The "Auto Stop-Start" is so annoying!!!!

[JExpedition07]

There is very little difference in batteries or starters, since the 1960s. Alternators however, put out about 5x the juice. A battery and starter are only good for, so many cycles. The headlights and electronics running on battery power, every red light is also a drain. The alternator will be working overtime to keep battery charged. This "technology" was added to meet the stupid, Obama mileage standards. Vehicles with start/stop, supposedly have a bigger battery(probably expensive to change). I always disable my auto headlight delay. Just leaving headlights on for one minute, drains a battery. If you make mostly short trips, it never can fully recharge. The only time start/stop would benefit is in traffic jams.

Few cars owned by my family and friends have had the Start/Stop feature ALL of them needed new starters around 80-90k it’s pathetic. It also is destroying the inside of the engine at an increased rate with every start while oil pressure is low. Do yourself a favor and disable it for good.

 

[Don Leslie]

We have it in DW's 2017 Escape Titanium and I like it a lot and sure wish I had it in my Expedition. Some strong views expressed above in both directions. Here is an interesting article that addresses the fuel saving issue. What I did not know is that auto off-on has been common in Europe for many years.
https://www.edmunds.com/car-reviews/features/do-stop-start-systems-really-save-fuel.html

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

We have it in DW's 2017 Escape Titanium and I like it a lot and sure wish I had it in my Expedition. Some strong views expressed above in both directions. Here is an interesting article that addresses the fuel saving issue. What I did not know is that auto off-on has been common in Europe for many years.
https://www.edmunds.com/car-reviews/features/do-stop-start-systems-really-save-fuel.html

We also have it in my wife's 2017 Escape Titanium. She says she likes it and is used to it now. She didn't even know it was doing it at first, then she figured it out and asked if something was wrong with her car and I told her that it was supposed to do it but she could turn it off if she didn't like it. Then she didn't like it but after a couple of weeks she got used to it and now she likes it.

 

[jrc50]

Good article from 2015, however it is amazing that none of the car manufacturers have published even that simplistic a test in non-real world conditions (no air conditioning on-we are in the Deep South as is much of the US population-get real). The article also ignores what happens at 50K (or 75K or whatever point) that the restart electronics and computer control gets buggy and has a slower reaction, or the engine has hard to start issues.
When you are in an emergency intersection evacuation situation and the restart is slow to respond, are you left with just looking death in the eye with your last thought looking around at your family in the vehicle wondering why was I such a sucker? Never in my memory has such a major potential vehicle safety feature been so neglected on a public review basis.
Also, a very few of the Auto magazine vehicle testers seem to have been allowed to comment on any negative concerns (or seemingly even to mention the feature in the vehicle), as a frequent reader the obvious silence of the critics to me smells of withholding manufacturer ad spending or? In the past, the mags would have been in a fight to do long term, harsh, real world testing of the STOP/START feature and now they, for whatever reason, are not doing their duty to provide a thorough consumer based review with a full Technical analysis. It is a puzzle and a real letdown that they would forgo their responsibility as journalists for a few pieces of silver. I repeatedly asked the dealers I was negotiating with for any technical testing documentation they had been supplied to back up their wimpy "trust us" marketing presentations and none of them had anything!
As a purchaser of many vehicles over my lifetime, including some jewels sold with much reassurance like GM 350 V8 diesels, I admit fully to being skeptical of any auto accessory that is new generational, can impact operational safety over time, or contributes to increasing maintenance costs over time.
Of course, at some point the probable lawsuits (if my concerns prove correct) will make the billions spend on ignition switch failures seem trivial, but for now the intelligent auto consumer base will be left with jackleg work arounds on $80K vehicles.

