Methods and systems for operating an engine that includes an electrically operated throttle are disclosed. In one example, mitigating actions are taken in response to degradation of the electrically operated throttle so that the engine may be operated in a way that allows a driver to reach a service area.

A diagnostic device includes a body with a circuit board located therein. The body includes a display screen and a function button unit located on the outside thereof. A connection port and an insertion hole are respectively located to the body. An information cassette is inserted in the insertion hole and electrically connected to the circuit board. A cable unit has a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the cable unit is connected to the connection port, and the second end of the cable unit is connected to a power source and an output port of a cleaning device which is connected to the throttle valve. When the diagnostic device detects abnormal information of the throttle valve via the cable unit, the display screen displays the abnormal information, the cleaning device cleans the throttle valve. The diagnostic device diagnoses the throttle valve afterward.

Systems and methods for operating an engine in response to a condition of an engine air intake throttle being degraded are presented. In one example, the engine air intake throttle is held closed while a position of a fuel vapor storage canister vent valve is adjusted to control air flow into the engine based on a position of an accelerator pedal. In this way, the engine air amount may be adjusted to provide additional torque from an engine while a throttle is degraded.

A spring return throttle actuator including: an electric, plural-coil DC motor having an output shaft, a throttle return spring, a gear transmission connected to the output shaft, a control unit adapted to control power supply to the DC motor, wherein the spring return throttle actuator has a movement range between closed throttle and fully opened throttle. The control unit includes a monitoring circuit adapted to monitor DC motor movement. The monitoring circuit is configured to receive signals from at least one voltage sensor adapted to sense voltage induced in at least one of the DC motor coils during a spring forced return of the throttle, and the monitoring circuit is configured to create a representation of DC motor movement based on said signals.

A spring return throttle actuator including: an electric, plural-coil DC motor having an output shaft, a throttle return spring, a gear transmission connected to the output shaft, a control unit adapted to control power supply to the DC motor, wherein the spring return throttle actuator has a movement range between closed throttle and opened throttle. The control unit is arranged to short-circuit at least two DC motor coils in order to create a DC motor return resist torque, and the return spring is balanced such that generated spring return torque over the whole movement range of the actuator does not exceed said DC motor return resist torque. The invention also relates to a method and a throttle assembly.

A spring return throttle actuator including: an electric, plural-coil DC motor having an output shaft, a throttle return spring, a gear transmission connected to the output shaft, a control unit adapted to control power supply to the DC motor, wherein the spring return throttle actuator has a movement range between closed throttle and opened throttle. The control unit is arranged to short-circuit at least two DC motor coils in order to create a DC motor return resist torque, and the control unit includes a movement monitoring circuit being arranged to monitor actuator movement forced by the throttle return spring and resisted by the DC motor return resist torque. The invention also relates to a method and a throttle assembly.

To quickly determine whether or not the propulsive force of a vehicle drive source is abnormal. The onboard control device pertaining to the present invention has a drive manipulated variable detection unit for detecting or estimating a drive manipulated variable manipulated by a driver in order to impart a propulsive force to a vehicle, a command value calculation unit for calculating a command value for a drive source of the vehicle on the basis of the drive manipulated variable, a propulsive force control unit for controlling the propulsive force of the drive source on the basis of the command value, operating state detection units for detecting or estimating the operating states of the drive source, a drive manipulation rate of change calculation unit for calculating the rate of change in drive manipulation, an operating state rate of change calculation unit for calculating the rate of change in the operating state, and an abnormality detection unit for detecting abnormalities in at least the drive source on the basis of the rate of change in drive manipulation and the rate of change in the operating state.

Disclosed is a method for establishing an engine maintenance diagnosis. The engine includes a throttle which regulates air access into an air intake system of the engine, a position sensor which measures the position of the throttle, a manifold in fluidic communication with the throttle, a pressure sensor which measures the pressure in the manifold, at least one intake valve, a richness probe which measures an oxygen level and a richness controller for modifying the proportions of air and fuel in the air-fuel mixture. The method uses two air flow measurements in order to identify a problem in the throttle or the play at the valves.

A method of conducting prognosis for an airflow management system for a combustion engine includes adjusting a throttle body valve position control signal in response to a detected airflow variation and monitoring an airflow variation compensation (AVC) value corresponding to a degree of adjustment of the control signal. The method also includes generating a throttle body coking severity metric based on at least a plurality of residual error values and the AVC value, and executing at least one response action based on the throttle body coking severity metric exceeding a predetermined threshold.

A method for controlling engine torque in a vehicle during a default throttle condition includes determining whether a throttle of the engine is in a default throttle condition, determining whether the engine is producing more torque than desired if the throttle of the engine is in the default throttle condition, and applying an accessory load to the engine if the engine is producing more torque than desired in the default throttle condition.