Swap out the 4004?

[dcb]

that wasn't what I said I don't think. Do not power the atmel with ignition power, but you can power the backlight with ignition power and the appropriate circuit bending, so that it turns off with the car. Are you sure it isn't going to sleep but maybe just a mismatch between backlight code and configuration?

can you put it on the cpu screen, note the time on the guino, walk away for 10 minutes then come back and see if the time goes back to when you last touched it?

[wyatt]

I re-read what I wrote, and it does sound like I am powering the MPGuino off of switched power... what I meant is: I have tapped switched-power in the past, so it is readily available.
I will try the cpu screen this evening if I remember, I may also try the disconnect INJ and VSS to see if that does anything (each individually, CPU, INJ, VSS).

[wyatt]

I did the CPU test last night. After I got home, I set up the CPU screen, went inside, came out later, and noted the time. The timer was still counting, the screen was operating, but it did turn off the backlight. The backlight is normally so dim that I don't notice it, but last night I did because it is getting darker on the trip home. Maybe tonight I will try the VSS and INJ test.

[dcb]

if the backlight went off, it went to "sleep". when you press a button or start the car the timer will jump back to where it was at the point of last activity.

[wyatt]

I bet with the blue LCD screen on my last MPGuino, I just couldn't see that things were still happening. The green LCD is much better for visibility! Thanks for all your help on this!