 

[Artie]

Good article from 2015, however it is amazing that none of the car manufacturers have published even that simplistic a test in non-real world conditions (no air conditioning on-we are in the Deep South as is much of the US population-get real). The article also ignores what happens at 50K (or 75K or whatever point) that the restart electronics and computer control gets buggy and has a slower reaction, or the engine has hard to start issues.
When you are in an emergency intersection evacuation situation and the restart is slow to respond, are you left with just looking death in the eye with your last thought looking around at your family in the vehicle wondering why was I such a sucker? Never in my memory has such a major potential vehicle safety feature been so neglected on a public review basis.
Also, a very few of the Auto magazine vehicle testers seem to have been allowed to comment on any negative concerns (or seemingly even to mention the feature in the vehicle), as a frequent reader the obvious silence of the critics to me smells of withholding manufacturer ad spending or? In the past, the mags would have been in a fight to do long term, harsh, real world testing of the STOP/START feature and now they, for whatever reason, are not doing their duty to provide a thorough consumer based review with a full Technical analysis. It is a puzzle and a real letdown that they would forgo their responsibility as journalists for a few pieces of silver. I repeatedly asked the dealers I was negotiating with for any technical testing documentation they had been supplied to back up their wimpy "trust us" marketing presentations and none of them had anything!
As a purchaser of many vehicles over my lifetime, including some jewels sold with much reassurance like GM 350 V8 diesels, I admit fully to being skeptical of any auto accessory that is new generational, can impact operational safety over time, or contributes to increasing maintenance costs over time.
Of course, at some point the probable lawsuits (if my concerns prove correct) will make the billions spend on ignition switch failures seem trivial, but for now the intelligent auto consumer base will be left with jackleg work arounds on $80K vehicles.

You nailed it with the ac and living in the south comment not to mention the safety aspect. I’ve read wear and tear is an issue then it’s not an issue. I’ve decided I want to disable this feature and will do so with the FORScan option. My question is if I do so and then my vehicle goes in for dealer service with that change be reverted?

 

[JExpedition07]

You nailed it with the ac and living in the south comment not to mention the safety aspect. I’ve read wear and tear is an issue then it’s not an issue. I’ve decided I want to disable this feature and will do so with the FORScan option. My question is if I do so and then my vehicle goes in for dealer service with that change be reverted?

The automakers love to pay those writers and journalists to say what they want. Starting is where your engine sees much of its wear and tear. Your starter is engaging and spinning the motor from the flywheel and that 1 second oil pressure is low is where most of your wear adds up and occurs. Think 1 start per trip vs 5-10 starts per trip and the difference that will make. Sure it saves a little idle gas, but at what cost. I think disabling is the best decision for your powertrain in the long term, just reverse it if you bring it in for warranty work and put it back off after, and after warranty just forget it ever existed.

 

[gtnator]

You nailed it with the ac and living in the south comment not to mention the safety aspect. I’ve read wear and tear is an issue then it’s not an issue. I’ve decided I want to disable this feature and will do so with the FORScan option. My question is if I do so and then my vehicle goes in for dealer service with that change be reverted?

I think that would only happen if they have to do a software update as part of your service.

 

[Boose]

I had the pleasure of driving a loaner 2018 F150 while my Expy was getting a door weather seal replaced. As it's been in single digit temps, the truck flashed a message at the instrument cluster indicating that the auto start/stop feature was disabled due to the low ambient temperatures. There was also a button on the center stack above the SYNC display to disable it easy peasy. I was a little disappointed to see how it felt/worked with the feature on actually.

 

[Trainmaster]

In the past, the mags would have been in a fight to do long term, harsh, real world testing of the STOP/START feature and now they, for whatever reason, are not doing their duty to provide a thorough consumer based review with a full Technical analysis..

JRC hits the nail on the head. We're seeing what happens when government controls a nation's journalism. And when a "nanny state" climate believes government is better equipped to think for you than you are. The critics of the government line are silenced, usually economically. Magazines won't carry their columns, and publishers won't print their books. Car makers won't pay them commissions or give them free leases or samples to test.

There's already a class action lawsuit against BMW for this debacle, which claims:

"...not only is the defect dangerous, but it also caused “the premature wear and/or failure of engine components, requiring frequent and costly engine repairs, reducing the subject vehicles” marketability and value..."

