(1) Damping mode select switch This switch can change the shock absorber damping force. The switch positions and details of the settings depend on the model, but switching from COMFORT (or NORM) to SPORT changes the damping force from soft to firm.

Construction

(1) Damping mode select switch

(2)Height control switch

This changes the vehicle height setting. The switch positions and details of the settings depend on the model, but switching from NORM (or LOW) to HIGH changes the vehicle height from low to high.

(3) Damping mode indicator light and vehicle height indicator light The damping mode indicator light lights by mode selection with the damping mode select switch. The vehicle height indicator light is lit up by mode selection with the height control switch. Also, these indicator lights are blinking during system malfunction. The contents of these indicator lights depend on the model.

(4) Stop light switch

(5) Door courtesy switch

2. Sensors

(1) Steering angle sensor The steering angle sensor is fitted to the turn signal switch assembly and detects the steering direction and angle. The sensor contains 3 photo interrupters with phases, and a slotted disc interrupts the light to turn the phototransistor ON and OFF to detect the steering direction and angle.

Steering angle sensor

Height control sensor

Deceleration sensor

(2) Height control sensor A height control sensor is incorporated in each wheel. This sensor converts change in the height of the vehicle into change in the control link rotation angle. Then, the result is detected in the form of voltage change. When the vehicle becomes higher, the signal voltage becomes higher; when the vehicle becomes lower, the signal voltage falls.

(3) Deceleration sensor The front acceleration sensor is integrated with the front height control sensor and the rear acceleration is installed in the luggage compartment. The acceleration sensors convert deformation of the piezoelectric ceramic disc into an electrical signal and the vehicle vertical direction acceleration is detected. When upward acceleration of the vehicle, that is upward force, is received, the signal voltage rises; when downward force is received, the signal voltage falls.

3. ECU/Actuators

(1) EMS/Air suspension ECU The EMS/air suspension ECU serves the role of processing the signals received from the sensors and the selector switch and converting them into the signals for driving the actuators and valves.

(2) Suspension control actuator The suspension control actuator is located at the top of each shock absorber/pneumatic cylinder. It changes the shock absorber damping force by the output shaft rotating the shock absorber rotary valve. The rotary valve (output shaft) rotation angle is controlled by signals from the EMS/air suspension ECU.

(3) Pneumatic cylinder with shock absorber/shock absorber The pneumatic cylinder consists of a variable damping force shock absorber containing low-pressure nitrogen gas and an air chamber with a large compressed air capacity in order to realize excellent riding comfort. To switch the shock absorber’s damping force, a hard damping valve and a soft damping valve have been provided. The damping force is varied by the rotary valve, which changes the ratio of oil that passes through the valve

(4) Compressor and dryer assembly The compressor and dryer assembly has an integral construction with the compressor and motor to make the compressed air necessary for raising the vehicle height, the dryer to eliminate the moisture in the compressed air made by the compressor, and the exhaust valve to drain the compressed air to the atmosphere from the pneumatic cylinders.

(5) Height control valve The height control valves control the flow of compressed air to and from the pneumatic cylinders depending on signals from the air suspension ECU. Two height control valves are provided, one for the front and the other for the rear.

1. Throttle position sensor / Accelerator pedal position sensor

This detects the opening angle of thethrottle valve.

2. Kick down switch

This detects if the accelerator pedalis being depressed to full throttle.

3. Crankshaft position sensor

This detects the engine speed.

4. Transaxle speed sensor

Input turbine speed sensor

This detects the automatic transaxle

input shaft speed.

Counter gear speed sensor

This detects the automatic transaxle

output shaft speed.

5. Water temperature sensor

This detects the coolant temperature.

6. Vehicle speed sensor

This detects the vehicle speed.

7. Transaxle fluid temperature sensor

This detects the ATF (Automatic Transaxle Fluid) temperature in the automatic transaxle.

8. Overdrive main switch

The overdrive main switch is the O/D cancel switch. When the switch is turned OFF, the O/D gear does not shift up even when the shift up speed is reached. If the switch is turned OFF while driving in the O/D gear, the transaxle shifts down to the 3rd gear. In addition, the O/D OFF indicator light is turned on while the overdrive main switch is OFF.

HINT:

The overdrive main switch is sometimes also called the overdrive OFF switch or transaxle (transmission) control switch. With the gate type shift lever, the O/D can be canceled by operating the lever. There is no O/D OFF indicator light because a positioning light can be used to show the shift lever position.

9. Neutral start switch

The neutral start switch transmits the shift lever position to the Engine & ECT ECU. The ECU receives information on the range into which the transaxle has been shifted from the shift position sensor located in the neutral start switch, then determines the appropriate shift pattern.

HINT:

The contacts of this switch are also used to turn on one of the shift lever position indicator light to inform the driver of the current position of the shift lever. In addition, the ECU controls so that the starter can be operated only while the shift lever is in the “P” or “N” ranges, and so that when the shift lever is in the “R” range, a reverse warning buzzer sounds and the backup light turns on. Signals sent to the ECU from the neutral start switch vary by models.

10.Stop light switch

When the brake pedal is being depressed, the Engine & ECT ECU cancels the lock-up. This prevents the engine from being stalled by the lock-up

11.Driving pattern select switch

The driving pattern select switch allows the driver to select the mode of choice. The mode switches that are installed depend on the model and the region.

Power mode: This sets the gear shift timing to the high engine speed range.

Snow mode: This sets the 2nd gear as the start-off gear.

Economy mode: This advances the gear shift timing to lower the fuel consumption while driving.

Manual mode: This makes gear hold possible using the shift lever position.