Engine stop-start systems have gained in popularity over the past several years as automakers attempt to cut emissions and lower fuel consumption during normal, everyday vehicle use. The idea is quite simple: any time a vehicle comes to a complete stop, such as at a red light or stop sign, the engine probably doesn’t need to be burning fuel to keep itself running, meaning it can reasonably be shut off until it’s ready to again turn gasoline into forward motion. What’s typically required is some fairly simple software code, a deep-cycle battery, low-friction coatings on the crank and bearings, some electrical wiring revisions, and a more robust starter built to endure the increased number of start cycles.
In certain conditions, such as stop-and-go traffic and commutes through dense urban areas, engine stop-start systems can make a significant dent in fuel consumption. Yet consumer opinions regarding auto engine stop-start are split, with some feeling that such systems are perfectly fine, hardly impacting the driver experience, and others abhorring them for their perceived roughness and intrusiveness.
In this, the first of a three-part series focusing on General Motors’ automatic engine stop-start feature, we’ll be taking a look at some of the comments we’ve received over the years regarding the system. It’s an especially pertinent topic today, as General Motors has announced its intentions to equip nearly every new vehicle with the technology by the year 2020, and the automaker is seen as a leader in making the feature widespread.
One of the more aggravated comments we’ve received regarding engine stop-start read:
I couldn’t stand it. Its intrusive, to me. I roll into the garage, creeping up, to make sure Im all the way in, so the door closes, without hitting my car. The d@mn car dies at 1-2 MPH, and restarts, again, immediately, for me to pull up 3 more inches. Almost as annoying, is, when you’re trying to make a right turn, at a red light, and the cross traffic is hauling mail. I often creep up anticipating pulling out, and I let my foot off the brake to creep, and the car doesn’t move, why? because its not friggin running. Cant stand this stupid feature.
Another commenter said the following:
I have a [2017 Chevrolet Cruze Hatch]. I can’t begin to explain how irritating Auto Stop is. It is only somewhat seamless at a traffic light for instance, where you will proceed straight ahead. If you are mid-turn and it turns off, the power steering also dies, so when the car restarts, there is a momentary “dead zone” where the steering is DOA. It then jerks back to life.
Its overall operation is also inconsistent. There seems to be little rhyme or reason to when it turns off or when it doesn’t. It sometimes sputters clumsily when it turns off and restarts. Thank goodness the defeat function is here, though I’m sure it will be necessary each time you start the car. Better than nothing.
Auto engine stop-start button on a 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500.
Yet plenty of drivers are indifferent to GM’s auto engine stop-start, or even supportive of it, with one commenter saying:
I’ve let my dad and gf drive my car. Both stopped noticing it shutting off after a day or two of driving it. It’s pretty seamless when you’re not in stop-and-go traffic.
There SHOULD be a delay of a few seconds before it shuts down, though. I think that would alleviate a lot of complaints – mine as well.
Another commenter remarked:
The only issue with auto start/stop is when it breaks, which I honestly have yet to see. It’s extremely seamless and most reviewers praise the chevys for doing such a good job with it. The only con to it is the possible slight thud that it may produce, but I never experienced this and I drive like a bat outta **** trying to improve my green light reaction time, and it needing to start back up didn’t slow me down in the least, and this was in a Chevy from 2014..
While there are plenty of voices both for and against, it seems that engine stop-start systems like GM uses are here to stay, and while they don’t really factor into official EPA fuel economy ratings in a meaningful way, research suggests that they do have a measurable impact on fuel usage. One test conducted by Edmunds found that, during normal operation, the total boost in fuel economy could lie in the range of 2 to 3 mpg, depending on the car, the number of stops and their length.
In the next part of this three-part series, we’ll take a look at how to disable the engine stop-start system in various GM vehicles. Stay tuned for more GM engine stop-start news.
Comments
The start stop is going to be common very soon.
GM is not doing it for emissions or mpg they are doing it for the off cycle credits that count to the emissions and mpg. So you may not see any improvement but the goverment will give GM credit for having it.
Automakers do not like to talk about off cycle credits. AFM, solar glass, reflective paints cooling seats etc all count to credits. The gains just can’t Measured so the off cycle credit is given.
The system generally work well. I have yet to see one fail. They work well but are annoying to those of us a car stopping on its own is not natural. I am sure we will adjust but it will make many mad if they can not disable it.
The biggest issue is that it has a shake at start up on many models. I read that the new full size truck have removed this shake.
I prefer not to have it but also understand if I want to keep the vehicle I love on the road it will be a necessary evil.
As always, what manufactures break will be fixed by the free market. There’s many affordable OBD-II plugins that disable Auto Stop/ Start without affecting the vehicle’s warranty. Some can even tune your vehicle based on fuel grade, etc.
The rich fuel mixture needed to start an engine (depending on temperature and the condition of spark plugs, fuel injectors, oil, etc.) can offer only a net-neutral “benefit” overall. As others have mentioned, there is a noticeable “shake” on startup, which itself will wear more on engine mounts. GM keeps loading vehicles with tech nobody really needs and that will only contribute to the cost and frequency of repairs down the line!
