ENGINE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - V8
18-2-50 DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION
Conditions
To achieve closed loop fuelling, the ECM interacts with the following components:
lHO
2S.
lFuel injectors.
Closed loop fuelling is a rolling process controlled by the ECM. The ECM uses information gained from the CKP, ECT,
MAF/ IAT and the TP sensors, to operate under the following conditions:
lPart throttle.
lLight engine load.
lCruising.
lIdle.
Function
When the engine is operating in the above conditions, the ECM implements the closed loop fuelling strategy. The air/
fuel mixture is ignited by the high tension (ht) spark in the combustion chambers and the resulting gas is expelled into
the exhaust pipe. Upon entering the exhaust pipe the exhaust gas passes over the protruding tip of the HO
2S. The
HO
2S measures the oxygen content of the gas compared to that of ambient air and converts it into a voltage, which
is measured by the ECM.
The voltage signal read by the ECM is proportional to the oxygen content of the exhaust gas. This signal can then be
compared to stored values in the ECM's memory and an adaptive strategy can be implemented.
If the HO
2S informs the ECM of an excess of oxygen (lean mixture), the ECM extends the opening time of the fuel
injectors via the Injector Pulse Width (IPW) signal. Once this new air/ fuel ratio has been 'burnt' in the combustion
chambers the HO
2S can again inform the ECM of the exhaust gas oxygen content, this time there will be a lack of
oxygen or a rich mixture. The ECM reduces the opening time of the injectors via the IPW signal using the ECM's
adaptive fuel strategy. During closed loop fuelling the HO
2S will constantly switch from rich to lean and back again,
this indicates that the ECM and the HO
2S are operating correctly.
Open loop fuelling
Open loop fuelling does not rely on information from the HO
2S, but the air/ fuel ratio is set directly by the ECM, which
uses information gained from the ECT, MAF/ IAT, the TP sensors and also the vehicle speed sensor (VSS). The ECM
uses open loop fuelling under the following conditions:
lCold start.
lHot start.
lWide open throttle.
lAcceleration.
The ECM uses open loop fuelling to control fuel quantity in all non adaptive strategy conditions. The ECM implements
fuelling information carried in the form of specific mapped data contained within its memory.
Because there is no sensor information (e.g. HO
2S), provided back to the ECM, the process is called an 'open loop'.
The ECM will also go into open loop fuelling if a HO
2S fails.
Ignition timing
The ignition timing is an important part of the ECM adaptive strategy. Ignition is controlled by a direct ignition system
using two four-ended coils operating on the wasted spark principle.
When the ECM triggers an ignition coil to spark, current from the coil travels to one spark plug, then jumps the gap at
the spark plug electrodes, igniting the mixture in the cylinder in the process. Current continues to travel along the earth
path (via the cylinder head) to the spark plug negative electrode at the cylinder that is on the exhaust stroke. The
current jumps across the spark plug electrodes and back to the coil completing the circuit. Since it has simultaneously
sparked in a cylinder that is on the exhaust stroke, it has not provided an ignition source there and is consequently
termed 'wasted'.
