In order to reduce the fuel consumption and emissions of automobile, the engine idle speed control method was studied. The basic concept of engine idle speed and the requirements and strategies of idle speed control were introduced, and the features and structures of CAN bus technology were analyzed. An idle speed control system of automobile engine based on CAN bus was designed which included main control module, front control module and rear control module. The overall structure, hardware design and software implementation of the system were given. The system can realize the desired functions, and it has certain application value.