A power-train control module, abbreviated PCM, is an automotive component, a control unit, used on motor vehicle
A motor vehicle, also known as motorized vehicle or automotive vehicle, is a self-propelled land vehicle, commonly wheeled, that does not operate on rails (such as trains or trams) and is used for the transportation of people or cargo.
The ...
s. It is generally a combined controller consisting of the engine control unit
An engine control unit (ECU), also commonly called an engine control module (ECM), is a type of electronic control unit that controls a series of actuators on an internal combustion engine to ensure optimal engine performance. It does this by ...
(ECU) and the transmission control unit (TCU). On some cars, such as many Chryslers, there are multiple computers: the PCM, the TCU, and the Body Control Module (BCM), for a total of three separate computers. These automotive computers are generally very reliable. The PCM commonly controls more than 100 factors in a car or truck. There are many hundreds of error codes that can occur, which indicates that some subsection of the car is experiencing a problem. When one of these errors occurs, usually it will turn on the "check engine" light on the dashboard. The PCM is one of potentially several on-board computers, or essentially the "brain" of the engine control system.
The primary inputs to the PCM come from many sensors, of different types, that are spread around the car. Most of them are oriented toward engine management and performance. These sensors fail at a much higher rate than any of the computers do.
Early use of the powertrain control module dates back to the late 1970s - official phasing in of the PCM occurred during the early 1980s when used in conjunction with electronic controlled carburetor
A carburetor (also spelled carburettor) is a device used by an internal combustion engine to control and mix air and fuel entering the engine. The primary method of adding fuel to the intake air is through the venturi tube in the main meter ...
s and lockup torque converters (at the time conventional 3-speed automatics received lockup converters at the same time overdrives were introduced).
Other names
Engine control unit is also called: * PCM: Power-train control module (Ford/ GM) * ECM: Engine control module * Injection control unit (Peugeot, Citroën, Fiat, Alfa, Lancia) * DME/DDE: Digital Motor Electronics / Digital Diesel Electronics (BMW, Mini) * ECU: Electronic control unit / Engine control unitBibliography
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{{Reflist Power control Engine technology Fuel injection systems Engine components Onboard computers Auto parts