Starter system and method of control

A starter system for use with a powertrain having an internal combustion engine with a ring gear operatively connected to a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine, the starter system comprising:

• a brushless electric starter motor selectively operatively connectable to the internal combustion engine;
• a battery power pack;
• a power inverter operable to convert direct current provided from the battery power pack to multi-phase alternating current to drive the brushless electric starter motor;
• a pinion gear configured to be rotatably driven by the brushless electric starter motor and movable between a disengaged position in which the pinion gear is disengaged from the ring gear, and an engaged position in which the pinion gear is meshingly engaged with the ring gear to transfer torque provided from the brushless electric starter motor to the crankshaft;
• a solenoid operatively connected to the pinion gear;
• an electronic control system operable to control the brushless electric starter motor to crank the internal combustion engine using power provided from the battery power pack through the power inverter, and to separately command the solenoid to a disabled state and alternately to an enabled state, wherein the pinion gear moves to the disengaged position when the solenoid is in the disabled state, and moves to the engaged position when the solenoid is in the enabled state;
• wherein the electronic control system includes a timer, and the electronic control system is operable to set the timer for a predetermined period of time after commanding the solenoid to the enabled state;
• and
• wherein controlling the brushless electric starter motor to crank the internal combustion engine is upon expiration of the predetermined period of time.