Location The airbag ECU is generally located near the gear stick of a car, usually in front or behind it. If you have a manifold pressure sensor, you often do not need a boost pressure sensor. For this reason, a camshaft position sensor is needed to improve fuel economy. Changing (or 'modding') the ECU software will change the times and rates in which fuel is injected. If your check engine light is already on, then this is a great test to try, but before you try it, head to your local auto store and get a free scan. How to Detect and Clean a Faulty Mass Airflow Sensor, How to Tell if You Have a Faulty Coil Pack, How to Tell If You Have a Faulty Throttle Position Sensor. If you suspect that the electronic control unit in your vehicle is damaged, or is going bad, you should immediately take your vehicle to the nearest dealership, repair shop or service center. To find more information about this sensor, check Intake air temperature sensor. It can sense both under-pressure and overpressure. The crankshaft sensor plays an important role in getting the right signal when it is time to ignite the injectors and ignition coil. You often have a camshaft sensor on each camshaft. If you have a turbo engine, it will most likely be mounted on the intake manifold. The fuel temperature sensor measures the temperature of your fuel. The sensors are often quite expensive and can be difficult to reach and replace, they often rust and get stuck. Depending on the vehicle engine model you often have 1 to 4 exhaust gas temperature sensors. The knock sensor monitors impacts or detonations from the cylinder combustion chamber. The coolant temperature sensor measures the temperature of the coolant. On some car models, they can be difficult to access if they are mounted on the intake manifold. This sensor is not installed in many car models. (A lot of fuel may leak out). You will find the sensor at any point on the pressure lines or on the intake manifold. The Nox sensor measures the Nox volume in the exhaust gases. The Nox sensor is mounted on the exhaust pipe and on the control unit under a plastic cover. The cost of the sensor itself is not that high, but it may take some time to replace it, which can be a bit expensive if you have a mechanic do it for you. The manifold absolute pressure sensor is most likely mounted on the manifold or on a vacuum hose from the intake manifold. The MAP sensor contains a pressure-sensitive electrical circuit that can monitor the movement of an internal rubber … More information and pictures of all car sensors can be found further down in this article. The most common reason is a problem with the ECU. When you turn the key (or press the start button) in your car, the engine’s computer — also called the engine control unit or ECU — sends a voltage reference to the MAP sensor. When choosing a service center to check for a faulty ECU, make sure that you visit one that uses the latest computer diagnostic equipment for checking your car's onboard computer. This way, you'll be out of the way in case of a malfunction that causes the airbag to deploy. If you have a defective voltage sensor, you may need to replace the entire control unit in your car. If you find your car, truck, or van has suddenly developed a voracious appetite for coolant, and you cannot figure out where it's all going, you may well be looking at a blown heater core. The crankshaft sensor itself is often cheap, but can be difficult to reach and sometimes difficult to replace. If it detects a misfire, it adjusts the ignition or fuel to ensure that the engine does not detonate. This will help the mechanic or technician best repair your vehicle. I hope you enjoy my content! It is often used instead of a MAF sensor in American cars. After replacing the throttle position sensor, you often need to make a basic adjustment. It's used to regulate many systems and subsystems in your car's engine, drive train and other major components. You can program one system without affecting the other. The camshaft sensors are often cheap and easy to replace, but on some car models, they are installed inside the timing belt housing and can be difficult to replace. Hi, I’m Magnus, the owner and the writer of Mechanic Base. In this article, you will learn about all kinds of common car sensors that you can find in your car engine. In many cases, the faulty ECU can be repaired or reprogrammed, and this type of repair will usually run between $300 to $750, depending on the make and model of your vehicle. These companies allow you to send your faulty ECU to their location for repair. Detonations can cause severe damage to your engine and pistons, and to prevent this, the knock sensor is attached to your engine block. More information and pictures of all car sensors can be found further down in this article. It is most likely to be mounted on your fuel pressure rail, but sometimes it can also be mounted on the fuel pressure line or fuel filter. Typically you can find them at Volkswagen, Audi, Seat, and Skoda. Almost all modern car engines use a variety of different vehicle sensors to collect the right information and calculate a perfect air-fuel mixture for the best fuel consumption in all situations. The throttle position sensor measures the angle of the throttle to see how hard you accelerate the car. The O2 sensors are located on the exhaust pipe. The manifold absolute pressure sensor measures the pressure inside the intake manifold. Often in the engine block, Often at the top of the head, near the crankcase cover. The O2 sensors are often quite expensive and replacement can be difficult as they tend to rust and are difficult to remove. After