Computeriezed Engine Control System
Key Control Features
• Fuel Management:
• Ignition Timing:
• Air-Fuel Ratio Control
• Idle Speed Regulation
• Emissions Control
• Diagnostics and Monitoring
Five volts reference (+5v) –
What does 5 volts mean?
Some sensors are self-sufficient, reporting back to the computer by generating their
own signal voltages. However, many other sensors can't report accurately without
receiving a reference voltage first. Overall, the most common reference value is 5.00
volts.
A 5-volt reference in a vehicle is a stable, constant voltage (around 4.9V to 5.1V)
supplied by the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) to power various sensors that
measure parameters like temperature, pressure, and position. When a sensor receives
this 5V reference and a ground, it changes the 5V signal based on the physical condition
it's measuring, which the PCM then interprets as a signal to control the vehicle's
functions.
Fuel injector
Fuel Injectors: These are electronically controlled valves that spray fuel directly into the
combustion chamber or the intake manifold. The ECU sends signals to the injectors to
open and close, regulating the fuel flow.
An electronic fuel injector system consists of several key components:
1. Fuel Injector: This is the main component that sprays fuel into the combustion
chamber in precise amounts.
2. ECU (Engine Control Unit): The brain of the system, it regulates fuel injection
timing and quantity based on various sensor inputs.
3. Fuel Pump: This pumps fuel from the tank to the injectors at the required
pressure.
4. Fuel Rail: A pipe that distributes fuel from the pump to the individual injectors.
5. Sensors: Various sensors, such as the Mass Airflow Sensor (MAF) and Oxygen
Sensors (O2), provide data to the ECU for optimal fuel delivery.
6. Electrical Connectors: These connect the injectors to the ECU, allowing for
electronic control.
7. Fuel Filter: It cleans the fuel before it reaches the injectors, preventing clogging.
2 Common types of EFI
1. Single point injection
• Single-Point (Throttle Body) Injection (TBI)
• How it works: A single or dual injector is placed in the throttle body,
similar to a carburetor.
• Pros: Simpler, less expensive, and still provides better fuel control and
atomization than a carburetor.
• Cons: Less precise than other systems and can allow fuel to condense in
the intake manifold.
2. Multi point injection
• Multi-Point (Port) Fuel Injection (MPFI)
• How it works: Each cylinder has its own fuel injector, located just outside
the intake port, delivering fuel to the intake manifold port for that specific
cylinder.
• Pros: More precise fuel metering, better air-fuel ratio, and less risk of fuel
condensation compared to TBI.
• Cons: More complex and expensive than TBI.
Engine Control Systems Sensing Devices
1. Exhaust oxygen Sensors – also called lambda sensor.
How does an O2 sensor work?
The O2 sensor in a vehicle measures the amount of unburned oxygen in the
exhaust with the help of the vehicle's electronic control unit, which adjusts how
much fuel needs to go to the combustion chamber.
2. Thermistors - is a type of semiconductor resistor whose electrical resistance
changes significantly with temperature changes
3. Potentiometers - is a three-terminal, manually adjustable component that
functions as a variable resistor or a voltage divider by using a moving contact
(wiper) to vary resistance along a resistive track
4. Pressure Sensors - measures the force exerted by a fluid (liquid or gas) on a
surface and converts this force into an electrical signal, which is then used to
monitor or regulate the measured pressure
5. Measuring Air Mass -
6. Mass Air Flow Sensor (MAF) - a device that measures the air entering the engine
to optimize the air-fuel mixture for proper engine performance and fuel efficiency
7. Hall Effect Switch - A Hall effect switch in a car works by detecting the presence
or absence of a magnetic field, converting it into a digital on/off electrical signal.
8. Detonation Sensors - is commonly called a knock sensor, which is a
piezoelectric device that detects engine knock (or detonation) – harmful,
premature combustion in the engine's cylinders.
9. Actuators - a mechanical or electromechanical device that converts an energy
input, such as electrical, pneumatic, or hydraulic signals, into controlled
mechanical motion or force
10. Solenoids - an electromagnetic device consisting of a helical coil of wire that
generates a controlled magnetic field when an electric current passes through it
11. Relays - Relays are switches that open and close circuits electromechanically or
electronically.
12. Electric Motors - is a machine that converts electrical energy into mechanical
energy