ECU and computer box, is there any difference?

**mark_celiz09** · January 29th, 2014 04:48 PM

Hi,

Just wondering is there is a difference when you say that your car has an ECU or a computer box?

Are fuel injected engines classified as engines with ECU or computer box?

**12vdc** · January 29th, 2014 06:13 PM

ECU may mean Electronic Control Unit w/c is a computer box controlling a specific part of the vehicle. Older vehicles usually controlls only the engine hence they call ECU as Engine Control Unit. Newer vehicles have separate computer for Engine management, Powertrain, Body Control, Airbag, Transmission, Suspension, etc.. Like a computer, all these control units communicate thru a common bus. Each units could be pre-programmed, run an application specific code, self-learn from the user behavior thru the map.

Fuel injected engines w/c do things like ignition timing advancement/retardation, air fuel mixture, etc.. is controlled by ECU or ECM (Engine controll unit/module).

**mark_celiz09** · January 30th, 2014 09:21 AM

Originally Posted by 12vdc

ECU may mean Electronic Control Unit w/c is a computer box controlling a specific part of the vehicle. Older vehicles usually controlls only the engine hence they call ECU as Engine Control Unit. Newer vehicles have separate computer for Engine management, Powertrain, Body Control, Airbag, Transmission, Suspension, etc.. Like a computer, all these control units communicate thru a common bus. Each units could be pre-programmed, run an application specific code, self-learn from the user behavior thru the map.

Fuel injected engines w/c do things like ignition timing advancement/retardation, air fuel mixture, etc.. is controlled by ECU or ECM (Engine controll unit/module).

I see. Thank you for the information.