EPA deregulation to kill Auto Start Stop (ASS)?

[Lcubed]

Haha. “No! You need to push the button” is such a childish argument.
I do agree though that it should be a setting. It should be automatically on when you get the truck, but there should be a setting to turn it off. You should not have to hit the button every time you start the truck. That is reasonable.

from the OEM's perspective, the cheapest solution (with maximum benefits to them) is to leave things in the current state aka do nothing

Sponsored

 

[MilesTeg]

I find it funny that so many get all worked up over the AS/S. I hardly ever notice it. The functionality in my 2021 has never been an issue. When vehicles started rolling this out, the engine wouldn’t restart until you hit the gas. That was terrible and worth the argument. The Bronco restarts with even the slightest release of pressure from the brake, without even disengaging the brake. I can actually control it a lot of times while sitting at a light. It did take some getting used to in the beginning but I do not even notice it anymore.

In my manual, the engine is restarted and ready to go well before I even get into gear to get going (and I'm pretty snappy). It starts before I have the clutch fully depressed.

 

[MilesTeg]

Yes it was. The "it was never mandated" is just rhetoric. If you incentive corporations by giving them significant $credits$ for doing something, and thus withholding millions and millions of dollars for not doing something, it is a de facto mandate. Corporations will never tell their shareholders "we gave up millions of dollars because technically it was not a "mandate"". As you admit, it was $low hanging fruit$. In our economic system that is a mandate all day long, every day of the year...

Only about 2/3 of new vehicles even have ASS. So the claim that corporations will never not do it is not true, and the broader claim that it's some any kind of mandate is also not true.

ASS is a good feature that saves you money and reduces pollution. Some implementation suck, but even a mid car company like Ford has been able to make a reasonably good implementation. The one and only thing wrong with it is that you can't permanently select it being on or off.

 

[crenca]

he broader claim that it's some any kind of mandate is also not true.

It's as true as the sky is blue, up is up and down is down, and death and taxes.

Your claim that ASS is (or rather was until recently) not a mandate is as Orwoodian as @ScottyC 's girlfriend.

 

[Roger123]

I think it’s ironic that Ford “allows” me to turn off the seatbelt reminder so that I can drive around all day with no belt on and no annoying warning but I have to push the stupid ASS button every time I drive my car, well not me personally cause I installed the dongle.

 

[MilesTeg]

It's as true as the sky is blue, up is up and down is down, and death and taxes.

Your claim that ASS is (or rather was until recently) not a mandate is as Orwoodian as @ScottyC 's girlfriend.

Ahh yes, just ignore what I actually said and repeat your baseless claim as if true. Goodbye.

 

[KreeHBronco]

Not sure if I will hate it or be OK with the "ASS" feature. Hybrids have this and the operation is seamless since they have an electric motor to get you going. My 2026 Badlands manual should be interesting. I am pretty sure if I drive in Sport mode (or Baja 2H) it doesn't enable, but if I drive in Economy it will work. Hope to find out next week.

 

[Lcubed]

Not sure if I will hate it or be OK with the "ASS" feature. Hybrids have this and the operation is seamless since they have an electric motor to get you going. My 2026 Badlands manual should be interesting. I am pretty sure if I drive in Sport mode (or Baja 2H) it doesn't enable, but if I drive in Economy it will work. Hope to find out next week.

extremely seamless with the 7MT.

pretty sure it's taking cues from the clutch pedal position while on the automatics, it has to guess intentions.

 

[MilesTeg]

Not sure if I will hate it or be OK with the "ASS" feature. Hybrids have this and the operation is seamless since they have an electric motor to get you going. My 2026 Badlands manual should be interesting. I am pretty sure if I drive in Sport mode (or Baja 2H) it doesn't enable, but if I drive in Economy it will work. Hope to find out next week.

It's pretty seamless. Even in my automatic F-150, it's never caused me any issue (beyond mild surprise when getting used to it). In my Bronco manual I would have to try pretty hard (read: tearing up my clutch and transmission) to be in gear and trying to go before the engine is started back up.

It only activates if you shift to neutral and let the clutch out (which you should do in a manual anyway -- your throw out bearing and clutch springs will thank you).

Ford also has a very decent setup. Lots of things will prevent it from stopping the engine:

• If it's too hot outside (very hot)
• If it's too cold outside (very cold)
• If the A/C needs to run the compressor to keep up with cooling demands. (despite the various misinfo, your car will keep running A/C just fine)
• If the battery is low on charge
• If the battery's max capacity has fallen too low due to age/abuse.
• If the wheels are turned more than a few degrees
• If the brake pedal is not pushed enough.
• If the engine is not warmed up.
• If it's engaged before already during your stop (not exactly sure on how it decides this).
• If the clutch is pushed.
• Probably tons of other things.

There's a display you can open that will tell you the status of the system and let you know why it is or is not activating.

Depending on your driving situation, it can save a few % up to 25% or more (according to SAE tests). Well worth the small inconvenience it might cause you occasionally unless you just don't care about wasting thousands of bucks in gas over the lifetime of your vehicle.

It'll also warn you when your battery is starting to get weak, because it'll stop doing its thing, hah.

