Chip-Tools

ITDEENBGES

Bench reading of a TCU: ZN079 or ZN151 DS Box set with CB401/CB403 and the ZF 8HP pinout (BMW, Audi, Porsche)

How to set the bench up to read a transmission control unit (TCU) with the ECU Programming Tool: you use the ZN151 DS Box with the CB401/CB403 cables, or, for Bosch ZF 8HP TCUs, the ZN079 connected straight to the AVDI without the ZN151. Includes the ZF 8HP connector pinout.

Procedure

1. Choose your set: for a generic TCU use the ZN151 DS Box together with the CB401 or CB403 cable; for Bosch ZF 8HP TCUs you can use the ZN079 connected straight to the AVDI, without the ZN151.
2. If you are using the ZN079, follow the sequence: ZN079 onto the TCU, then the power adapter, then the already-live set onto the AVDI, and start the ECU Programming Tool last.
3. For the ZF 8HP bear in mind the connector exists in three versions: only the position of the CAN wires changes, while the power wires are always on the same pins.
4. If you do not know which of the three versions you have in front of you, try the CAN positions one after the other until the unit responds: that is the procedure the manual gives.
5. The ZN079 works with all three ZF 8HP connector types and finds the correct CAN wire position by itself, so with that cable you skip the manual search.
6. If the CB401 probes are loose on the TCU pins, switch to the CB403: it has larger sockets that seat properly on the pins of these units.
7. Apply power, start the ECU Programming Tool and always begin with a full read saved to file before any writing.

Reference screenshots