Abstract: A method is disclosed for controlling a variable valve timing mechanism of an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders, wherein, at a first operating point of the internal combustion engine, the fuel quantity which is fed in in each case is reduced successively for each cylinder until a predetermined unsmooth-running limiting value is reached. The variable valve timing mechanism is controlled with consideration of the cylinder-individual values for the fuel-quantity reduction at the first operating point.

Abstract: During the starting phase of an internal combustion engine with fuel injection so-called pilot injectors (I) are used to establish a film on the cylinder walls and at the same time to provide an ignitable mixture for the first combustion. At this point in time the cam shaft and the crankshaft are not yet synchronized and the position of the pistons is unknown. The method according to the invention allows determination of the sequence of the pilot injectors (I) depending on the possible relative positions during the stop periods of the internal combustion engine, said positions being known beforehand.

Abstract: During the starting phase of an internal combustion engine with fuel injection so-called pilot injectors (I) are used to establish a film on the cylinder walls and at the same time to provide an ignitable mixture for the first combustion. At this point in time the cam shaft and the crankshaft are not yet synchronized and the position of the pistons is unknown. The method according to the invention allows determination of the sequence of the pilot injectors (I) depending on the possible relative positions during the stop periods of the internal combustion engine, said positions being known beforehand.

Abstract: A control unit has a microprocessor, a non-volatile program memory, a volatile or erasable non-volatile monitoring result memory and a non-volatile, writable backup memory. The program memory stores both a control program routine and a monitoring program routine for monitoring the controlled system. An obtained monitoring result is stored in the monitoring result memory and is transferred to the backup memory.