ALDL Connector

[LannyL81]

Does anyone happen to know where I can get a replacement ALDL connector from? I actually just need the connector body itself as the one in the car has torn-up mounting ears.
I have checked several Corvette parts vendors, but so far no luck.
Have thought about checking-out my local U-Pull-It salvage yard and look for a 80s GM car for one....assuming I could find where the ALDL connector is at in various GM model cars...???

Thanks in advance for any leads.

 

[tmkassin]

Have you tried your local Chevy dealer?

 

[Hib Halverson]

As I recall, an 81 has a unique five-pin connector located in the center console under the ash tray.

In 82 went to the 12-pin which was used until 1993.

While it is possible that some of the reproduction parts makers might have reproduced that connector, my guess is you're going to have a long search of Corvette dismantlers to find one.

 

[Corvette Russ]

Hi You might want to try Just Corvettes St Charles MO 636-947-6060
They sell used corvette parts they helped me with a few parts.

Good Luck
Russ

 

[LannyL81]

I did not know that it was in '82 that the ALDL connector changed; was this for all GM cars or just the Corvette? If all GM cars changed....wow....it is going to have to be a Corvette salvage yard in order for me to a replacement connector....probably along with the associated Corvette Tax.

And no I have not even thought about calling a Chevy dealer....the ones around here are pretty much useless if the vehicle is more than 5 years old.

If someone could let me know about this 5 pin connector used in other GM cars....I sure would appreciate it.

 

[Nut]

I did not know that it was in '82 that the ALDL connector changed; was this for all GM cars or just the Corvette? If all GM cars changed....wow....it is going to have to be a Corvette salvage yard in order for me to a replacement connector....probably along with the associated Corvette Tax.

And no I have not even thought about calling a Chevy dealer....the ones around here are pretty much useless if the vehicle is more than 5 years old.

If someone could let me know about this 5 pin connector used in other GM cars....I sure would appreciate it.

Lanny..... when I had my 68 and 69 MGB's, which were notorious for having the worst wiring/connectors ever installed in an automobile; I used to go to a local electronics store and get MIL-SPEC rated connectors with the pin count/gauge size for what I was re-wiring and completely re-wired the connections. I never had another problem with any electronics I converted. Also, solder EVERYTHING you can and heatshrink ALL wire/pin connections.

Good Luck................ nut

 

[Peer81]

You can also find the same 5 pin aldl connector in the first years other cars had the E4ME carb. Monte Carlo, Caprice etc etc. Other then that try mouser.com they have about every connector!

Greetings Peter

 

[Hib Halverson]

"Peer81" is correct.

The five-pin connector was used on a lot of early 80s GM vehicles which had electronic engine controls, not just the Corvette.

Also, not all 82 models went to the 12-pin connector. The conversion to the 12-pin began with the Corvette and a few other platforms but may have not been on all vehicles until 84 or 85.

 

[LannyL81]

Okay....got some ideas now....look for other GM 81 - 85 cars....but where should I look for the ALDC connector in these other cars? Did GM put the connector in only one or two places? I really do not want to go crawling all over the interiors of some of these cars in the U-Pull-It Lot!!!

Have another idea....what if I changed the 5 pin ALDL connector to a 12 pin OBD I style? Although I have not looked at what signals are on the pins of the early OBD I connectors so this may not work. But I was thinking that may be if I changed to the OBD I style then I could connect my code reader....but again have not looked in to whether there would be a compatibility issue or not. I have the signals on the 5 pin ALDL, now I just need to get those of an early OBDI.

OR....may be there really is not a need to have a connector here at all.....will anything connect to the '81 ECM and "talk" with it or is it only for putting the jumper between the two pins and counting the flashes of the Check Engine Lite? If this be the case, then I might must put a toggle switch on a bracket and be done with it.

Anyone know?UPDATE: Have been reading and seems that the ECM uses a 160 baud PWM; my code reader will not work. As far as I can tell it would require an adapter circuit plus software in order to decode the serial data stream. I may look into this further, but looks like a simple toggle switch between the diagnostic and ground terminals is really all that is needed.

 

[Hib Halverson]

Your first step should be trying to get the ECM to flash codes.

Finding a scan tester old enough to work with that system is going to be tough. The advantage to having one is being able to see the information that comes down the serial data line from the ECM.

The Vetronix TECH1 and TECH1A which were the GM dealer scan tools back in the mid-80s to the early 90s had software support for the 81 system. Back then a common accessory for the TECH1 was a "five-pin" adapter. T1s and T1As show up on eBay sometimes. Finding one with the appropriate software cartridge and the five-pin adapter would be like striking gold.

 

[Peer81]

There is a way to make our ECM talk with winaldl by fooling the software. I think if you google it you'll find the info.

I'm not going to try it. Already have all the parts to alter the Ecm wiring to change to a later (88 monte carlo) ecm with custom prom.

Greetings Peter

 

[LannyL81]

The ECM works fine as far as flashing the Check Engine Lite...no problems at all. I think it would be quite nice to have the ECM "talk" to a PC and then able to display the data in real-time. Of course the only data that I think there is the mixture control solenoid dwell and then the Check Engine Lite flashes.