Method for engine braking a vehicle having a continuously variable transmission

A method for controlling an internal combustion engine of a vehicle going downhill with a throttle operator in an idle position, the vehicle comprising:

• the internal combustion engine;
• the throttle operator;
• a continuously variable transmission (CVT) comprising:
• a driving pulley operatively connected to the engine;
• a driven pulley;
• and
• a belt looped around the driving and driven pulleys, the belt transmitting torque between the driving and driven pulleys;
• and
• at least one ground engaging member operatively connected to the driven pulley;
• the driven pulley initially having a driven pulley speed below a predetermined driven pulley speed, the method comprising:
• determining a first speed, the first speed being proportional to the driven pulley speed;
• as the driven pulley speed increases and the driven pulley speed is below the predetermined driven pulley speed, increasing an actual engine speed as the driven pulley speed increases;
• the actual engine speed being an engagement speed when the driven pulley speed is the predetermined driven pulley speed;
• and
• as the driven pulley speed continues to increase and the driven pulley speed is above the predetermined driven pulley speed:
• controlling the engine to operate under conditions corresponding to an engine braking speed thereby causing engine braking, the engine braking speed being less than the actual engine speed.