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Post by LeftyMeister on Oct 5, 2022 13:36:31 GMT -5
I've had my new 2022 Malibu company car for less than a month. I've heard about auto stop as a trend with manufacturers but hadn't experienced it until now. Basically, when the car comes to a stop, the engine shuts off until the gas pedal is reapplied. There is a second or two moment of hesitation before the car turns back on and begins to move.
I understand this feature is largely PC-motivated and we won't get into that. Regardless of any minuscule perceived benefit to the environment, it's just DUMB. First, the hesitation could be a safety hazard if a quick reaction was required to accelerate but the car sputtered during restart. Secondly, any fuel savings equates to gnat's spit when comparing idoling at 800 rpm versus the fuel required to restart.
What's really aggravating is the feature cannot be disabled globally, but must be turned off each time the car is started. Grrrr...
That all said, the thread title was just a way of inviting other stupid car inventions. Let's have 'em.
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Post by justin on Oct 5, 2022 13:52:00 GMT -5
I don't like auto stop-start in the two vehicles I've tried it. One was a Chevy Cruze which was a hunk of junk. The other was a loaner Subaru Forester. With the Subaru I learned how to modulate my pedal in a way that it did not activate.
You can get a plug-n-play device to permanently disable this feature, so that's good news.
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Post by Leftee on Oct 5, 2022 13:56:02 GMT -5
When you come to a stop, just as the engine stops, let your foot off the brake and immediately reapply. This either immediately restarts the engine or keeps it from shutting off. You’ll get good at it in short order. I’ve done this for years on rental cars.
Or remember to disable when you start the car.
Edited:
More like Justin mentioned. Modulate your brake foot. You don’t have to fully release the brakes to interrupt the function.
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Post by Mfitz804 on Oct 5, 2022 13:57:11 GMT -5
I don't think the people who invented that realize how fast drivers in NYC want you to accelerate after the light turns green.
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Post by gato on Oct 5, 2022 15:25:37 GMT -5
Seems to me this drastically shortens the life of the starter. "Penny wise, pound foolish" leaps to mind.
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Post by Auf Kiltre on Oct 5, 2022 15:43:21 GMT -5
I've personally only experienced it once as a driver with a rental car. Hated it. Even as a passenger the brain is triggered into thinking the car stalled.
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Post by Laker on Oct 5, 2022 15:59:32 GMT -5
I bought a new XT5 Cadillac for my wife and it has that damned auto-stop feature. I usually just turn it off when I start the car but, if I forget, it does seem to disable if you bump the brake twice (maybe I should read the driver’s manual).
By the way, when it does stop the engine at a stoplight, if you take your foot off the brake pedal the car restarts.
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Post by modbus on Oct 5, 2022 16:37:23 GMT -5
You can buy disablers for that feature that take advantage of the work around manufacturers put in, where if the car is started with the hood open it will disable the auto stop.
The disabler tricks the car into thinking the hood is open when you start it, so the auto stop goes away.
I think they're around a hundred bucks or so. If it were me, I would get one, because I think that Auto stop would drive me crazy.
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Post by Lesterstrat on Oct 5, 2022 16:43:48 GMT -5
It's a stupid idea and is why I chose a GMC Acadia versus the Chevy Traverse (Same vehicle). The Chevy has it. The GMC does not. The GMC switches to 4 cylinder mode when cruising.
Going the GMC route worked out better anyway. I found a "Certified Pre-Owned" that actually had a better warranty than a new one. I've had it for 3 years now and it has 45k miles and is still under the bumper to bumper warranty (runs out at 48k miles). The new one would've run out at 36k miles. And the power train warranty is better too. Doesn't make any sense to me that a used "certified" would have a better warranty than a new one, but I'm not complaining.
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Post by justin on Oct 5, 2022 17:22:12 GMT -5
You can buy disablers for that feature that take advantage of the work around manufacturers put in, where if the car is started with the hood open it will disable the auto stop. The disabler tricks the car into thinking the hood is open when you start it, so the auto stop goes away. I think they're around a hundred bucks or so. If it were me, I would get one, because I think that Auto stop would drive me crazy. That's interesting. I didn't know that's how they worked. If my car has the hood open then it disables remote start, so there's a conundrum. |
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Post by Blacksunshine on Oct 5, 2022 19:27:39 GMT -5
I posted a thread about this a while back, but it's worth repeating since you asked.
The stupid skip-shift thing Chevy puts in their cars with manual transmissions that forces you to go from 1st to 4th under certain circumstances is absurd. And dangerous in some situations.
I installed a $9 eliminator that plugs into the side of the tranny that took care of that BS.
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Post by rickyguitar on Oct 5, 2022 19:28:54 GMT -5
We have a 2019 Cruze that gas it. We get over 40 mpg. Hated auto stop at 1st but...mmm. not a big deal.
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Post by HeavyDuty on Oct 5, 2022 20:12:08 GMT -5
My 2022 Honda Ridgeline has this. I was almost rear ended in Buffalo by a punk who was behind me in a turn lane, he gunned it as soon as my brake lights flickered. As soon as I got home I ordered one of the disable devices, for mine it plugs into an existing harness with no modifications.
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Post by LeftyMeister on Oct 5, 2022 20:21:51 GMT -5
I guess I'll get in the habit of hitting the start button and then the A/S off.
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Post by Ragtop on Oct 6, 2022 6:16:11 GMT -5
I had a rental car with that feature. Couldn't stand it. Finally, on the last day, I figured out how to turn it off. No way would I buy a car with that.
My Honda Ridgeline has a "lane wander" feature and some sort of "imminent collision" feature (I forget the actual names...), both of which I tried for 6 months to learn to like. Never did, though, so I turned both off.
