[ChevyConvert23]

My buddy recently bought his wife a Bronco Sport with that feature. She had a dead battery from one of the kids leaving the interior lights on while getting their backpack out of the truck to do homework. The battery was dead in the morning. My buddy got out the jumper cables and got her started. He got a call from her 2 minutes later. She stopped at a traffic light and her Bronco would not start again once the light turned green. He had to follow her to work and repeatedly jump start the Bronco since there were lots of traffic lights on her way, so the alternator wasn't able to sufficiently charge the battery on her drive.
Sounds like an absurd feature to me.

This doesn't even make sense to me. My 2022 Ford Ranger had auto start/stop and so does my 2022 Silverado. Both systems are very prompt and activated and both systems have failsafe protections that prevent it from activating under a long list of conditions. Some of those conditions are a charging battery, a low battery, and high current draw that would drain the battery if the engine is off. If the system worked like that, shutting off at a stop when the battery is still charging or very low, it would be a widely known issue with a LOT of affected owners. In both of my trucks these auto stop/start systems spend more time inactive than they do active. Especially on short drives since the system will not activate at all until the engine has been running for a minimum amount of time, the engine is fully warm, and all other conditions are met such as battery health and current draw. I call BS on the truck shutting off the engine, due to auto stop/start, 2 minutes after Jumpstarting a cold engine.

 

[Bradley21sanders]

Its stupid. Glad we can permanently get rid of it for $100 or so

 

[ChevyConvert23]

First, that's a made up situation, and second, it would amount to a lottery ticket win, for that to make an actual difference, given how quickly it restarts the engine and how slow human reactions are, assuming you actually notice the vehicle barrelling towards you.

It's like the stupid seat belt arguments like "what if I get pushed off a bridge into a lake and the seat belt gets stuck" or "the vehicle catches on fire and the seat belt gets stuck".

1000% this^. Made up situation. I completely agree with you, davester3500.

Personally, I don't mind the auto stop/start. When all the conditions are met for it to activate, at a minimum it saves some wear on the engine. It is bad for engines to sit idle. That part of the reason why many vehicles manuals classify frequent stop and go traffic as a "severe driving condition". My manual specifically states that components were used to account for the increased wear on starting components. And the theory that it hurts the engine more to start than it does to idle is false. Experts and vehicle manufacturers have repeatedly said that starting a warm engine does not cause additional wear on the engine, only the starter components. Which are already designed for the additional starts. And as for the argument that "what if I suddenly have to go really fast and my life depends on it but the stop/start slows my down" is ridiculous. Most drivers can't even move their foot from the break to the gas before the engine has restarted.

 

[johnachak]

How many of you are disabling the auto start/stop feature on your trucks?

I turn it off every time I get in.

 

[a1smith]

My buddy recently bought his wife a Bronco Sport with that feature. She had a dead battery from one of the kids leaving the interior lights on while getting their backpack out of the truck to do homework. The battery was dead in the morning. My buddy got out the jumper cables and got her started. He got a call from her 2 minutes later. She stopped at a traffic light and her Bronco would not start again once the light turned green. He had to follow her to work and repeatedly jump start the Bronco since there were lots of traffic lights on her way, so the alternator wasn't able to sufficiently charge the battery on her drive.
Sounds like an absurd feature to me.

GM vehicles won't allow stop/start to activate if battery voltage is below a certain value. I'm surprised that Ford doesn't seem to do the same.

 

[a1smith]

1000% this^. Made up situation. I completely agree with you, davester3500.

Personally, I don't mind the auto stop/start. When all the conditions are met for it to activate, at a minimum it saves some wear on the engine. It is bad for engines to sit idle. That part of the reason why many vehicles manuals classify frequent stop and go traffic as a "severe driving condition". My manual specifically states that components were used to account for the increased wear on starting components. And the theory that it hurts the engine more to start than it does to idle is false. Experts and vehicle manufacturers have repeatedly said that starting a warm engine does not cause additional wear on the engine, only the starter components. Which are already designed for the additional starts. And as for the argument that "what if I suddenly have to go really fast and my life depends on it but the stop/start slows my down" is ridiculous. Most drivers can't even move their foot from the break to the gas before the engine has restarted.

I have stop/start with LE2 1.4L engine in our Buick Encore. The engine has a bigger front main bearing and also a starter designed for the additional duty cycle.

 

[j_lowder]

The first upgrade I performed (Autostop Eliminator) on my 2021 GMC 1500 Denali with 3.0L Duramax. I was leary of removing panels from the console and dash but the instructions were excellent. An excellent product; no regrets.

 

[billybob99]

First, that's a made up situation, and second, it would amount to a lottery ticket win, for that to make an actual difference, given how quickly it restarts the engine and how slow human reactions are, assuming you actually notice the vehicle barrelling towards you.

It's like the stupid seat belt arguments like "what if I get pushed off a bridge into a lake and the seat belt gets stuck" or "the vehicle catches on fire and the seat belt gets stuck".

