Product Description

In addition, the new edition explains new electronically controlled vehicle motion control systems including advanced suspension, electronically controlled electric power steering, 4-wheel steering and electronically controlled electric brakes. The braking systems are part of an integrated motion control system that couples ABS brakes; traction control and variable vehicle dynamics for enhanced stability are also described. The development of hybrid/electric vehicles and their associated electronic control/monitoring systems as well as the new technologies incorporated into conventional gasoline and diesel-fueled engines are also discussed.

*Extensive revision of a popular text
*Covers the shift from 14-volt to 42-volt systems
*Includes information on future automotive elctronic systems

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #284329 in Books
• Published on: 2002-12-23
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 480 pages

Review
An illustrated how-to guide for smooth-running performance! Helps readers understand how electronic circuits and devices run important parts in automobiles. "Explains how electronics affect engine performance, fuel economy, and emissions. Describes the role of electronics in speed control, ride control, and anti-lock braking. Gives inside information on speech synthesis. Includes many examples and illustrat". -- HOWARD W SAMS & CO

From the Publisher
In today's cars, the electronics systems are more complex than simple electrical wiring; they now affect almost every operating aspect of the automobile. The basis for understanding the functions of automotive electronics systems and subsystems is a good grasp of mechanical auto operation.

From the Back Cover
*Extensive revision of a popular text
*Covers the shift from 14-volt to 42-volt systems
*Includes information on future automotive elctronic systems

Essentially all automotive electrical systems are effected by the new electrical system voltage levels (the shift from 14-volt systems to 42-volt systems.) As in all previous editions, this revision keeps Understanding Automotive Electronics up-to-date with technological advances in this rapidly evolving field.

This sixth edition of Understanding Automotive Electronics covers the most recent technological advances in operation and troubleshooting of electronic systems and components. This is a practical text, suitable for the automotive technician, student or enthusiast. It includes low-emission standards, on-board diagnostics and communications, digital instrumentation, and digital engine control.

In addition, the new edition explains new electronically controlled vehicle motion control systems including advanced suspension, electronically controlled electric power steering, 4-wheel steering and electronically controlled electric brakes. The braking systems are part of an integrated motion control system that couples ABS brakes; traction control and variable vehicle dynamics for enhanced stability are also described. The development of hybrid/electric vehicles and their associated electronic control/monitoring systems as well as the new technologies incorporated into conventional gasoline and diesel-fueled engines are also discussed.

Customer Reviews

Excellent treatment of engine controls
The book title, Understanding Automotive Electronics, is an understatement. This book, in chapters 5, 6, and 7, gives one of the best explanations of modern engine control systems I have ever read. Every major concept of OBD-II vehicles is discussed in clear precise language. These chapters alone are worth the price of the book.

My favorite feature of the book is the end of chapter questions which can be used to test your understanding of the material. And in the back of the book, you can check your answers.

Be careful when buying automotive books. Many are written by good in-shop mechanics who have poor writing skills. This book is different. Mr. Ribbens not only knows his stuff but can communicate it to others as well.

Great choice for electrical engineers interested in automotive electronics
Electronics has taken over control of the modern automobile, so much so that it is difficult to tinker with the car as we used to do in the old days, since all of the electronics is contained in embedded systems and diagnostics are usually performed by a PC. All the key functions are, or can be, controlled with electronics which has greatly benefited the driver.

There are 11 chapters and over 450 pages illustrated with diagrams, circuits and performance graphs, but very few photographs of the electronics. The chapters step the reader through fundamentals of combustion, controls, engine and motion control and diagnostics. After each chapter there is a multiple choice quiz relating to the chapter. You will have to read the text in detail to answer the questions, not speed-read. It's an interesting textbook and ideal for education in the topic. I found it to be easy to read and informative. The book shows how the electronics works to improve the safety and performance of the automobile. There is little coverage on the type of componentry, wiring or reliability of different forms of assembly, so the book is only of interest to manufacturing engineers if they want to understand the reasons behind the circuits built into automobiles. Instead there are quite a few block diagrams, equations, snippets of assembly language code, and even explanations of more elementary electronic devices and systems that will probably be most interesting to the electrical engineer who is interested in how electronics controls the modern automobile.

Wish the new edition had dropped more of the old
Good books on automotive electronics are hard to find. Must not be much of a market for them. This book, Understanding Automotive Electronics, written by a professor at the University of Michigan, is by far the best book on this topic that I have found.

Still, it leaves a lot to be desired. Published in 2003, this book is the sixth edition. Even in 2003, much of it was outdated and should have heavily edited or dropped. The discussion of global positioning systems (GPS), for example, puts their adoption in cars well into the future. But the car I bought in 2003 has a very nice GPS system. The section of the book on GPS systems was outdated even before the book went into print.

Similarly, if you want to know how Controller Area Network (CAN) buses work, you will find little here. That's one topic I hoped this book would cover. That it focuses more on technology from the 1980s and 1990s was a disappointment. A complete rewrite of the book in 2003 would have been very valuable.

But you have to take what you can get. I'll take this book. In my opinion, there's enough here to make it worth reading.