Items related to Automotive Electronics and Computer Systems
Synopsis
This textbook analyzes the function and operation of automotive computers, sensors, ignitions, ABS, SRS and associated components, and suggests basic techniques for diagnosis and testing of each system component and circuit. Black and white illustrations. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author
ROBERT N. (BOB) BRADY has been involved in the automotive, heavy duty truck/bus, and equipment field since 1959, having served a recognized indentured apprenticeship as both an automotive and heavy-duty truck/bus and equipment technician. He is a certified automotive, commercial transport and heavy-duty equipment technician. A graduate of Stow College of Engineering, where he majored in the Thermodynamics of Heat Engines, he holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology. He also holds a degree in Adult Education.
His experience includes positions as a shop foreman and service manager for a number of major heavy truck companies and OEMs, as well as a Fleet Maintenance Superintendent with a large North American truck fleet. Other experience includes positions as Manager of National Technical Training, Canada; Sales Application Engineer; Field Service Engineer for Detroit Diesel Corporation; Diesel Engineering and Diesel Mechanic/Technician college instructor; and Department Head of the program at Vancouver Community College, where he also served a two-year term as President of the Faculty Association.
He is a full member of SAE International (Society of Automotive Engineers), for which he has served as the chair of the British Columbia Section. Under his leadership in 1989-90, the section received an SAE Award of Merit for outstanding technical meetings. At the International level of SAE, he served three years on the worldwide Sections Board as Vice-Chair and then Chair. Other activities in SAE at the Sections-Board level included chairing the Executive Committee, the Administrative Committee, the Brazil Ad Hoc Committee, and the International Sections and Affiliates Committee. He has also served as a member of the Sections Evaluation and Awards Committee. He served as a Regional Coordinator, where he worked with the B.C., Alberta, and Manitoba Sections in Canada, and was acting RC for the NW/Spokane-Intermountain, Washington, and Oregon sections. He also served as a member of SAE's Total Quality Committee. He was elected to SAE's worldwide International Board of Directors, serving from 1994 through 1996, and was one of two SAE board of directors appointed to the Ad Hoc Committee that in March 1996 initiated the development and organization of the STS (Service Technicians Society), an affiliate of SAE International.
In 1987 he established his own company, HiTech Consulting Ltd., which specializes in technical training program design/implementation aimed specifically at heavy-duty, on- and off-highway equipment. He has delivered specialized training courses for engineers, service technicians, and maintenance personnel at a number of companies and corporations. Other functions include fleet maintenance and failure analysis programs as well as equipment specing. He has appeared as an expert witness in a number of cases involving patent infringement and engine / equipment failure.
He is the author of fourteen textbooks for Prentice Hall dealing with automotive fuel injection and electronics / computers, diesel and heavy-duty trucks. A member of the TWNA (Truck Writers of North America), he writes monthly technical / maintenance articles for two of Canada's major newspaper / magazines: Trucknews, Canada's National Trucking Newspaper and Equipment Buyer's Guide and Grainews, a national farmers monthly newspaper distributed in both Canada and the United States, where his monthly articles deal with truck and equipment maintenance.
From the Back Cover
This new text takes an in-depth look at the material needed for students taking courses in automotive electronics and computer systems.
Features include:
- Full coverage of automotive computers, sensors, ignition, ABS, SRS, and associated components
- A review of the fundamentals of electronics
- Detailed, labeled illustrations
- Diagnostic procedures to be used for specific vehicle systems
- Review questions to assist in study and test preparation
From the Inside Flap
Preface
Automotive electronics in very basic form have been around since the 1950s and their use accelerated during the mid- to late 1970s. Their present form is a quantum leap from that time—automotive electronic systems are far more complex than the earlier systems. Current automobiles contain between $1000 and $1500 worth of electronic controls per vehicle depending on the specific model and options. This cost is projected to reach approximately $2000 per vehicle by 2004-2005, increasing the current annual automotive electronics expenditures from approximately $50 billion to close to $75 billion by the 2005 model year.
A number of textbooks have been published on automotive electronics systems, some less detailed and some more detailed. The intent in this book is to remove the fear of the "black box" by establishing a solid foundation for understanding the unique interactions among all of the electronics systems in today's technologically advanced vehicles. This is not a systematic tune-up text. If this is what you seek, you will be disappointed. If, however, you desire a solid understanding of the interaction of automotive systems to prepare you to develop diagnostic skills, then this book is for you. Without a thorough knowledge of systems operation, your ability to diagnose and troubleshoot will be limited, and your approach to correcting electronics faults will be hit-or-miss.
