Improvement Control in Practical Use Fuel Consumption System Description - Effective Control (Except K24Z7)
This vehicle has an ECON ON mode specifically for controlling fuel economy improvements in actual traffic, in addition to the normal driving mode (ECON OFF mode). With the ECON ON mode, "effective control," in which fuel consumption is improved by the PGM-FI system, A/T control system, cruise control system, and air conditioning system, is performed. When the driver operates the ECON switch in ECON ON mode, the signal is input in the gauge control module (tach) and the signal switching to the ECON ON mode is sent to the engine control module (ECM)/powertrain control module (PCM) and climate control unit through the F-CAN and B-CAN from the gauge control module (tach). According to this signal, each unit transitions to effective control. In this step, the ECM/PCM directs the signal to the gauge control module (tach) through the F-CAN so as to control the lighting of the ECON indicator light. When the driver operates the ECON switch in the ECON OFF mode (during effective control), the mode is changed from ECON ON to ECON OFF. In this step, the signal is sent in the same flow as when the mode is transitioning from ECON OFF to ECON ON, and each system that received the signal stops the effective control. In addition, the status of the ECON ON/OFF mode is stored in the gauge control module (tach) and this status will be kept even in the vehicle in OFF mode.
Conditions in ECON ON mode
Change of ETCS control
The ECON ON mode softens throttle valve control to reduce fuel consumption when the accelerator pedal is roughly depressed. Also, throttle opening becomes slow in comparison with the ECON OFF mode. However, if the accelerator pedal is depressed more than a certain level, control automatically becomes equivalent to the ECON OFF mode in order to ensure the acceleration.
Cruise control
To decrease fuel use when cruise control is on in ECON ON mode, the cruise acceleration and cruise speed responses are milder than normal. When the vehicle speed is reduced by extra load conditions, cruise control assumes its normal response to maintain vehicle speed.
Transmission control system (A/T, CVT system)
- Change in shift map allocation against accelerator full pedal depression
- Moderation of gear change responsiveness
Air conditioning
- Switching to the recirculation mode
- Reduction in compressor operation frequency
- Lower flow rate
Ambient Meter Function
The ambient meter function evaluates the driver's driving from a fuel consumption perspective and displays its information via the ambient meter in the gauge control module (speedo).