Abstract: According to this method, a) a series of sparks is emitted into an engine cylinder (1), filled with an air/fuel mixture to be ignited, at predetermined successive instants, b) one of the sparks that initiates the ignition of the mixture is identified, c) the difference separating the instant of emission of the spark from a predetermined ignition instant able to ensure that the engine supplies a predetermined mechanical power is evaluated, and d) the instant of opening of the fuel injector (3) is corrected as a function of the difference, so as to initiate subsequent ignitions of the air/fuel mixture in the cylinder (1) at the predetermined instant.

Abstract: According to this method, a) a series of sparks is emitted into an engine cylinder (1), filled with an air/fuel mixture to be ignited, at predetermined successive instants, b) one of said sparks that initiates the ignition of said mixture is identified, c) the difference separating the instant of emission of said spark from a predetermined ignition instant able to ensure that said engine supplies a predetermined mechanical power is evaluated, and d) the instant of opening of said fuel injector (3) is corrected as a function of said difference, so as to initiate subsequent ignitions of the air/fuel mixture in said cylinder (1) at said predetermined instant.