Selective auto start/stop delay during low speed maneuvers based on electric power steering current

1. A vehicle comprising:

an electric power steering (EPS) system coupled to a steering wheel of a vehicle;

a current sensor to sense EPS current drawn by the EPS system; and

an engine control module to control operation of an engine of the vehicle and including:

an auto start/stop module to selectively start and stop the engine independent from user input to start and stop the engine,

wherein the auto start/stop module selectively delays an auto engine stop based on the EPS current.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the current sensor is located between the EPS system and a vehicle battery.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the current sensor is located independent from the EPS system.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the auto start/stop module selectively delays the auto engine stop further based on vehicle speed.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the auto start/stop module selectively delays the auto engine stop further based on a distance travelled by the vehicle after a brake is applied and vehicle speed is less than a predetermined threshold.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the auto start/stop module selectively delays the auto engine stop further based on brake pedal position.

7. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the auto start/stop module selectively delays the auto engine stop further based on PRNDL position.

8. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the auto start/stop module determines whether activity occurring after a brake pedal is applied and vehicle speed is less than a predetermined value corresponds to a parking maneuver, a non-parking maneuver or a possible parking maneuver.

9. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the auto start/stop module delays engine auto stop when the auto start/stop module determines that the possible parking maneuver has occurred.

10. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the auto start/stop module enables engine auto stop when at least one of:

a distance travelled by the vehicle since the brakes are applied is greater than a first threshold;

a speed of the vehicle is greater than a second threshold; and

a period since the delay began is greater than a third threshold.

11. A method comprising:

sensing current drawn by an electric power steering (EPS) system of a vehicle;

controlling operation of an engine of the vehicle and selectively starting and stopping the engine independent from user input to start and stop the engine; and

selectively delaying an auto engine stop based on the EPS current.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the current is sensed between the EPS system and a vehicle battery.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the current is sensed independent from the EPS system.

14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising selectively delaying the auto engine stop further based on vehicle speed.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising selectively delaying the auto engine stop further based on a distance travelled by the vehicle after a brake is applied and vehicle speed is less than a predetermined threshold.

16. The method of claim 11 , further comprising selectively delaying the auto engine stop further based on brake pedal position.

17. The method of claim 11 , further comprising selectively delaying the auto engine stop further based on PRNDL position.

18. The method of claim 11 , further comprising determining whether activity occurring after a brake pedal is applied and vehicle speed is less than a predetermined value corresponds to a parking maneuver, a non-parking maneuver or a possible parking maneuver.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising delaying engine auto stop when the auto start/stop module determines that the possible parking maneuver has occurred.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising enabling engine auto stop when at least one of:

a distance travelled by the vehicle since the brakes are applied is greater than a first threshold;

a speed of the vehicle is greater than a second threshold; and

a period since the delay began is greater than a third threshold.