quote:

For the Jeep Rubicon, there is apparently a separate battery just for that Auto Stop function, which is a pain in the ass to replace.

quote:

Originally posted by ador:
I hate that feature of the newer vehicles. Thats the first thing I turn off when I start the car. Im sure there is a way ti permanently disable that function. I just haven’t figured it out yet.

For the Jeep Rubicon, there is apparently a separate battery just for that Auto Stop function, which is a pain in the ass to replace.

My Mercedes had an aux battery as well. I think it was nesr needing replacement when I traded it in.
IIRC, on the Merc, it's in the dash.

My wife’s car has that feature. While there is a button to disable it, you have to press it every time you start the car. Luckily, some enterprising engineer made a device that plugs into the factory wiring between that button and the car that will automatically send a signal that the button was pressed for you every time you start the car. It was stupid that I had to go 3rd party instead of being able to make the feature default to off instead of on, but it was a pretty cheap device and has worked perfectly so far.

It’s kinda wild how a whole cottage industry has sprung up to turn off all these ‘features’ that customers find annoying and don’t always want. Like the VCM muzzler and its equivalents to turn off cylinder deactivation on Honda motors that sacrificed engine life for small increases in MPG.

- Bret

They're OK if your car has a 48V electrical system because it's almost seamless, but it's pure trash if the automaker goes cheap like everyone in the thread (including me going from an Audi A4 to Subaru Outback) has found out.

2d Volvo with it. Latest is a 21 XC60 T6 AWD Inscription. No issues with Auto Start Stop function on either. Small 12 volt AGM battery under the hood, 5 minute swap out.

If I bought a car that wouldn't stay running in traffic, it would be time to sell it or trade it for something else.

If it were a hybrid/e-torque, maybe they could use the electric components to spin the crankshaft and not use the starter?

I've always wondered if they could use the cam sensor to know what cylinder was next and just send a spark to that one.

quote:

Originally posted by kz1000:
Not using it will increase the life of the starter & battery.

I've had it on a couple of rentals and it sucks.

Like kz1000 said, I heard that it significantly shorten the life of some engine components.

It is a compliance thing. Manufacturers have to meet fleet-wide fuel economy averages- Corporate Average Fuel Economy or CAFE. Regulated by NHSTA. This and "active grill shutters" are two things that give automakers an automatic credit on their averages. The stop/start is 100% useless. The grill shutters allow the engine to warm up faster and close to reduce drag when full cooling isn't needed. This is basically a win-win, especially on mornings like today when it was 5 degrees out. My truck does not have them and takes a bit to make heat.

Some may remember when in the early 2000s to like 2012 or so, basically every big domestic truck and SUV was E85 (flex fuel) compatible. This was a big govt incentive. First, if you were say Chevy and sold a truck that realistically got say 18 MPG average, it gets 36 on paper thanks to the credit. And as E85 got more common, the farm lobby wins by creating a huge new market for corn. That died in 2013 or 2014 I think.

My '18 and '19 BMWs have it. I used a programmer to program it off. If I drop the cars into eco-mode, then it turns back on again but if I go back to comfort or sport, it stays off. I never use eco mode anyway. It only gives me like 7 extra miles a tank and it retards the engine so much, I think it's dangerous.

I was looking at a Subaru for my son and there is an option to turn it off, but you have to do it every time you start the car. Found him a car without it.

My father's Buick he traded in today had it, and I don't think you could turn if off, but I'm not sure. I hate that "technology".

Our 2014 X1 has it but if you use the button to turn it off, it stays off. I think the automakers got pressure to make it harder to defeat which is why you have to turn it off with every engine restart on more recent models.

i'm going to keep that car for as long as I can because of its lack of nanny features.

I have it on my 22 Highlander but it's not bad since Toyota does it a little different than some of the other manufacturers.

As long as you dont push down on the brake super hard at a full stop, the engine doesn't shut off by design.

It also has the button to disable it but I never need to use it as it it rarely shuts off.

I do agree with the consensus though, it's an unnecessary feature that adds complexity and potential for future problems with no upside. Hoping that the new administration can start dialing back some of these ridiculous CAFE requirements against the auto makers.



.

there is a company called Autostop eliminator that make a product that disbles it until you want it on. In other words if you turn it off it stays off permenantly until you want to turn it back on, which is never. pretty much make one for most models

https://www.autostopeliminator.com/

One of the only benefits of the chip shortage was they deleted the stop/start feature on my 2022 F150.

Our BMW has it in two of the three modes. In ‘sport’ mode the stupid feature is disabled. Guess what mode we drive in 100% of the time?

My 2019 F150 has it. There is a button on the dash to shut it off. But you have to do it every time you start the truck.

I shoved a bent over piece of plastic in it to keep it off, because my dealer won’t do it thru the computer-it’s some EPA shit.

Fuck that guy who developed it. I live in Texas, I NEED the AC to run while I’m at a red light

One of our vehicles has it, I don’t see how you would save gas with it unless you were stationary prolong periods of time, plus at start up it probably uses extra fuel.
Lots of extra wear and tear on the starter as well.

Hammers hunting for nails.

Smackin' the everlovin' shit out of anything they come across...

quote:

Originally posted by ridewv:
I think it's more to do with reducing emissions..... ever so slightly. But yes it can be turned off, which is the first thing I do after starting my Ridgeline. Not all vehicles have it and I believe no manual transmission vehicle does.

My Focus RS had it, and it was a 6MT. Thank goodness my Ridgeline doesn’t have it.

On our Benzes and Skoda it's a switch marked A. I press it every time I start up.

BTW, be aware that the battery for a car WITHOUT this feature costs a LOT less than one that has it. This is entirely due to the need to have a much greater capacity to continually restart the engine.

Benz battery for a car without - ca. $200.

With - ca. $400.

I prefer to make up my own mind, thanks.