Automotive Electronics • They are any electrically-generated systems used in road vehicles. • Automotive electronics originated from the need to control Engines. • The first electronic pieces were used to control engine functions and were referred to as engine control units (ECU). • A modern car may have up to 100 ECU's and a commercial vehicle up to 40. What is an ECU In the Automobile industry an electronic control unit (ECU) is an embedded electronic device, basically a digital computer, that reads signals coming from sensors placed at various parts and in different components of the car and depending on this information controls various important units e.g. engine and other automated operations within the car among many. Types of ECU ECM - Engine Control Module EBCM - Electronic Brake Control Module PCM – Power train Control Module VCM - Vehicle Control Module BCM - Body Control Module TYPES OF SENSORS ENGINE SENSORS Oxygen Sensor Throttle Position Sensor Crankshaft Position Sensor MAP Sensor Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor Mass Air Flow Sensor SPEED SENSORS Speed sensors are machines used to detect the speed of an object, usually a transport vehicle. They include: Wheel speed sensors Speedometers Pitometer logs Pitot tubes Airspeed indicators Piezo sensors (e.g. in a road surface) LIDAR ANPR (where vehicles are timed over a fixed distance) Auto electrical services Engine and engine component based services: Engine tuning: Tuning the engine to optimal performance using the latest equipment will deliver a more responsive drive, by restoring lost power and increasing fuel economy, helping to lower overall emissions. Engine carbon clean: With everyday driving and the use of lesser quality fuel your engine starts to accumulate carbon on fuel injectors and other engine components. This accumulated carbon causes poor fuel economy, a decrease in power and responsiveness plus rough idling and emissions. Alternator: The alternator converts mechanical energy into electrical energy to help power electrical parts within your vehicle and to recharge your battery. Cont.. Starter motor: Starter motors turn your engine over by drawing electricity from your car battery to get the crankshaft going. Fuel injection system: If your fuel injection system isn’t working properly your car’s performance will be directly affected. By utilizing the appropriate diagnostic equipment we can locate the issue and prevent it from occurring in the future. Fuel injectors: If your fuel injectors are clogged or dirty your vehicle will be experiencing limited acceleration, decreased power, lackluster fuel efficiency, irregular idling along with possible increased emissions. Cont.. Electronic fuel pumps: The fuel pump pumps fuel from the tank to the vehicle’s engine. Fuel is delivered constantly to make sure the engine is performing properly and constantly. Automatic transmission diagnostics: Your automatic transmission needs to be in optimal working order to make sure gear shift transitions are performed smoothly. If your transmission isn’t running smoothly it will jump through gears and ultimately wear out gears and plates. Other electrical component services: Batteries: The battery supplies electricity to the starter motor and ignition system that starts your car. Air bags: To keep you and your passengers safe, it is good to know your air bags are in working order. Our auto electricians can check and repair any compromised electrical work that has an impact on your air bags. Sound and vision: Looking to add a better entertainment, rear vision or parking system? No worries. We can install, wire and setup sound systems, DVD players, flip down & headrest screens and rear parking cameras and sensors. Power windows and central locking: Central locking and your power windows issues are often caused by an electronics issue that can be easily repaired after a system wide diagnostic scan is performed.
