Method and arrangement for automatically restarting a drive unit

Abstract

The invention is directed to a method and an arrangement for automatically restarting a drive unit (1) including an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle. The method and arrangement provides for an automatic restart when there is an unintended stalling of the drive unit (1). In the case of a stalling of the drive unit (1), a check is made as to whether the drive unit (1) was already in a steady-state condition directly before the stalling. Furthermore, a check is made as to whether the stalling of the drive unit (1) took place because of an operator input, especially at an input unit (5). In addition, a check is made as to whether a force-tight connection between the drive unit (1) and a transmission (25 or 80) is present. A restart of the drive unit (1) is automatically initiated when: the drive unit (1) was already in a steady-state condition directly before the stalling; when the stalling took place in a departure from the operator input; and, when the force-tight connection between the transmission (25 or 80) and the drive unit (1) is interrupted.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.