Most modern car engines are fitted with an array of different sensors which gather data to calculate a perfect air-fuel mixture for the best fuel economy and best performance in all situations sensors are classified into three categories sensors for engine control sensors for body control and sensors for other components such as brakes suspension and transmission the engine control unit or ECU receives information from various sensors on the engine
Transmits outputs to the fuel injectors, spark plugs, and other engine components after comparing that data to preset programming chosen by the manufacturer to ensure optimal engine performance.
1.Crank Position Sensor :
The crank position sensor is the primary crucial sensor. This sensor is typically found in the crankcase, above the toothed wheel on the crankshaft. It counts the number of differences on the crankshaft and sends this value to the ECU, which uses it to determine the position of the crankshaft and pistons. The rate of positional change is used to calculate the engine’s rotational speed.
2.Cam Position Sensor :
The cam position sensor is typically located in the cylinder head of the engine the task of the cam sensor is to find the exact position of the camshaft and valves it works together with a crank sensor for perfect ignition timing if these sensors fail starting of the engine is not possible number
3. Mass Airflow Sensor:
The mass airflow sensor is located between the air filter and the engine’s intake manifold it is used to calculate the amount of air that enters the engine during the intake stroke the measuring of air helps the ECU to determine how much fuel must be added for the perfect air and fuel mixture to get better results number four the manifold absolute pressure sensor or the map sensor is a device situated in the intake manifold and is used to calculate the pressure of air going to the engine it is very similar to a mass airflow sensor .
4. Knock Sensor :
Knock sensor commonly knock sensor located outside the engine block foreign the term knocking means the ignition occurred even before the actual time this creates the high-vibration and high-sounding engine the knock sensor identifies the high-frequency engine vibration of knocking and transmits a signal to the ECU when the ECU receives an electric signal the ECU Returns the ignition timing and stops the occurrence of knocking inside the engine this improves the economy and power of an engine
5.Cool and Temperature Sensor :
A car engine generates a lot of heat while it is operating, so it needs to be continuously cooled to prevent damage to the engine. Typically, this is accomplished by circulating coolant liquid through the radiator’s passageways. The radiator has thin metal fins that increase its surface area in contact with the atmosphere, and it also has an electric fan that helps to transfer heat from the radiator to the atmosphere. As a result, the coolant in the radiator cools down and is returned to the engine, repeating the process. The coolant temperature sensor is situated between the radiator and the engine passageways. This cool and temperature sensor alerts the ECU when the liquid coolant reaches a certain temperature. This reading is used by the ECU. the ECU uses this reading to calculate the coolant temperature and from there it adjusts the fuel injection and ignition timing and controls when the electric cooling fan is switched on and off this information is also used to send an accurate reading of the engine temperature to a gauge on the dashboard number
6. Fuel Temperature Sensor:
fuel temperature sensor this measures the fuel’s temperature and transmits the signal to the ECU when the fuel is warm it’s less dense and burns more readily so the ECU injects more fuel when the fuel is cold it’s denser so the ECU injects less fuel this optimizes the engine’s performance some Brands places this sensor on send a unit which is located inside the fuel tank or in some other brands it is located on high-pressure pump attached to the engine
7. Crash Sensor :
Crash sensor for airbag the airbag system is one of the most important components in your vehicle’s safety system crash sensors are small pieces of electronics designed to tell when the vehicle has been damaged in an accident the sensor signals to the airbag control unit within milliseconds after Collision when the control unit determines there is an accident it sends a signal to the inflator system the inflator immediately fill up the airbag this all happens in an instant usually within 25 to 50 milliseconds this airbag provides a cushioning system for the people in the car and saves live the crash sensor is located in the front side of the car behind the bumper and also inside the side pillars or doors of the vehicle’s body
8. Sensor for Anti -lock Braking system:
In this system the brakes are applied and released numerous times in one second and hence the system ensures that the wheels do not lock up under hard braking the vehicle slows down while maintaining its grip and the available traction allows the driver to give steering inputs this helps the driver steer the vehicle to avoid an accident the advanced anti-locking braking system offers significant benefits over normal brakes in a vehicle we’ll speed sensors are located on all the wheels that monitor the speed of each wheel the ECU reads the signal from each sensor after the speed sensors detect the speed of any of the wheel is reducing drastically compared to others the ECU sends the signal to the valves of the respective wheel to reduce the brake pressure and the valves get closed after this the wheels start to accelerate again and the signal is sent to the ECU one more time which in turn sends the signal to open the valve and increase the brake pressure and hence brakes are applied the cycle repeats itself until the application of brakes becomes normal
9. Parking Sensors :
Parking sensors are proximity sensors for vehicles designed to alert the driver of obstacles while parking it is located in the back bumper and also in the front bumper of some vehicles these sensors work either on ultrasonic or electromagnetic principles when the driver engages reverse gear rear parking sensors to get activated automatically and send ultrasonic waves when these waves hit a nearby object they get reflected and are captured Again by the sensors this process measures the distance between the sensor and object this indicates the driver about the distance between vehicle and object with visual indication and sound in the dashboard for safe parking
10. Rain wiping sensor:
The rain sensor is located on the upper end of the windshield glass senses the amount of rainfall and controls the wiping cycle for the proper interval it sends out a beam of infrared light when water droplets are on the windshield the light is reflected back at different angles this tells the system to activate the wipers as well as adjust wiper speed and frequency based on the intensity of the precipitation combined with the vehicle’s speed the more it rains the faster the wiper operates automatically
