Patent ID: 8818611

Claim:
A control module-implemented method for evaluating a starting system for an internal combustion engine, the starting system including a starter motor and a battery, comprising: monitoring engine speed, cranking time, and battery voltage during an engine cranking event, said engine cranking event comprising the engine speed increasing from an engine speed of zero to an engine speed threshold; detecting and distinguishing, via a control module, between first and second faults resulting in a non-start event of the engine, wherein detecting the first and second faults comprises: detecting the first fault associated with the starter motor when a minimum starting system voltage during the cranking event is greater than a threshold minimum starting system voltage determined in relation to an engine acceleration parameter, wherein the engine acceleration parameter is calculated by dividing the engine speed threshold by the cranking time for the engine speed to achieve the engine speed threshold; and only if the first fault associated with the starter motor is not detected, detecting the second fault associated with the battery when the engine acceleration parameter is less than a minimum threshold for the engine acceleration parameter during the cranking event.