​​What Is A Car Brain Box?

 ​​What Is A Car Brain Box?

A Car Brain Box is an electronic device that incorporates micro processors for controlling multiple functions in a vehicle, such as cruise control, automatic gear shift, climate control, engine running, emission control, fuel injection, collision avoidance, Powered mirror, seat & rear mirror controls etc. 

The Brain Box is also known as the PCM (Power-train Control Module), ECM (Engine Control Module) or the ECU (Engine Control Unit). A brain box is usually much more complex than this, doing lots of complex calculations and taking complicated decisions to run the vehicle maximally.

Before manufacturers switched to using engine control modules and a large network of computers to control the vehicles functions, everything was manual. Typically the only non-mechanical item in an older vehicle was the radio. Windows, door locks, and all the basic functions drivers now expect in their vehicles were manually operated.

One of the primary functions of an ECU is monitoring a series of a cars actions to register errors with how it is operating. If an error is detected the ECU will generate a trouble code. Once the ECU notices the problem and generates the trouble code, it will cause the check engine light to come on. So if you ever think of your engine as the heart of your vehicle system, then you should consider the Brain Box as the Brain.