Control unit heat management
A method of cooling an engine control unit (ECU) coupled to an engine in a vehicle having a cabin climate control system, comprising operating the vehicle cabin climate control system according to a customer-based climate control setting during a first operating condition, and overriding said customer-based setting during a second operating condition including an ECU over-temperature condition.
1. A method of cooling an engine control unit (ECU) coupled to an engine in a vehicle having a cabin climate control system, comprising:
operating the vehicle cabin climate control system according to a customer-based climate control setting during a first operating condition; and
overriding said customer-based setting by enabling a climate control device when the customer-based setting is an off-setting, during a second operating condition including an ECU over-temperature condition.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein said customer-based setting includes a fan speed and the climate control device is a fan coupled in the cabin climate control system.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cabin climate control system is an automatic climate control system including a customer-based temperature setting, the method further comprising:
automatically adjusting at least one of fan speed and a vent position in response to the customer-based temperature setting during said first operating condition; and
overriding said customer-based temperature setting during said second operating condition.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said overriding includes activating a fan increasing airflow from a cabin exterior to a cabin interior and through an enclosure of the ECU.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said second operating condition further includes at least one of high engine speed and high load.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said second operating condition further includes high ambient temperature.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the device is a blower fan.
8. A method of cooling an engine control unit (ECU) coupled to an engine in a vehicle having a cabin climate control system, comprising:
operating the vehicle cabin climate control system according to a customer-based climate control recirculation mode setting when an ECU temperature is below an override threshold; and
overriding said customer-based recirculation mode setting when the ECU temperature is above said override threshold.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein said overriding includes adjusting a recirculation vent increasing airflow from a cabin exterior to a cabin interior and through an enclosure of the ECU.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein selection of the recirculation mode reduces airflow from exterior to the passenger compartment past the ECU via a closed vent.
11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising returning to customer-based settings after said ECU temperature returns below the threshold temperature.
12. A method of cooling an engine control unit (ECU) coupled to an engine in a vehicle having a cabin climate control system, comprising:
operating the vehicle cabin climate control system according to a customer-based climate control setting during a first operating condition; and
overriding said customer-based setting during a second operating condition including an ECU over-temperature condition, wherein said customer-based setting includes setting the climate control system off.