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Engine Control
The engine control module controls the intersection of the engine’s necessary parts to make energy — fuel, air and spark. It is constantly monitoring a vast network of sensors around the car to ensure conditions are within normal operating range. When something goes wrong, the ECM adjusts conditions or, if it can’t, the car won’t run properly or at all. When there’s a problem, the ECM stores a trouble code so it can be diagnosed by a mechanic and triggers the check engine light in cluster, so the driver knows something’s wrong in the engine.
Regardless of the differences between different car models and different ECMs, the inputs in each system remain pretty much the same. The ECM is tasked with providing fuel and regulating emissions, but there’s a lot that needs to happen for that to work. We already talked about the ECM’s specific tasks, but that simplifies the process a bit too much. The ECM usually monitors and regulates the throttle position sensor, which tells the engine how much air and fuel to mix to make power; the coolant temperature sensor, which lets the engine know if it’s running too hot (and alerts the driver, via the instrument panel light); the voltage regulator, which tracks and adjusts how much power is being sent throughout the car; the fuel injectors, which provide fuel at precisely the right moment for optimum power delivery; the position sensors for the camshaft and crankshaft, which identifies the engine’s cycles; the mass airflow sensor and MAP (manifold absolute pressure) sensor, which monitor different ways air affects the engine; the oxygen sensor, which measures exhaust quality; idle control; the EGR valve sensor, which also helps with emissions and the ignition control, which regulates the spark plugs. We are providing software support as a module or complete software based on the requirement provided by the engine manufacturers.