9

SERVICE TECH Vol.469 03-12

The engine ECU judges the engine conditions and driving status of the vehicle based on the information received
from the sensors. This is used to calculate the optimum fuel injection timing for the engine. The ECU then sends a
signal to the timing control valve (TCV) of the injection pump.
The main injection timing items are:
The engine ECU calculates the injection timing based on the information from the sensors (computer control), so it
is possible to control injection timing with a far greater accuracy than with the distributor type pump of conventional
mechanical types.
.
Starting advance control Cold temperature advance control
Engine speed injection timing control Load condition injection timing control
Intake pressure injection timing control
1 1 Outline of Injection Timing Control
10
SERVICE TECH Vol.469 03-12
In order to change the injection timing, the amount of fuel pressure added to the timer piston of the injection pump is
controlled, and the position of the piston is varied. The movement of the timer piston rotates the roller ring via the slide
pin. As a result, the position of the roller relative to the cam plate is changed, which varies the timing of the start of
injection.
The control of injection timing when the timing control valve is ON is explained below. The control when the timing
control valve is switched between ON/OFF is explained in section 3-2 Timing Control Valve (TCV).
2 2 Basic Control Method for Injection Timing
When the pressure is low in the high pressure chamber side, the timer piston is pushed in the direction of
injection retard by the timer spring.
Timing Control
Valve
Roller Ring
R etard T im in g : Timing Control Valve is widely open.
Timer Piston
Timer Spring
Low Pressure
Side
High Pressure Chamber
(Inside Pump Chamber)
ON Time: Long
Retard
Slide Pin
Engine
ECU
Cam Plate
When the pressure is increased in the high pressure chamber it overcomes the strength of the spring and
moves in the advance direction.
A d vance T im ing : Timing Control Valve is almost closed.
ON Time: Short
Advance
Low Pressure
Side
Engine
ECU
11
SERVICE TECH Vol.469 03-12
The crankshaft position sensor is an electromagnetic pick-up type sensor for detecting the crankshaft position of
the engine. It is installed on the engine cylinder block, and through the projection installed on the crankshaft, it
generates a pulse for every revolution of the engine. This pulse is used as a "standard crankshaft position" signal
in order to control injection timing.
One pulse of the crankshaft position signal is generated for every revolution of the engine (360 CA). On the other
hand during the same period the injection pump completes 1/2 a revolution (180 PA), and if the engine has 4
cylinders a pulse equivalent to 2 cylinders is output by the engine speed sensor. (The position of the engine speed
sensor changes according to the injection timing, so the actual relative position varies with the engine conditions.)
The actual injection timing is calculated from these two signals, which the engine ECU compares with the target
injection timing.
With the crankshaft position sensor signal as a standard, the angle (CA) up to the position of the certain pulse of
the engine speed sensor signal determined by each engine is calculated as the actual injection timing.
3 3 Construction and Operation of Components
3-1 Crankshaft Position Sensor
Projection
Crankshaft Position
Sensor
Relationship between the crankshaft position sensor signal and the engine speed sensor signal
Engine Speed Sensor
Crankshaft Position Sensor
12
SERVICE TECH Vol.469 03-12
The timing control valve is an electromagnetic valve that opens and closes the fuel passages to the high pressure
and low pressure side of the timer piston, according to actuating signals from the engine ECU. The opening degree
of these passages is controlled by the ON/OFF rate (duty ratio) of the current energized by the coil. When the
current is ON for a long time, the open time of the TCV becomes longer. This causes a lot of fuel to leak from the
high pressure chamber side to the low pressure chamber side. The pressure of the high pressure chamber side
is reduced so the timer piston loses out to the strength of the timer spring, and it moves to the retard side.
Duty Ratio
Expresses the ratio between energized (ON) and non-
energized (OFF) electricity. The ratio is calculated
from the following formula, dividing the length of the
ON time (t) by the unit of time (T).
.
In the figure on the left, the ON time is longer so the
TCV passage is open for a long period, and the timer
piston moves to the retard side.
3-2 Timing Control Valve (TCV)
Timer Piston
Timing Control Valve
High Pressure Chamber
Timer Spring
ON Duty Ratio: Minimum Advance ON Duty Ratio: Maximum Retard
Coil
Low Pressure Side
Moving Core
Spring
High Pressure Chamber
(Inside Pump Chamber)
Coil
Low Pressure Side
Moving Core Spring
Fuel Valve
High Pressure Chamber
(Inside Pump Chamber)
Fuel Valve
Duty Ratio = 100 (%)
t
T