Graham Hutton Posted April 7, 2021 Share Posted April 7, 2021 I've read with interest lots of posts about reading what the ECU is doing through something called easymap and I'm really interested to dive in and see how all the electrics are working on my car. However, I grew up tuning SU carburetors by filing the needle and jet profiles so don't really know where to start. I presume I need something to plug into the connector behind the big black bung in the drivers side knee trim.Any advice on what would be good hardware/software to start with on this? I'm sure I might be about to open pandora's box but it'll be good to learn about it all.Many thanks in advance, I'm bracing myself.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB Posted April 7, 2021 Share Posted April 7, 2021 I'd suggest downloading and playing with the Emerald software and manual - but then I have an Emerald ECU. You'll be able to see the parameters and the software. At the end of the day, different ECU have the same thing in common - to control fuelling and ignition. These are user friendly and taught me the basics of what the ECU and software is trying to do.https://www.emeraldm3d.com/software-manuals Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ECR Posted April 7, 2021 Share Posted April 7, 2021 Easimap is software for reading mbe brand ecu's. What car/ecu do you have? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Hutton Posted April 7, 2021 Author Share Posted April 7, 2021 Many thank Tom I will do. I have a new 310R which I just finished building so I think I have an SBD motorsport ECU. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB Posted April 7, 2021 Share Posted April 7, 2021 There's a range of after market ECU that are fitted to 7s, most typically associated with the period and engine. Emeralds are popular aftermarket ECU for K series as they came with a directly compatible plug with the Rover ECU. As I recall, Omex seemed popular with the Vauxhall redtop engines - what ever ECU you have is largely driven by the engine generation and whats popular amongst the aftermarket Ford/ Rover/ Vx users. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David_Long Posted April 7, 2021 Share Posted April 7, 2021 I guess it's an MBE 9A4 you've got. Easimap and a lead from SBD will let you see the basic parameters but maps and data are encrypted and it won't let you change anything as they are supplied locked. There are a few specialist that can unlock them, but I'm not totally sure what that gives you as an end user. The real danger is that you'll get interested enough to buy a fully open replacement and spend lots of money on rolling roads and getting it just as you like it! You've been warned! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Iain McCallum Posted April 7, 2021 Area Representative Share Posted April 7, 2021 The MBE Easimap software is free, but the connection lead costs about 100 notes, so be prepared! A local owner to you might lend you one though. Where are you based?Iain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisC Posted April 7, 2021 Share Posted April 7, 2021 I would recommend purchasing the lead (from SBD Motorsport) and downloading EasyMap from their website. Assuming you have a PC, if you are a Mac users things become a little more complicated. As the ECU is locked, you can't do any damage or make changes plugging into the ECU with EasyMap, so it's totally safe to play and discover what the ECU is doing.You will be able to data log and see live data from the ECU, which is perfect for fault diagnostics. You can always sell your lead if you see no value owning it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7 wonders of the world Posted April 7, 2021 Share Posted April 7, 2021 If your ECU us unlocked simple save the map file as 'Original DO NOT USE' and resave every map as a new file name, that way when you hit the wrong key and fook it up (we've all done a group delete ) you simple reload the previous file and away you go.you also have a record for comparison too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oilyhands Posted April 7, 2021 Share Posted April 7, 2021 There is an article on my personal website which introduces the basic principles of engine management which may help with your understanding of the basics and with jargon busting.Www.dvapower.com/emsThe site is not a commercial site, just information.Oily Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oilyhands Posted April 7, 2021 Share Posted April 7, 2021 There is an article on my personal website which introduces the basic principles of engine management which may help with your understanding of the basics and with jargon busting.Www.dvapower.com/emsThe site is not a commercial site, just information.Oily Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Hutton Posted April 7, 2021 Author Share Posted April 7, 2021 Thanks everyone, that's all very helpful. I'm off to get a lead and prepare to waste many hours happily in the garage! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aerobod - near CYYC Posted April 7, 2021 Share Posted April 7, 2021 Re #12 - "I'm off to get a lead and prepare to waste many hours happily in the garage!"You will want to be out on the road Graham. Put the laptop in the passenger footwell and log the data. Typically you will find about 30 channels to capture, the files are manageable up to about 30 minutes of continuously logging, after that the subsequent display of data will be increasingly slow on an average Windows 10 machine.Easimap works well in a virtual Windows environment, but if you do end up with an unlocked ECU and do load new maps, you need a very reliable Windows machine that won't fail during map load (I've been there with my unlocked ECU, had the laptop hang during map load, had to send the ECU from Canada back to SBD in the UK to have a reflash for 1 hour of labour plus express courier charges). My general purpose analysis PC is a Linux Fedora 33 box with Easimap running in a virtual Windows 10 machine, my garage laptop runs Easimap natively on Windows 10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team Toughie Posted April 11, 2021 Leadership Team Share Posted April 11, 2021 #10, Oily.Oh, cracking site, Oily. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Purplemeanie Posted April 12, 2021 Area Representative Share Posted April 12, 2021 Graham, like OilyHands, I have some articles on my website looking at the protocols used by the MBE ECUs. There's probably way too much information there but I mention it in case you're that way inclined. There was also an article written about our findings in the June and July editions of Low Flying in 2020.You can find my ramblings here:https://purplemeanie.co.uk/index.php/2019/08/31/ecu-diagnostics-part-1-introduction/John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team Toughie Posted April 12, 2021 Leadership Team Share Posted April 12, 2021 This Club really has a plethora of information. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Hutton Posted April 12, 2021 Author Share Posted April 12, 2021 Wow! That is a lot of info John! Many thanks indeed. Given that DVLA tell me to expect a long wait for my V5 following their strike action I suspect I will have to delve into all of this to keep me from going mad whilst I wait. My IVA passed on 30th March and at this rate it'll probably be early June when I get to drive the car.Whilst writing, many thanks also for your terrific blog which is one of 3 that I used really extensively when building the car. It sure made it a lot easier.Graham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Purplemeanie Posted April 12, 2021 Area Representative Share Posted April 12, 2021 Good luck with the registration docs Graham. It was an interminable wait for me over Christmas. And thanks for taking the time to tell me about the blog. It seems an age since I did it and I'm glad its still useful.Happy Blatting!John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKC Posted April 13, 2021 Share Posted April 13, 2021 Hi Graham,The MBE ECU on the 310R is a locked MBE and not a 9A4 variant as fitted on the fixed Cam Sigmas. Downloading the software and the obtaining the communication lead will only allow you to view and not modify anything.....which from a suppliers point of view is a good thing.If it isn't broke,,,,,don't fix it, if you know what I mean.RegardsSKC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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