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Yo Driving-Gaf, does your car switch to off at a stop light?
- Thread starter KrakenIPA
- Start date
Forsete
Gold Member
Yes, it is called start/stop and I believe it is mandatory (after insert year) at least in Europe.
I turn it off as soon as I start my car.
Punished Miku
Gold Member
I think newer cars do this. Better optimization. Saves gas.
Maiden Voyage
Gold™ Member
Mine doesn't but I've had rental cars that do.
FunkMiller
Member
Yep. My last three BMWs all have it. Works pretty well for reducing petrol consumption in built up areas.
Rockondevil
Member
Nobody is answering the actual question. I’ve wondered this myself too.
It’s fine for those who can afford a new car but in my head I can see the next owner having issues long term.
I could be wrong as I have no knowledge on the subject, so I’m happy to be told otherwise.
Forsete
Gold Member
I read somewhere that they use a more solid starter motor to compensate. But I have my doubts, that's why I always turn off the system.
Kamina
Golden Boy
My father in law is a mechanic. He says the increase in wear and tear is negligible. But in the end that depends on the brand / build quality.
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My car does it but only when the handbrake is on and the gears in neutral. I use the footbrake at traffic lights etc so the engine never stops, I only get it in traffic jams. It also only works if the engine and oil are up to temperature and there's no big load on the battery. The restart is much quicker than a proper start so I don't think wear and tear is bad.
nightmare-slain
Member
Mines doesn't. It's just a car with a key that you need to turn to start/stop the engine. Not a fancy new car with keyless ignition or a start/stop button.
I think the stop/start engine is required by law in new cars (or cars after a certain year) in the EU or some shit.
I think the stop/start engine is required by law in new cars (or cars after a certain year) in the EU or some shit.
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Trogdor1123
Member
My wife’s does, mine is an old beater that sucks at everything so no…
Thaedolus
Member
Start/stop has been a thing for many years now. Yes it increases wear and tear on the starter mechanism, but vehicles that feature it should have more adequately designed starters to compensate. The flip side is you reduce wear and tear on the rest of the motor with reduced idle time and reduce fuel consumption.
I know people find it annoying (I do) but it’s not a bad idea in practice.
I know people find it annoying (I do) but it’s not a bad idea in practice.
DeceptiveAlarm
Gold Member
My f150 does it. I hate it. Shut it off every time.
TransTrender
Gold Member
My cars do this.
For the BMW I shut it off once and never had to turn it off again.
For my F150 I have to do it every time I start.
As far as I'm concerned yes, this causes excessive wear and tear on mechanical parts as well as additional battery load cycles.
For the BMW I shut it off once and never had to turn it off again.
For my F150 I have to do it every time I start.
As far as I'm concerned yes, this causes excessive wear and tear on mechanical parts as well as additional battery load cycles.
HoodWinked
Member
The wear I believe is from friction when oil settles on a cold engine. But these are short so that isn't a problem. It's probably as bad as revving the motor.
Shake Your Rump
Member
My question for people who have cars with this feature:
What is the point if you are going to immediately trigger the car to turn back on by moving forward a few inches while the traffic signal is still red?
What is the point if you are going to immediately trigger the car to turn back on by moving forward a few inches while the traffic signal is still red?
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Speaking for myself, there's no point to it. Had I realized it did that I probably would have gotten something else. But I test drove in the summer when the AC was on, so I didn't realize it did this annoying thing after I bought it the first time I turned off the AC.
There is no point, it's just to meet a government mandated MPG. But in constant stop and go traffic it most certainly will reduce gas consumption because all those 30-90 second pauses add up over a 1 hour commute. Probably a good alternative to hybrid cars reliant on toxic and damaging batteries.
BlackTron
Member
Stuff like this is why I am clutching to my 2008, and don't really want a new one, it's almost like comparing old vs new game systems, or phones. The old one is basic to operate and fix and the new one is all ultra-engineered and customized with special parts. I like my old one full of bog standard Toyota parts with a regular-ass key.
Morrie’s wig shop
Member
Yeah my man, it’s been going on for years.
Even jeep wranglers do it these days.
For the record, I don’t understand it. We’ll I kinda get it.
