Why do we hate Auto Start/Stop so much?

[DaddyMuffin]

Source?

Nobody has brought this up, so I guess I will. Would be happy if someone with more technical knowledge could expand on what I read, as follows:

- while researching my wife‘s new “mild hybrid” Mercedes which utilizes a direct drive electric motor that somehow eliminates things like starters and timing chains, I saw an article that discussed the impact of “traditional” ASS on relatively “traditional” engines like the ones in our Broncos
- the author indicated that engines like ours would experience far more wear on exactly those two parts - timing chains/belts and starters - as a result of ASS and that manufacturers like Ford know it but equipped ASS anyway because of CAFE
- the gist, of course, was that the “mild hybrid” design would not suffer such adverse wear because the electric motor eliminated both the “traditional” timing chain and starter

I’m not really certain how true this article was but after reading it, I started making a point of disabling ASS whenever I’m driving my Bronco.

Sponsored

 

[pmpmd]

I also have an MT and the ASS doesn’t bother me. Also the acronym is ASS (he he he).

 

[Saltwater Junkie]

Because I absolutely abhor the fact of anything or anybody telling me what to do. Including Job, Government, personal vehicle, neighbor, mother, priest, my stupid laptop, etc... oh..wife excluded

 

[RallyGorgo]

I just like to giggle when I tell people I press the ASS button after I start my Bronco.

 

[gwp]

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

I like it. With the manual transmission, I, me, & myself alone decide when the engine shuts off. Clutch up, in neutral engine shuts off. Clutch in, ready to go, engine fires up. Short stop, leave my foot on the clutch and let it idle. If I have to sit at a light I prefer dead quiet, roof off, and a nice breeze.

I’ll add that I believe wear is negligible as the engine is warm and surfaces coated with oil. It’s entirely unlike a cold start from a wear perspective. And with modern starters I have zero concerns about duty cycles.

When I want to complain I’d rather target the bozos that invented my cardboard rattly wind-noisy roof, or the clownish instrument cluster.

 

[TX-Dennis]

I drove a 2014 Escape with ASS for 6 years and more than 100,000 miles with nary a failure in starter or engine components. I drove a 2017 Lincoln MKC (very similar to the Escape) for 3 years after my wife had driven it for the previous 3 years - again with no failures in starter or engine components. The wife has now driven a 2020 Corsair for nearly 5 years with no failures. I don't fear the ASS in my Bronco as a result of my previous experience with the feature in other vehicles.

 

[Montana Bronco]

I don’t mind the auto stop-strart. I am truly baffled by how many people on this forum are so angry about it.

 

[C6ZZGT]

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 wonder the same thing,with the same issue of coming to a stop in the driveway and have it stop as I shift to park. Any other time it doesn`t seem to be a problem.

 

[Rivers90]

There is a YouTube channel "I Do Cars" in it this guy disassembles engines that failed.
You can see for yourself the damage from extended engine oil changes, The damage from cylinder deactivation, as well as damage from from things you would expect like hydro lock, running out of oil, low oil pressure, over heating and more.

https://youtube.com/@i_do_cars?si=NW2hiGTLmj1ZNtKw

Really interesting stuff if you are into vehicles.

An engine that often goes past 300,000 miles will die in much less than half that depending on how it is treated. But words don't do justice to describe how bad the inside of some engines look and how factory clean and new others look.

 

[rdg04578]

I don’t mind the auto stop-strart. I am truly baffled by how many people on this forum are so angry about it.

ditto-- had 2 F-150's and an Audi Q-5 with the auto start and it doesn't bother me a bit nor have I had a mechanical failure as a result of auto start. I have tried to "beat" the auto start when stopped trying to go and have yet to be successful. if it saves me a tenth or two in fuel mileage-- where's the bad angle there.

 

[Area51BS]

The real problem is for us OCD folks. The button starts to become glossy from too much repeated touching.

 

[2023bronco]

Ford would not have installed it but for fuel efficiency standards. They certainly didn't do it for the purpose of lengthening the lifespan of the engine. I also agree that it is problematic or at the very least unnerving as a driver in certain situations. Install the ASS eliminator and forget about it.

 

[Rydfree]

Yeah, this seems shaky. These engines were designed with auto start/stop in mind.

I always find these comments laughable. I'm pretty sure the MIC top was designed to crack and leak, the windows designed to flop around and the manual trans designed to sound like a blender crushing ice. SMH

 

[BobN - USAF]

Well, if it doesn't bother you, then that doesn't bother me that you are used to it. I really don't like the nanny state in my vehicle, especially if it is something I can defeat with little effort or cost. I also didn't like the Pavlov routine to remember to press the button to stop the AS/S. Truth is I failed at being a dog in the machine, maybe that is a cog.

I bought one of those CCP kits thru Amazon that you just unplug the harness and plug in the Anti-AS/S box. Very easy without removing any of the dash, etc. So know I don't even think of AS/S unless someone brings it to my attention.

 

[HotLap]

Personally not a fan and always disable mine first thing. Don’t believe that manufacturers have “beefed-up” internal engine components/starters/batteries just to accommodate ASS. What I wonder about, (and this may be unfounded), are the turbos? If I understand correctly they are (at least partially) oil cooled and can’t help but think shutting down the oil flow on a hot day can’t be a good thing for the turbos? Also the ASS management system is just another thing that can fail Over time. Also not a fan of the electric parking brake, seems overly complex and (again) just another system that can fail over time. I used to trade vehicles every two to three years so they were always under warranty, however, now that I’m retired I’d like to keep this Bronco longer-term, and don’t want features that could lead to expensive component failure.

Sponsored