replacement, turn the key to accessories, then replace the cable. They are often attached directly to the engine block with a screw. The cost of a new MAF sensor can be quite high, but replacing the sensor is often very easy. If you type "electronic control module," or its better-known acronym, ECM, into the search field, you'll be gently guided over to the ECU (engine control unit) page. It is used to measure the exhaust gas temperature before and after the particle filter, in order to optimize particle filter regeneration. However, the two units operate independently. A voltage sensor measures the voltage in the electrical system of your car. Some require a professional to identify and remedy. Depending on your engine, you will often have one or more knock sensors. It is often integrated into your MAF sensor, but can also be mounted externally on your intake pipes, on the manifold or near the air filter box. It is often mounted high in the engine compartment on a coolant hose or screwed directly into the cylinder head. The mass airflow sensor measures the air flowing into your engine. The camshafts rotate 1 revolution when the crankshaft rotates 2 revolutions. Ideally, a "header-back" exhaust system will be installed, in which the exhaust goes pretty much straight from the engine to the tailpipe, efficiently and quickly. With more than 40 years of experience in the automotive industry, Sung Beng Auto Group at EAST & WEST workshop provide a total complete one-stop professional automotive servicing & repairing workshop to all car owners , you can rest assured that your ride is in safe hands with the right prices. There are numerous reasons why a car's check engine light will remain on. I created this blog because I was tired of finding false information on the web while looking for repair information. The O2 sensors measure the oxygen in the exhaust gases coming from the engine. The shape, price, and arrangement may vary depending on the car model, this is general information for common cars. Auto Key Replacements provide a comprehensive range of automotive locksmith services for many makes and models of cars in Australia.. Armed with a complete mobile workshop, we can assist you with your automotive key needs, beating the dealership price 95% of the time, and we come to you! The disadvantage of using many different vehicle sensors is that they can fail within a certain period of time, which can sometimes lead to costly replacements. If you check the car battery, starter and other common electrical components, and the vehicle still does not start, a faulty engine control unit should be the next logical thing to consider. If you notice that your check engine light is always on, take your in vehicle in for service and request that they check the engine control unit. The front sensor measures the oxygen and adjusts the fuel mixture. If you vehicle's check engine light remains on constantly, and never goes off, there's a good chance that your vehicle has a faulty engine control unit. They do the work and then ship it back to you. The fuel temperature sensor is most likely mounted on your pressurized fuel line, but in some cases it can also be mounted on the return line. The boost pressure sensor measures the boost pressure in the pressure lines. To confuse things a bit more, the term electronic control unit (ECU) is often used as a generic term for any built-in system that controls multiple electrical features in a car. If your vehicle fails to start for no apparent reason, this is also a good indicator that there may be a problem with the ECU. Testimonial … In this article, you will learn about all kinds of common car sensors that you can find in your car engine. When your car runs rich, it is not alarming if you can accurately identify the cause. But which sensors are installed in your vehicle and what function do they have? The intake air temperature sensor measures the air temperature that flows through the intake pipes into the cylinders of your car. You need to remove the transmission … The rear sensor is only a diagnostic probe for the P0420 code. If you experience jerking or stopping, you regularly maintain your transmission properly, and the vehicle has adequate levels of transmission fluid, then a faulty ECU should be suspect. If you have a V-engine, you often have two O2 sensors per row (cylinders 1-3-5 and 2-4-6 etc.). Normally you have two or more O2 sensors. And from there it can get confusing, because there's a whole rat's nest of electrical terminology to trace and pick through. Fortunately, an ECU can be repaired or reprogrammed in many cases—thus preventing the need to actually replace an ECU. The sensor is used to measure the position of the camshaft so that the engine control unit knows in which position the engine is. In the unfortunate event that you need to actually replace the ECU, you should add about $500 to $600 to the cost of the part for labor to install and program the new ECU. Depending on the engine, the crankshaft sensor is often located on the engine block, the transmission housing or the front pulley. As you have seen, there are many reasons why your vehicle can run rich. Many other symptoms can be associated with a faulty ECU. If you have to replace the entire throttle body, the costs increase considerably. A faulty crankshaft sensor can cause your engine to come to a complete stop, giving you rough starting conditions. For many models of vehicles you can find online repair services for between $300 and $400 for a complete repair or reprogram of the ECU. Upgrade to a performance exhaust system with test piping. 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