A first computer-implemented diagnostic method can run in response to an imminent deceleration fuel cutoff (DFCO) event. A second computer-implemented diagnostic method can run on engine shutdown. Both diagnostic methods involve controlling fuel injectors and a fuel pump to make the fuel rail pressure change from a desired minimum to a desired maximum. Measurements from the fuel rail pressure sensor at these endpoints can then be used to detect a fault of the fuel rail pressure sensor. One or both diagnostic methods can be implemented.

An exhaust purification system comprises an exhaust purification catalyst, a downstream side air-fuel ratio sensor and a control device. The control device makes the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas change to an air-fuel ratio at a rich side from the prior air-fuel ratio as air-fuel ratio rich increasing control when the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas is made a rich air-fuel ratio and the output air-fuel ratio of the downstream side air-fuel ratio sensor is maintained at a lean judged air-fuel ratio or more, and judges that the downstream side air-fuel ratio sensor suffers from an abnormality, when, due to the air-fuel ratio rich increasing control, the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas is made to change to the rich side air-fuel ratio and the output air-fuel ratio of the downstream side air-fuel ratio sensor changes to the lean side.

An exhaust sensor 1 comprises a sensor cell 51, a voltage application circuit 61, a current detection circuit 62 and a concentration calculating part 80a. The current detection circuit detects a first current flowing through the sensor cell when fuel cut control is being performed in the internal combustion engine and a predetermined voltage is applied from the voltage application circuit to the sensor cell, and detect a second current flowing through the sensor cell when normal control is being performed in the internal combustion engine and the predetermined voltage is applied from the voltage application circuit to the sensor cell. The concentration calculating part is configured to calculate the concentration higher with respect to the second current when the first current is relatively low compared with when the first current is relatively high.

This relates to a method for diagnosing a sensor for a motor vehicle, and to the vehicle, the method including: a) a step of detecting errors in the measurements taken by the sensor; b) a first phase of commanding the cleaning of the sensor; and c) a step of cancelling the detection of measurement errors by the sensor if the difference between the first variation in the richness level determined on the basis of the parameter relating to the pumping current and the second variation determined on the basis of the variation in the voltage across the terminals of the sensor is: i) less than a predefined maximum tolerance threshold; and ii) greater than a predefined minimum tolerance threshold.

A vehicle controller includes a plurality of detectors, a control unit, a data collecting unit, a serial communication line, and a transmission order setting unit. Data that changes at a speed that is lower than a given speed value is transmitted in a period in which a communication volume is lower than a given communication volume value. The transmission order is an order in which the pieces of detection data are serially transmitted from the data collecting unit to the control unit.

A sensor for detecting electrically conductive and/or polarizable particles, in particular for detecting soot particles, includes a substrate and at least two electrode layers, a first electrode layer and at least one second electrode layer. Which is arranged between the substrate and the first electrode layer. At least one insulation layer is formed between the first electrode layer and the at least one second electrode layer and at least one opening is formed in both the first electrode layer and the at least one insulation layer. At least some sections of the opening in the first electrode layer and of the opening in the insulation layer are arranged one above the other, such that at least one passage is formed to the second electrode layer.

A method of predicting the temperature of a resistive heating element in a heating system is provided. The method includes obtaining resistance characteristics of resistive heating elements and compensating for variations in the resistance characteristics over a temperature regime. The resistance characteristics of the resistive heating element include, but are not limited to, inaccuracies in resistance measurements due to strain-induced resistance variations, variations in resistance due to the rate of cooling, shifts in power output due to exposure to temperature, resistance to temperature relationships, non-monotonic resistance to temperature relationships, system measurement errors, and combinations of resistance characteristics. The method includes interpreting and calibrating resistance characteristics based on a priori measurements and in situ measurements.

A setting unit which is connected to an intake passage and defines a reference value for a pressure in a passage through which gas flows, an accumulating unit which integrates a difference between the reference value and the pressure from a point in time when the pressure falls below the reference value and acquires an cumulative value, and a diagnosis unit which diagnoses an abnormality of the passage based on the cumulative value, wherein when there is no peak in the pressure, the setting unit sets the reference value based on a state of the internal combustion engine, and when there is a peak in the pressure, the setting unit sets the peak as the reference value in the abnormality diagnosis device.

Methods and systems are provided for adjusting heater power of an oxygen sensor. In one example, a method for an engine includes adjusting heater power of a heating element of the oxygen sensor when the heater power increases by a threshold amount. The method includes subsequently increasing heater power back to a baseline power level responsive to a temperature of the heating element.

An engine diagnostic tool includes a diagnostic engine calibration module structured to include a plurality of diagnostic processes for operating an internal combustion engine system of an immobilized vehicle. One or more of the plurality of diagnostic processes are structured to be an intrusive diagnostic process for the internal combustion engine system, wherein the intrusive diagnostic process causes the internal combustion engine system to operate outside of one or more calibration parameters. The diagnostic engine module is further structured to control the order and timing of each diagnostic process in the plurality of diagnostic processes.