To provide a "closed-loop" understanding of the interaction between a given system and the PCM (Powertrain Control Module), I analyze in detail the function and operation of each major electronic system and suggest basic techniques for diagnosis and testing of each system component and circuit. A thorough understanding of systems makes clear how each system works in conjunction with the others. This is the basis of achieving a comfort level in working with automotive electronics systems regardless of your existing level of knowledge and expertise with automotive computer systems.
Fortunately, most of us have some basic working knowledge of computer capabilities through school, home PC use, or work experience and how the computer interacts/ responds to input from a keyboard. Today's vehicles employ many on-board minicomputers, with the PCM being the "brain" that interacts with and controls all of the electronic systems. Rather than receiving keyboard input commands, however, the PCM continually receives a number of inputs from engine and vehicle sensors. The PCM circuitry processes the sensor input data by adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing a number of input signals with reference to preprogrammed look-up table circuits (like files within an alphabetically arranged cabinet) in order to output a control signal to systems controlled by a switch or solenoid.
The recent introduction of the mandated U.S. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) electronics monitoring system, OBD-II (on-board diagnostics, second generation), has standardized the adoption and feedback control circuitry regardless of the make and model of vehicle used. This system along with many other electronic circuits and control systems that have become common has provided some standardization of both design and manufacture of electronics systems. A generic (common) on-board computer system is now widely used across a manufacturer's entire product line. The PCMs differ only in the EEPROM (electrically eraseable programmable read-only memory) chip used and the specific vehicle data and information that the chips contain. In addition, industry adoption of SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc.) Ground Vehicle Standards and ISO (International Standards Organization) 9000 quality improvements, we now have an internationally recognized process for ensuring high-quality products throughout the automotive industry. Consequently, vehicles of different marques often use electronics components supplied by the same OEM (original equipment manufacturer).
A few years ago in the United States, the GAO (General Accounting Office) conducted a detailed study of over 100 highly skilled professions and determined that the skill levels needed by automotive and diesel technicians were on a par with those of Xray technicians and computer programmers. The commonly accepted image of the "grease monkey" has never been further from the truth. Today's automobiles have long since passed the wrench and screwdriver approach to solving customer complaints—particularly for those do-it-yourself individuals who are staggered by the plethora of wires and components under the hood—although in many cases perceived electronics problems can be traced back to a simple mechanical fault. A high school diploma or its equivalent, preferably with several years of study at a community college, is now viewed as being the minimum prerequisite to entering the field of automotive technology by most employers, who are looking for "tomorrow's technicians" capable of being groomed as a supervisor, service manager, or even vice president or president of an organization.
Both the beginning and experienced automotive technician today faces the challenge of rapidly changing technology, which requires a solid foundation in and understanding of not only electronic systems as a whole but how each sensor and system interacts with the PCM. This knowledge will provide you with the expertise to effectively and efficiently diagnose and trouble-shoot all of these systems. The material in this book is not intended to supplement or replace the many excellent printed service and diagnostics manuals available from major automotive manufacturers or the software now widely available to assist you with the step-by-step diagnosis of electronics systems faults and to guide you while working on a vehicle with a cart-mounted PC, a laptop, or notebook. Such detailed information is best prepared by the individual automobile manufacturer. Rather, this text, by using a building-block approach with an emphasis on self-challenge and logical reasoning, aims to help you acquire a standard of excellence in your chosen profession that can lead you through a lifelong learning experience. A solid foundation in electronics knowledge will make it easier to understand the intricate details of the major subsystems of ignition, fuel injection, and emissions control systems and how they interact with the PCM. Although the PCM appears to be a highly complicated device, understanding it is simplified by considering that it consists of a series of individual electronic circuits working in harmony with one another (put another way, they have the ability to talk back-and-forth) to monitor and control each individual system. The sum of these individual circuits and components is greater than the whole.
No single textbook can reflect the wishes and needs of everyone within the automotive industry despite the support, encouragement, and assistance I received from many of my colleagues and from the major automotive manufacturers in writing this book. My efforts are but a small contribution to the automotive industry and to readers of this textbook toward providing insight into the intricacies of automotive electronics systems and encouraging you to pursue a career in what is today a highly skilled profession. Attaining the expertise that will elevate you to the highly skilled level requires both theoretical and handson knowledge, an exchange of information with other technicians, a commitment to excellence, regular courses of study, and a desire for lifelong learning.
I wish you well in your pursuit of new knowledge. Your study of this book coupled with hands-on tasks will enhance your ability to effectively understand, service, and diagnose the latest electronically controlled automotive systems. These skills will make you a very valuable employee and will provide you with a rewarding, challenging, and fulfilling career for many years to come.
Robert N. (Bob) Brady
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