Patent ID: 6499475
Filing Date: 2002-12-31
Classification: F02B,F02D

Abstract:
A method of operating an internal combustion engine including an internal combustion engine for a motor vehicle, the engine having a plurality of cylinders arranged in two cylinder banks, the method comprising the steps of:providing first and second sensors for corresponding ones of said cylinder banks to determine the composition of the exhaust gas and said first and second sensors outputting first and second output signals (uvsk1, uvsk2); determining first and second control factors (fr1, fr2) for corresponding ones of said cylinder banks in dependence upon said first and second output signals (uvsk1, uvsk2), respectively, and said first and second control factors (fr1, fr2) being applied for influencing the respective fuel masses (ti1, ti2) to be injected into corresponding ones of said cylinder banks; comparing said control factors (fr1, fr2) to each other; and, distinguishing between a cylinder-bank independent fault and a cylinder-bank dependent fault in dependence upon said first and second control factors (fr1, fr2).