Vans / ECU
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What is the function of the car computer?
All cars made nowadays have at least one computer. It is responsible for the monitoring of emissions from the engine and maintains the lowest possible emissions. The computer receives information from many different sensors including: oxygen sensor, air pressure sensor and sensors for air temperature and engine temperature.
The other three sensors feeding information to automotive computer sensors are the position of the throttle, pressure sensor and oxygen sensor. Using the information from these sensors, the computer can control things like fuel injectors and spark plugs to get the best possible performance of the engine.
The computer can also sense when something is wrong and informs the driver with a warning light or signal. Now the information is recorded to a computer and repair shops have a different type of computer that can read the diagnostic code, which helps to solve the problem. Computers are different depending on the car's equipment.
Some cars computers are controlled by automatic transmissions. If your vehicle has an anti-lock system (ABS), it has a computer that monitors wheel speed and controls braking. Many of the airbag systems have their own computers. Advanced climate control systems often have their own computer as well.
Some cars now have electric seats and mirrors, which are also managed by computers. Any radio or CD player with digital display contains a computer within itself. Cruise control systems also use a computer. In other words, the modern luxury car is a mobile computer network. It is amazing how many embedded controllers there can be in one vehicle.