A system and method for controlling the operation of a vehicle radiator fan motor is provided. One embodiment receives one of a low-speed radiator fan control signal or a high-speed radiator fan control signal from an engine control module; provides a first soft start of the radiator fan motor in response to receiving the low-speed radiator fan control signal, wherein the first soft start is defined by a first increasing power ramp that starts at a zero-power level and ends at a low-speed power level; and provides a second soft start of the radiator fan motor in response to receiving the high-speed radiator fan control signal, wherein the second soft start is defined by a second increasing power ramp that starts at the zero-power level and ends at a high-speed power level.

A system that may include an engine, and a fan configured to vary a measured engine temperature of the engine during operation. A vehicle controller may also be provided having one or more processors that may be configured to determine an ice risk characteristic of the engine, operate the fan to cool the engine based on the ice risk characteristic, and operate the fan to rotate in reverse based on the ice risk characteristic.

A system and approach for development of setpoints for a controller of a powertrain system. The controller may be parameterized as a function of setpoints to provide performance variables that are considered acceptable by a user or operator for current operating conditions of the engine or powertrain. The controller may determine set point trajectories in real time during operation of the powertrain system and determine positions of manipulated variables do drive controlled variables to associated and determined set point trajectories. The present system and approach may determine set point trajectories for powertrain conditions on-line and in real time, whereas set point trajectories have previously been determined off-line for powertrain control.

A fluid flow control device controls flow of coolant in a motor vehicle motor cooling system. The flow control device includes first and second coolant inlets and first and second coolant outlets. The flow control device is operable selectively to direct coolant flowing into the device to flow out from the flow device through one or both of the first and second outlets in dependence on a temperature of fluid flowing through the device.

A system for controlling a fan of a vehicle engine. The system comprises: i) a fan configured to selectively cool the vehicle engine; and ii) an engine control module configured to: a) turn on the fan when the engine temperature exceeds a selected temperature threshold; b) determine when the vehicle engine is operating in an engine braking mode; and c) in response to the engine operating in the engine braking mode, turn on the fan when the engine temperature is below the selected temperature threshold. The engine control module turns the fan off as a means of hardware protection of the fan clutch even during engine braking modes.

Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing an active grille shutter (AGS) system. In one example, a method may include indicating degradation of an AGS system of a vehicle based on an infrared image information obtained from a camera coupled to the vehicle and adjusting one or more engine operating parameters responsive to the indicating.

A controller for a vehicle executes a base temperature calculation process that calculates a base temperature of a component of the internal combustion engine, a correction value calculation process that calculates a correction value, a vehicle line reflection process when the vehicle including the component of which temperature is estimated is a temperature-estimated vehicle that is in a line of vehicles in order to reflect, on the correction value, a tendency of the component to be less cooled when the temperature-estimated vehicle is a trailing vehicle than when the temperature-estimated vehicle is a leading vehicle, a rearmost reflection process when the temperature-estimated vehicle is in the line of vehicles in order to reflect, on the correction value, a tendency of the component to be more cooled when the temperature-estimated vehicle is a rearmost vehicle, and a component temperature estimation process that corrects the base temperature with the correction value.

A controller for a vehicle executes a base temperature calculation process that calculates a base temperature of a component of the internal combustion engine, a correction value calculation process that calculates a correction value, a vehicle line reflection process when the vehicle including the component of which temperature is estimated is a temperature-estimated vehicle that is in a line of vehicles in order to reflect, on the correction value, a tendency of the component to be less cooled when the temperature-estimated vehicle is a trailing vehicle than when the temperature-estimated vehicle is a leading vehicle, a rearmost reflection process when the temperature-estimated vehicle is in the line of vehicles in order to reflect, on the correction value, a tendency of the component to be more cooled when the temperature-estimated vehicle is a rearmost vehicle, and a component temperature estimation process that corrects the base temperature with the correction value.

A system and method for controlling the operation of a vehicle radiator fan motor is provided. One embodiment receives one of a low-speed radiator fan control signal or a high-speed radiator fan control signal from an engine control module; provides a first soft start of the radiator fan motor in response to receiving the low-speed radiator fan control signal, wherein the first soft start is defined by a first increasing power ramp that starts at a zero-power level and ends at a low-speed power level; and provides a second soft start of the radiator fan motor in response to receiving the high-speed radiator fan control signal, wherein the second soft start is defined by a second increasing power ramp that starts at the zero-power level and ends at a high-speed power level.

A system for controlling a fan of a vehicle engine. The system comprises: i) a fan configured to selectively cool the vehicle engine; and ii) an engine control module configured to: a) turn on the fan when the engine temperature exceeds a selected temperature threshold; b) determine when the vehicle engine is operating in an engine braking mode; and c) in response to the engine operating in the engine braking mode, turn on the fan when the engine temperature is below the selected temperature threshold. The engine control module turns the fan off as a means of hardware protection of the fan clutch even during engine braking modes.