What Is Car ECU?
by Tom Garland -
The ECM is an electronic computer which used in modernised cars to maneuver its computerized components. Reading data from sensors and transmitting output to the different components, the ECU manage the appropriate operation of the vehicle.
The motor vehicle's computer gather data from several modules in the vehicle as the crankshaft and fuel system sensors to smartly process information such as intake, exhaust, cooling system and a few other internal components to estimate and maneuver the driving scenario of the engine, transmission system such as the airbags, the ignition/injection timing, the traction control (ABS) and so on.
A common example is the speed sensor located on the wheel which examine the speed of the wheel and transfer the information to the auto motive's computer. With this model, instead of handing out messages to several wires from one sensor, the messages would be sent by the motor vehicle main computer to all the components that need this information such as the suspension system, ABS, speedometer and so on.
On-board Diagnostics Port
An auto that incorporate automobile's computer will also arrange On Board Diagnostics (OBD) port to let driver or officials to plug diagnostics equipment and examine the auto motive computer module settings.
ECM antitheft control
The engine immobilization computer is counter theft system placed on the auto motive's computer. It prevents the car from turning on unless driver is using a commissioned key. This system employs a unique transponder key that stores the electronic security PIN code or plainly the password. The ECU will not power on the fuel pump infrastructure and the ignition circuit if the pin-code in the key does not match the pin-code reserved in the immobilization system.
Worldwide car-makers use various types of ECUs including the ECM (Engine Control Module), PCM (Powertrain Control Module), BCM (Brake Control Module)) and others. Latest motor vehicle might have a number of ECUs and due to their growing complexity, the programming entailed in resetting or configuring the ECU is turning more and more troublesome to control.