Control device for internal combustion engine and vehicle equipped therewith and control method for internal combustion engine

A control device for an engine that controls the engine so that the engine automatically stops or starts when a predetermined condition is met. The automatic stop/start function is set so that the engine automatically stops or starts when the vehicle is stopped. The control device performs a control to disable the automatic stop/start function during operation of the engine when an engine hood switch (53) indicates that the engine hood is open. Thereafter, a control is performed so as to enable the automatic stop/start function, provided that the engine hood is detected as closed by the engine hood switch and a predetermined vehicle running condition (vehicle speed ¥ predetermined vehicle speed V) is met.