Auto stop/start on cars/trucks

[Stevens]

I recently bought a new pickup, it comes with auto engine stop and start. If you are idling, in gear, at a red light, or elswheres, for more than a few seconds it kills the engine. Lift your foot from the brake it automatically starts up again. I guess to save gas & cut emissions. That is all fine but I have to wonder about starter wear, maybe 30-40 or more startups per day vs 4 or 5.
Any opinions or comments?
PS, I do use the button to shut off the stop start feature, usually after the first activation reminds me.
Steve W

 

[bigwheelzip]

I've had that feature on my vehicles for a few years now. I like it and have had no problem with it, but if I didn't there is an override switch for that feature on the console.

 

[PeterJ]

They put bigger batteries and starters in those vehicles and I don't think there have been any reports of premature failures with those components. I know that mine will never wear out on our 2 vehicles as I shut them off as soon as I get into the car. I HATE THAT FEATURE !!!!

 

[Babysitr]

Wife just bought a 2019 equinox and we're starting to get used to engine stop....not sure if i like it or not. at 28+ avg. mileage, i'm giving it a chance....not sure if it can be by-passed in this vehicle

 

[GypsmJim]

I think its a dumb idea. In the end it will hurt starters and batteries. But we won't know until you've had the car for 8 years.

My gut feeling is that the amount of gas saved will be negligible.

When you stop and start the car is jerky. The one I drove was a caddy, so it wasn't some cheap riceburner.

I had 2 choices for my last car. One had this feature. I bought the other one because of that.

For this particular car, it was not an option and not able to be turned off.

 

[ejr10mm]

golf cart technology....

 

[Jon651]

I recently bought a new pickup, it comes with auto engine stop and start. If you are idling, in gear, at a red light, or elswheres, for more than a few seconds it kills the engine. Lift your foot from the brake it automatically starts up again. I guess to save gas & cut emissions. That is all fine but I have to wonder about starter wear, maybe 30-40 or more startups per day vs 4 or 5.
Any opinions or comments?
Steve W

You can disable it if it bothers you (it's in the programming; there is NOT a switch) - it really doesn't save any gas, just cuts emissions by a fraction.

As for starter wear, I typically keep a vehicle 8-10 years and put around 200k miles on each, and since 1986 I have yet to replace a starter. I've done the rare water pump and the occasional alternator, batteries every 4-5 years due to the heat, and electronic sensors and other bits galore - but never a starter. Plus fuel-injected motors start a whole lot easier than anything with a carb so that helps with wear and tear on a starter as well. I can't even recall when a single vehicle I owned in nearly as long failed to start on the first kick except when the battery was dead or very nearly so.

I'm going to say for frequent stop-and-go traffic you might want to consider turning that feature off. But if you are living in a suburban or rural setting I don't see a problem. One important point - I know that here in Florida if I had to wait for any extended amount of time in my truck without AC it would be in the shop the very next day!!!

 

[mrmike7189]

Guy at work has a new 2021 Jeep Wrangler, says you can disable that feature at each start up by pressing a button on the dashboard.
You can also find permanent disable directions on the internet.

 

[S42N8]

Nanny feature at the finest. Start car, close garage door, switch off the auto stop. Pretty sure the auto stop switch will need replacing before the starter....

 

[ladder13]

My wife's car has it. The first thing either of us do is disable it before leaving the garage. Then you have to disable it every time you shut the car off and restart.

 

[s&wchad]

They put bigger batteries and starters in those vehicles...

Yes they do. I've got a 2018 5.0L F-150 with the auto start/stop feature. Because of COVID, I've only got about 20K miles on my truck.

The feature doesn't work when the battery charge or engine temperature is too low, or when the outside temperature is too low or too high. I live in Michigan. I'm sure the feature allows the manufacturer to publish higher MPG stat's to help meet fleet CAFE requirements, but it hasn't kicked in on my truck in over a year.

I don't miss it!

 

[jeffrefrig]

Wife drives a '19 and mine is a '20, both Chevys. I quit shutting that feature off, it doesn't really bother me as I have the stereo on at an excessive volume. My car has 6Gs on it, bought it new last March 16th for my birthday & retirement. Her car only has about 7G on it. When these cars get close to needing new tires I'll probably be ready to replace them anyhow. Doesn't bother me anymore, but my hearing is really gone now.

 

[rwsmith]

I want a vehicle..

...that starts and turns off with a key. I've had several of those push button only jobs that are interlocked to hell and back and I've had nothing but trouble. If I had a car that turned off when I was at a traffic light, it wouldn't start back up and the manual would say to 'take it to the dealer'.

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!

 

[Ray1970]

Not a fan of the feature either.

I got tired of pushing the stupid button every time so now I just drive around in sport or tow haul mode and that kills it.

 

[BC38]

I rented and drove one for a few days. Didn't care much for it. It is purely a CAFE dodge by the car companies. Isn't it WONDERFUL when they impose regulations that require this kind of chicanery to implement even some form of token compliance with it?

 

[Gamecock]

It's getting warm enough around here to leave my car window open.

Light turns green, car next to me engages starter. Whattha! Oh, it's that shutoff thing. I don't have it, but it sure is annoying.

My gut says that if you shut off and restart a vehicle 10 times more than normal, something is going to wear out early.

Savvy service managers will get you to change your starter before it goes bad. It will become the new "fuel filter needs changing, ma'am."

 

[hittman77]

I bought a 2019 High Country in October 2019 when it was less than one year in service and had 10K miles on it.

For a month or two that feature worked. Then it stopped. Hasn't activated since.

A few weeks after purchase I had a recall and let them know it was not working. They tell me it's "within specs", blows no codes and nothing is wrong.

A few more weeks go by and vehicle needs a battery (already?!) .... dead, wont start. So, I get a free tow, free battery and remind them the Auto Stop don't work. Again same results, no problems.

Next oil change, I remind them again and again it's "within specs", blows no trouble codes, etc.

So ..... I leave it "on" and don't care that it doesn't work. At least they have a record of my constant complaints if it causes me a problem once the warranty expires.

 

[JeffG]

I have an F150 and installed an AutoStop Eliminator. Works perfectly.

 

[Targets Guy]

I am just thankful I can still drive.

 

[LVSteve]

My BMW has that feature. In the normal driving mode The disengage button only has to be set once. It doesn't re-engage like it does on most other cars. The exception is the Eco mode.