The invention relates to a method for operating a power generating device (2) comprising an internal combustion engine, in particular a gas motor or a gas turbine, and an energy accumulator. Said internal combustion engine and the energy accumulator are electrically coupled together. Said internal combustion engine (16) can be operated in accordance with a first estimated value and in accordance with a second estimated value.

Methods and systems are provided for determining engine knock sensor degradation. In one example, a method may include sending an excitation signal to an actuator to generate vibrations in the absence of engine combustion, and determining engine knock sensor degradation by comparing the knock sensor output with the excitation signal.

The invention relates to a control system for an internal combustion engine incorporating an engine shut-off valve for permitting or preventing air flow to an engine, and in particular a diesel or gas-fueled engine. The control system comprises a valve controller unit including a receiver capable of receiving incoming signals from a plurality of sources, and processing a received incoming signal to generate an output signal to output a shutdown command for actuating the shut-off valve for preventing air flow to the engine, and recording, in a memory, event data including a source identifier of the received incoming signal resulting in output of the shutdown command signal.

Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing temperature sensors of a vehicle. In one example, a method may include, at a duration after an engine-off event, determining that an intake air temperature measured by an intake air temperature sensor of the vehicle is less than an ambient air temperature measured by an ambient air temperature sensor of the vehicle. In response to the determining, the method may include flowing air from a catalyst across the intake air temperature sensor; and indicating the intake air temperature sensor is functional responsive to the intake air temperature converging to the ambient air temperature during the flowing.

A system and method for dissipating vehicle under hood heat accumulated during stationary engine operation at high load or RPM and/or under high temperature ambient conditions is installed in a vehicle having an engine positioned within an engine compartment, and a cooling fan selectively driven by way of a fan clutch. The system includes a controller connected to the engine and to the fan clutch. The controller determines whether the period of stationary engine operation occurs at or above a threshold engine load or RPM, at or above a threshold engine operating temperature, at or above a threshold ambient temperature, and/or for or longer than a threshold stationary engine operation duration. If so, the at least one controller increases a low idle set point of the engine and commands the fan clutch to engage or remain engaged for a cool-down period following the period of stationary engine operation.

Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing temperature sensors of a vehicle. In one example, a method may include, at a duration after an engine-off event, determining that an intake air temperature measured by an intake air temperature sensor of the vehicle is greater than an ambient air temperature measured by an ambient air temperature sensor of the vehicle. In response to the determining, the method may include flowing ambient air across the intake air temperature sensor, and indicating the ambient air temperature sensor is functional responsive to the intake air temperature converging to the ambient air temperature during the flowing.

The vehicle is a hybrid vehicle capable of traveling using motive power of at least one of an engine and a motor generator. The vehicle includes: a fuel pump; an injection valve injecting fuel supplied from the fuel pump to the engine; a fuel pressure sensor detecting a supply pressure of the fuel generated by the fuel pump; and an engine ECU. The engine ECU performs a fuel pressure increasing process of increasing the supply pressure of the fuel generated by the fuel pump, and conducts a fault diagnosis of the fuel pressure sensor based on a value detected by the fuel pressure sensor during the fuel pressure increasing process. The engine ECU conducts the fault diagnosis of the fuel pressure sensor in a case where the engine is being stopped and a vehicle speed is higher than a threshold value.

Methods and systems are provided for detecting leaks in an intake manifold of an engine. In one example, a method may include closing all intake valves of all cylinders of the engine during an engine shut down responsive to vacuum in the intake manifold reaching a pre-determined vacuum level. The method may further include indicating a leak in the intake manifold responsive to a change in a level of vacuum in the intake manifold after closing all the intake valves of all cylinders.

A vehicle traveling control method includes detecting a remaining fuel amount in a fuel tank including a fuel chamber in which a suction port of a fuel pump is disposed for sucking fuel to be supplied to an engine, the fuel tank being configured to generate negative pressure for sucking fuel to the fuel chamber by ejecting a part of fuel sucked by the fuel pump into the fuel chamber via a fuel line, permitting, when a predetermined condition is satisfied, inertial traveling during which a vehicle travels, with the engine kept stopped, operating, when the detected remaining fuel amount is less than a first threshold, the fuel pump despite the engine stopped owing to the inertial traveling, and prohibiting stop of the engine when the detected remaining fuel amount is less than a second threshold smaller than the first threshold.

Disclosed is a method for detecting an inclination, relative to the ground, of a wheel of a motor vehicle which includes: measuring two accelerations by using two accelerometers mounted on the wheel and suitable for measuring the acceleration of the wheel along a first axis and along a second axis, respectively, the first axis and the second axis being in the plane of the wheel and orthogonal, and calculating the components of a gravity vector in a reference frame formed by the first axis and the second axis from the measurements of acceleration, determining a modulus of the gravity vector from the calculated components, and determining a position of inclination of the wheel relative to the ground by comparing the value of the modulus of the gravity vector with a predetermined value.