Why do we hate Auto Start/Stop so much?

[timhood]

i was in a line of vehicles waiting to exit a parking deck and every time the line would inch forward my Bronco died. A fellow walking past ask if I was having engine trouble. It's a stupid feature with very little pros and just irritating.

That’s not how it works unless you were moving for a long time between stops. The Bronco will not stop right after a restart until the alternator has charged the battery to a minimum level. Put the battery voltage gauge on your dash and watch.

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[BigMeatsBronco]

Here’s the ultimate word on Auto Stop/Start: if you hate it, pay for a defeat device and consider that money well spent. You got a beefed-up starter that will never die out of the deal, so it should still be a win in your mind.

P.S. For those wondering why it doesn’t default to off or why it doesn’t stay off after you turn off the engine, it’s because Ford can’t claim the increase in fuel economy toward their CAFE requirements unless it defaults to on as delivered.

There is NO beefed up starter involved...same wimpy design as before ASS.

I agree this is to church-up the MPG ratings for EPA purposes and to promote the "eco" name...
some folks can't read between the lines I guess.

 

[timhood]

There is NO beefed up starter involved...same wimpy design as before ASS.

I agree this is to church-up the MPG ratings for EPA purposes and to promote the "eco" name...
some folks can't read between the lines I guess.

You don’t read the manual? It’s all in there.

 

[Porque No]

And you're in Texas no less, so you really don't wanna that AC to go out.

Never been to San Antonio btw, whats the part of Texas like? Dallas and Brownsville are where I've been

I like it. Not as big as Dallas and not as hot as Brownsville. Plenty to do in and around San Antonio

 

[CarmeloS]

I like it. Not as big as Dallas and not as hot as Brownsville. Plenty to do in and around San Antonio

I gotta go back to Tx, love it out there. Any recommendations on where to visit without giving away your absolute favorite spots?

 

[Rydfree]

That’s not how it works unless you were moving for a long time between stops. The Bronco will not stop right after a restart until the alternator has charged the battery to a minimum level. Put the battery voltage gauge on your dash and watch.

Oh my bad. I must have been hallucinating that it stopped 3 times.

 

[Ducati1098]

That’s not how it works unless you were moving for a long time between stops. The Bronco will not stop right after a restart until the alternator has charged the battery to a minimum level. Put the battery voltage gauge on your dash and watch.

Also needs to go ~3 mph for 2 seconds or greater to reactivate auto start stop.

There is NO beefed up starter involved...same wimpy design as before ASS.

I agree this is to church-up the MPG ratings for EPA purposes and to promote the "eco" name...
some folks can't read between the lines I guess.

Regardless whether it was beefed up or not, Ford starters rarely ever fail.
I can’t remember the last time I even replaced one, but it likely wasn’t even on a vehicle with auto start stop.

 

[Hemisfear]

Also needs to go ~3 mph for 2 seconds or greater to reactivate auto start stop.



Regardless whether it was beefed up or not, Ford starters rarely ever fail.
I can’t remember the last time I even replaced one, but it likely wasn’t even on a vehicle with auto start stop.

A buddy of mine just had his starter replaced...

 

[Ducati1098]

A buddy of mine just had his starter replaced...

I didn’t say never, I said rarely lol
One is hardly cause for concern. When we start seeing multiple posts on here about starters failing (which we never will) feel free to quote me then.

 

[codeseven4918]

…no one talks about the hole in the Ozone layer since the 90s…

I’m going to guess that has something to do with world governments working together to quickly and effectively ban substances harmful to the ozone layer and it is on track to recovery.

https://www.unep.org/news-and-stori...ery-track-helping-avoid-global-warming-05degc

 

[Cav427]

Also needs to go ~3 mph for 2 seconds or greater to reactivate auto start stop.



Regardless whether it was beefed up or not, Ford starters rarely ever fail.
I can’t remember the last time I even replaced one, but it likely wasn’t even on a vehicle with auto start stop.

I agree with you on that. Chevy 305, Chevy 350, Olds 350, Olds 455 had a bunch of friends that had a starter that died. Ford, not so much. However think the auto start stop and starter motor in the cities will fail the fastest. People with highway miles not so much. Do I hate it because it may fail at some point? No. The best reason to hate is the lag. Currently hit the button after the Bronco starts, it's almost a habit. I am worried now about the button wearing out!

 

[AustinTechie]

I've always been uncomfortable with vehicles with Auto Start/Stop. The first time I experienced the "feature" it was somewhat disconcerting having the vehicle stop running at a red light. At first, I fought against it. Although I never fully reprogrammed it out of existence, I'd still generally turn it off each time I'd drive the vehicle. The Bronco version of ASS seems to be a little less aggressive than some of my former vehicles. However, there are still little annoyances such as it turning off the engine as I stop in my driveway, only to immediately turn back on as the transmission is shifted to Park.

But why so much vitriol for a "feature" that is pretty benign. Certain consumers seem to hate this capability. Is it because so many of us from the older generations have been taught that starting/stopping the engine is wasteful or even actually damaging to an engine? Or because we are stubborn and don't like being told what to do by new technology that is often perceived to be imposed on us by the "nanny state"?

Clearly, the new technology and engine tolerances make this capability non-destructive in terms of engine wear and tear. It also, on the whole, leads to some incremental MPG gains.

So why do so many of us still feel angst or discomfort with ASS?

I have had two cars with it...mixed experience.

My Honda has it and it has twice drained the battery (software bug never fixed) that resulted in my wife being stranded in the middle of a busy 4-lane intersection. Since then, bought a ASS blocker.

My RAM has the "soft-hybrid" engine and it works great...it does not use the starter, but uses the belted generator to turn the crank. It is quiet and nearly unnoticeable.

 

[codeseven4918]

You don’t read the manual? It’s all in there.

right out of the 2024 manual:

“Will the frequent engine starts cause parts to wear out?

Your vehicle has an enhanced battery and starter motor that are designed for the increased number of engine starts.”

 

[raptorusmaximus]

I'm sure there's some extra wear and tear regardless, all for somethings that has minuscule value, and who doesn't like a 1-2 second delay when you want to continue on your way.

 

[CarmeloS]

I’m going to guess that has something to do with world governments working together to quickly and effectively ban substances harmful to the ozone layer and it is on track to recovery.

https://www.unep.org/news-and-stori...ery-track-helping-avoid-global-warming-05degc

Really, we needed the govt for that? Also cost us cheap and cold AC we could DIY for our vehicles that's much better than todays stuff

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