your serial to usb adapter sounds like your problem. what one are you using.

 

His problem is not the laptop or the serial connection because he can connect to the AEM when he gives direct power.

 

that's weird, I've personally had three different AEM EMS's and installed two more. I've used my old win xp pro laptop with a serial port built in without any issues and I've used my new vista ultimate laptop with a USB to serial adapter without any issues.

if your car will start and run with the stock ECU then you know the wire harness is fine. if you put your AEM in and can't connect to it something is wrong with the unit and AEM needs to fix it.

one thought, are you using AEM serial gauges? if so you have to connect the serial cable to the ECU, then load AEM Pro software and click "connect", now it'll say it's waiting to connect. now finally turn the key to the on position and see if it'll connect. once you add the serial gauge functionality you can't just connect to the ECU whenever, it has to be at startup since it's looking for the gauges.

another thing, if you're using a USB to serial adapter when the software loads don't select USB as the connection type, select serial and select the right port from the drop down. the USB option is for future ECU's.

 

I got the ems to connect. I cut into the harness and ran a new ground for the ems like LostMotion had mentioned. The power supply is still coming from the harness. I'm guessing somewhere in the harness the ground for the ems is not working.

Now that I try to start the car it just continues to crank. Stat Sync is off and then turns on.

 

did you set the timing in the ECU? if not it'll never start.

 

No I didn't. I guess I"ll try that tomorrow.

 

Do you need a base map? I can send you an NA one that should get you to the tuner.

 

yeah go through the ECU timing setup and you should be good.

 

I used an USB to serial adapter first when starting my aem, it worked like shit. I am never gonna use anything but pure serial connection to AEM anymore. Could be stable for awhile and then suddenly just lose signal. Not reliable at all.

 

Thanks for the offer but I already have a map from the tuner.