A complex or intricate system
an electrical control unit (ecu) is a computerized module that controls components within an automobile. ecus are designed to conform to standards set forth by ece r-107, automotive electronics council, society of automotive engineers. there are many different types of ecus in cars, but they all share the same basic design principle where input values are converted into output values through electronic circuits. an example would be the input signal from the accelerator pedal being transformed into electric current where it can interface with various engine mechanisms. similar to this, various inputs from other components such as wheel speed sensor circuits will produce outputs for fuel injector commands and spark retardation strategy settings employed by ignition systems to regulate engine
how do you know if your ecu is bad?
the ecu will often have a diagnostic trouble code stored in the control module. this trouble code is not necessarily written when you buy your car, but rather can be set at any point during its life by some other failure (fuel gauge reading low). if your engine light stays on after you've reset it, an automobile mechanic should inspect the ecu for diagnostics codes. as there are hundreds of different codes that can show up, it's best to take it to the dealer if you want to make sure there isn't anything else going on with your vehicle (i.e.: don't risk ruining an expensive part like a transmission!) for more information about reading and understanding diagnostic codes refer to this wikipedia article: https://
how much does it cost to replace ecu?
can you drive a car with a bad ecu?
no, there is no way for a bad ecu to be driver by the car.
it's possible to drive a car with a faulty ecu but there are significant downsides. the first potential issue is the fuel economy decreases significantly as emissions are not being monitored by the ecu resulting in an increase in emissions that could lead to high engine temperatures and other related problems. secondly, it's possible that errors can occur if any of these sensors send incorrect signals back to the ecu, including false rpm readings. this would result in incorrect throttle adjustments which would make the vehicle accelerate much harder than desired leading to an increased risk of collision; it would also make braking difficult because inaccurate information on how much pressure should apply will damage tires
what does the ecu do to your car?
the ecu controls the function of various components in your car. it varies from engine management to automatic transmissions, fuel injection engines to anti-lock brakes, rotary dampers to auxiliary fans, turbochargers and much more.
the ecu itself encodes this data in the form of special channels called ‘tables'. these tables are also used for diagnostics purposes, so if something is wrong with a component configured by the ecu it stores the potentially relevant data in these tables so that diagnosis by technicians can be performed.
it's not unheard of for an automobile manufacturer to utilise multiple types of processors or controllers within their product lines in order to meet desired levels of performance or efficiency criteria–with each configuration providing
