ABS Description and Operation: Notes

Fig 1: ABS Description and Operation Block Diagram

Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS COMPANY

This vehicle is equipped with a Bosch ABS 9.0 brake system. The electronic brake control module and the brake pressure modulator valve are serviced separately. The brake pressure modulator valve uses a four circuit configuration to control hydraulic pressure to each wheel independently. Vehicles built with option RPO FX3 will feature stability enhancement.

The following vehicle performance enhancement systems are provided.

• ABS
• Brake Assist
• Electronic Brake Distribution
• Electronic stability control
• Hill start assist
• Traction control system

The following components are involved in the operation of the above systems:

• Electronic Brake Control Module - The electronic brake control module controls the system functions and detects failures. It supplies voltage to the solenoid valves and pump motor.
• Brake pressure modulator valve - The brake pressure modulator valve contains the hydraulic valves and pump motor that are controlled electrically by the electronic brake control module. The brake pressure modulator uses a four circuit configuration with a diagonal split. The brake pressure modulator directs fluid from the reservoir of the master cylinder to the left front and right rear wheels and fluid from the other reservoir to the right front and left rear wheels. The diagonal circuits are hydraulically isolated so that a leak or malfunction in one circuit will allow continued braking ability on the other.

  The brake pressure modulator contains the following components:

  • Brake pressure sensor
  • Four inlet valves (one per wheel)
  • Four outlet valves (one per wheel)
  • Pump motor
  • Two traction/stability control supply valves
  • Two traction/stability control isolation valves
• Body control module monitors the brake pedal position sensor signal when the brake pedal is applied and sends a high speed serial data message to the electronic brake control module indicating the brake pedal position.
• Brake pressure sensor is used to sense the action of the driver application of the brake pedal. The sensor provides an voltage signal that will increase as the brake pedal is applied. The electronic brake control module monitors the brake pressure sensor which is integral to the brake pressure modulator.
• Instrument cluster - The instrument cluster displays the vehicle speed based on the information from the engine control module. The engine control module sends the vehicle speed information via a high speed serial data to the body control module. The body control module then sends the vehicle speed information via a low speed serial data to the instrument cluster in order to display the vehicle speed, either in kilometers or miles, based on the vehicle requirements.
• Multi-axis acceleration sensor - The yaw rate, lateral acceleration and longitudinal acceleration sensors are combined into one multi-axis acceleration sensor, internal to the inflatable restraint sensing and diagnostic module. The electronic brake control module receives serial data message inputs from the yaw rate, lateral acceleration and longitudinal acceleration sensor and activates stability control and hill hold start assist function depending on multi-axis acceleration sensor input.
• Multifunction switch - The traction control switch is a multifunction momentary switch. The body control module monitors the signal circuit from the traction control switch and sends a high speed serial data message to the electronic brake control module indicating the switch position. The traction control and stability control are manually disabled or enabled by pressing the traction control switch.
• Steering angle sensor - The electronic brake control module receives serial data message inputs from the steering angle sensor. The steering angle sensor signal is used to calculate the desired yaw rate.
• Transmission control module - The electronic brake control module receives high speed serial data message inputs from the transmission control module indicating the gear position of the transmission for hill start assist functions.
• Wheel speed sensors - This vehicle is equipped with unique directional wheel speed sensors that can detect wheel direction as well as zero wheel speed. The wheel speed sensors are Active sensors that receive a 12 V power supply voltage from the electronic brake control module and provides an output signal to the module. As the wheel spins, the wheel speed sensor sends the electronic brake control module a DC square wave signal. The electronic brake control module uses the frequency of the square wave signal to calculate the wheel speed.