solder/wire nut them or you can crimp terminals and slide them under the pins. Either will work.
-At this point, you will need to download/install t5suite 2.0
http://trionic.mobixs.eu/
NOTE: I highly recommend reading the t5 documentation PDF, as well as the t5suite 2.0 manual PDF. They are very well written and very informative pieces of literature explaining in great depth how every aspect of the ECU of our cars work, how to tune, and flash, as well as t5suite itself.
Now, with the DB9 leads connected to the SFI, plug the DB9 into the CANUSB and plug that into the computer's USB.
Start t5suite and go to the Online Tuning tab. Then start the car and press Connect ECU at the top left. Then at the top is a button "Configure Realtime Panel". At the bottom right corner of the screen should say ECU connected.
If no errors come up, and the numbers are changing, you are done. Enjoy live monitoring, as well as an AFR gauge.
PS. I will add more pictures of my setup in the next few days. I wrote this late at night. Please excuse any errors, and as always, use at your own risk.
