Apparatus for detecting fault in exhaust system of internal combustion engine

摘要

An apparatus for reliably and quickly detecting a fault in an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, based on an output of an air/fuel ratio sensor mounted in the exhaust system. The apparatus includes: a control unit which provides a rich air/fuel ratio forcefully and continuously when detecting the presence or absence of a fault in the exhaust system; and a determining unit which determines that there is a fault in the exhaust system when the sensor mounted in the exhaust system does not produce an output that corresponds to the rich air/fuel ratio being provided under control of the control unit. The detection accuracy of the apparatus is enhanced by making provisions to perform the exhaust system fault detection when the engine is in an idling state in which the fluctuation in pressure is large and the effect of exhaust pipe leakage is most pronounced.