Abstract: An abnormality-detecting device for an exhaust gas component concentration sensor arranged in the exhaust system of an internal combustion engine detects abnormality of the exhaust gas component concentration sensor, based on an amount of change in an output from the exhaust gas component concentration sensor exhibited when a predetermined voltage is applied thereto. The abnormality-detecting device defers determination of abnormality of the exhaust gas component concentration sensor until the engine reaches a predetermined operating condition after the engine is started.

Abstract: An evaporative fuel-processing system for an internal combustion engine, comprises an evaporative emission control system in which a first control valve is arranged across an evaporative fuel-guiding passage extending between a fuel tank and a canister, a second control valve across a purging passage extending between the canister and the intake system of the engine, and a third control valve at an air inlet port of the canister, respectively. An external diagnostic device is humanly operatable for diagnosing operating conditions of the engine and the vehicle.

Abstract: An evaporative fuel-processing system for an internal combustion engine, incorporates an evaporative emission control system in which a first control valve is arranged across an evaporative fuel-guiding passage extending between a fuel tank and a canister, a second control valve across a purging passage extending between the canister and the intake system of the engine, and a third control valve at an air inlet port of the canister, respectively. An ECU generates operation command signals to the first to third control valves for closing or opening the same to bring the evaporative emission control system into a predetermined negatively pressurized state. The ECU is responsive to an output from a parameter sensor which detects at least one of vehicle speed, temperature within the fuel tank, and an amount of fuel within the fuel tank, for determining whether there is an abnormality in the evaporative emission control system, based upon an output from a tank internal pressure sensor.

Abstract: An evaporative fuel-processing system includes a first control valve arranged in a charging passage connecting between a fuel tank and a canister for adsorbing evaporative fuel generated from the fuel tank, a second control valve arranged in a purging passage connecting between the canister and an intake passage of the engine, a third control valve arranged in an air inlet port of the canister, and a system internal pressure sensor for detecting pressure within the system. The system is checked for a leak by monitoring a value of the pressure detected by the sensor after the system is negatively pressurized by closing the third control valve and opening the second control valve. The sensor is provided at a location upstream of the first control valve, and the first control valve is closed to detect a value of the pressure or a change thereof. Abnormality determination is carried out based on the detected value of the pressure.

Abstract: A misfire-detecting system for an internal combustion engine compares detected sparking voltage with a first predetermined comparative level and a second predetermined comparative level lower than the first predetermined comparative level. Whether a misfire has occurred in the engine is determined based upon a logical relationship between results of the comparisons. As a result, a misfire can be detected accurately even when dielectric breakdown of the mixture occurs while a misfire has occurred.

Abstract: A misfire-detecting system detects a misfire occurring in an internal combustion engine. A value of sparking voltage for discharging a spark plug of the engine is detected. A differentiating circuit differentiates the detected value of the sparking voltage. A misfire-determining circuit compares the differential value of the sparking voltage with a predetermined value, and determines, based upon a result of the comparison, whether a misfire has occurred in the engine.

Abstract: A misfire-detecting system for an internal combustion engine carries out self-diagnosis of the system. In the system, sparking voltage generated across a spark plug of a cylinder of the engine is detected, and the detected sparking voltage is compared with a first predetermined reference voltage value, and a time period is measured over which the detected sparking voltage exceeds the first predetermined reference voltage value. It is determined that a misfire occurred in the engine when the measured time period exceeds a predetermined time period value. It is determined whether the engine is in self-sustaining operation. When it is determined that the engine is in self-sustaining operation, it is determined whether the misfire-detecting system is abnormal. It is determined that the misfire-detecting system is abnormal when the detected sparking voltage is lower than a second reference voltage value.

Abstract: A misfire-detecting system for an internal combustion engine detects a value of the sparking voltage generated by the igniting device after generation of the ignition command signal, determines the duration of a discharge of a spark plug, based upon the detected sparking voltage, and determines whether or not a misfire has occurred in the engine, based upon the determined duration of the discharge. For example, the misfire-detecting system measures the duration of the discharge from the time of generation of the ignition command signal, based upon the detected sparking voltage, compares the measured duration of the discharge with a predetermined time period. When the measured duration is shorter than the predetermined time period, it is determined that a misfire has occurred in the engine.

Abstract: A catalyst deterioration-determining system determines deterioration of a catalyst arranged in the exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine. An ECU is responsive to an output from an O.sub.2 sensor arranged upstream of the catalyst or outputs from O.sub.2 sensors arranged upstream and downstream of the catalyst for controlling the air-fuel ratio of a mixture supplied to the engine by means of an air-fuel ratio correction value (first air-fuel ratio control). When the engine is in a predetermined operating condition, the system effects changeover from the first air-fuel ratio control to a second air-fuel ratio control which is responsive to the output from the downstream O.sub.2 sensor for controlling the air-fuel ratio of the mixture by means of the air-fuel ratio correction value.

Abstract: A misfire-detecting system for an internal combustion engine detects values of operating parameters of the engine, determines ignition timing of the engine, based upon detected values of operating parameters of the engine to generate an ignition command signal indicative of the determined ignition timing, generates high voltage for causing generation of sparking voltage across a spark plug for discharging the spark plug, according to the ignition command signal, detects a value of the sparking voltage generated across the spark plug when the high voltage is generated, compares the detected value of the sparking voltage with a predetermined reference value, and determines whether or not a misfire has occurred in the engine, based upon results of the comparison. It is determined that the system is abnormal, when it is determined that no misfire has occurred while fuel supply to the engine is being interrupted.

