Method and apparatus for monitoring a arranged in an exhaust region of an internal combustion engine component

The invention relates to a method for monitoring a arranged in an exhaust region of an internal combustion engine sensor unit. According to the invention it is provided that directly or indirectly determined by the sensor unit a sensor temperature, and from a comparison of directly or indirectly specific sensor temperature at a given means of a further sensor unit exhaust gas temperature and / or with model types, and / or with defined thresholds detection on removal and / or not work properly mount the sensor unit is closed. The invention further relates to an apparatus for monitoring a arranged in an exhaust region of an internal combustion engine sensor unit, wherein a sensor temperature is determined with the sensor unit directly or indirectly, which in an engine controller with a by means of a further sensor unit specific exhaust gas temperature and / or with model types, and / or is comparable defined threshold values, and from the comparison an error entry and / or a warning message can be derived. With the presented method and apparatus for performing this method structural alterations or damages in the area of ​​the exhaust area of ​​the engine can be detected. In particular, can thus reliably detect malfunctions or even an improper expansion of the sensor unit as part of an expanded on-board diagnostics (OBD). A particularly advantageous application of the ...