Excalibur AL-180-EDPB

Hello, I have an Excalibur AL-180-EDPB remote start/security I purchased a few years ago, got frustrated, and put it away. Wife has a new car so I thought I would try again to install. Where I get stuck is when trying to flash the Blade module as I get an error message.

Here are my steps:

1. Car is 2015 Lexus RX350 with push to start
2. Using firmware version Blade-AL(DL)-Tl2 (3.9) for ADS BLADE AL , Revision date 11/6/2019 as BLADE module is ADS-Blade-AL
3.I go to web updater page and flash starter with the above firmware, and this works fine when the BLADE module is out of remote starter.
4. I then place the BLADE cartridge into the starter to configure my starter. I receive this error message: "Starter Read Error Check the USB cable and try again". Checked the connection and see no issues here so this is issue #1.

Next, I then do a re-detect hardware command (Blade cartridge is installed in the remoted starter) and then get this message: "BLADE cartridge not compatible with starter"

I am at my wit's end as to what is causing this issue. Do I need to get a different brand of Blade (Omega)? Also thinking about getting the ADS-AL CA module which if I understand correctly, plugs into the alarm unit and takes the place of the Blade.

Has anyone encountered this issue and have any suggestions. This was an expensive unit so would really like to see it work. Thanks in advance for any ideas!!

Steve

The Omega Excalibur R/S system requires the use of an Omega Blade AL cartridge. Even though it is made by iDatalink, the Blade AL is OEM'd to Omega and has an identifier as such. When you try to flash the iDatalink Blade AL in an Excalibur R/S unit, the WEB Flash site sees this mis-match and prevents the flash. Part of the reason behind this is that iDatalink licenses their firmware and companies like Omega and Audiovox pay a fee for each version of firmware they want to supply their users.

Here is what you need :


Additionally, beware that there are 64K and earlier 32k Blade AL cartridges out there and some versions of firmware require the extra space to provide full functionality. For your 2015 RX350 application, you need the 64K Blade AL.

Yes, you could use an ADS AL-CA bypass module instead of a Blade AL cartridge. I would flash it with the ADS version of firmware and set the Excalibur Feature 13 to ADS. This would allow D2D operation between the two units.

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Soldering is fun!

Thank you so much!! This explains a lot. Just ordered the new Blade 64 style. Why the manufacturer did not specify it had to be an Omega branded blade is beyond me. From everything I read, just said Blade compatible.

I then have two final questions.

1) In the install guide, there is a box with this warning: "WARNING: DO NOT CONNECT ANY OTHER ACCESSORY, IGNITION OR START WIRE FROM THE REMOTE STARTER TO THE VEHICLE. THE INTERFACE MODULE IS HANDLING THE REQUIRED VEHICLE POWER AND START SEQUENCE FROM THE PUSH TO START BUTTON CIRCUIT". Yet in the diagram, it shows a connection from the remote to 12V + input and Ignition + input to the steering lock connector. I'm assuming that I still need to make these two connections despite the warning box as it must apply to everything else. Is this a correct assumption?

2) What is idle mode and do I need or want to enable this feature?

Once again, thank you very much for this information and excited to get this unit finally installed.

Regards,

Steve

ANS #1. Yes, you are correct. Follow the install guide diagram as shown. Remember that the diagram is generic concerning the R/S unit. In your case, you need to combine both fused +12V input wires ( Red & Red/White ? ), fuse the lead down to 7.5 amps and connect it to the SLP connector as shown. You must add a 1N4001 diode, band towards the R/S, on the IGN1 Output wire. I usually cut that thick IGN1 output wire to 3 inches, add the diode and then a length of thin ( 18 to 22 ) gauge wire that continues to the SLP connector. Not shown at all is the R/S ground connection and the Siren. For the Parking Light connection, you must use a (-) Parking Light Output signal from the R/S. If your RX has the Factory Alarm and monitors the hood, the Blade will supply the Hood Pin signal along with the Door and Trunk pins to the R/S for alarm purposes. There will probably be some R/S programming required ( Data Tach, R/S run time, Manual/Auto trans, etc ).

ANS #2. Idle Mode is basically what most installers call Pit Stop Mode. It allows a running vehicle to enter Remote Start Mode by pressing the correct button/buttons ( trans in Park and foot OFF Brake ) on the R/S FOB and, with non-PTS vehicles, removing the ignition key and exiting the vehicle. With PTS vehicles like yours that shutdown as soon as a door is opened, I usually don't make this connection.

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Soldering is fun!

Once again, thank you so much! Feeling 100% more confident this time around. Can't wait for my new Blade to arrive and tackle this project.

Great way to start off the new year! Thanks again and best wishes for the new year.

Okay, so I finally have gotten around to installing my alarm and have run into an issue that I am at a loss to explain. Basically, I am able to do everything except start the car remotely. The Excalibur remote allows me to arm/disarm the car, and open the liftgate so I am pretty positive the programming took correctly. But when I press the start button twice, the remote beeps at mee and displays the shutdown icon - starter never cranks. Here are my particulars:

1) When pressing the remote start button, I hear the relay inside the remote starter clicking several times but no engine cranking
2) I did not connect the parking light output from the remote starter to the ECU yet thinking I would do this after I tested everything. Does this have a negative impact and will prevent starting?
3) I assume the remote starter is getting its ground thru the 20 pin Blade Connector and therefore do not have to worry about the ground on the 18 pin harness (used when Blade not in use).
4) I am not using the option for idle mode so I did not connect pin 7 PTS to pin 13 on the 20 pin Blade wiring harness. When I had it connected, the dash would light up weirdly. I do have pin 3 (Blue/Red) connected to ground at the moment - any issues with that?
5) I've attached the diagram I am using for my setup 2015 Lexus RX350 with PTS.

Appreciate any thoughts on this issue ...hoping to be a hero to my wife who has been asking me for this for a while:-).

The Parking Light connection should be made but has no inpact on your current issues.

If you don't want idle mode, neither the Blue/Red ground connection nor the Blue/Yellow PTS connection from the Blade AL 20 plug should be made.

More than likely, your RX350 has the Factory Alarm system and a hood pin, so the Orange/Black wire is not used or connected.

While the Blade AL cartridge needs a ground connection, it does not share this with the host Excalibur AL-180-EDPB system in
any meaningful way. As mentioned above in a previous reply, the iDatalink Blade-AL Type 2 diagram is a bit generic and does
not show several necessary R/S connections. It only shows the necessary connections for the features it supports. You must
make the Excalibur AL-180-EDPB Chassis ground connection. That is probably where the main issue lies. While the Blade-AL
does supply a Tach signal to the Excalibur AL-180-EDPB, you might have to program the Excalibur AL-180-EDPB to Tach Mode and
do a Tach Learn. Being as the RX350 is a PTS vehicle you could run in Hybrid Mode or Fixed/Assume Running Mode if programming
allows.

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Soldering is fun!