Abstract: Systems and methods for operating an engine and a torque converter are presented. In one example, slip of a torque converter is adjusted via at least partially closing or opening a torque converter clutch in response to vehicle vibration. The vehicle vibration may be based on road surface conditions and an actual total number of operating cylinders of the engine.

Abstract: A shift control device includes: a selector configured to receive operation of selecting a shift range of an automatic transmission and output selection information corresponding to the operation, the automatic transmission being configured to convert and output driving force of an engine; a range switch controller configured to switch the shift range in accordance with the selection information; a parking mechanism configured to bring the automatic transmission into a parking state by locking rotation of the automatic transmission; a clutch configured to turn on/off transmission of driving force; a clutch controller configured to control operation of the clutch in accordance with the selection information; and a delay setter configured to set delay time until driving of the parking pawl starts on the basis of rotation speed difference and oil temperature of the automatic transmission when selection information indicating that the parking range is selected is output.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling an engine system with a variable cam timing device. In one example, the variable cam timing device is operated to adjust engine valve timing differently at engine stop based on whether the engine stop is in response to an operator request or in response to an automatic controller initiated engine stop without an operator request.

Abstract: A vehicle system includes a transmission shifting means, an authorization means, an engine, and a control system. The transmission shifting means is capable of being shifted between a first position and a second position, where the first position represents a start mode. The authorization means adapted to detect an identification signal and to supply an authorization signal indicating the identification signal has been verified. The engine is adapted to turn on and to turn off. The control system is in operable communication with the transmission shifting means, the authorization means, and the engine. When the transmission shifting means is shifted to the first position, the transmission shifting means sends a first signal to the control system, the control system detects whether the authorization signal has been received from the authorization means, and if received, the control system provides a first command to the engine to turn on.

Abstract: An on-board diagnostic system of a vehicle comprises disabling diagnostic operation, such as a misfire monitor, based on road roughness. In one example, the disabling of the diagnostic operation is based on brake actuation and degradation of an anti-lock braking system.

Abstract: An ECU executes a program including the steps of detecting a stroke amount SP of a clutch pedal, a value I of current flowing through a solenoid valve of a normally-closed type provided at a pipe coupling a master cylinder and a clutch release cylinder, and a stroke amount SC of the clutch release cylinder, and permitting performing of idle stop when a condition that the stroke amount SP of the clutch pedal is at least a threshold value SP(1), a condition that stroke amount SC of the clutch release cylinder is at least a threshold value SC(0), and a condition that value I of current flowing through the solenoid valve is not larger than a threshold value I(0) are all satisfied.

Abstract: Prior to transitioning a multiple-displacement engine from a full-displacement engine operating mode to a partial-displacement engine operating mode, a base slip rate of a torque converter coupled to the engine engine is increased by a predetermined slip rate offset. The engine is then transitioned to partial-displacement mode upon the earlier of either achieving the desired offset slip rate, or once a maximum time delay has occurred since the slip rate offset was enabled. An offset slip rate is maintained throughout partial-displacement engine operation, and through a transition back to a full-displacement mode. The slip rate offset is removed or disenabled once the engine is again operating in the full-displacement mode. The slip rate offset is either a calibratable constant or is determined as a function of one or more suitable engine or vehicle operating parameters affecting vehicle NVH levels, such as engine speed and vehicle speed.

Abstract: A torque prediction module for an automatic transmission system includes a throttle-based torque prediction module. The throttle-based torque prediction module determines a first predicted torque of an engine in a vehicle that is based on a position of a throttle, an ambient air pressure, an intake temperature, and an engine speed. A torque offset module determines a torque offset that is based on the first predicted torque and a second predicted torque of the engine that is based on a mass airflow in an intake manifold of the engine. A blended torque module determines a third predicted torque of the engine that is based on the torque offset and the second predicted torque. A line pressure control module adjusts a line pressure of the automatic transmission based on the third predicted torque. An ECCC control module adjusts an amount of slip in an ECCC based on the third predicted torque.

Abstract: A method for controlling the ignition of an internal combustion engine (10) for a motor vehicle. More specifically, the method controls the timing of ignition for each of cylinder of the internal combustion engine (10). Control of the timing is based on two parameters, i.e., the speed at which the internal combustion engine (10) is operating and the gear in which the transmission (22) is operating. The speed is measured in terms of revolutions per minute. The gear helps to gauge what type of load may be present on the internal combustion engine (10). By identifying each of these parameters, it may easily be determined at what value the timing may be. If the specific speed of the vehicle is not located within the look-up table, where the data is stored, the method will interpolate the timing value based on values close to the value of the speed of the internal combustion engine (10) based on the neighboring values thereof.

Abstract: In an engine with an automatic transmission having a lock-up mechanism, engine ignition timing is retarded more for a predetermined period immediately after a lock-up than the engine ignition timing normally set based upon an engine operating condition when a lock-up control is performed. Thereby, a knocking occurrence immediately after the lock-up is properly prevented.

Abstract: A constant-speed running controller which sets a target throttle opening of a throttle valve such that the speed of a vehicle is at a target vehicle speed, detects an amount of accelerator pedal operation as an accelerating pedal opening, adds the set target throttle opening and the detected accelerating pedal opening to generate an opening signal as the addition result, and drives the throttle valve and controls a transmission stage of an automatic transmission in accordance with the opening signal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a safety system for a motor vehicle having an internal-combustion engine. Independent quantities are used for engine control and for monitoring the engine control. Control of the internal-combustion engine is performed, for example, by way of an operating parameter characterizing the engine load, while monitoring of the engine control is performed by means of the output torque. Preferably, monitoring of the engine control is integrated into a traction control system, in which case desired and actual values for a quantity characterizing the vehicle propulsion, such as the output torque, are transmitted by the engine control to the monitoring system and are compared there for recognizing a fault. If a fault is recognized in the traction control system, a signal is transmitted back to the engine control unit, to influence the engine control.

Abstract: An integral control system for an engine and an automatic transmission, in which the engine torque is reduced at a shifting time by the automatic transmission. The control system comprises a mechanism for limiting the engine torque to a predetermined value or less prior to the start of a shift by the automatic transmission when a predetermined condition is satisfied at the time of the shift. The engine torque is continuously reduced to a predetermined value by throttling the throttle opening gradually by a throttle valve mechanism till the start of an inertia phase in the shift; is reduced by further throttling the throttle opening by the throttle valve mechanism in accordance with the start of the inertia phase; and is gradually returned by increasing the throttle opening continuously by the throttle valve mechanism after the torque reduction control.

Abstract: A control system for an automobile engine equipped with an automatic transmission has an intake air controller, such as an electric throttle valve, controlling intake air introduced into the engine according to control patterns which are predetermined for various gears of the automatic transmission. The control system interrupts the control of intake air introduction according to a control pattern corresponding to a desired gear to which the automatic transmission should be shifted up to during an up-shift operation to the desired gear. During a down-shift operation, the control system causes the output torque controller to start the control of output torque according to the control pattern corresponding to a desired gear to which the automatic transmission should be shifted down to simultaneously with a drop of engine output torque.