Abstract: A method and system for detecting engine misfires in a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine. The system includes a processor and a crankshaft sensor which produces an output signal to the processor representative of the angular position of the crankshaft. The processor is programmed to determine a first velocity difference between a first set of angularly spaced angular ranges of the crankshaft as well as a second velocity difference between a second set of angularly spaced angular ranges of the crankshaft. The first and second angular ranges are different from each other. The processor compares the absolute value of the greater of the first and second velocity differences with a threshold value and generates an engine misfire signal whenever that threshold is exceeded.