What is the correct charging system voltage while the vehicle is running?
When Fully Charged, How Many Volts Should A Car Battery Have? Fully charged automotive batteries should measure at 12.6 volts or above. When the engine is running, this measurement should be 13.7 to 14.7 volts.
How is the ECU grounded to the battery?
In this last example, the car has coil-on-plug ignition, the coils are grounded to the engine and the ECU is grounded to the battery. As the engine speed increases, the alternator charge current increases and the voltage drop between the engine and the battery increases.
How does the ECU adjust the engine tune?
The result is erratic sensor readings which can play havoc with the way your ECU adjusts your engine tune. In this last example, the car has coil-on-plug ignition, the coils are grounded to the engine and the ECU is grounded to the battery.
What happens to the voltage of the ECU when the duty cycle increases?
When injector duty cycle increases, the average ground current of the ECU will also increase, and therefore so will the voltage drop between the ECU and the battery. Creating an alternate ground path for the sensors will have a different voltage drop and offset the output reading of any sensor that connected to this alternate ground path.
Why do I need two ground straps on my ECU?
One of the reasons this happens a lot is because when you see ground straps on both the battery and between the block and the chassis you could be forgiven for thinking: “if one ground is good then two is better!” That, however is not the case. Let’s take a look a the problems this can cause:
How many volts does an ECU usually have?
Then you will have a malfunctioning ECU. The average ECU is expected to have at least 9 volts, but preferably 12 volts. There is wiring that runs into the harness of the ECU where you can check the voltage amount.
How can I tell if my ECU is bad?
There is wiring that runs into the harness of the ECU where you can check the voltage amount. All you need to do is connect a voltmeter gauge to it. This device will be able to detect how much voltage is running through the ECU. If the voltage is 6 or less, then this is likely causing your ECU problems.
How does the ECU work in a car?
Through a numerous array of electronic sensors, chips, and components within the vehicle, the ECU can transmit data feedback to the engine. The nature of this feedback will determine which function the engine will perform next. This helps a great deal with calculating the proper amount of air and fuel needed for the internal combustion process.
What kind of wiring harness do I Need?
PSI sells Standalone Wiring Harnesses for GM Gen II, III, IV, & V LS/LT based engines and transmissions. These harnesses include the Gen II LT1/LT4, Gen III (24x) LS1/LS6 and Vortec Truck Engines as well as Gen IV (58x) LS2, LS3, LS7, & Vortec and GEN V LT / ECOTEC3 Engines. All PSI Harnesses are Made in the USA.