Chapter 1

Overview of
Electrical/Electronic Systems


Objectives
Give examples of electrical and electronic
devices.
Summarize why electric and electronic
devices have replaced many mechanical
devices in the automobile.
Explain how modern automotive systems
interact.
Recall the basic components of a
computer network and their function.


Objectives
Identify the major parts of electrical/
electronic systems.
Explain the basic operation of major
electrical/electronic systems of an
automobile.
Recall the typical locations of
electric/electronic components.


Electric vs. Electronic
Electric device
Uses electricity to
do work


Electric vs. Electronic (Cont.)
Electronic device
Made of semiconductor material
Alters flow of electricity


Advantages of
Electrical/Electronic Devices
Better efficiency
Faster
More accurate
Higher fuel economy and performance
Fewer toxic emissions


System Interaction
All major systems work together
Faults may be difficult to trace
Training is absolutely necessary


Review
What are electronic components
composed of?
Answer: semiconductor material


Review
Which of the following is an advantage of
electronic components vs. mechanical
components?
A. They have more moving parts.
B. They are more accurate.
C. They require no electricity.
D. They need no maintenance.
Answer: B. They are more accurate.


Computer Systems
Sensors
Computer
Actuators
Wiring harness


Computer Systems (Cont.)


Computer Systems (Cont.)
Sensors detect
Movement
Temperature
changes
Pressure variance
Chemical content
Part location
Rotation speed
Sounds
Other conditions




Computer Systems (Cont.)
Computer
Complex set of
electronic circuits
Uses sensor inputs
Produces
programmed outputs



Computer Systems (Cont.)
Actuators
Receive signals from
computer
Produce movement to
alter system operation



Computer Systems (Cont.)
On-board diagnostics
Analyze circuit operation
Display warning or malfunction indicator
Store trouble codes
Scan tool retrieves codes



Review
The components of an automotive
computer system include the _____,
computer, actuators, and wiring
harness.
Answer: sensors


Review
What is the function of the main
computer in an automotive computer
system?
Answer: It analyzes inputs from the sensors
and sends instructions to the actuators.


Starting System
Components
Ignition switch
Starter solenoid
Starting motor


Starting System (Cont.)


Charging System
Components
Alternator (generator)
Voltage regulator


Charging System (Cont.)


Ignition System
Purpose
Ignites air-fuel mixture
Monitors engine speed and other variables
Components
Ignition switch
Ignition coil
Spark plugs



Ignition System (Cont.)


Fuel System
Electronic fuel injection
Used in all late-model vehicles
Injector pulse width controls fuel to engine
Almost instantaneous response to sensor
input


Fuel System (Cont.)
Electronic Fuel Injection


Lighting System
Provides illumination for night driving
Includes switches to control bulb
operation
Future systems
Fiber optics
Multiplexing


Lighting System (Cont.)


Instrumentation Systems
Navigation system
Displays road map
Provides vehicle location and direction
Driver information system
Informs driver of vehicle conditions
Some use alphanumeric code
Climate control system


Wiper/Washer System
Primarily electrical
Small DC motor operates wipers
Electric pump in washer fluid reservoir


Horn System
Switch on steering wheel
Relay sends current to horn


Horn System (Cont.)


Seat, Window, Lock, and Sound
Systems
Power seat system
Power window system
Power lock system
Sound system


Seat, Window, Lock, and Sound
Systems (Cont.)
Power Lock System


Seat, Window, Lock, and Sound
Systems (Cont.)
Sound System


Restraint System
Protects occupants during collision
Deploys when system detects rapid
vehicle deceleration



Restraint System (Cont.)


Suspension System
Stability control system controls shock
absorber stiffness
Active suspension system makes
wheels follow road surface


Suspension System (Cont.)
Computer-Controlled Suspension System



Brake System
Anti-lock brake system maintains
Directional stability
Steerability


Brake System (Cont.)
Anti-Lock Brake System



Traction Control System
Prevents slippage on slick pavement
Applies brake to wheels individually


Review
Which automotive system produces the
high voltage that operates a vehicles
spark plugs?
Answer: ignition system


Review
What is the purpose of a stability
control system?
Answer: It controls shock absorber stiffness.


Review
What are the principal components in
an anti-lock brake system?
Answer: wheel speed sensors, computer,
hydraulic actuator


Glossary
Active suspension system
A suspension system that uses hydraulic rams
instead of conventional suspension system
springs and shock absorbers. The hydraulic
rams support the weight of the car and also
react to the road surface and different driving
conditions.
Actuator
Any output device controlled by a computer.


Glossary
Alphanumeric code
A code that contains letters or words and
numbers.
Alternator
A device in a vehicle that produces current by
changing the spinning motion of the alternator
pulley (mechanical energy) into electrical
energy. The alternator feeds the electrical
energy to the battery and to other
electrical/electronic systems. Also called a
generator.


