Patent ID: 7938096

Claim:
An engine start control device that automatically stops an engine of a vehicle when automatic stop requirements are satisfied while the engine is running, and automatically restarts the engine when automatic start requirements are satisfied while the engine is not running, the engine start control device comprising: a starter energizing circuit that is provided between a power supply and a starter relay for activating a starter of the engine, that includes at least two transistors connected in series, and that energizes the starter relay; and a failure detecting unit that drives each of the transistors to check for failure, the failure detecting unit: detecting failure in one of the transistors by prohibiting a drive of another of the transistors and driving or canceling the drive of the one of the transistors for a predetermined period of time, detecting failure in the other of the transistors by prohibiting the drive of the one of the transistors and driving or canceling the drive of the other of the transistors for the predetermined period of time, and aborting the failure detection when the failure in either one of the transistors is detected.