Does anyone know if the stop/start technology of modern cars can be de-selected? I am thinking of a scenario when a car is stuck in a long traffic jam on the motorway slowly crawling along with regular stop/starts (common on the M25). If the engine switches off each time the car is stationary and neutral is selected, it would not take long to flatten the battery by continually re-starting the engine. This type of car will no doubt have an uprated battery, but it would still be a lot to ask of it.
-
Looking for a smarter way to manage your heating this winter? We’ve been testing the new Aqara Radiator Thermostat W600 to see how quiet, accurate and easy it is to use around the home. Click here read our review.
Stop/Start Technology
- Thread starter Doug99
- Start date
I know BMW have a button to switch it off. It also has a managment system that consistantly monitors the battery and if it is too low it will not use the Start/Stop.
Personally, I dont like it - When these cars get on in years what sorta issues is going to raise its head with starter motors etc.
Personally, I dont like it - When these cars get on in years what sorta issues is going to raise its head with starter motors etc.
Wow, I didn't even know this technology existed in 2011! My 2020 Dacia Logan has this system but it seems to operate on a random basis and didn't do it at all the first time I drove it. I can't see a switch for turning it off and my owners manual is in Slovenian, which I don't speak.
They all have a disable button somewhere. This video says it’s near your handbrake. You have to disable them each time you start the car for the first time as they are on by default. The stop start won’t activate when engine cold, during heavy electrical use, sometimes when the Aircon is on, or the battery on the way out. I think it’s a bit of aggro to permanently disable them but when you replace the battery, put a non stop/start battery on the car.
If my engine is switched off by the stop/start system, a little wiggle on the steering wheel will restart it. Oh, and one benefit of ours on the A3 is that if you accidentally stall the engine, you only have to dip the clutch and it will restart automatically without you having to switch the ignition off and then start up again. I don’t know if that applies to other vehicles with manual gearboxes though.
Last edited:
To me it's just another gimmick that employs additional technology with the potential to fail.
Presumably both battery & starter motor have to be purpose built, in order to save miniscule(?) amounts of fuel & emissions.
But then I'm a confirmed cynic.
Presumably both battery & starter motor have to be purpose built, in order to save miniscule(?) amounts of fuel & emissions.
But then I'm a confirmed cynic.
.
My main concern with the stop/start system is the load being placed on the cam belt each time it starts up. More so, the more miles that’s on the belt.
These cars will not last long enough to ever see a cambelt change, so no problem there.
And auto wipers but then a large proportion of today's car owners are not drivers in the true sense, so someone with a business mind will benefit from that fact by inventing a device that was never needed in the first place.
Stop/Start technology was introduced by the manufacturers to improve tge overall mpg figures and emissions. My Seat Ateca had a button to turn it off. My Merc has a button to turn it off but I have also disabled it by coding it to off on start up. Basically it now monitors the stop/start until the various parameters are satisfied then the lamp disappears off the dash.
I dont like stop/start because the car hesitates when trying to pull away quickly onto a roundabout etc and the wear and tear on the starter motor must be immense.
I dont like stop/start because the car hesitates when trying to pull away quickly onto a roundabout etc and the wear and tear on the starter motor must be immense.
No problem there either.
These cars are short lived.
It's already a miracle if they get to see their first mot...