 

[23OBX2.7]

Again with the assumptions - welcome to America, land of the free and home of the brave from all walks of life we unite as one people. Now, until Ford updates the software to make the Auto S/S remember what position it was left in, you have the freedom to choose either a wired dongle to disable it, push the button every time you drive it, or just live with it....all freedom loving choices to help with the fake outrage this item has caused. Enjoy your Bronco in good health and have a great day.

or buy FP tune ot get the memory and very welcome driveabiliy gain. Worth wveru time 10 time over.

 

[dougcjohn]

Everyone is commenting on ForScan as not capable to disable ASS.

Has anyone looked at Ford's Own FDRS programing tool? You can still buy a 2-Day license to get a job done. If already mentioned, apologies... I read through 1-3 and jumped to comment. This thread quickly became a book.

I ordered the newer (slim flat model) Wireless Keypad for my 2025 BRaptor that requires FDRS to turn on, enter Card ID Number and add feature to BRaptor. ForScan is not capable of that feature either... at least on newer models. I'm waiting for Keypad to come back from getting match painted to Shelter Green, before I buy another 2-days FDRS. And Yes, to use FDRS requires a different Interface tool, can't use ForScan's ELM327 Interface, need a J2534 Interface.

I'm thinking somewhere in FDRS, there is a way to simply change the Default state to OFF and button continues to toggle between the 2 states, with default state of Button being OFF. I'm making loose assumptions, I haven't looked yet. This is basically what the 3rd Party Interfaces are performing, they save & pass the last state of Button.

This is my first ASS vehicle, my other new is a 2024 F450 Limited and diesels don't have ASS. I will say it's an obnoxious feature... and very startling too. I looked down at my gauge and noticed Oil Pressure was Zero... since I had just changed my oil 2 days prior (430 miles break in), I about crapped... let foot off break and Engine starts & Oil Pressure fine. That sucks!

Additionally, I'm pretty confident I read / viewed that the ProCal4 tuner had the ability to turn off ASS too. That may not be accurate but I do recall it in a sales hype video or article. I have the ProCal4 ready... updated & OEM Tune Backed up, just haven't flashed new tune yet pending some Pre-Post Draggy tests with little more milage.

 

[dougcjohn]

On the debate of ASS saving money... read / viewed ? a mechanical discussion about the savings of ASS. It was questioned if savings for long term owners.... if you flush the car in 3-4 years, this likely doesn't apply. Starters & Flywheels are still part of the equation, and starters will wear out either prematurely or by usage wear. Often when they wear out, the Flywheel ring also shows signs it's worn & should be replaced. Replace a few starters (shop part rate & labor) and a flywheel possibly, quickly exceeds the minimal fuel savings.

Additionally, emission components and fuel systems are impacted each time the engine starts. The Injection rate for a "start" is normally strong / richer than an "idle" injection.

Serpentine Belts take a little more stress "starting" than "idle".
All this is minimal, but so is the fuel savings of ASS at stop lights and particularly stop & go traffic.

 

[Ducati1098]

Everyone is commenting on ForScan as not capable to disable ASS.

Has anyone looked at Ford's Own FDRS programing tool? You can still buy a 2-Day license to get a job done. If already mentioned, apologies... I read through 1-3 and jumped to comment. This thread quickly became a book.

I ordered the newer (slim flat model) Wireless Keypad for my 2025 BRaptor that requires FDRS to turn on, enter Card ID Number and add feature to BRaptor. ForScan is not capable of that feature either... at least on newer models. I'm waiting for Keypad to come back from getting match painted to Shelter Green, before I buy another 2-days FDRS. And Yes, to use FDRS requires a different Interface tool, can't use ForScan's ELM327 Interface, need a J2534 Interface.

I'm thinking somewhere in FDRS, there is a way to simply change the Default state to OFF and button continues to toggle between the 2 states, with default state of Button being OFF. I'm making loose assumptions, I haven't looked yet. This is basically what the 3rd Party Interfaces are performing, they save & pass the last state of Button.

This is my first ASS vehicle, my other new is a 2024 F450 Limited and diesels don't have ASS. I will say it's an obnoxious feature... and very startling too. I looked down at my gauge and noticed Oil Pressure was Zero... since I had just changed my oil 2 days prior (430 miles break in), I about crapped... let foot off break and Engine starts & Oil Pressure fine. That sucks!

Additionally, I'm pretty confident I read / viewed that the ProCal4 tuner had the ability to turn off ASS too. That may not be accurate but I do recall it in a sales hype video or article. I have the ProCal4 ready... updated & OEM Tune Backed up, just haven't flashed new tune yet pending some Pre-Post Draggy tests with little more milage.

There’s nothing in FDRS that will let you change anything with auto start stop.

 

[dougcjohn]

There’s nothing in FDRS that will let you change anything with auto start stop.

Well, that’s good to know. Unless that changes in updated version, that also answers if Ford Dealerships can easily turn it off via programming.
Saves me from looking or researching deeper!

 

[Lcubed]

Starters & Flywheels are still part of the equation, and starters will wear out either prematurely or by usage wear. Often when they wear out, the Flywheel ring also shows signs it's worn & should be replaced. Replace a few starters (shop part rate & labor) and a flywheel possibly, quickly exceeds the minimal fuel savings.

apparently toyota has a built in counter for their ASS system that requires a mandatory inspection of components at 384,000 cycles before resetting

assuming a large number of S/S cycle per day of 100 times, that well over 10 years.

(i do trust toyota engineering for longevity more than i trust ford)

Sponsored