Patent ID: 8069711

Claim:
A method for detecting a malfunction of a first actuator in an air system of an internal combustion engine having at least one actuator, in which the first actuator is transitioned between at least two control states, one after an other, the method comprising: performing a reading at at least one sensor, whose output signal is a function of an excursion state of the first actuator; making an assessment of a functioning of the first actuator from a change in the output signal responsive to the transition; continuously evaluating the change in the output signal of the at least one sensor as the first actuator is transitioned to measure change in the output signal during the transition of the first actuator between the control states; and holding constant, during the transition, the control of the other actuators that are included in the air system, as well as additional control signals for operating the internal combustion engine which have an influence on the output signal of the sensor.