Computers are everywhere. That smartphone you use is actually a small computer. The cable television box is a small computer. Then you have your desktop, laptop and tablets – all computers. Take a look out the window at those cars driving by, as well as the one in your driveway, and you’ll find – that’s right – more computers (some older cars – going back to the ‘70s and earlier – may not have had computers installed yet).

Computers are important to the safe and efficient operation of your vehicle. By efficient, that means that computers help the car to generate ample horsepower while not using too much gasoline. Efficient operation also refers to the amount of emissions that are produced by the car.

With computers, auto manufacturers have managed to build cars that are a pleasure to drive, whether someone is looking for comfort, reliability or performance. In regards to the engine alone, computers control the fuel mixture, idle speed and the firing of the car’s spark plugs. They time and adjust these operations on the go so that, as conditions change, or as you call for acceleration, the engine responds appropriately without the kind of fuel wastefulness that was common with that old Buick dad used to drive.

The car’s computers also alert the driver to potential problems. The onboard computer will trigger sensors that, for instance, turn on the Check Engine light. When you bring the car into a qualified auto repair shop, a repair shop that has the appropriate equipment, the onboard computers will communicate with the auto repair technician’s computer to tell them what’s going on with the car and the engine. But, computers control more than aspects of the engine’s operation.

Today, computers also control many of the following components in a car:

• Anti-lock brakes
• Climate control
• The Radio
• Cruise control
• Transmission operation
• Airbags
• Suspension control
• More

To look at onboard computers another way, consider the operation of a modern jet aircraft. Some of the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy fighter aircraft are so dependent on computers that they really can’t be flown without them. The benefit is that, with the computers, the aircraft are able to perform in ways that would otherwise be impossible.

With a car, it’s somewhat the same situation; the onboard computers bring performance to the vehicle that is otherwise impossible. For instance, back in the ‘60s, you didn’t see a lot of cars with 4-cylinder engines the way you do today. The reason is that the 4 cylinders of that time were greatly underpowered.

In the 1970s, a 4-cylinder engine might produce 50 to 70 horsepower. Today, you can purchase a Ford with a 2.3-liter EcoBoost 4-cylinder engine that produces 310 horsepower. The biggest difference is in the ways that computers help to get the most out of an engine.

That difference is also seen in gas mileage. Today, it’s not uncommon for a 4-cylinder car to achieve gas mileage from the mid 30s to the 40s and above. A 1972 Ford Pinto was rated at 25.4 mpg on the highway (19.8 mpg in the city). And that was a relatively fuel efficient car for the time.

What this all comes down to is that cars today have better performance while operating at greater efficiency and computers are a big reason why. Of course, a lot of cars today have put the computer right in the center of the dashboard where it controls the radio, provides information about the operation of the vehicle, includes a GPS feature, works with your cell phone, and can tell you where to find a good pizza while you’re on the road.

The only other question you need to ask is whether your auto repair shop has kept pace.