The engine control unit is your vehicle’s main computer chip, and it figures into diagnostics by downloading the error codes it receives from your vehicle’s system sensors. This complex computer system ensures your automobile is always running safely and efficiently. It also serves as a warning system to make certain you don’t damage your vehicle when something is wrong.
Engine Control Unit
Let’s talk more about the engine control unit. This unit not only communicates with the system sensors but also controls part of your vehicle’s operation. The unit is activated when you turn on your automobile. If there is something wrong with the engine control unit, you will not be able to start your vehicle. Once activated, the unit immediately begins talking with the system sensors and also doing things like regulating the air and fuel intake into the combustion chamber.
Vehicle Sensors
The sensors also play an important role in diagnostics. They monitor every aspect of your automobile while it is in operation. They take down data and report information to the engine control unit. For example, if everything is running just fine, they will report this to the unit and it will make any adjustments. If things are not running efficiently, they will report this to the unit and it will make adjustments in order to improve your automobile’s efficiency.
Warning Lights
The sensors are also there to report problems. Each problem that your automobile may have has a specific error code attached to it. If something goes wrong in one of your vehicle’s systems, the sensor will report the error code to the engine control unit. This allows the unit to decipher the problem and determine whether it can fix it. If it is unable to fix it, it will turn on a warning light to let you know that you’ve got a problem with your automobile.
Diagnostic Tests
Depending on the light that illuminates, we may have a general idea of where the problem is. For example, if the oil light turns on, there is a problem with the oil level or oil pressure. It may also be time to change the oil. This being said, running a diagnostic test allows us to download the data from the engine control unit. This means we can see the exact error codes to determine the exact problem.
This is the role that the engine control unit plays in vehicle diagnostics. Call us today to schedule a service visit if you would like us to take a look at your automobile.