I know of at least two loyal Buick buyers that couldn’t bring themselves to pull the trigger on the new LaCrosse because they couldn’t turn off the stop/start. One bought an Impala Premier (which doesn’t have stop/start or cylinder deactivation). The other bought a Lexus, which also didn’t have the annoying features.
My wife and I also opted for a Volvo XC60 (where the feature is detestable) over an XT5 for the same reason. The fact that the Cadillac’s system is smoother doesn’t matter to me. I can turn it off completely in the Volvo.
The off-cycle credit is worth less if the system can be deactivated. That’s why some vehicles have a stop/start off switch and other’s don’t.
I, like many other buyers, wont make a purchase if there is no way to turn this off.
So what’s the credit worth to GM it the buyer gets a Toyota or BMW with a deactivate switch? In particular, what is the credit worth to GM when they are turning off loyal buyers?
Do they get an extra bonus credit for not making a sale at all?
Doesn’t matter which manufacturer or car it’s on. I absolutely can’t stand it.
It sure would be a great time to be in the starter business, as I’m sure failure will eventually be the norm.
GM can at least provide a disable or defeat switch like almost everyone else does.
They did it on the new Silverado and on the CTS. Why not everything else?
The off-cycle credit is worth less if the system can be deactivated. That’s why some vehicles have a stop/start off switch and other’s don’t. Some classes of vehicles absolutely require a way to disable the system, such as a truck or a performance or luxury sedan. Those vehicles would suffer sales-wise if start/stop was always on. Especially in a truck.
The starter in my ’07 Honda powered Saturn failed after 87k mi. without an auto/start stop, and no longer under warranty. I can’t imagine a starter of the same quality and size/weight lasting much more than the current power-train warranties with it(the auto start/stop).
I am already mad that I have to pay for technology that I don’t want.
I won’t buy or lease any car with stop/start that can’t be defeated. A lot of manufacturers have this stop/start, but GM seems to be the only one that doesn’t design a defeat switch in most of their models.
No defeat switch. No sale. I can get it from almost every other competitor.
Folks do not Blame the MFGs blame the goverment and California.
GM would rather not have to exploit these loop holes but they do with the laws as they are.
scott, if GM didn’t want it on the car it wouldn’t be there. GM doesn’t know we have choices. Don’t blame the government. GM is just cheap.
We have a 2019 Traverse with it, and it was odd for me at first, but now I don’t even notice, except when I am trying to shut it off on purpose. My wife, being a non-car person and a more typical buyer, doesn’t even notice it. We are getting much better gas mileage than our old Traverse, so for family duty, I think it works just fine.
How do you shut it off
Hey, (insert insult) your not supposed to shut it off! You people need to use this technology so that GM can continue to develop more efficient cars and trucks. So that we (the people who want them) can continue to drive trucks, SUVs, and performance cars with big V8 engines!
If you (insert insult) people dont start embracing this new technology then those V8 engines are going to disappear!
When and if it happens then you (insert insult) people will be the ones screaming the loudest about not having a V8 option!
Stop being narcissistic!
One day this tech will be smarter (not that some of us will dislike it any less). For instance, when V2V communication has been fully implemented. It would not function solely on the car coming to a complete stop. But what the cars ahead of you (if there are any) is doing.
If the car in front of you is pulling away, your car would delay the shut down for a pre determined number of seconds. As it should be now, which would solve the tight garage parking senario above.
How about delaying it for about 10 seconds by default untill V2V hits the main stream and provide an off button for the tree huggers.
I can’t imagine sitting in rush hour traffic here in So. Cal. having my TRUCK shut off and restart 50-100 times going to and from work. I’m pretty sure you will be able to disable this function (for the time being) on most GM cars and trucks, once the hacktuners have cracked the source code and started tuning them.
I usually just put it in manual mode. But regardless, even if they offered it on the vehicle, you still have to press the button every time you turn your vehicle on and off. So what’s really the difference between offering the button or not offering the button?
The button would be to stop the engine when the tree huggers come to a stop and want to override the predetermined engine stop delay.
Something they could do at every stop if they so choose. All the while allowing us normal folks to pull up and roll away from “our” stop without the annoying stop/restart.
It is to enable them, making them feel good about themselves while not annoying the rest of us.
Bypass the auto stop in Cruze and Malibu by putting the transmission in L6 when diving around town. Problem solved.
I like it.
I would never want it in a Silverado HD or a corvette or anything that is designed to be balls to the wall work or performance oriented.
However I think that in the majority of commuter cars and large CUVs that spend more of their time in the city sitting at red lights and in traffic its wonderful. My mom has a 2017 XT5 with it, and it can be a bit annoying sometimes; like when you pull into the driveway and it shuts off in the split second between drive and park, or when you pull up the a stop sign and there is no one else around so you drive off. It IS very beneficial at long red lights and while sitting in traffic though. I love it.
I have never experience the “loss of steering” that most people complain about, or the “shutting off before coming to a complete stop”. And if it does shut off while waiting to pull out into traffic, its simple; just take your foot off the brake and inch up a foot or so. Boom it stays running.
these cars have electric p-steering, you do not lose steering.
