How To Test My M4!!

[Jamesdf]

Hello everyone,
I'm a newbie to the forum, so please have patience with me!

I recently purchased a second hand M4 with the hope of getting it fitted to my Toyota MR2 turbo, and hopefully learn a bit about engine management in the process!
Obviously at the moment me biggest fear is DOES IT ACTUALLY WORK!!

So I am wondering what is the best way to power the M4, connect to it, and make sure it is working without spending money on getting it fully fitted to the car to discover it does not work!

Also can I use the serial number to find out additional information about my M4, i.e. if it requires a PCI connection or direct serial connection for comm's to PC, or if it has standard or Pro features?

Any help at all would be greatly appreciated, thanks.
James.

[Jamesdf]

Okay so after "carefully studying" the wiring diagram for the M4's pin outs and some advice from the electrician I decided I would take a chance and power up the M4. No smoke or burning smell ensured I was off to a good start!
I booted up Windows XP on VirtualBox, attached my USB-to-Serial adapter, connected my serial cable, ran EMP v6.20 but, to my disappointment it didn't connect.

I later found out that serial cable I was using was a null modem serial cable, which for reasons I will not bore you with is wired differently from a standard serial cable.

So I replaced the null modem serial cable with a standard serial cable and BOOM, connection established!!

When I look back on this I feel embarrassed at how relatively straight forward it is, but I suppose everyday is a school day!!