The invention relates to a method for controlling a hydrodynamic
retarder in a motor vehicle. Said hydrodynamic
retarder, which can be mechanically disengaged by a disconnect
clutch, comprises a revolving bladed rotor and a bladed
stator or a revolving bladed rotor and a bladed counter-rotating rotor that revolves in the opposite direction thereto which jointly form a working chamber that is filled with a working medium in a braking mode and is purged of the working medium in a non-braking mode. The rotor is driven via a drive
train including an engaged disconnect
clutch in the braking mode, and the working chamber is purged and the disconnect
clutch is disengaged during the transition from the braking mode to the non-braking mode, the transition from the braking mode to the non-braking mode being initiated by a request that the
retarder be switched off made by a driver assistance
system or by a driver of the vehicle actuating an
input device, and the transition from the non-braking mode to the braking mode being initiated by a request that the retarder be switched on made by a driver assistance
system or by a driver of the vehicle actuating an
input device. The method according to the invention is characterized in that a rotational speed of the rotor and / or a speed of the motor vehicle is monitored and, independently of the request that the retarder be switched on made by a driver assistance
system or by a driver of the vehicle actuating an
input device, the disconnect clutch is engaged below a predefined rotational speed of the rotor and / or speed of the motor vehicle.