Method and arrangement for monitoring the operation of a gas flow control element in an internal combustion engine

Abstract

The invention is directed to a method and an arrangement for monitoring the operation of a gas flow control element in an internal combustion engine. In this method, the engine rough running is detected and at least one rough-running signal is formed which represents the rough running of the engine. Then, by driving the gas flow control element, a change of the position of the gas flow control element is attempted. Then, a detection of the rough-running signals as a function of the change of the position of the gas flow control element takes place. The change of position is intended by the driving of the gas flow control element. From the above, a function signal can be derived which provides information as to the operation of the gas flow control element. The diagnosis of a gas flow control element by evaluation of the engine rough running in engine controls (which anyway have units for forming rough-running values) permits a diagnosis of the above kind without separate sensors for function monitoring. The method is suitable especially for monitoring the operation of swirl flaps.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.