For me, it starts up again way to slow. I am naturally off the brake and on the gas fast. So I'm on the gas and it has not started yet, so when it does start, the transmission is hammering into gear. So it wears out the starter and the transmission and U joints in my case.

 

[billybob99]

1000% this^. Made up situation. I completely agree with you, davester3500.

Personally, I don't mind the auto stop/start. When all the conditions are met for it to activate, at a minimum it saves some wear on the engine. It is bad for engines to sit idle. That part of the reason why many vehicles manuals classify frequent stop and go traffic as a "severe driving condition". My manual specifically states that components were used to account for the increased wear on starting components. And the theory that it hurts the engine more to start than it does to idle is false. Experts and vehicle manufacturers have repeatedly said that starting a warm engine does not cause additional wear on the engine, only the starter components. Which are already designed for the additional starts. And as for the argument that "what if I suddenly have to go really fast and my life depends on it but the stop/start slows my down" is ridiculous. Most drivers can't even move their foot from the break to the gas before the engine has restarted.

I can..., really, you do not have to have quick reaction from brake to gas to have it NOT ready to go when you step on the gas.

 

[ChevyConvert23]

I can..., really, you do not have to have quick reaction from brake to gas to have it NOT ready to go when you step on the gas.

I suppose. Why are trying to race off the line every time? I tested it out today and yeah, I can get my foot to the gas before it starts. Then when it starts it slams into gear if I'm already laying into the gas. But it felt extremely intentional and not at all defensive driving. It felt like aggressive driving just for the sake of it. It also made my stock tires spin almost every time I did it so I didn't see the point since traction control had to kick in.

 

[billybob99]

I suppose. Why are trying to race off the line every time? I tested it out today and yeah, I can get my foot to the gas before it starts. Then when it starts it slams into gear if I'm already laying into the gas. But it felt extremely intentional and not at all defensive driving. It felt like aggressive driving just for the sake of it. It also made my stock tires spin almost every time I did it so I didn't see the point since traction control had to kick in.

everyone is wired differently. Maybe you we not involved in Dirt track racing when you were in your 20's like i was. Just like riding a motorcycle, those who never did it have no clue what they are missing out on. I will slow down when i let the old man inside my body. Some let him in to early in life, as for me, i'm not ready to do that yet. You prob have stock exhaust on to, not me, i like to hear the explosions, You do you and i will do me.

 

[dukeisok]

My truck had 124 miles in it when I installed an autostop eliminator. Diesel's use very little fuel at idle and my understanding is that auto stop start features are mostly about heat cycles and the specific epa test requirements to minimize emissions. They provide minimal benefit in real world conditions, but they sure are annoying. I can't stand the abrupt shake with stop start and the loss of effective air conditioning. I've used similar tools on every vehicle I've had with auto stop start.

 

[SierraHarley]

Our 13 Malibu Eco had auto start/stop and it worked perfectly.
It had eassist which had a motor generator instead of a normal alternator that would help kick start the engine quickly after an auto stop/start and a big lithium battery in the trunk though unlike others that just have a small auxiliary battery. It also had regenerative braking to help charge the lithium battery.
I never had an issue with it but I seriously doubt it helped the mpg.

 

[Farmguy]

Fwiw,

An auxiliary electric engine coolant pump motor (Fig. 8) continually circulates engine coolant through the heater core while the Stop/Start system has shut down the engine and the ambient temperature is colder than 59°F (15°C) to maintain the passenger compartment temperature.

 

[johnachak]

How many of you are disabling the auto start/stop feature on your trucks?

I always disable it upon startup (with the dash switch). Batteries are very expensive as are starters. I don't see any real benefit of saving a miniscule amount of fuel to the detriment of the life span of parts of my truck. I make a lot of left turns at intersections where I live. I don't want any chance of a no-start.

 

[SierraHarley]

What if you make a right turn instead and go the other way around?

 

[SFLTruck]

I hate that POS start/stop garbage.

 

[johnachak]

What if you make a right turn instead and go the other way around?

2 lane yellow lined road. I'd have to go 1/4 mile or more and then turn in someone's driveway. I do go to the right quite often. Two intersections here are a P.I.T.A.

 

[PennStateGuy]

I always disable it upon startup (with the dash switch). Batteries are very expensive as are starters. I don't see any real benefit of saving a miniscule amount of fuel to the detriment of the life span of parts of my truck. I make a lot of left turns at intersections where I live. I don't want any chance of a no-start.

2015 Malibu and a 2022 Silverado both with this system.

The 2015 Malibu is still on the factory battery and the original starter motor so I’d need the question your thinking that it will cause serious damage to either.

EDITED to add the Malibu is still on both factory batteries- the main one under the hood and the supplemental one in the trunk.

 

[kevin_3683]

One of the very first things I did with my 23 Duramax Silverado was put the Autostop Eliminator on it for about $100 and a few hours to take the dash apart to get to the switch. Auto stop is a traffic hazard and I believe hard on the engine components. On the bright side, with an engine designed for auto stop but not using it, I should get increased longevity!