Fleet Maintenance - 19

Copilot

Thermal
management

Battery pack

Electric axle

Control unit
» Dana provides a diagram displaying the
layout and connectivity of e-axles and other
components integrated throughout a vehicle.
Image courtesy of Dana Incorporated

nance costs, data production, and performance
advantages are major reasons fleets are adapting to the evolving technology. This article will
examine some electrified components that can
be implemented into a fleet today, their benefits
and challenges, and the ways in which a fleet's
electrification will affect operations.

Electronic stability control

The Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards
(FMVSS) mandated electronic stability control
systems on heavy duty vehicles via FMVSS Title 49,
part 571, Subpart B, Standard No. 136. By August of
this year, all Class 7 and 8 vehicles manufactured
in the U.S. must comply with this standard.
Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, a supplier of active safety technologies, energy management solutions, air brake charging, and control
systems and components, has developed the
Bendix Electronic Stability Program (ESP) system,
anti-lock braking (ABS), and traction control technology, in order to add support for drivers and
fleets to mitigate rollovers and loss of control situations. The Bendix ESP system is built on top of an
advanced braking system in order to assist drivers
with ABS through its brake controller.
"The brake controller is the brains of the operation," says TJ Thomas, director of marketing and
customer solutions - controls, Bendix Commercial
Vehicle Systems. "It takes into
account all sensor readings and makes the
decisions to apply

» A medium duty e-Drive
system from Dana.
Image courtesy of Dana Incorporated

brakes to which individual wheel ends."
The ESP is built on the brake system. In addition to the brake system's sensors, modulators, and
wheel speed sensors, two components essential
to the ESP's functionality are the wheel steering
sensor and the yaw lateral sensors. The wheel
steering sensor measures wheel angle and determines the driver's intended steering direction.
It possesses an ability to assist driver action
with steering in order to maintain stability. The
yaw lateral sensors measure lateral, side-to-side
motion. In tandem, these two sensor systems
translate driver intent and vehicle performance.
If the sensor measurements are out of range for
set parameters, the system will automatically take
action to mitigate instability.
Fred Andersky, director of the Bendix Demo
Team, explains the two-fold benefits of the Bendix
ESP as they pertain to the driver.
"Out in the field, [the system] helps a driver
mitigate rollover and loss of control situations," he
says. "Secondly, the system helps the driver learn.
When the driver gets an intervention, whether the
throttle is cut or brakes are applied, they get the
idea that, 'Hey, maybe I took that turn too fast,'
or, 'I need to slow down.' It provides mitigation
and training."
To maintain the ESP, it is crucial to continue
proper maintenance procedures for the ABS
system. The ABS, and therefore the ESP, can only
be as effective as how well the wheel ends are
maintained. Proper care should be taken to keep
wheel ends and the braking system in good shape.
For instance, brake pad changes, rotor changes,
ensuring clean air is in the system through filter
maintenance, proper tire inflation, and measuring
tread depths help the entire system perform.
Wheel speed sensors, being a metallic sensor
placed near the tire, are subject to rain, salt, snow,
sand, and dirt exposure. They can shift and must
be properly adjusted. Wiring is also susceptible

to elemental exposure and should be inspected
through regular PMs.
"Generally speaking, there is not much
routine maintenance [for the ESP], other than
the [maintenance of the] brake system that is
specifically required," says Kevin Romanchok,
director of eMobility and new business development at Bendix. For diagnosing ESP system
issues, Bendix offers ACom diagnostic software.
"It is important that the technicians understand
how to use that to see active or inactive codes,
perform component testing, and address the
problems," says Romanchok.
Andersky also mentions it is important to
recalibrate the sensors, such as the steer angle
sensor, when certain maintenance procedures
are performed on the vehicle, including front-end
alignments. These recalibrations can be completed
through Bendix's ACom diagnostic software.
A PC-based diagnostic system, ACom connects
to the vehicle truck-side, connecting to the ECUs
of subsystems, allowing technicians to examine
error codes and recommended procedures for
repair. A technical support team is available
to answer questions and assist with diagnostic procedures. Bendix also conducts system
demonstrations, which both drivers and technicians are welcome to attend in order to gain an
understanding of what the system does and why
it is being implemented into a vehicle. Bendix's
service engineering staff also offers on-site training for fleets.
Bendix offers a myriad of information and
training specifically focused on the ESP. Avenues
include documentation, training, diagnostics,
support teams, and demonstrations. Thomas
suggests the first line of learning should be
through the service data sheets. The service data
sheets are published on Bendix.com and they
explain proper system operation, system components, and how to troubleshoot the system. The
detailed sheets cover all aspects of the system
and should be the first resource technicians
reference in order to familiarize themselves with
system operations.
Aside from the service data sheets, there
are also operational manuals and technical
bulletins. Another source of information is the

July 2019 | VehicleServicePros.com

http://www.Bendix.com http://www.VehicleServicePros.com

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