1. Configuring the e-ManageThe instructions that comes with the e-Manage left a lot to be desired. Some diagrams are very hard to read, others have missing data all together. One thing to note straightaway is that I am using the e-Manage Blue, which is an obsolete version now superseded by the e-Manage Ultimate. I don't have any experience with the Ultimate, but here are differences between the two from what I've gathered from research:
Advantages of the e-Manage Ultimate:e-Manage Ultimate | e-Manage Blue (what I've got) |
Fully control injectors, both scaling and pulsewidth | Can only add fuel |
Two step RPM launch control | No launch control |
Can replace AFM with a single MAP sensor | Cannot work without factory airflow meter |
Full ignition timing control via aftermarket crank sensors | Can retard timing on most, but only advance timing on some |
Multiple inputs for optional devices (AFR, MAP, EGR, Knock) | Only one input for one optional device |
Data logging without laptop | Requires constant cable connection to datalog, and can only datalog for about five minutes at a time |
Supported, free updates, tons of community help | No longer supported, hard to find help |
Can be purchased new | You'll most likely find it used with an unknown prior configuration |
Modern software with good export capability | Software was last updated in 2006. Only exports to a proprietary Greddy format (more on this later) |
Uses a standard USB cable | Does not use a standard USB cable (more on this below) |
Advantages of the e-Manage Blue:What they both can do:e-Manage Ultimate | e-Manage Blue |
Extend Rev limit | Can do this with additional external control module |
Adjust AFM voltage | Adjust AFM voltage |
I got my e-Manage Blue from Bill, and I LOVE IT. The best thing is that on the US 4A-GZE, the Blue can both retard AND advance ignition timing! Apparently this isn't the case for most engines so we are fortunate to have full ignition timing control.
Prelude:Before I go ANY further, I must tell you that you will want to be able to connect a Laptop/computer to your e-Manage the moment you get it installed. The reason is because as the Blue unit is discontinued, it's highly unlikely you'll find a unit with out any modifications pre-programmed to it. What if it is set for 50% more airflow at an idle? It might not even start up despite being wired correctly. And now I must share with you a very annoying feature of the eM Blue: The "USB" port is NOT a Universal Serial Bus. It is a SERIAL port using a USB connection!!!! What's worse is that Greddy is using some old or proprietary protocol in an attempt to control the market on laptop integration. Greddy will have you buy their "official" "Support Tool" which includes their "special" cable (see first pic of
reply #445 above -- mine came with the cable missing). BUT, there are ways around this which I will share now.
For starters, you could just buy any ordinary serial cable, such as this
$3 one on Amazon, cut one end off and soder on a USB male cable end from some old USB cable you have laying around......and then connect that to your 1990s laptop. But, at this point, I really hope you are not using a 1990s laptop or any other laptop that has a serial port! So unless you are reading this via your Windows 98 SE operating system, you could try making one yourself using a RS232 to TTL converter following the directions of
this nice website. This is the cheapest (modern) option but I chose to get a premade USB to fake-USB cable from eBay, and this is what I did for $50:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/291690440248 If for any reason you cannot find it on eBay or the link is dead, then here is the guy who makes them,
http://www.ebay.com/usr/talon1luv, send him a message if you can't find it in his listings.

I highly recommend you get this cable right away because here is what happened to me: I was like 'No Big Deal' I'll just pick up a serial-to-USB conversion cable from Radio $hack (it was $39!!), installed the e-Manage, then realized there is some fancy protocol that prevents most all modern serial-to-USB cables from working, and returned the pile of crap cable. I then drove around for about two weeks with the e-Manage disconnected while researching what to do before I actually got a cable that worked!!
So I had the e-Manage installed yet I couldn't use it. Don't let this happen to you! Yes, there are some rotary dials on the front panel to alter AFM voltages at a few set RPM points, but....trust me, if you are not datalogging (much, much more on this later!) then I wouldn't even bother using an e-Manage. Seriously.
So without anymore sidetracking, let's get on with the install for the USDM (1988-1989 airflow meter and distributor 8.0:1 compression) 4A-GZE:
Installing:Installing was pretty straight-forward. I have uploaded the Installation Manual to my server here:
http://bigmike.marlincrawler.com/files/1987_MR2/electrical/e-manage/e-manage-blue-installation-manual.pdf (PDF, 2.36MB)
Here we go! Let's do this in 3 Easy Steps
Step 1:First open the PDF to pages 15 & 16. Unscrew the e-Manage and pull out the circuit board. Set the jumpers to the following:
JP1 1-2
JP2 1-2
JP3 1-2
JP4 empty
JP5 empty
JP6 empty
JP7 1-2

If you don't want to lose the jumpers at 4, 5, and 6 you can just hang them on one post off to the side so that they aren't touching any other post, like this:
Step 2:Next rotate the board around to the end with the blue dials and flip to page 14. Configure the dials as follows (via info from page 27):
1: Position "2"
2: Position "4"
3: Position "A"
4: Not used, so point it straight up.
5: Not used, so point it straight up.

Then put the circuit board back inside the housing.
Step 3:Next go to page 9. The top diagram is what our USDM 4A-GZE will use since we have a "flap type" air flow meter.

It is painfully easy. You only need to splice one wire, the AFM signal wire, and then connect power, ground, and RPM. The only thing to
be careful with here is with the Airflow splice: The Green wire goes to the ECU, and the White wire goes to the Engine. Don't get that backwards!
Now, something VERY important here is that Greddy leftout the wiring for the Throttle! It is a Gray wire and will be needed if you want to base any adjustments by Throttle Percent, which does make sense as our positive-displacement boost is linear with throttle position.....but more on this later.
Flip to page 27 for our ECU pin layout, T-5, and you can see Th is listed for Throttle, which I'd recommend connecting. Colored for reference:

and here is a pin-out for reference just in case it's needed:

So that's it, 4 connections and 1 splice and you're up and running! Turn your key to the on position and you should get a blinking orange light at the e-Manage. At this point, as mentioned above, it would be great to connect the e-Manage to your computer before firing up your engine for the first time. So go ahead and plug your special designed-for-the-e-Manage-serial-to-USB cable to your computer now and launch the following software:
http://bigmike.marlincrawler.com/files/1987_MR2/electrical/e-manage/e-manage-blue-software.zip (5.53MB)
I've included the final update to the e-Manage Blue Software which will take the software from v1.40 up to v1.49, the final Greddy 2006 update which is required in order to run a MAP sensor without having to use some rainbow table to manually convert between AFM and MAP voltages (run "e-manage149 - update.exe" after installing the program).
If needed, here is the older PL2303 v3.3.2.105 Prolific cable driver that is old enough to work with the e-Manage Blue. This driver works with the cable via the eBay link above:
http://bigmike.marlincrawler.com/files/1987_MR2/electrical/e-manage/e-manage-usb-cable-prolific-PL2303-v3.3.2.105.zip (2.15 MB)
I've also included install instructions in the Prolific archive file (see step 1 below).
2. Get the software up and running1. Get the Greddy Software installed and configured to use the same Com port as your cable, then close the program (see my install notes in the file '! Install - PL2303 v3.3.2.105 Old and compatible.txt').
2. Turn your ignition to the ON position to power up the e-Manage.
3. Plug the cable into your laptop, and finally
4. Launch the Greddy Software (again)
Okay now we'll move on to the actual software. Plenty more to come hopefully soon. I need to get out to my car to get various software screen shots to explain the next steps!
Regards,
BigMike