Starting control device for internal combustion engines and starting control method

A starting control method for an internal combustion engine, the starting control method being provided with a hard cranking device and a soft cranking device, the hard cranking device being capable of cranking the internal combustion engine to a target idle rotation speed, and the soft cranking device producing smaller output than the hard cranking device and being incapable of cranking the internal combustion engine to the target idle rotation speed, the starting control method comprising:

• a starting mode determination procedure configured to determine whether to carry out starting in a non-combustion pressure mode whereby the internal combustion engine is started by bringing the internal combustion engine to the target idle rotation speed through cranking with the hard cranking device, or in a combustion pressure combination mode whereby the internal combustion engine is started by bringing the internal combustion engine to the target idle rotation speed through cranking with the soft cranking device while using a combustion pressure in combination, the combustion pressure being generated by supplying fuel to the internal combustion engine;
• and
• an intake air amount control procedure configured to make an amount of intake air during cranking differ between a case where starting is carried out in the non-combustion pressure mode and a case where starting is carried out in the combustion pressure combination mode.