a system and method for controlling an internal combustion engine of a vehicle during an automatic shutdown process , in particular to cool the engine to a predetermined safe shutdown temperature , includes the steps of determining that vehicle - idle conditions exist and whether an engine - associated temperature exceeds a predetermined first threshold temperature value , for which a cooling fan is operated to cool the engine , or higher second threshold temperature , for which at least one of the cooling fan and a coolant pump is operated above idle levels and the engine speed may be increased above idle to cool the engine . cooling fan and / or coolant pump operation is reduced when the engine temperature is determined to have decreased to below the first threshold temperature value . finally , engine shutdown is completed when predetermined shutdown conditions are fulfilled .