| As an owner and mechanic, I have been involved in | | | | There are also a multitude of electrical sensors and |
| automotive electrical repairs in Huntington Beach for | | | | actuators for engine management. As an example, |
| the past 28 years. In the past, auto electrical repairs | | | | more and more vehicles do not use a throttle cable |
| revolved around basic lighting, starting/charging | | | | any more. Commonly known as drive by wire, the |
| systems and blowers or fans. Everything was nice | | | | throttle pedal sensor sends signals to the engine |
| and simple. Not much wiring or electrical parts to | | | | computer and the engine computer evaluates the |
| diagnose. What evolved was due to demand for | | | | signal along with other engine signals and talks to the |
| creature comfort and convenience. | | | | brake system and other systems the engineers have |
| Probably the first items to go electric were the power | | | | wired in and finally sends the go ahead for the throttle |
| windows and door locks, generally beginning in the mid | | | | actuator to open the throttle plate for acceleration. |
| 1960's. Although having a lot of wiring and crude | | | | Again for emission control and stability control. |
| motors by today's standards, these systems were still | | | | Your vehicle may have full adjustable heated and |
| fairly basic having switches, motors and wiring to | | | | cooled power seats, wipers for the headlights, security |
| connect them together. Easy to diagnose. On a late | | | | systems, navigation, automatic climate control and on |
| model car today, electric windows have electronic | | | | and on. All the computers for these systems talk to |
| modules to control operation of the motors and | | | | each other for everything to work properly as |
| direction of them; auto up, auto down, partial down for | | | | designed. I do not know if the engineers created the |
| those cars having windows that must be down to | | | | demand by building these systems or the demand truly |
| open the doors and a variety of switches. The | | | | came from consumers. One thing is for sure - when |
| window modules and wired to the body control module | | | | everything is working normally all is great. |
| for control and diagnostics. This type of system today | | | | All this boils down to a serious need and understanding |
| requires digital meters, labscopes and up to date repair | | | | of electricity and electrical circuits. Without this |
| information. | | | | knowledge and experience someone doing an |
| For the engine, manufactures have had to go to | | | | electrical repair can get lost quickly and easily. Times |
| individual fuel injectors and ignition coils to each cylinder. | | | | have changed as electrical systems have become |
| A Ford V10 obviously will have 10 coils and 10 injectors | | | | more complex, hopefully so has your mechanic and |
| along with the necessary wiring. Emission control is the | | | | auto repair shop. |
| bottom line reason for individual injectors and coils. | | | | |