CONTROL DEVICE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE

A control device is applied to an internal combustion engine equipped with an electric heating catalyst system provided with an EHC. The control device executes a preheating process to warm up an exhaust gas reduction catalyst prior to a start of the internal combustion engine by supplying electric power to the EHC, when the control device determines that a temperature of the exhaust gas reduction catalyst is lower than an activation temperature. The control device executes a determination process for determining whether water is adhered to a catalyst carrier. The control device starts the internal combustion engine without executing the preheating process when the control device determines by the determination process that water is adhered to the catalyst carrier, even when the control device determines that the temperature of the exhaust gas reduction catalyst is lower than the activation temperature.