Patent ID: 8187132

Claim:
A vehicle controller for a vehicle provided with an engine and an automatic transmission having an engaging element engaged by using hydraulic pressure when the vehicle starts, wherein when said vehicle stops in a forward drive position while predetermined conditions of vehicle state are satisfied, neutral control of releasing said engaging element is executed, and when separately determined conditions are satisfied, a return control of engaging said engaging element is executed, said automatic transmission includes a fluid coupling coupled to an output shaft of said engine, a transmission mechanism coupled to an output shaft of said fluid coupling and a hydraulic circuit applying hydraulic pressure to said engaging element; said controller comprising: a turbine speed sensor detecting turbine speed of said fluid coupling; and a control unit connected to said turbine speed sensor; wherein said control unit calculates degree of progress of the return control based on said detected turbine speed during said return control, sets a target amount of change of the turbine speed in accordance with the calculated degree of progress, and controls said hydraulic circuit based on said set target amount of change in said return control.