Looking for help with MC68HC908AZ60 Please

[Fixer]

Hello everyone.

First of all let apologise for my forwardness, I have only just joined the forum & I'm looking for someone to help me out big time straight away, I'm not normally this forward but I find myself in a desperate situation with this processor.

I need a kind sole to take pity on me & help me with my problem.

Basically I'm looking for a good Samaritan that would be willing to read & programme a processor for me. 

I don't have the equipment or the expertise to do this myself & I just wondered if there was anyone out there that would be willing to help me with this.

Please let me know & I'll post up more details of the problem.

Many thanks for your time & here's hoping that  someone will be willing to help me.

Regards. 

[peg]

Hello,

If you don't have the code for this device it is unlikely that you can "read" it from the device due to the security measures in place to prevent this.

It might also be worth mentioning where in the world you are.

[Fixer]

Hi,

Thanks for the reply.

Location....of course....I am located in the UK.

I was under the impression that the programing devices that worked with this processor had a security breaking feature to get into the processor.

Regards.

[peg]

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Fixer wrote:

Hi,

Thanks for the reply.

Location....of course....I am located in the UK.

I was under the impression that the programing devices that worked with this processor had a security breaking feature to get into the processor.

Regards.

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They do, but you still have to feed it the key.

[kef]

Backdoor unsecure, at least on S12, is not possible over BDM. Only application can backdoor unsecure. This means that in order to backdoor unsecure 1) there should be some communication channel provided by application and 2) you have to know communication protocol and backdoor key.

I'm not sure about S08, but I guess they also can't be backdoor unsecured over BDM.

[peg]

Hi Kef,

The OP is talking HC08 here!

No BDM, no back door, just the appropriate vector addresses over the beautiful MON08 interface.

[kef]

ouch, sorry

[Fixer]

Hi,

I'll be honest, I don't understand most of that what has been posted as I know nothing about these processors.

So there is no way to read the processor unless you have the security key to gain access to it?

Cheers.

[peg]

Hi,

Yes you need the code or, more usually, the source code or S19 file to determine the code, in order to gain access. This is well documented in the data sheet and too my knowledge there is no way to "break" in.

[Fixer]

Hi,

Thanks for your reply's.

I'm confused as the programmer I found on the web says that it can access the processor by using "Security System Auto Search"....does this not mean that it has the ability to break through the processors security?

Details of the programmer can be found here:

http://www.fjetech.com/etl_motorola_908_programmer.html?category_id=56

PDF of the operating instructions, (section 4.4 details the security system auto search)

http://www.etlweb.com/prod_prog_mc68hc908az60/files/e08prog.pdf

Regards.

[peg]

Hello,

This may or may not be the case but you will find very little assistance in these forums for bypassing security. Most members here have their own IP locked away by this security and so are not going to assist someone wanting to break into someone elses. Who knows it may even be their own!

[Fixer]

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peg wrote:

....Most members here have their own IP locked away by this security....

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IP...?

The processor I need a dump of is from my car dashboard, it controls the gauges and has started to suffer problems.

The problem is that the processor fails to start & just keeps trying causing the gauges to pulsate "Dancing needles" as it has been termed. This happens if the ambient temperature is below approx 17 degrees C. If the temp is over this everything works as it should.

The fault is getting worse as time goes by...when the fault first showed up the gauges worked ok as long as the temp was above 9 degrees C.

It has been suggested (by Freescale) that if the processor is dumped at room temp when it is in a working state & then the dump is programmed back to the same processor that this will possibly cure the problem, this is what I was wanting to try.

Obviously I didn't think the security of the processor would be a problem going from the programmer instructions....but maybe it's not as easy / reliable as the instructions make out

Regards.

[celsoken]

Dear Fixer,

Probably the symptom has nothing to do with the processor.

My best shot is that you've got a defective solder. Maybe you could check all your cluster connections with an ESD rework station.

Probably some hot air bring the intermitent contact back to life.

Cheers,

Celso

[Fixer]

I thank you for your advice but all solder joints have been re flowed.

I know it sounds like the fault will be nothing to do with the processor but honestly it is.

If you are interested take a read of this thread & you will see where I'm coming from.

http://www.tt-forum.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=55361&hilit=motorola+dashpod&sid=3ae3bd46b83fe8e...

Regards.

[peg]

Hello,

Very interesting...

I follow some car based forums as well and can understand your motive for trying to find a cure for this. I would suggest that there is only a slim chance that re-programming the existing or a replacement device is going to work. Even if it did there is a possibility that it is not a permanent fix. The thread seems to have died based on Audi owning up to the problem. All the programers that I know of do not claim to be able to break into devices without the key. Some will determine the key given the source code. If you are in the UK why is Audi not fixing it?

BTW IP means Intellectual Property.

[Fixer]

Hi,

Sorry I never mentioned that my car is not an Audi....its a Renault....my posts on the Audi forum are under the name of Tel boy.

Looks like I will have to admit defeat with this one & have a company repair the dash cluster as I don't want to buy a programmer only to find that I can not access the processor due to security codes. 

I would have liked to try reprogramming the original processor to see if it did indeed cure the problem....for knowledge more than anything else.

Regards.

[celsoken]

You've got an impressive CV. I've worked on automotive OEM instrumentation design in the past too.

Sometimes Bingo is not conclusive. Temperature can affect floating pins and temporarily "fix" strange behaviour. Maybe a cracked SMT resistor could cause this.

I hope it helps.

Cheers,

Celso

[Fixer]

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celsoken wrote:

You've got an impressive CV. I've worked on automotive OEM instrumentation design in the past too.....

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Thanks for your kind comments however I am not jackott (on the Audi forum) I am the thick one called Tel boy.

Regards. 

[peg]

Hello,

If you are going to get it repaired and would like to get an idea of how they do it, take a high resolution photo of the device before you send it in for repair. Nearly all IC's have a date code on them like 0735 which means week 35 of 2007. Make sure you can read these on the photo or write them down. The chances that the replacement device has the same date code is very slim. This way you can see which device/s are changed or whether a whole board swap is done.

Good Luck!

Most repair places for things like this are quite reluctant to discuss the details of the repair and you won't find out how reluctant until it is too late.

[Fixer]

Hi,

like this one....

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p256/on1wheel_2006/Picture003.jpg

The square outline on the face of the processor is where the software version sticker was removed.

Companies that fix dash clusters give a 2 year warranty so the cluster will more than likely have some sort of tamper proof sticker applied to it upon return to stop people like me tinkering with it once fixed.

Regards.