Patent ID: 7481103

Claim:
An engine controller for an engine of a motor vehicle, the engine controller comprising: an engine control device predefining an admissible engine torque on a basis of a torque envelope curve in dependence on an accelerator pedal position and an engine speed, said engine control device having an interface for connecting to a diagnostic device, the diagnostic device predefining an intervention variable for said engine control device, the intervention variable representing at least one of an engine torque and the engine speed and on a basis of the intervention variable the engine being actuated for at least one of test purposes and diagnostic purposes, when at least one test criterion being fulfilled in at least one of said engine control device and the diagnostic device, the torque envelope curve of said engine control device can be one of widened and bypassed for one of test purposes and diagnostic purposes such that given an unactivated accelerator pedal for a defined engine torque at a request of the diagnostic device a larger engine torque is admissible than the engine torque predefined by the torque envelope curve given the unactivated accelerator pedal and a defined engine speed.