Vehicles With Auto Start/Stop

[100Coogn]

When did this happen?

I had to get a rental car last week, a 2017 Impala, and noticed it hesitated to go after coming to a complete stop.  I thought it had dead-spot on the TPS.   
So after several stop and go's, I turn the radio off and notice the car is actually shutting off at stops.  When I touch the accelerator I hear the starter kick in and it starts.
I do not like this invention.
I suppose it's to save gas, but how many batteries and starters would I go through if I owned the car.

Never buying a vehicle with this set up.
Rant over...

Coogan

[Bizman]

Some years ago I took my dad's car, a new VW Polo,  to my house from the hospital to save parking costs and when the engine stopped at the traffic light I thought it was because I was accustomed to drive older diesel powered cars. After having turned the ignition key at every crossing I finally realised that it wasn't a bug, it was a feature. After that it became as "easy" as automatic transmission.

The start-stop system isn't a new invention, the first cars had it already in the 1980's and during the last decade it seems that every major manufacturer in Europe and Asia uses it by default. For some reason the American market is so conservative that it still is a rarity there despite the benefits.

[Skuzzy]

It is an annoying feature when you get stuck in stop and go traffic.

Mazda had (has?) the best system for it though.  They use a brake to stop the engine with the #1 piston just after top dead center at compression.  When it is time to start, the electronics squirt some fuel into the cylinder and fires.  It re-starts without the starter.

Still annoying in stop and go traffic.

Also, when the engine is off, you lose air conditioning.  Although it does start back up if the cockpit temperature gets too high.  Try driving one of those things in stop and go traffic with the ambient temperature over 105F.  It is miserable.

[Maverick]

My '15 Jeep Cherokee has that "feature" in it. I hate it because it causes an unnecessary delay in starting up from a stop sign / light. I end up mashing the throttle to get the car to go and have a "rabbit" start. Fortunately there is a small button on the console by the radio etc controls that deactivates it. That is one of the first things I do when I start the car at the beginning of the drive.

[Volron]

Doesn't starting an engine require a bit more fuel than simply idle, as well as put more strain on the engine?

[100Coogn]

My '15 Jeep Cherokee has that "feature" in it. I hate it because it causes an unnecessary delay in starting up from a stop sign / light. I end up mashing the throttle to get the car to go and have a "rabbit" start. Fortunately there is a small button on the console by the radio etc controls that deactivates it. That is one of the first things I do when I start the car at the beginning of the drive.

Exactly!  Good point. 
Here in Michigan we tend to have some pretty slick roads in the winter.  That would not help anyone at all, as most folks have to feather the throttle a bit to even get going.

Coogan

[Bizman]

Doesn't starting an engine require a bit more fuel than simply idle, as well as put more strain on the engine?

If I've understood correctly, the system doesn't activate until the engine is warm which will keep all the systems intact. A few minutes stop doesn't cool the engine down to a cold start even if it's below -30 C in the winter. Of course, if you rev the engine like some people tend to do in the lights, the fuel consumption and strain level raise. But that's not related to the engine having been stopped.

They would not build that system if there's no benefit regarding reducing fuel consumption and emissions.

[Bruv119]

my car has it.  i can turn it on or off with a switch but it is fine once your used to it.  i dont think the engine is fully stopped so its not like a full restart.

the negative is the ac going off when your stopped but in the uk that is only a problem for 2 weeks of the year.  ok this year it has been 3 weeks.

[Maverick]

Oh the engine is fully stopped with this thing. You can hear the starter engage if the window is open.

[100Coogn]

Oh the engine is fully stopped with this thing. You can hear the starter engage if the window is open.

Yup.  Then the jack-rabbit take off.   

Coogan

[RUSH1]

My F150 came with this feature.  I barely notice it as my 3.5 is so quiet to begin with.  It's not a big deal because the restart is instantaneous as you let off the brake.  It also seems to know when to shut off, not every time you brake for a stop sign.  I live in FL so we endure months of 90+ heat and I can only remember having to turn the AC knob (which will restart the engine) on few occasions.  As for wear on the starter, I was told they use what is called a 2 million crank starter. 

[icepac]

Jackrabbit start with zero oil pressure?

It's worst in a prius where you're in "hv mode" and get all the way to I95 entrance ramp and then the engine goes from off to 4500rpm in 1 second.

[100Coogn]

Jackrabbit start with zero oil pressure?

It's worst in a prius where you're in "hv mode" and get all the way to I95 entrance ramp and then the engine goes from off to 4500rpm in 1 second.

Coogan

[Skuzzy]

My F150 came with this feature.  I barely notice it as my 3.5 is so quiet to begin with.  It's not a big deal because the restart is instantaneous as you let off the brake.  It also seems to know when to shut off, not every time you brake for a stop sign.  I live in FL so we endure months of 90+ heat and I can only remember having to turn the AC knob (which will restart the engine) on few occasions.  As for wear on the starter, I was told they use what is called a 2 million crank starter.

Ford must be doing it better than GM is then.  The 2018 Chevy we had in Florida, a couple of months ago, was miserable to drive in the stop and go traffic downtown.

[Drano]

Our 16 Cherokee has it. It's moderately annoying but there's a button to disable it on the dash. While there's a setting to adjust the delay before it shuts down there's no setting to disable it entirely. I get that it saves gas but a trip to the gas station is a regular occurrence. No big deal. Gotta wonder about all those extra cycles on the starter. One trip to the shop quickly nullifies any savings there I'd think!


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