I suppose a nice feature for the "automatic shut off/start" would be enabling the owner to select the time frame for shut down. A car that turned off the idle after three minutes would be much more plausible than one that turned it off while you're waiting in traffic to make a quick left turn.

That would also handle another class action suit from fools who leave their cars running in garages and gas their families.

JRC's right on every point. This thing does little to save fuel and saves it at the cost of replacement parts, engine life and driver safety.

 

[jrc50]

Eddie
One of the UTube videos shows a Fiat Jeep having their disable control on the video screen (similar to Synch 3). In the Settings section you can select a time (up to 10 minutes) before the engine is allowed to shut off in START/STOP. This solution to me (I am not normally a Fiat friend) but it is the most Customer Oriented of the Big 3 on the topic
Thanks for your comments!

 

[Boose]

This button turns off the auto start/stop feature:

 

[B-McD]

My 2016 Audi S7 had the same button and once pressed, it stayed off all the time. My wife's Q5 Hybrid offers no such option, but it can pull away from the light under electric power and kick on the engine as needed.

 

[Artie]

My 2016 Audi S7 had the same button and once pressed, it stayed off all the time. My wife's Q5 Hybrid offers no such option, but it can pull away from the light under electric power and kick on the engine as needed.

The hybrids ability to move with the electric motor makes the auto off/on feature acceptable to me. If the vehicle has only one power source to move with I feel like shutting it off in the middle of a trip is just dangerous.

 

[Boose]

The hybrids ability to move with the electric motor makes the auto off/on feature acceptable to me. If the vehicle has only one power source to move with I feel like shutting it off in the middle of a trip is just dangerous.

It's all about the collective goal for fleet wide MPG average... I think there is a government mandate for all manufacturers to have a fleetwide efficiency average of 20 MPG or over...

 

[dlcorbett]

Even if the engine was on, by time the threat or danger was noticed, it would be too late anyway. No matter how strong the engine, the ability for the car to move the vehicle that fast from a stand still, esp a behicle the size of the expy makes the argument that its insafe with it off pretty much mute.

 

[jrc50]

Yes the auto manufacturers have a mandate on mileage but not in how they achieve it. In addition of course Mr. Trump will likely cut back on emissions goals for manufactures soon as he has done other emissions, right or wrong.
As to what difference it makes if the engine is running and can it evacuate the vehicle from an intersection quick enough, I guess you could compare that to gee, no point in ducking if some thug takes a shot at you, that bullet is SOO fast...

 

[deweysmith]

I guess you could compare that to gee, no point in ducking if some thug takes a shot at you, that bullet is SOO fast...

You absolutely could, because by the time you hear the shot, the bullet has already hit its mark. If you can hear the shot and duck, he missed.

If you are in a situation where you need engine power so quickly that it can't provide it after quickly restarting (because it does restart very quickly) then it's highly unlikely you would react quickly enough to avoid the emergency anyway.

 

[jrc50]

I am sure most vehicles with STOP/START work acceptably when new, otherwise they would never sell any to even the dumbest buyer. The issue is when they get some age and wear and tear on them.
Neither the auto manufacturers nor the auto media have run long term real world tests and documented maintenance costs and before and after elapsed time to successfully start the vehicle moving and to measure fuel economy with all accessories including air conditioning on with both the START/STOP defeated and enabled.
As customers we are left with weak marketing assurances by poorly trained and informed salespeople who seem to know less than the average customer....
For all I know, it is a good system, but the manufacturers have a track record of letting the customers do the testing and something new like STOP/START because it has safety implications should have been tested and documented completely and it has not been, so any informed customer would ask all these questions.
Curious why did you ask the BMW dealer to defeat the STOP/START system if you did not dislike it?

 

[deweysmith]

My dad drives a 2013 Mercedes with it and it’s got ~75k miles with no issues.

Much ado about nothing if you ask me. I wish my 2012 had it.

 

[JExpedition07]

My dad drives a 2013 Mercedes with it and it’s got ~75k miles with no issues.

Much ado about nothing if you ask me. I wish my 2012 had it.

Almost time for a new starter.... 75 k is no impressive test