A method and system for operating a vehicle that includes a plurality of engine starting devices and an internal combustion engine is described. In one example, the method determines whether or not to inhibit automatic engine stopping so that a lifespan of an engine starting device may be extended. In one example, the inhibiting is based on a ratio of an actual total number of engine starts generated via the engine starting device to an actual total distance traveled by the vehicle since the engine starting device was installed.

Aspects of the present invention relate to a controller for controlling operation of an internal combustion engine, a control system, an internal combustion engine, a vehicle, a method and a non-transitory computer readable medium. The controller is configured to, during fuel cut, cause opening of an intake valve of a cylinder of the internal combustion engine to enable air having a mass to enter the cylinder. The mass is below a first range of masses which enable the internal combustion engine to provide combustion torque.

Engine control method for protecting the engine during reverse rotation, and involving the following steps: when a first prediction of the engine speed at a next top dead center is below a predetermined lower threshold, inhibiting the next combustion for this cylinder of the engine, and when the first prediction of the engine speed is between the predetermined lower threshold and a predetermined upper threshold, and the engine reaches a second measurement predetermined angular position which is subsequent to the first measurement position, activating the prediction means again in order to obtain a second prediction of the engine speed at the next top dead center.

A vehicle kill switch comprising: a foot actuatable floor mounted switch; a vehicle stopping means in signal communication with the foot actuatable floor mounted switch. A vehicle kill switch comprising: a first foot actuatable floor mounted switch; a first solenoid in signal communication with the first foot actuatable floor mounted switch; a ground in signal communication with the first foot actuatable floor mounted switch; a first fuel valve in operable communication with the first solenoid; a second foot actuatable floor mounted switch; a second solenoid in signal communication with the second foot actuatable floor mounted switch and in communication with the first foot actuatable floor mounted switch; a ground in signal communication with the second foot actuatable floor mounted switch; a second fuel valve in operable communication with the second solenoid; where when the first switch is closed, the first solenoid and second solenoid become in signal communication with ground, and the first solenoid and second solenoid closes the first fuel valve and second fuel valve, respectively, which in turns stops the flow of fuel to the vehicle engine; and where when the second switch is closed, the first solenoid and second solenoid become in signal communication with ground, and the first solenoid and second solenoid closes the first fuel valve and second fuel valve, respectively, which in turns stops the flow of fuel to the vehicle engine. A vehicle kill switch retrofit kit comprising: a foot actuatable floor mounted switch, the foot actuatable floor mounted switch comprising a first contact located on a first side of the switch, and a second contact located on a second side of the switch; a first wire connected at a first end to a first contact on the foot actuatable floor mounted switch, with a second end configured to attach to an vehicle component; a second wire connected at a first end to a second contact on the foot actuatable floor mounted switch, with a second end configured to attach to an vehicle component; and a floor mounting bracket configured to attach the foot actuatable floor mounted switch to the floor of a vehicle.

A method and system of periodically cycling an air shutoff valve, upon a pre-determined length of time elapsing since the last valve cycle; or upon the cumulative run time of an engine since the last valve cycle exceeding a pre-determined value.

A control device for a vehicle includes an opening degree sensor to detect an opening degree of a wastegate valve disposed in a bypass passage bypassing a turbine. Circuitry is configured to stop an internal combustion engine while the vehicle is driven by a motor in a motor drive mode. The circuitry is configured to calculate a target opening degree of the wastegate valve to be larger than a maximum error between the opening degree detected by the opening degree sensor and an actual opening degree of the wastegate valve. The circuitry is configured to control the wastegate valve such that the opening degree detected by the opening degree sensor is equal to the target opening degree while the vehicle is driven in the motor drive mode.

A vehicle and a control method thereof are provided. The vehicle includes an engine, a catalytic converter including catalyst for purifying exhaust gas discharged from the engine and a sensing unit that is disposed between the engine and the catalytic converter. The sensing unit outputs an electrical signal in response to sensing of gas and a controller starts the engine based on the electrical signal output from the sensing unit and a mileage of the vehicle.

A controller for a vehicle, the vehicle including an engine and a transmission gear device, the controller includes an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to: (i) stop the engine automatically when predetermined engine stopping conditions are fulfilled, the predetermined engine stopping conditions including fulfillment of a shift position condition of the transmission gear device, (ii) start the engine automatically when a predetermined waiting time has elapsed since a change in shift position, and (iii) change the waiting time depending on the duration of an automatic stop of the engine.

An internal combustion engine-based system includes an internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine-based system includes an engine interrupt connected to the engine. The engine interrupt is configured to selectively stop the operation of the engine. The internal combustion engine-based system includes a controller in communication with the engine interrupt. The internal combustion engine-based system includes a carbon monoxide detector in communication with the controller. The controller uses the engine interrupt to stop the operation of the engine when the carbon monoxide detector provides the controller with signals that are representative of a carbon monoxide level proximate the internal combustion engine that together form a trend of building carbon monoxide amounts over a set time interval.

A fuel injection valve drive control device includes a boost circuit having a boost coil, a switching component (FFT or the like) supplying a switching current from a battery source voltage to the boost coil, and a boost capacitor accumulating a boosted voltage generated by the operation of the switching component; a discharge circuit for discharging the accumulated electric charge via a current limiter (e.g. discharge resistor, constant current source) and a discharge switch (FET or the like); and a monitoring circuit for monitoring the accumulated voltage. The discharge circuit is caused to operate when the control device is shutting down and performs a deterioration/failure diagnosis of the boost capacitor and an operation check of the discharge circuit on the basis of a monitored voltage value of the boost capacitor at starting the discharge operation and a monitored voltage value of the boost capacitor after a predetermined time has elapsed.