Abstract: Disclosed is an evaporative fuel purging apparatus used for an internal combustion engine. A canister having an absorbing agent for absorbing an evaporative fuel generated in a fuel tank of the internal combustion engine is provided. A drain control valve is provided on a drain port for opening the canister to the atmospheric air, and which is adapted to open and close the drain port. A purge control valve is provided on a purge passage communicating the canister to a part of an intake system, and which is adapted to purge the evaporative fuel absorbed into the canister through opening and closing the purge passage. A diagnostic device diagnoses the presence or absence of leakage in a purge system which is sealed up by closing the drain control valve and the purge control valve after pressure-reduction treatment.

Abstract: An evaporative fuel processing system adapted to be capable of detecting abnormality of an evaporative emission control system for storing, in a canister, evaporative fuel generated from a fuel tank for holding fuel to be supplied to an internal combustion engine, and purging evaporative fuel into the intake system of the engine. A first control valve is arranged across a passage extending between the fuel tank and the canister. A second control valve is arranged across a passage extending between the canister and the intake system of the engine. A third control valve is provided for an air inlet port of the canister communicatable with the atmosphere. Through operating these control valves to open and close them, the evaporative emission control system is negatively pressurized, and abnormality of this system is detected based on the pressure detected in this negatively pressurized state thereof. Timing for carrying out abnormality determination is determined depending on conditions of the fuel tank.

Abstract: A control system for an internal combustion engine determines ignition timing of the engine and generates an ignition command signal to generate high voltage for discharging a spark plug provided for each cylinder of the engine. The control system detects sparking voltage generated across the spark plug when the high voltage is generated. The control system measures a duration over which the sparking voltage across the spark plug exceeds a predetermined reference value, after generation of the ignition command signal. According to a first aspect of the invention, the control system detects combustion roughness based on the duration measured. According to a second aspect of the invention, the control means detects an air-fuel ratio of an air-fuel mixture supplied to the engine, based on the duration measured.

Abstract: A tank internal pressure-detecting device for an internal combustion engine having an evaporative emission control system for controlling purging of evaporative fuel generated in a fuel tank thereof into an intake system thereof. An ECU interrupts purging of evaporative fuel by the evaporative emission control system for a predetermined period of time after the engine is started. The ECU causes control valves of the evaporative emission control system to open the interior of the fuel tank to the atmosphere, and stores a value of pressure within the fuel tank detected by a tank internal pressure sensor as a reference value while the purging is being interrupted and at the same time the interior of the fuel tank is opened to the atmosphere. The ECU corrects an output value of the tank internal pressure sensor, based upon the reference value stored.

Abstract: A misfire-detecting system detects a misfire occurring in an internal combustion engine. A value of sparking voltage for discharging a spark plug of the engine is detected. The detected value of the sparking voltage is compared with a first predetermined value. A degree to which the detected value of the sparking voltage exceeds the first predetermined value is measured. The measured degree is compared with a second predetermined value. It is determined based upon results of the latter comparison whether or not a misfire occurred in the engine. According to a first aspect of the invention, the second predetermined reference value is set based upon detected values of operating parameters of the engine. According to a second aspect of the invention, the determination of occurrence of a misfire is inhibited when the engine is in a predetermined operating condition.

Abstract: A misfire-detecting system for an internal combustion engine detects a value of sparking voltage generated by the igniting device of the engine after generation of an ignition command signal, compares the value of the detected sparking voltage with a predetermined value, and determines whether or not a misfire has occurred in the engine, based upon the result of the comparison. The misfire-detecting system can discriminate between a misfire attributable to the fuel supply system of the engine and one attributable to the ignition system of the engine, from a detected peak value of the sparking voltage.

Abstract: A misfire-detecting system for an internal combustion engine detects a value of sparking voltage generated after generation of an ignition command signal, compares the detected value of sparking voltage with a predetermined voltage value, and determines whether or not a misfire has occurred in the engine, based upon results of the comparison. The determination as to occurrence of the misfire is effected, based upon results of the comparison between the detected value of the sparking voltage and the predetermined voltage value, obtained within a previously set limited comparison period.

Abstract: A misfire-detecting system detects a misfire occurring in an internal combustion engine in such a manner that a value of discharge current is detected when sparking voltage is generated in response to an ignition command signal, the detected value of discharge current is compared with a predetermined current value, and it is determined that a misfire has occurred when a time period over which the detected discharge current value after generation of the ignition command signal is above the predetermined current value is shorter than a predetermined time period.

Abstract: An evaporative fuel processing system adapted to be capable of detecting abnormality of an evaporative emission control system for storing, in a canister, evaporative fuel from a fuel tank for holding fuel to be supplied to an internal combustion engine, and purging evaporative fuel into the intake system of the engine. A first control valve is arranged across a passage extending between the fuel tank and the canister. A second control valve is arranged across a passage extending between the canister and the intake system of the engine. A third control valve is provided for an air inlet part of the canister communicatable with the atmosphere. Through operating these control valves to open and close them, the evaporative emission control system is negatively pressurized, and abnormality of this system is detected based on the pressure detected in this negatively pressurized state thereof. Timing for carrying out abnormality determination is determined depending on conditions of the fuel tank.

Abstract: A tank internal pressure-detecting device for an internal combustion engine having an evaporative emission control system for controlling purging of evaporative fuel generated in a fuel tank thereof into an intake system thereof. An ECU interrupts purging of evaporative fuel by the evaporative emission control system for a predetermined period of time after the engine is started. The ECU causes control valves of the evaporative emission control system to open the interior of the fuel tank to the atmosphere, and stores a value of pressure within the fuel tank detected by a tank internal pressure sensor as a reference value while the purging is being interrupted and at the same time the interior of the fuel tank is opened to the atmosphere. The ECU corrects an output value of the tank internal pressure sensor, based upon the reference value stored.