I drive a 1990 Toyota SR5 Pick-up
5 speed manual
Manual front hubs for 4x4
I will drive this truck until it’s no more….
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ClanOfNone
Member
lol, I was driving with someone in their hybrid and I asked them if it stalled when we stopped at a light.
Shit, that was like a decade ago too, didn't realize it was becoming a standard thing.
Shit, that was like a decade ago too, didn't realize it was becoming a standard thing.
Fbh
Member
Yes it does but I usually turn off the feature as soon as I start the car.
It's way too aggressive in my car IMO. I think it should wait 5 seconds before turning off, instead it turns off the second the car stops so it's constantly turning off even if I stop for half a second at an intersection (or a bit longer at a stop sign) and I hate it.
It's way too aggressive in my car IMO. I think it should wait 5 seconds before turning off, instead it turns off the second the car stops so it's constantly turning off even if I stop for half a second at an intersection (or a bit longer at a stop sign) and I hate it.
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chromhound
Member
Yes it does but they won't tell you about it
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Billbofet
Member
My car has this option and the option to turn this option off.
I turned this option off.
I have had a rental Chevy that had this - think it was a Traverse or Equinox or some other generic box - but it was implemented horribly. You felt every stop and start to the point it felt like the vehicle was breaking down.
I have also had this on other rental vehicles where it is barely noticeable, so I think it's all in how it's done. Not a fan in any case, but I don't have much stop-and-go driving where it would be of more use - so I turn it off.
I turned this option off.
I have had a rental Chevy that had this - think it was a Traverse or Equinox or some other generic box - but it was implemented horribly. You felt every stop and start to the point it felt like the vehicle was breaking down.
I have also had this on other rental vehicles where it is barely noticeable, so I think it's all in how it's done. Not a fan in any case, but I don't have much stop-and-go driving where it would be of more use - so I turn it off.
My 2017 X3 does this. Engineering Explained calculated that generally, if you are stationary for more than 6 seconds it is more efficient to shutoff the engine and turn it back on instead of leaving it running while stopped.
I’ve found on mine that there is a brake pressure threshold where I can be stopped and have very light pressure applied to the brake and prevent it from turning off.
I do disable it in heavy traffic when there’s a lot of stopping for less time than would be efficient to do so. Mine remains off until I re-enable it or switch to EcoPro driving mode.
I’ve found on mine that there is a brake pressure threshold where I can be stopped and have very light pressure applied to the brake and prevent it from turning off.
I do disable it in heavy traffic when there’s a lot of stopping for less time than would be efficient to do so. Mine remains off until I re-enable it or switch to EcoPro driving mode.
Oh God no, I'd think I stalled at every light!
Giallo Corsa
Gold Member
Yes, it's called start/stop but it's not mandatory, my Ford 2020 Fiesta ST Line for example doesn't have it, my father's 2014 FIAT Cubo on the other hand does
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LordOfChaos
Member
It's called start/stop, it helps efficiency in city traffic a bit, and cars with it should have overbuilt starters etc for it
Start-stop system - Wikipedia
It can further be a mild hybrid that lets the engine even turn off when coasting etc
Mild hybrid - Wikipedia
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Jsisto
Member
Have it on my new Honda accord. Hate it. I’m sure it’s fine but it makes me really uncomfortable having my engine turn off, especially if it’s stop and go traffic on the highway. I always try to remember to turn it off when I start driving, but often forget. Haven’t found a way to turn it off permanently, don’t think you can.
VenomousCoffee
Member
I have a new (18 months) Silverado and it has it. At first I found it pretty annoying, but now I just mentally adjust for the instant it takes to restart before I start accelerating again from the light. Not sure it saves that much fuel, but it's not a big deal. For longer red lights (this town has some badly timed lights), it restarts itself before you're moving again anyway.
As far as the wear and tear issue, I just assume they design for it.
As far as the wear and tear issue, I just assume they design for it.
JayK47
Member
I specifically purchased a Mazda to avoid getting a car that does stop-start. It totally does wear on your engine, starter and battery. It is also very annoying to hear it and deal with it when driving. I hate it on rental cars. There is a notable lag when accelerating. Feels like a stutter and something is wrong. A better fix is smart lights and less stop signs.