System and method for controlling an automatic engine restart

A powertrain comprising:

• a transmission having an accumulator and a plurality of torque transmitting devices;
• an engine;
• an accelerator pedal;
• an accelerator pedal position sensor for sensing a position of the accelerator pedal;
• a control module in communication with the transmission, the engine, and the accelerator pedal position sensor, the control module having memory for storing and executing a plurality of control logic, the plurality of control logic including:
• a first control logic for automatically stopping the engine;
• a second control logic for restarting the engine;
• and
• a third control logic for overriding the commanded shift by engaging a minimum number of the plurality of torque transmitting devices
• a fourth control logic for setting an engine timer to a zero value immediately after engine restart;
• a fifth control logic for incrementing the engine timer;
• a sixth control logic for calculating a time threshold for holding the minimum number of torque transmitting device override based on the sensed position of the accelerator pedal, wherein a low application of the accelerator pedal indicates a lower gear will be used and a high application of the accelerator pedal indicates a higher gear will be used;
• a seventh control logic for disabling the minimum number of torque transmitting device override if the engine timer is greater than the time threshold;
• and
• an eighth control logic for disabling the minimum number of torque transmitting device override if the engine timer does not exceed the threshold and if the transmission has commanded a shift to a higher gear.

A powertrain comprising:

• a transmission having an accumulator, a first torque transmitting device, and a second torque transmitting device;
• an engine;
• an accelerator pedal;
• an accelerator pedal position sensor for sensing a position of the accelerator pedal;
• a control module in communication with the transmission, the engine, and the accelerator pedal position sensor, the control module having memory for storing and executing a plurality of control logic, the plurality of control logic including:
• a first control logic for automatically stopping the engine;
• a second control logic for commanding a shift by engaging the first and the second torque transmitting devices;
• a third control logic for restarting the engine;
• and
• a fourth control logic for overriding the commanded shift by engaging only one of the first and second torque transmitting devices if the commanded shift is at least a first forward gear or a reverse gear.