Abstract: A feeder circuit for a main relay to control ON of OFF of an electric supply from a high-voltage battery is constituted at least by a first harness, the main relay, a second harness and switch means which are connected in series from a plus-terminal side of a low-voltage battery to a vehicle-body ground side. The first harness and the second harness are arranged to be adjacent to each other in a specified range having a specified length so that both thereof in the above-described specified range are damaged in a vehicle collision or the like.

Abstract: A feeder circuit for a main relay to control ON of OFF of an electric supply from a high-voltage battery is constituted at least by a first harness, the main relay, a second harness and switch means which are connected in series from a plus-terminal side of a low-voltage battery to a vehicle-body ground side. The first harness and the second harness are arranged to be adjacent to each other in a specified range having a specified length so that both thereof in the above-described specified range are damaged in a vehicle collision or the like.

Abstract: A traction controller for a vehicle having a control system for controlling the driving of driving wheels such that the spin quantities of the driving wheels from a road surface become target spin quantities, a mechanism for correcting a control condition based on the lateral acceleration of the vehicle, calculating the actual turning radius Rr of the vehicle, and calculating the steering angle corresponding turning radius Ri of the vehicle. When a tendency for the vehicle to deviate from a running line having the turning radius Ri is marked at the time of turning, the lateral acceleration of the vehicle is calculated based on the turning radius Ri. Consequently, it is possible to prevent the excessive under-steer state of the vehicle.

Abstract: A running state control system having running state control means for controlling a running state of a vehicle, in which a control target quantity thereof is set different according to a steering angle, comprises steering angle detecting means for detecting the steering angle, and steering angle changing means for changing the steering angle detected by the steering angle detecting means into a filtered steering angle a decrease of which lags behind a decrease of an actual steering angle. Consequently, an abrupt change in a control condition can be prevented even during a slalom run and counter steering of a vehicle, thus enhancing a running stability of the vehicle.

Abstract: An output torque control system for a multiple cylinder engine limits fuel supply to one or more selected cylinder(s) of the engine according to a predetermined fuel limiting pattern when the engine output torque reduction is to be performed. Fuel supply to the cylinder which first comes to the fuel injection timing after it is determined that the engine output torque reduction is to be performed is limited at least in the fuel injection timing immediately after the determination independently from the predetermined fuel limiting pattern.

Abstract: The main switch is turn on to supply electricity to the control unit for constant-speed crusing control, and a target vehicle speed is set on the basis of an instruction signal from a set switch. The constant-speed cruising control is executed so as for the actual vehicle speed to reach the target vehicle speed. As one of conditions for executing the constant-speed cruising control, the lapse of a predetermined time period from the start of the main switch is added. This arrangement enables the start of execution of the constant-speed cruising control only when the self-diagnosis of the control unit or initialization of various data has been completed.

Abstract: The constant-speed cruising control is performed on the basis of instruction signals from a set switch or the like so that the vehicle speed will reach a target vehicle speed. The constant-speed cruising control is executed so that all switches, such as the set switch or the like, which constitute the instruction signal generating unit, are turned off. This can inhibit the execution of the constant-speed cruising control if the set switch becomes fixed and stays in its ON state.

Abstract: An automatic speed control system for a vehicle includes a throttle control for controlling a throttle valve opening based on a deviation between a target speed and an actual speed of the vehicle so as to accomplish the target speed. A down-shift device for making a down-shift operation in an automatic transmission, a steady judging device for judging a steady condition of the actual speed after the down-shift operation, and an up-shift device for making an up-shift operation in the automatic transmission, when a reduction of the throttle valve opening more than a predetermined value is detected, after the actual speed is judged to be in the steady condition, are provided. A proper speed control can be provided when the vehicle runs uphill, regardless of the length and/or gradient of the uphill path.

Abstract: A troubleshooting apparatus counts the number of times an abnormality occurs whenever each diagnosed portion of an automobile air-conditioning system repeats an abnormal and a normal status, stores each diagnosed portion in which an abnormality is detected and the number of times the abnormality of each diagnosed portion occurs in a nonvolatile memory, recognizes each diagnosed portion having the number of times the abnormality exceeds a predetermined value at the time of troubleshooting as a fault, and recognizes each diagnosed portion having an abnormality that occurs at the time of troubleshooting as a fault. Abnormalities that occur in conjunction with the dismounting and remounting of diagnosed portions during checking processes are absorbed in the number of times the abnormality occurs within the predetermined value so that a wrong diagnosis can be avoided.

Abstract: A switch assembly in which a lever rotates a separate rotary member to operate a first electrical switch and the lever pivots within the rotary member to operate a second electrical switch. The rotating member is held at a first position and a second position when the rotary member is turned. A solenoid is linked to a cam that restores the lever to a neutral position between the first and second positions. A return mechanism returns the pivoting member to its original position when the lever is released.

Abstract: Suspension mechanisms for motor vehicles include dampers of variable damping powers and air springs of variable spring coefficients so that the suspension characteristics are changed between soft and hard modes. The suspension mechanisms are provided with a controller for producing a control signal only when the differential value between the value of a last steering angle and an average value of steering angles is larger than a predetermined value to change the suspension characteristics to the hard mode. In accordance with this arrangement, the suspension characteristics are changed to the hard mode only when the rolling angle of the vehicle exceeds a predetermined value.

Abstract: An improved vehicle suspension system capable of providing at all times a desirable maneuvering characteristic variable in response to changes in the angle of steering. The suspension system includes front wheel suspension assemblies for resiliently suspending the front wheels of the vehicle and rear wheel suspension assemblies for resiliently suspending the rear wheels of the vehicle. The front wheel suspension assemblies and/or the rear wheel suspension assemblies have a variable suspension characteristic which is controlled to vary in response to a steering angle exceeding a predetermined level in a manner such that the steering characteristic of the vehicle during steering operation is changed in a direction toward an oversteer characteristic as compared with the steering characteristic during non-steering operation.