Methods and systems are provided for pinpointing a source of degradation in a vehicle engine system. In one example, a method includes spinning an engine of a vehicle unfueled in a forward and a reverse direction, in no particular order, and recording a first intake air flow and a second intake air flow, respectively, in an intake of the engine, and where the source of degradation is indicated as a function of both the first air flow and the second air flow. In this way, the degradation of the vehicle engine system may be pinpointed as to being located in the intake manifold, the exhaust system, or the engine.

A vehicle power supply box device includes: a first system which feeds electric power to first group electric parts requiring constant feed of power supply electric power; a second system which feeds electric power from to second group electric parts requiring feed of power supply electric power in response to a state of an ignition switch. The device further includes: a recovery switch portion connected between a second input side power supply line and an input of the first system; an input abnormality detecting portion which detects presence/absence of abnormality in the input of the first system; and a recovery control portion which controls the recovery switch portion to be turned ON/OFF in accordance with the presence/absence of the abnormality detected by the input abnormality detecting portion.

An alternator driving apparatus for driving an alternator may include a crank pulley mounted on a crank shaft of an engine, an alternator pulley connected to the crank pulley through a driving belt, an alternator shaft connected between the alternator and the alternator pulley, and a rotation speed varying mechanism configured to vary a rotation speed of the alternator shaft.

A method of controlling a motor assembly for starting an engine and driving a balance shaft includes: determining whether starting or restarting of an engine is desired; operating an actuator such that a motor shaft is moved forward when the starting or restarting of the engine is desired; and starting or restarting the engine by rotating a motor and by driving a start gear, after the operating the actuator.

A vehicle includes an internal combustion engine having an auto stop function, an electric pump motor drivably coupled to a transmission pump and a heat exchanger pump, and at least one controller. The controller is configured to control the pump motor to operate the transmission pump to supply hydraulic pressure to a transmission, and to operate the heat exchanger pump to provide flow from the engine to a heater core radiator in response to the engine being auto stopped.

A system and method are provided for hybrid electric internal combustion engine applications. A motor-generator, a narrow switchable coupling and a torque transfer unit are arranged in the constrained environment at the front of an engine. The motor-generator is preferably laterally offset from the switchable coupling, which is co-axially-arranged with the engine crankshaft. The switchable coupling is an integrated unit in which a crankshaft vibration damper, an engine accessory drive pulley and a disengageable clutch overlap such that the axial depth of the clutch-pulley-damper unit is nearly the same as a conventional belt drive pulley and engine damper. The front end motor-generator system includes an electrical energy store that receives electrical energy generated when the coupling is engaged. When the coupling is disengaged, the motor-generator may drive the pulley portion of the clutch-pulley-damper to drive the engine accessories using energy from the energy store, independent of the engine crankshaft.

Systems and methods for improving operation of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, driveline operation may be adjusted in response to operating the hybrid vehicle in a four wheel drivel low gear range. The approaches may improve vehicle drivability and reduce driveline degradation.

A motor assembly for starting an engine and driving a balance shaft may include: a motor for rotating a motor shaft which is axially movable; a clutch attached to one end of the motor shaft so as to transfer or block rotational force of the motor shaft; a balance shaft rotated by the rotational force of the motor shaft transferred through the clutch so as to reduce vibration generated by an engine; a start gear attached to the other end of the motor shaft; and an actuator for axially moving the motor shaft in a forward or backward direction.

Embodiments for a hybrid drive are provided. In one example, a hybrid module for arrangement on an internal combustion engine, which is configured for starting the internal combustion engine, includes an electric motor, for generating a torque, and an output element connected in a torque-transmitting manner to the electric motor and positioned on an output axle, for transmission of the torque to a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine. According to the disclosure, the hybrid module has a magnetic transmission, wherein the torque of the electric motor is transmitted via the magnetic transmission to the output element.

A power transmission device includes: an engine; a rotary machine; and an oil pump connected to each of a rotary shaft of the engine and a rotary shaft of the rotary machine through a one-way clutch. The power transmission device is configured to allow the rotary machine to rotate at a rotational speed higher than the rotational speed corresponding to a speed of the engine and lower than the rotational speed corresponding to an idling speed of the engine at the time of startup of the engine.