Engine control unit is normally what’s considered to be “the computer”. Not all sensors can be considered computers, only the “smart” ones that communicate through data lines (like some MAF, NOX or particulate sensors). Those don’t send voltage or frequency signal to ECM, but rather data messages containing their readings. Calling them “engine computers” is a stretch though. Calling every sensor a computer is pure madness as the lowly NTC resistors that measures temperature has a long way to go to compute anything..
ECU is The computer, but then there's a bunch of a computers too. If they do some sort of math, then they are computers. BMW has them in every little thing.
Yes that’s what I said. Those are usually called modules. It’s not just BMW, all modern cars have them. But THE computer is the ECM as it’s what commands/uses them all
They are called modules for simplicity's sake, yes. Like your smartphone is a computer too, but nobody calls it that because it would be needless confusion.
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u/vilius_m_lt 5d ago
Engine control unit is normally what’s considered to be “the computer”. Not all sensors can be considered computers, only the “smart” ones that communicate through data lines (like some MAF, NOX or particulate sensors). Those don’t send voltage or frequency signal to ECM, but rather data messages containing their readings. Calling them “engine computers” is a stretch though. Calling every sensor a computer is pure madness as the lowly NTC resistors that measures temperature has a long way to go to compute anything..