Control apparatus for a vehicle for controlling a device mounted thereon

A control apparatus for a vehicle for controlling a device (16) mounted thereon, the apparatus comprising:

• a) a main controller (6) for controlling the device in an on-off manner;
• b) reset means (5) for initially resetting the main controller for a predetermined time period after a key switch (17) of the vehicle is turned on, said resetting causing the main controller to appear to be functioning abnormally during the predetermined time period;
• c) an auxiliary controller (9) for controlling the device in a continuously on manner in place of the main controller when the main controller is abnormal;
• d) switching means (8) for performing switching between a first position in which the device is controlled by the main controller and a second position in which the device is controlled by the auxiliary controller;
• e) means (7) for detecting an abnormality of the main controller and switching over the switching means into the second position when an abnormality of the main controller is detected;
• and
• f) disabling means (10) for disabling the output of the auxiliary controller during the predetermined time period when the main controller is being reset by the reset means and appears to be functioning abnormally, to thereby prevent the device from being controlled in a continuously on manner during said predetermined time period.