I'll drive my own car, thank you.
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Post by Rick Knight on Oct 6, 2022 6:23:45 GMT -5
This sounds like a good reason to keep driving my old car.
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Post by k9bigdog on Oct 6, 2022 6:28:51 GMT -5
Thank Uncle Sam. It's a federal mandate thing that vehicles are equipped with it now. My Ford's (F-150 and Edge) both have a switch to turn it off.
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Post by oldnjplayer on Oct 6, 2022 8:36:12 GMT -5
gotta agree sounds like a dumb idea. Not to get political but another short sighted idea. Didn't Cadillac have an eight cylinder engine that would shut down to four under certain situations? As I recall it was a miserable failure. Please Let me drive my own car......
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Post by K4 on Oct 6, 2022 8:43:50 GMT -5
Didn't Cadillac have an eight cylinder engine that would shut down to four under certain situations? zThat was the 8-6-4. It was a POS. I was working as a mechanic when these were out. Today all the big three have cylinder de-activation. The only V8 car without it is the mustang. One reason I bought one. The way I look at is "I paid for a V8, I want all cylinders working all the time. A by product of being a line mechanic is I am very sensitive to how a car feels. I can feel the cylinders turning on and off, drives me crazy. Thank you Ford for not putting it in the mustang 5.0 |
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Post by RufusTeleStrat on Oct 6, 2022 9:08:51 GMT -5
To piggy back upon that, the manual trans Mopar do not have the cylinder deactivation either.
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Post by Leftee on Oct 6, 2022 10:04:47 GMT -5
My 2017 Ram 1500 has cylinder deactivation. I’ve never noticed it. I do get 23mpg on my drive down to corporate and back. Not bad for a half ton 4x4 with a Hemi.
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Post by rok-a-bill-e on Oct 6, 2022 10:13:17 GMT -5
Auto stop also sucks on a golf car, the cart for the street. Most new gas powered carts have the auto stop, and it makes slow speed maneuvering, as in a crowded parking lot, most difficult. When you put your foot on the gas it shudders for a moment, then lurches, so you brake, and then the motor quits. Repeat as required, lurching around. Not for me, I went electric for the cart.
Related question: when do you guys think was the high water mark for auto design? I mean functionality not aesthetics. I really like autos from the mid 90s to mid-2000s, where we had anti locks, dependable fuel injection, air bags, etc. but not what I consider to be the intrusive technology we have today. And, you could still get a manual back then.
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Post by themaestro on Oct 6, 2022 11:17:26 GMT -5
I understand that there are some new car models in which the auto stop cannot be turned off or overridden at all. I would never have one of those. I could probably live with having to punch an override button when starting the car.
To Rok's question: I thought my '89 Mustang was had some helpful technology but not too much. Electronic ignition and multiport injection really helped drive-ability and maintenance. Anti-lock brakes can be helpful, but the truth is, I can count on my fingers the number of times I have ever triggered it. I also am not a fan of the touch screens. I can't run controls by feel. I have to look at the screen to touch the correct spot.
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Post by hushnel on Oct 6, 2022 11:49:12 GMT -5
I think I would hate that stuff.
I’m a dinosaur when it comes to vehicles. My pickup has an automatic transmission, one of only two automatics I’ve owned. I learned how to drive in a 1967 Carman Ghia, 4 speed standard. The Pickup is a 2005, four door Silverado, it’s in good shape, the seats are getting a bit worn. Florida is pretty easy on vehicles. The Jeep is a 2004, 4 door standard transmission, it’s got a couple gearing/wheel drive options and a 6 speed transmission. I drive it most of the time.
I’ve had both of these since 2006 /2007. I could see maybe a new pickup in the next few years, if I start having trouble with this one. The Harley was purchased new in 1984, after we bought the house but before we got married. Figured I wouldn’t have to take as much crap from the in-laws, that way.
Most of the new passenger cars look the same to me, like they were all designed in the same wind tunnel.
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Post by rickyguitar on Oct 6, 2022 15:18:29 GMT -5
^I agree most passengers care look alike these days. You can get a Porsche that looks like a knock off of a Chevy or Nissan, or Toyota...
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Post by gato on Oct 6, 2022 15:48:26 GMT -5
Here's the plug-in auto start/stop eliminator, going into an F-150. Badda bing, bodda boom.
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Post by 6l6 on Oct 7, 2022 19:50:31 GMT -5
I was happy to see my 2021 BMW M240i has a separate switch to turn that "feature" off.
One other factor to consider...
Every time you fire that starter it wears out a little. Replacing that starter prematurely (compared to one that isn't subjected to Start/Stop) is far more expensive than any fuel savings achieved by shutting the engine down every time you stop.
SO... Yes, I hate the start/stop feature. If my car didn't have that switch, I'd find someone who could disable the feature.
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Post by rickyguitar on Oct 8, 2022 0:24:25 GMT -5
High-water mark? Tbird with opera windows, of course.
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Tequila Rob
Wholenote
Posts: 693
Formerly Known As: Guitar Fool
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Post by Tequila Rob on Oct 8, 2022 11:37:25 GMT -5
I've got a 97 F-150 that is in excellent shape....its a keeper....
I hope I never have to buy a new car...too much electronics...and built in things that can distract one from the task at hand...which is of course...driving.
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Post by rok-a-bill-e on Oct 8, 2022 11:52:12 GMT -5
Wholenote " Anti-lock brakes can be helpful, but the truth is, I can count on my fingers the number of times I have ever triggered it--"
Yeah, but ONCE it saved me and my entire family from being crushed between two semis on a rainy night, and that once is enough for me to value the ALBs. I prided myself on my driving and braking skills but ALB is way better than me and I could never have driven through that close call on my own.
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