A catalyst control system includes a stop and start module that, during a period that the vehicle is ON between (i) a first time when the vehicle is turned ON and (i) a second time when the vehicle is next turned OFF, selectively shuts down and starts a spark ignition engine of the vehicle. A catalyst light off (CLO) control module initiates a first CLO event for a first engine startup during the period and, when a temperature of a catalyst that receives exhaust output by the engine is less than a predetermined temperature, selectively initiates a second CLO event for a second engine startup during the period. A fuel control module richens fueling of the engine during the first and second CLO events of the period. A spark control module retards spark timing of the engine during the first and second CLO events of the period.

A method for starting an internal combustion engine (ICE) having a crankshaft and an electric turning machine (ETM) operatively connected to the crankshaft comprises energizing an absolute position sensor adapted for providing an indication of an angular position of a rotor of the ETM and applying a current to the ETM to generate a sufficient torque to rotate the crankshaft.

Systems and methods for improving regeneration of a particulate filter located in an exhaust system of a vehicle are presented. In one example, the particulate filter is regenerated when the vehicle is expected to operate in a stationary electric power generating mode where the vehicle supplies electric power to off-board electric power consumers.

Method and systems are provided for, in response to a state of charge (SOC) of a vehicle battery increasing above a threshold SOC, reducing an alternator charging based on one or more of a spark timing, an engine speed, an air-fuel ratio, and an engine load. In this way, fuel consumption may be reduced while maintaining a battery SOC for operation of front-end accessories may be achieved, and fuel consumption may be reduced during aggressive vehicle driving conditions such has high engine loads near transmission downshift thresholds and high engine speeds.

A cylinder-inflow EGR gas amount is estimated, a misfire limit EGR gas amount is calculated on the basis of an engine operation state, and the misfire limit EGR gas amount is compared with the cylinder-inflow EGR gas amount to predict whether a misfire occurs. When the misfire is predicted, a misfire avoidance control is executed. Further, an actual misfire countermeasure effect amount in a case of the execution of the misfire avoidance control is calculated, and the actual misfire countermeasure effect amount is compared with a required misfire countermeasure effect amount to determine whether the misfire is avoidable when the misfire avoidance control is executed. If the misfire is unavoidable even if the misfire avoidance control is executed, a delay restriction value of an ignition timing to avoid the misfire is calculated, and the amount of a delay in the ignition timing is restricted using the delay restriction value.

Systems and methods for improving operation of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, driveline oscillations are reduced during engine air-fuel ratio modulation. The driveline oscillations may be reduced via adjusting torque of a motor.

Systems and methods for improving operation of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, driveline oscillations are reduced during engine air-fuel ratio modulation. The driveline oscillations may be reduced via adjusting torque of a motor.

An internal combustion engine is configured to operate in a homogeneous-charge compression-ignition combustion mode. Operation of the engine includes determining a combustion pressure parameter for each cylinder. Fueling for each cylinder is controlled responsive to a target state for the combustion pressure parameter for the corresponding cylinder. An end-of-injection timing and a corresponding spark ignition timing for each cylinder are controlled responsive to a target mass-burn-fraction point for an engine operating point.

A method for operating a combustion engine is disclosed. In an embodiment, the method includes: generating several sparks to ignite a fuel-air mixture in a combustion chamber by an ignition device of the combustion engine, determining a combustion duration of at least one of the sparks, detecting a deviation of an actual operation from a target operation of the combustion engine at least depending on the combustion duration, compensating for the deviation by implementing at least one measure which influences a combustion of the fuel-air mixture in the combustion chamber, determining the combustion duration of the chronological first of the sparks, allocating the first spark to a first spark type or to a second spark type depending on the combustion duration, and implementing the at least one measure if at least one value which characterizes a frequency of one of the spark types exceeds a threshold value.

Methods and systems are provided for adjusting spark and/or fuel injection to a cylinder based on late combustion, partial burn, or misfire in a neighboring cylinder. In one example, a method may include deactivating spark and fuel injection to a second cylinder receiving exhaust residuals from combustion in a first cylinder, the first cylinder experiencing a misfire or late combustion event. Mitigating actions are performed in the second cylinder before the occurrence of a pre-ignition event.