A technique is provided which can specify a member in which malfunction
really occurs when there exists malfunction in at least one of a
plurality of state values representing the state of an internal
combustion engine. When an amount of fresh intake air is controlled by
increasing and decreasing an amount of EGR gas in a feedback manner, and
when an amount of fuel to be added to an exhaust gas is controlled based
on an air fuel ratio sensor in a feedback manner, a determination is
made, based on the result of comparison between output values and command
values of members to be detected and corresponding reference values, as
to in which member malfunction occurs. Such a determination is based on
the fact that relations between output values and command values of the
members to be detected and corresponding reference values in individual
operating states are different from one another depending on sensors or
devices in which malfunction occurs.