Why do we hate Auto Start/Stop so much?

[Sitruc_btb]

I first experienced it on newer Hondas, and was turned off by idle stop because the Honda system is very slow to react. After experiencing Ford's system, it's not a bother, especially with the manual transmission. By the time the clutch pedal is pressed, engine is already fired up. Kinda reminds me of the Speed Racer movie when the Mach 6 stalled and Speed slams it into 5th or whatever gear and jumps starts the car.

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[BlueBronco]

Like I said, I am no fan but there seems to be an awful lot of emotional baggage connected to the ASS. Sheesh.

 

[Shazamalingo]

It greatly diminishes the life of your engine.

This is based on nothing.

 

[Angry_Chris]

I hate the auto start/stop on my manual Bronco with a passion! The best purchase I made was the Ford Pro-cal more power and turn off the start/stop it stays off. Ford did something right for a change.

 

[Fmuguira]

To OP, read a little on where most engine wear occurs …. I realize it may be only 30 seconds from shutoff to re-start so “maybe” not considered a true dry start but far as I m concerned it is!! In addition just wear and tear on starter that I ll bet will cost you as much or more to replace than all your ASS “savings” …. My reasoning.

 

[Shazamalingo]

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.

I don’t believe this at all. If you inch forward and you disable ASS by doing so, then ASS will not engage again unless you travel something like 50 feet. So inching forward simply will not cause this situation.

 

[BigMeatsBronco]

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

evidence?

 

[Shazamalingo]

If it were an option instead of forced upon us, you’d have better luck finding a manual BMW that wasnt a ///M at your local dealership

I installed an A.S.S. Plug day 2 and pulled the plugs in my parents Range Rovers as soon as I found out where the plugs were. Again, NO one wants them and we shouldnt be forced to have our starters wear out due to Govt Mandates about Corp. MPG avgs

Do you also doable antilock brakes because that’s forced on you? Lol

 

[thetxpopulist]

I read the first few comments, but nothing in between. So not sure if anyone agrees or has said anything similar.

Throwing fuel efficiency, longevity of the engine/parts, safety, etc. out the window. If I really get down to the crux of the matter and why I despise the "feature" so much--control. Personal autonomy. It is my vehicle, of which I have complete and total ownership of; except whether or not the vehicle stays on or off when stopped.

There's additional reasons that underpin WHY that bothers me. But those come after the personal autonomy and ownership point I listed above, and I reserve those thoughts for myself.

 

[BigMeatsBronco]

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

you probably think the starter is upgraded with special wear-proof switch and long life bearings...ROFL...NOPE! the manufacturer builds (and stocks) a shitload more replacement starters for the eco-nerds to have installed, the gallon(s) of fuel saved over a year(s) won't cover the cost of a new starter...it's the government controlling your choice, mandating your spending. they don't care if maintenance cost is more or your car is less reliable, as long as the agenda is pushed forward.

anyone that doesn't realize this is small minded.

 

[coverthawk]

For me, multiple reasons as you noted:

• I am not interested in another party "telling" me I have to do something like this. The impact is (and please - no environmental debates) to the environment supposedly (which I don't care about - I will be buying gas vehicles as long as I am alive) OR it is to artificially inflate published MPGs (which could be good if it is an effort to KEEP more gas powered vehicles on the road with the multitude of "restrictions" now being imposed.
• Much like ANY laws that do NOT impact anyone else, or anyone else's property, this one is the same. Take the seatbelt law - I am forced to wear a seatbelt (which DOES make sense of course) by the government to protect "me". We don't have laws prevent harming myself via other means (overeating, eating foods with no nutritional value, smoking, drinking). Why seatbelts? Why auto/start stop - the impact is to MY wallet and I will gladly pay more to eliminate this "feature"
• I want 100% control of my vehicle, 100% of the time...period.
• I do NOT want modified HVAC while the engine is off (seems like the AC and Heating is reduced when the engine is off).

So for me, I will spend $1000 to defeat ANY technology or control on a vehicle that doesn't benefit me. It is getting to the point that hiring a skilled hacker to defeat some of the intrusions upon us is necessary - like hacking all of the telemetry to eliminate (or spoof) information sent to car companies of a personal nature but maintaining functionality in the vehicle...THAT is something I would pay a lot of money for if only to extend a proverbial middle finger to them all!

 

[evilletruck]

I live in an area with a lot of stop signs in my daily driving. The ASS timing works out to cut off at pretty close to the same amount of time it takes for you to stop wait for traffic and cut off just as I am about to go so it is a jarring jolt as I press on the gas as it was about to cut off and sputters back to life then jerks forward.

 

[BRONCO_MARC]

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 wouldn’t say that I hate it, but it is annoying enough that I either turn it off or ride with Sport mode, which amounts to the same thing

 

[MadMan4BamaNATL]

With the manual trans, it happens FAR less often than with the auto, and at acceptable times, so I rarely bothered me when it happened.

The auto had the HIGHLY ANNOYING habit of dying at the exact moment I needed to take off ... just not acceptable in a "traffic" situation.
But even at a typical 4-way stop sign, the damn thing would shut down after only 1 or 2 seconds.
It's hell on main bearings to drop oil pressure and then restart 17 times in what should have been a one start trip.

I dunno, maybe they have something in the bottom end to keep the oil pressure up for a short moment for all these restarts.... if not , fuck that A.S.S.

That’s what she said…..

 

[Zstngz]

It greatly diminishes the life of your engine.

But how? Serious question.

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