MBE ECU questions.....
MBE ECU questions.....
Author
Discussion

SXS 

Original Poster:

2,068 posts

263 months

Monday 2nd August 2004
quotequote all
I was wandering... does anyone know which sensors the wires going into the ECU represent?

Does the ECU monitor engine oil temp too?

Theres nothing on dash, apart from water temp, just wandering if there is already a sensor for oil temp but only hooked up to ECU?

Is the O2 sensor a narrow band or wide band in the cerb 4.5?

If its a narrow band, would the ECU mind if I banged in a sensor with a wider band?

Julian64

14,325 posts

277 months

Monday 2nd August 2004
quotequote all
I believe that information is contained in the CD which seems to be doing the rounds in the regional groups.

Although I would never condone getting hold of one as I think they may be illegally copies. But maybe someone with one could show you theirs. I doubt thats actually breaking the law.

trooper1212

9,457 posts

275 months

Monday 2nd August 2004
quotequote all
Were I to have ever seen the software, I would assume that is displays...

water temperature
outside air temperature
barometric pressure

No oil pressure or temperature, more's the pity.

Julian64

14,325 posts

277 months

Monday 2nd August 2004
quotequote all
Agreed, were I ever to have seen a circuit on the MBE I would be able to tell you that neither oil temperature or pressure make it to the MBE box, only air and water temp.

But as I haven't and wouldn't, I can't.

I have a feeling though if you run your fingers along the cable away from the MBE you will find bulkhead connector (CONN2), which may have oil pressure on pin 7 and water temp on pin 21, but thats just a rumour.

shpub

8,507 posts

295 months

Tuesday 3rd August 2004
quotequote all
Both the oil and water temperature sensors that feed the instrumentation are mechanical and use capillary tubes. As a result, there is no electrical interfaces that can be used to link these to anything electrical.

There is a seperate water temp sensor for the ECU though.

>> Edited by shpub on Tuesday 3rd August 10:10

trooper1212

9,457 posts

275 months

Tuesday 3rd August 2004
quotequote all
Having read the Evo magazine fast fleet article this month,on getting a 340R Lotus fitted with an emerald ECU, I'm seriously tempted to go that way with the Cerb.

Would I be able to use the current software with the Emerald ECU, or would I need something different?

Julian64

14,325 posts

277 months

Tuesday 3rd August 2004
quotequote all
Nope emerald and the dealer software are incompatible. However the emerald software gives you most everything you need.

Graham

16,378 posts

307 months

Tuesday 3rd August 2004
quotequote all
you can also "legally" get the emerald software here

www.emeraldm3d.com/em_software.html

also there is a haynes book on ecu programming that includes the software

trooper1212

9,457 posts

275 months

Tuesday 3rd August 2004
quotequote all
Graham said:
you can also "legally" get the emerald software here

www.emeraldm3d.com/em_software.html

also there is a haynes book on ecu programming that includes the software



oooh! 3d graphs, that's worth the £1000 all on its own

Julian64

14,325 posts

277 months

Tuesday 3rd August 2004
quotequote all
So are you tempted then. I'd like some first hand info from someone whos just bought one.

joospeed

4,473 posts

301 months

Tuesday 3rd August 2004
quotequote all
what would you like to know ?

trooper1212

9,457 posts

275 months

Tuesday 3rd August 2004
quotequote all
Julian64 said:
So are you tempted then. I'd like some first hand info from someone whos just bought one.


Very much, however I doubt there is much point in installing the ECU on a duff engine. So I need to see what the diagnosis is of the low oil pressure first.

Julian64

14,325 posts

277 months

Wednesday 4th August 2004
quotequote all
joospeed said:
what would you like to know ?


Okay, how easy is it to change maps on the fly?

Are there any inputs which are not used ignored by the software?

Is the traction control worth having?

How weak can you run the engine for an emissions test, and how can you practically make this change

a) while the MOT is running
b) after you get the car home
c) when you have a weekend spare

Lastly can you have the software running while the car is moving to diagnose dynamic engine faults like the dealer software, And what stuff is needed to do mapping while the car is running on a rolling road that isn't included in the purchase price.

If all thats favourable. Price and availability

joospeed

4,473 posts

301 months

Wednesday 4th August 2004
quotequote all
Yeah they all sound great questions I'm sure emerald have the answers aswell

trooper1212

9,457 posts

275 months

Wednesday 4th August 2004
quotequote all
joospeed said:
Yeah they all sound great questions I'm sure emerald have the answers aswell
#

Julian64

14,325 posts

277 months

Wednesday 4th August 2004
quotequote all
trooper1212 said:

joospeed said:
Yeah they all sound great questions I'm sure emerald have the answers aswell

#



You're a wag Jools

SXS 

Original Poster:

2,068 posts

263 months

Wednesday 4th August 2004
quotequote all
Out of interest, what exactly is required to map a new ECU?

Say I bought a new ECU (one with a shit load of inputs!), wired the thing up, got the software installed on a laptop...

now what?

are we talking hours of dyno running and the likes?

or is it feasible just to rev and set and drive and set.....?

(I know they might sound like lamer questions, but I'm new to the ECU upgrade scene, and there is a bigger picture lurking in the near future, but need to get the ECU replaced now, as the MBE one doesnt support certain inputs, after talking to MBE themselves, they've insisted to get another brand for my plans.... ahem...)

350matt

3,869 posts

302 months

Thursday 5th August 2004
quotequote all
I run an emerald in my 350, its a very user friendly set-up but as with any afermarket ECU also entirely possible to blow your engine.
You'll have to get pretty friendly with your wiring loom as the emerald uses the rover k-series plug so an adaption harness is required or cut the original plug off and solder on the emerald one.
So a wiring diagram would be a good idea, although emerald have done a cerby already so may be able to help with this.
The changing maps takes seconds but needs a laptop hooked up to do so, also the ecu now features a data logger so providing you can record fuel mixture / Uego output you can drive it around logging data and then stop adjust fuelling and drive around some more.
Final mapping will have to be done on the rollers but you should be able to get it to a point where you can drive it to emerald.
They also should be able to give you a map which would should get you going, if you've never done this sort of thing before I would very strongly reccommend that you seek outside help.


Matt

trooper1212

9,457 posts

275 months

Thursday 5th August 2004
quotequote all
350matt said:
I run an emerald in my 350, its a very user friendly set-up but as with any afermarket ECU also entirely possible to blow your engine.
You'll have to get pretty friendly with your wiring loom as the emerald uses the rover k-series plug so an adaption harness is required or cut the original plug off and solder on the emerald one.
So a wiring diagram would be a good idea, although emerald have done a cerby already so may be able to help with this.
The changing maps takes seconds but needs a laptop hooked up to do so, also the ecu now features a data logger so providing you can record fuel mixture / Uego output you can drive it around logging data and then stop adjust fuelling and drive around some more.
Final mapping will have to be done on the rollers but you should be able to get it to a point where you can drive it to emerald.
They also should be able to give you a map which would should get you going, if you've never done this sort of thing before I would very strongly reccommend that you seek outside help.


Matt


I've had an email conversation with Emerald and they have an adaptor for the Cerb that means you won't need to get friendly with the loom.

I know that they have mapped a 4.5RR and a 4.2 de-cat, so should have something that can get you up and running, but for the extra £200 it would cost to get Emerald to fit the CPU and tune it themselves on their road from the start, I think buying it direct without the initial setup is a false economy.