Improvement Control in Practical Use Fuel Consumption System Description - Effective Control
The control system for improved fuel economy in actual traffic is called eco-driving. It consists of an effective control system. The effective control system is activated by operating the ECON switch to set the ECON ON mode. The PGM-FI system, transmission control system, and air conditioning (A/C) system control fuel consumption, which reduces fuel consumption due to the driver's driving style and tries to improve fuel consumption.
In the ECON ON mode, it specifically controls 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, transmission control system, and A/C system, is performed. When the driver operates the ECON switch in ECON OFF mode, the signal is input in the gauge control module and the switching signal to the ECON ON mode is sent to the PCM and A/C control unit through the F-CAN and B-CAN from the gauge control module. According to this signal, each unit transitions to effective control. In this step, the PCM directs the signal to the gauge control module 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 ON 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 and this status will be kept until when the ignition switch is set to OFF.
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 in the ECON ON mode, control automatically becomes equivalent to the ECON OFF mode in order to ensure acceleration.
Transmission Control System (CVT)
- Change in shift map allocation against accelerator full pedal depression
- Moderation of gear change responsiveness
Air Conditioning (A/C) System
- Switching to the recirculation mode
- Reduction in compressor operation frequency
- Lower flow rate