2005/12/19 Caterpillar

Agricultural Tractor:

All

Articulated Truck:

All

Asphalt Paver:

All

Backhoe Loader:

All

Challenger:

All

Cold Planer:

All

Combine:

All

Compact Wheel Loader:

ALL

Earthmoving Compactor:

All

Excavator:

All

Integrated Toolcarrier:

All

Landfill Compactor:

All

Load Haul Dump:

All

Mini Hydraulic Excavator:

All

Motor Grader:

All

Multi Terrain Loader:

All

Off-Highway Truck/Tractor:

All

Paving Compactor:

All

Pipelayer:

All

Road Reclaimer/Soil Stabilizer:

All

Skid Steer Loader:

All

Soil Compactor:

All

Telehandler:

All

Track-Type Loader:

All

Track-Type Skidder:

All

Track-Type Tractor:

All

Underground Articulated Truck:

All

Wheel Dozer:

All

Wheel Loader:

All

Wheel Skidder:

All

Wheel Tractor-Scraper:

All

New Product Link (PL) Software is now available. This new software includes many enhancements over the former Product Link Software. For a complete listing of these enhancements, refer to the following section: "Product Link PL321 Software Enhancements".

The new Product Link Software 2684698-00.fls is a direct replacement for the former Product Link Software 2659642.fls.

Product Link PL321 Software Enhancements

The New Product Link Software contains the following enhancements:

• This software corrects a Product Link Service Meter issue where the hours could reset to zero when power was removed from the Product Link module (disconnect open).

• The default setting for Level 2 events is now "To Report Immediately".

• Product Link has the ability to synchronize its Service Hour Meter with a Master ECM on the Caterpillar Data Link that also supports the synchronize feature. The Product Link hour meter will be automatically synchronized with a Master ECM. This strategy ensures that Product Link hours and the Master ECM are in agreement. Displaying and updating the Service Hours Meters is now done through the Caterpillar Electronic Technician (ET) "Service" menu using the "Synchronize Service Hours Meters" option. The "Totals" menu will no longer display the hours.

Note: If the Master ECM and Product Link are within fifty hours of each other, the hours will synchronize automatically. If the Master ECM and Product Link are more than fifty hours different, the initial hours will have to be reset using the "Synchronize" button to manually match the hours. If Product Link is the only ECM on the Caterpillar Data Link that supports this feature, it will be the Master and its hours will need to be set by the "Set Master Hours" button. After initial hour synchronization, the hours cannot be reduced without factory passwords. Refer to Special Instruction, REHS1238, January 2003, "Obtaining Factory Passwords and Software Enabled Attachments".

• The Product Link 300 module has an embedded communications adapter. This feature, when enabled, provides a direct connection from Cat ET to the on-board ECMs, no longer requiring a separate Communications Adapter. This feature can be enabled through the Cat ET "Configuration" menu using Password Protected Features and attachments. There is a fee to enable this feature.

• Product Link supports flashing the PL300 with J1939 (on machines with J1939 capability). This is an alternative to flashing over the Caterpillar Data Link. This feature is only available after the first flash is completed with a normal Caterpillar Data Link flash.

• The "1250-9" service code reflecting a short loss of communications between the PL121 and PL300 modules has been modified. This has on occasion been a nuisance service code. The loss of communications between the PL121 and PL300 modules will have to be present for a longer period of time before the "1250-9" service code is reported. The "1250-9" service code will still be logged in cases where the PL121SR is flashed through the PL300. The logged code should be cleared after the procedure.

• The software part numbers and ECM serial numbers are now collected and reported in Equipment Manager for modules using (2684698).

• The PL300 will now report its own diagnostics and events to Equipment Manager. The PL300 diagnostics and events were previously only displayed on Cat ET.

The latest version of ET (2005A V2.0) is required. If flashing problems are experienced, contact the ET hotline. The PL2004B software (2659642.fls) must be on the PL300 module prior to flashing the new Product Link software (2684698-00.fls).