Tutor notes

Chapter 23

Road wheel control systems

Introduction
This chapter builds on the practical skills learners must develop to use different types of
types of diagnostic equipment for determining faults and give recommendations for
rectification. Learners will test road wheel control systems.

Learning outcomes
Completion of the tasks in these worksheets allows learners to cover some of the
requirements for SCQF/QCF Level 6: LV08, LV13, AE06.

Planning and delivery notes

To complete the worksheet activities, students should be reminded of the following
areas.

Health and safety

Learners must be aware of the requirements when working with testing equipment,
electrical systems and components.

Personal protective equipment

Learners must ensure that they are wearing all the required personal protective
equipment (PPE) for the tasks listed.

Requirements
Learners should have access to the student book and wiring diagrams for the vehicles to
be used for the tasks, and also know how to use various items of electrical testing
equipment (i.e. multimeters, test lamps and oscilloscopes).

VLE learning materials

Worksheet 1: System operation
Learners are required to describe the operation of an adaptive cruise control (ACC)
system, including the sensors and systems fitted to it or utilised by it. This should be a
fairly in-depth description of the system, sensors, components and its operation.

Worksheet 2: Diagnosis and testing

Assume the role of the customer and present learners with a vehicle that has a minimum
of two faults in the anti-lock braking system (ABS)/traction control system (TCS). As
these tasks are aimed at Level 3 (Framework 5–6/7), it is expected that the faults in the
systems will be complex: there should be one fault in the speed sensor; and another in
the brake switch, which would then prevent the ACC from operating.

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 Tutor notes
Chapter 23

Learners should then test the system and components to determine a repair or
replacement strategy, completing a tasksheet indicating the tests carried out, the results
found and the expected results.

Learners can ask you (the customer) questions to assist them in their diagnosis and
rectification recommendations.

It is not a requirement for the learners to repair the fault, only to provide a strategy for
repair or rectification.

Worksheet 3: Underpinning knowledge

Learners’ understanding of ACC and road wheel control systems is tested in a series of
questions.

Answers
Worksheet 1: System operation
Some guidance as to the answers has been given, but it is for the tutor to decide
whether learners have shown sufficient underpinning knowledge of the system.
1
a) Modern ACC systems use a number of sensors to monitor and operate the
controls to maintain distance, speed and safety. These include components fitted to
ABS/traction control/electronic brake force distribution (EBD)/electronic stability control
(ESC), yaw sensors and speed sensors.
The latest systems include links to global positioning system (GPS) satellites to
ensure that the preset speed does not take the vehicle above the limits of the road
being driven on.
A radar or laser system will monitor the road ahead, around and behind the vehicle
to ensure that the target speed set does not bring it within a preset proximity of
another vehicle or obstacle. When the system is in operation, it controls the
throttle, gears (automatic only), the braking system and brake lamp operation.
ACC with collision avoidance systems (CAS) are now appearing on the market.
These systems can take the vehicle down to a standstill using brakes and steering
and, when the road ahead is clear, can proceed to return to the preset speed
Before active cruise control can be engaged, the driver must first enter ‘ACC
standby’. This is activated by pressing the ACC ‘On’ button. If no system faults are
present, the ACC system will enter the ‘Standby’ state.
The driver enters the ‘Active’ state by pressing the ‘Set’ or ‘Resume’ button. If there
is a previous set speed in the memory, the system uses this value as the target
speed when ‘Resume’ is pressed. Otherwise, the speed when the ‘Set’ button was
pressed will become the target speed.
b) The following conditions must be met before the system will enter ‘ACC active’ in
response to the cruise switches:
 Brake switch 1 = brake not applied
 Brake switch 2 = brake not applied
 Vehicle speed >25 mph

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Chapter 23

When entering active ACC control, the vehicle speed is controlled, either to
maintain a set speed or to maintain a time gap with a vehicle in front, whichever
speed is lower.
2
a) Acceleration control: The ACC system accelerates the vehicle by increasing the
target speed sent to the engine control module. The engine control module tries to
maintain the target speed and can accelerate the vehicle to maintain this.
b) Reaction to a slow-moving or stopped vehicle: The latest systems will operate the
brake system to slow the vehicle down sufficiently or to bring the vehicle to a controlled
stop. When the driver presses the brake pedal the ACC system disengages and reverts
to driver control; this condition will remain until the ACC operating conditions are met and
it switches on again.
c) Deceleration control: The ACC system decelerates the vehicle by lowering the
target speed sent to the engine control module and sending a brake deceleration
command to the brake control module. The maximum allowed braking effort of the
system is controlled to avoid sudden deceleration. During brake deceleration events, the
brake control module also operates the brake lamps.

Worksheet 3: Underpinning knowledge

1
a) Brake control module
b) A radar or laser system
c) Brake lamps
2
a) Lane deviation
b) Collision avoidance
3
a) Hall effect
b) Inductive
4
a) Pressure build
b) Pressure maintain
c) Pressure reduction
5 An acceptable answer will be between 0.7 and 0.9
6 An unstable condition in which the rear tyres lose grip and attempt to overtake the
front of the car
7 An unstable condition in which the front tyres lose grip and the car does not go in the
direction of the front wheels
8
a) Steering angle
b) Yaw sensor
9
a) Brakes locking
b) Loss of steering

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