ECU: Electronic Control Unit in Your Car
If your car has ever overheated or refused to start, there could be a problem with your ECU. The ECU controls many different sections of your car without taking up a lot of space. Like anything in the car, ECUs can go bad. Knowing what the ECU is and what it controls will help you when something goes wrong.
What is the Electronic Control Unit in a Vehicle?
The electronic control unit is a generic term for an embedded system that controls one or more of the electrical system in a car. Consider this a mini computer in your car. It controls the fuel injection system, ignition timing, and the idle speed control system for the most part. The ECU has an 8-bit microprocessor, random access, read only memory, and the input/output interface. Everything must go through the ECU.
What Are the Components?
It is a module that contains a multi-layer circuit board. It also contains an analog-to-digital converter, which reads the outputs of the sensors in the car. Another component is the high-level digital output, which opens and closes the fuel injectors as well as fires the spark plug. Along with the analog-to-digital converters, you have the digital-to analog converter, which works with the engine. Other minor components include the communication chips and signal conditioners.
What Are the Benefits of an ECU?
It is a great diagnostic tool. All the information collected from the chips and conditioners are sent to the ECU. If something goes bad, that information is stored in the ECU. This makes it easier for the mechanic to find the problem. They just plug their diagnostic tool into the ECU and review the issue. The mechanics then check out the problem as well but the ECU is the first step in finding the issue.
How Can You Tell the ECU is Bad?
What would you do if your car wouldn’t start? You look at the battery or the ignition. If both of those are in good condition, you will have to look at your ECU. Since the ECU is in charge of so many different parts, you should check it as one of the issues. In order to do so, you will need a mechanic to look into it.
How Do You Fix It?
Like any computer, it will need to be repaired. Many people believe that you have to replace the entire ECU. Mechanics argue that it isn’t the case. In fact, they turn into computer technicians. They remove the ECU and disassemble it. You can either send your ECU off for repairs or buy a brand new one. Just like a computer, one option is less expensive than the other.
The ECU is like the engine. In order to have a working car, the ECU must be working properly. It isn’t something that you can look at regularly to monitor. One day, if your car has fuel issues, you will need to have the ECU look at in order to ensure it is working.