Glossary
Anti-lock brake system
A brake system that uses wheel speed
sensors, a computer, and a hydraulic actuator
to maintain directional stability and steerability
during braking.
Charging system
A system that forces current back through the
battery to recharge it and also provides
electricity for all of the vehicles electric devices
when the engine is running. This system
serves as the electric power supply under
normal operating conditions.


Glossary
Climate control system
A system that automatically operates the air
conditioning and heating systems to maintain
passenger compartment temperature.
Computer system
Electric and electronic devices that perform
specific functions.


Glossary
Driver information system
A vehicle communication system that uses a
small speaker, computer, and numerous
sensors to inform the driver of vehicle
conditions.
Electric device
A device that uses electricity to do work.
Examples include electric motors, mechanical
switches, mechanical relays, solenoids, and
light bulbs.


Glossary
Electronic device
A component that is composed of
semiconductor material, which allows the
device to alter the flow of electricity. Examples
include diodes, transistors, sensors, and
automotive computers. Also called electronic
component or solid state component.
Fiber optics
A field of electronics in which light is used to
carry data through small strands of plastic or
glass fiber. Also, refers to cable which has
light-carrying strands of plastic or glass.


Glossary
Generator
A device in a vehicle that produces current and
feeds it to the battery and to other
electrical/electronic systems. Also called an
alternator.
Horn system
A system that uses a switch mounted on the
steering wheel and a relay to send current to
the horn(s). The horns use a coil-operated
diaphragm to produce sound waves and an
audible sound.


Glossary
Ignition coil
A coil that produces a high-voltage output to
fire the spark plugs.
Ignition switch
A switch through which electricity flows to
energize the starter solenoid.


Glossary
Ignition system
A system used on gasoline engines to ignite
the air-fuel mixture. The system produces an
extremely high voltage surge that operates the
spark plugs. A very hot electric arc jumps
across the gap between the electrodes of each
spark plug at the correct time. This causes the
engines air-fuel mixture to burn, expand, and
produce power.


Glossary
Injector pulse width
The amount of time voltage is applied to keep
an injector open. The ECU controls the injector
pulse width.
Lighting system
A system that provides illumination inside and
outside of a vehicle.


Glossary
Multiplexing
Carrying several control signals in a single
wire.
Navigation system
A system that uses a display screen and
satellite information to show a road map of
vehicle location and direction. Using a global
positioning system (GPS), the navigation
system can plot vehicle location in real time to
help the driver find his or her location on a map
of the geographic area.


Glossary
On-board diagnostics
Refers to a vehicle computers ability to
analyze the operation of its circuits and to
output data identifying any problems found.
All late-model passenger vehicles have this
self-test feature.
Power lock system
A vehicle lock system that uses solenoids to
move the door lock knobs up or down.


Glossary
Power seat system
A vehicle seating system in which the seats
have small electric motors to control seat
positioning. Multi-position switches control the
rotation and engagement of the motors to
move the seats into various positions.
Restraint system
A system that protects the driver and
passengers during a collision or wreck.


Glossary
Scan tool
An electronic test instrument designed to retrieve
trouble codes from the computers memory and
to display the codes as a number and words
explaining the problem. Also checks the
operation of vehicle sensors, actuators, wiring,
and the computer itself. They connect to a
diagnostic link, or test terminal, on the vehicle.
They measure voltages or computer signals,
providing the technician with information about
the condition of numerous components and
circuits. Also called a diagnostic readout tool.


Glossary
Sensor
A device that provides input to an automotive
computer. They can detect part movement,
temperature changes, pressure variance,
chemical content, part location, rotation speed,
sounds, and other conditions.


Glossary
Sound system
A system that includes many audio devices,
such as an AM-FM stereo, tape player,
compact disc player, satellite radio, or iPod.
Late-model vehicles may come equipped with
exotic sound systems, which may include
numerous speakers, a power booster, and a
digital music storage device.


Glossary
Stability control system
A system that uses a computer, steering
sensor, throttle sensor, speed sensor, yaw
sensor, and shock damping actuators to
control shock absorber stiffness.
Starter solenoid
A solenoid that energizes the starting motor.


Glossary
Starting motor
An electric motor that uses a gear drive to
crank (start) the engine. Also called a starter.
Starting system
A system that cranks the engine until the
engine starts and runs on its own power.


Glossary
Traction control system
A computer-controlled system that prevents the
vehicles wheels from spinning and losing
traction under hard acceleration. Most traction
control systems work with the anti-lock brake
system to cycle hydraulic pressure to the
wheel spinning the fastest. The control module
is capable of applying one wheel brake at a
time. Some systems also reduce engine power
output to reduce skidding.


Glossary
Voltage regulator
In a vehicle, it is a semiconductor device that
maintains an alternator output of approximately
13 to 15 volts.
Wiper/washer system
The combination of the windshield washer and
wiper systems.