Two-week honeymoon with Auto Start-Stop

[Snakk Attakk]

I know this feature draws a lot of ire, but I have a new Bronco and will leave it stock for the time being. I've left auto start-stop enabled and have been commuting to work every day, mostly in stop-and-go suburban driving (yeah I know...). At first, I was surprised at the engine suddenly restarting when I was holding the brake down. I realized this was due to the AC being on. That said, I don't believe it is optimally tuned for that scenario. There should be a basic predictive algorithm for how long the engine can remain off without impacting cabin climate or battery charge. I don't think having the engine shut off and turn back on again in less than a minute represents a good tradeoff. Perhaps there are relevant regulations that tie the hands of the Ford engineers? Pure speculation.

The second issue is when you park, the engine stops, you shift into park, and the engine restarts. I've found several B6G threads on the subject, and this one is a head-scratcher for me. I've perused the manual and the documented conditions for ASS to restart the engine don't include shifting into park. And, I haven't heard a plausible use case of why you would want that. But the threads go back over a year, and it functions the same way to this day. Why??

I'm not inclined to install the ASS eliminator. ASS is annoying but not the end of the world on a daily commuter. I do hate when you are stopping behind a car and that car is juuuuuuuust getting ready to inch along again.

Back in the day I had a 6-speed manual transmission with the 2nd gear skip-shift feature. That HAD to go, holy crap. But this is not that.

Sponsored

 

[Ducati1098]

The second issue is when you park, the engine stops, you shift into park, and the engine restarts. I've found several B6G threads on the subject, and this one is a head-scratcher for me. I've perused the manual and the documented gating criteria for ASS to stop the engine don't include shifting into park. And, I haven't heard a plausible use case of why you would want that. But the threads go back over a year, and it functions the same way to this day. Why??

The vehicle shuts off because it has no idea that you are parking instead of just stopping at a light. If you put it into park quick enough this doesn’t happen. You really don’t even need to do it super fast for it to continue running. But obviously if not, it assumes you are just stopping.

 

[TX-Dennis]

I agree that it's odd. I was surprised that the engine restarted when I shifted into park at a drive through. It's unexpected and strange, but apparently normal behavior for the Bronco. Sort of miss the button I could push on my Lincoln that kept the brakes applied until you stepped in the gas pedal.

Not enough to get rid of the Bronco, though

 

[KABQ]

You have to go through reverse to get to park, so it's probably restarting in case you want to back up. That's the only explanation I can think of

 

[HeliPilot]

Personally, I think it restarts in park so that you don’t walk away from a vehicle that’s still in the run position.

 

[Snakk Attakk]

Personally, I think it restarts in park so that you don’t walk away from a vehicle that’s still in the run position.

Winner winner chicken dinner?

Yeah, so you come to a stop in your garage, and ASS shuts the engine off. You shift into park and the engine stays off. You get distracted and leave the vehicle with it on, and there's no engine noise to remind you. You close the garage door and go inside. Then ASS restarts the engine and there's a carbon monoxide issue.

Plausible safety issue?

 

[Snakk Attakk]

You have to go through reverse to get to park, so it's probably restarting in case you want to back up. That's the only explanation I can think of

Plausible, I'll try ninja-shifting into park really quickly next time.

 

[Ford Motor Company]

I know this feature draws a lot of ire, but I have a new Bronco and will leave it stock for the time being. I've left auto start-stop enabled and have been commuting to work every day, mostly in stop-and-go suburban driving (yeah I know...). At first, I was surprised at the engine suddenly restarting when I was holding the brake down. I realized this was due to the AC being on. That said, I don't believe it is optimally tuned for that scenario. There should be a basic predictive algorithm for how long the engine can remain off without impacting cabin climate or battery charge. I don't think having the engine shut off and turn back on again in less than a minute represents a good tradeoff. Perhaps there are relevant regulations that tie the hands of the Ford engineers? Pure speculation.

The second issue is when you park, the engine stops, you shift into park, and the engine restarts. I've found several B6G threads on the subject, and this one is a head-scratcher for me. I've perused the manual and the documented conditions for ASS to restart the engine don't include shifting into park. And, I haven't heard a plausible use case of why you would want that. But the threads go back over a year, and it functions the same way to this day. Why??

I'm not inclined to install the ASS eliminator. ASS is annoying but not the end of the world on a daily commuter. I do hate when you are stopping behind a car and that car is juuuuuuuust getting ready to inch along again.

Back in the day I had a 6-speed manual transmission with the 2nd gear skip-shift feature. That HAD to go, holy crap. But this is not that.

Hi there, I'd be happy to look into your Bronco concerns on my end. Will you send us a message with your VIN and dealership info? I can look into things on my end.

 

[Snakk Attakk]

Hi there, I'd be happy to look into your Bronco concerns on my end. Will you send us a message with your VIN and dealership info? I can look into things on my end.

PM sent

 

[ecasazza]

I hate it. It is just propaganda, that it does not impact starter and battery life. Maybe if you live in the Midwest where there is no traffic and traffic lights. But here in New jersey and New York that's all we have. My friend had a new GMC pickup and he has gone through a starter in less than 2 years. Thank god not over 3 years.

 

[KirchTX]

Personally, I think it restarts in park so that you don’t walk away from a vehicle that’s still in the run position.

This makes a lot of sense actually

 

[marktwain2001]

Epa has run amouk. The tunes are also now worthless.

 

[Snakk Attakk]

This makes a lot of sense actually

I'm struggling with how ugly of a solution this is, if that's what it is. Really ASS in park should work like drive, restart when the brake is lifted (in addition to the other conditions). As long as the brake is pressed, there is a driver in the seat. So, you'd turn off the engine and then release the brake, which you probably already do anyways.

 

[da_jokker]

I had every intention of leaving SS alone. My beef is how quickly it shuts off. I mean I could hardly stop at a light for a right turn into traffic without it killing the engine.

$50 part and a 5 minute install and have not missed it one bit. Sort of jealous they remove that feature during the chip shortage for some of their vehicles.

 

[userdude]

I remember back in the 80’s/90’s it was a serious discussion topic, “do you turn the engine off in a drive through?” To save gas. At least amongst my broke ass East Houston peeps. “No really, I want 43 cents in gas!”

Get the Ford ProCal tune and you can permanently disable it.

Sponsored