Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
Engine Control (EC) System: Overview
The PCM contains the engine microprocessor.
The EC system provides optimum control of the engine through the enhanced capability of the PCM. The EC system also has an on board diagnostics (OBD) monitoring system with features and functions meeting federal regulations on exhaust emissions.
The EC system has 2 major divisions: hardware and software. The hardware includes the PCM, sensors, switches, actuators, solenoids, and interconnecting terminals. The software in the PCM provides the strategy control for outputs (engine hardware) based on the values of the inputs to the PCM. The EC system hardware and software are discussed in this article.
The PCM receives information from a variety of sensor and switch inputs. Based on the strategy and calibration stored within the memory chip, the PCM generates the appropriate output. The system is designed to minimize emissions and optimize fuel economy and driveability. The software strategy controls the basic operation of the engine, provides the OBD strategy, controls the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL), communicates to the scan tool through the data link connector (DLC), allows for flash electronically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), and controls failure mode effects management (FMEM).
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- • You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- • Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- • The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- • You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- • You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.