Method for engine braking a vehicle having a continuously variable transmission

A method for controlling an internal combustion engine of a vehicle, the vehicle comprising:

• the internal combustion engine;
• 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 method comprising:
• determining a first speed, the first speed being proportional to a driven pulley speed;
• determining a throttle operator position;
• determining a desired engine speed corresponding to the throttle operator position;
• when the driven pulley speed is less than a predetermined driven pulley speed and an actual engine speed is less than an engine speed causing a driving pulley speed to be a driving pulley engagement speed:
• controlling the engine to increase the actual engine speed to increase the driving pulley speed to be at least the driving pulley engagement speed;
• and
• when the driven pulley speed is above the predetermined driven pulley speed, the actual engine speed is greater than the engine speed causing the driving pulley speed to be the driving pulley engagement speed, and the desired engine speed is less than the engine speed causing the driving pulley speed to be the driving pulley engagement 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.