Why do people like yourself get anoyoned by the technology? I’ve driven one for 5 years and have zero issues with it. Dont even realize that it shuts off.
I must say its terrible that some people cant accept or deal with new technology. You guys sound like the guys in the 80’s who didnt want disc brakes or fuel injection. Those people new and trusted drum brakes and carbs but as we all found out that those new technologies were better!
You can add a long list of new technology over the decades that people didn’t want or felt they were paying for something they didn’t need.
How can educated people be so closed minded and not be able to see into the future. It seems to me that they only focus on what’s important to them today and never think about 5 years, 10 years, 20 years down the road.
I love all of the new gas saving technology and I hope it finds it’s way into ever GM vehicle they make!
I think most people are annoyed by poorly executed new technology. The stop/start feature could be better integrated into the vehicle operation. Maybe have 3 (or more) modes on a selector. Many cars have this already. ECO gives you instant stop/start. Normal delays the function for 10-15 seconds. Sport never shuts off. You pick the one you want and the car stays in that mode until you select a different mode, unaffected by key on/off cycles. The lack of a disable button on the ’18 cruze hatch TD removed it from my list. The addition of a button on the ’19 has it back on.
If something is integrated well consumers will want it. If it feels like an afterthought it becomes unwanted.
Brian,
Your key comment is “educated people”. Ever thought this could be a false assumption?
I can’t wait for the next post on defeating the system. I wonder if the stop/start switch can be hot wired “on” so you don’t have to bother pushing it at all. Would leaving an ODB-II scanner plugged in would turn the stop/start function off as a shop maintenance mode.
The posters who don’t mind would sing another tune the first time restart doesn’t happen on a busy intersection or need to pay for a premature battery/starter replacement.
Remember the automatic front lap belts? That safety crap was dropped after 2 or 3 years.
I despise it. When you have to stop mid-turn, the power steering also shuts off with the engine. When the car restarts, the steering is momentarily dead, which makes for a jerky launch as the motor and steering come back to life. The engine will also shut down before you’re at a complete stop. Hit the gas again when this happens and the car shudders as the engine restarts.
The only time it doesn’t annoy me is when I’m stopped at a light or stop sign, where it is fairly unnoticeable.
electric p/steering.
We have a 2017 Cadillac XT5. The auto stop/start does not bother us at all. The times I do notice it I enjoy the possibility that I’m saving fuel.
Yeah, look Wes, you are not saving fuel and you are not saving the planet or whatever they want you to think. The replacement cost for a new battery and starter will far exceed your imaginary fuel savings. GM does not put this crap on the vehicle for you. You don’t matter to GM. They could care less. Its only done because GM has to kiss butt to California because it represents the most sales in the U.S. You want to save gas? Try walking, or riding a bicycle. Better yet when your in traffic put the car in neutral and let the car behind you push you to your destination. You are not saving fuel!
This past spring, I was on vacation in Florida, and had a Grand Cherokee rental with this stop/start option. It was very annoying. I will never own a vehicle with this option, unless it comes with an override to disable it.
this is a dangerous “feature”… this garbage is going to get someone killed… My parents’ car has this garbage and I’ve driven a few rental cars with it… the length of the delay isn’t consistent; you never know how long you’ll have no acceleration after the car enters this mode and you hit the gas… I’ve had delays of over 10 seconds; that’s more than enough to get someone killed when they are trying to make a left turn after this garbage is activated
Dude you are full of ____!
I owned a GM car with stop/start technology and you couldn’t be more wrong. The system is seamless!!! After you drive it for awhile you dont even realize the car shuts off or on.
So you are spreading BS for no reason.
I have auto stop on my 2017 XT5. It works great. Don’t particularly notice its operation anymore.. I have it on my 2019 Chrysler Pacifica which also has a switch to turn it off. I never bother to turn it off as the system works seamlessly. Logically it saves fuel.
I have a 19 Cruze LS with a switch to disable auto/stop. It’s the best feature on the car.
90 percent of my driving is just around town with several stop n go’s. I find the stop/star feature severely annoying. Especially pulling into my garage and having it turn off before I’ve hit my spot. If I didn’t need the unique characteristics of this car, I would not have bought it. I’ve found I can put in neutral before stopping and over-ride the system. There’s also a sweet spot when braking that I’ve almost mastered, which fakes out the system. Love the car, hate the system.
I am amazed at what people complain about. The start stop works seamless! GM did a great job with this technology. You remind me of the __________ that complained about fuel injection replacing the carburetor.
I say the more the engine stop/starts, the more wear and tear the engine is getting. Even lots of mechanics on YouTube are saying the same thing.
Wrong, I had two cars with the feature and both had over 100k on both of them. The engine is designed to run in that matter. I had zero problems with mine. If you are annoyed with the system then it’s a you problem. And you should stop talking negatively about the system. Your making things up to justify your argument of not liking the system. It works seamless.
You had two cars with this feature, but not one now. Hmmm…
It’s not seamless. It’s not consistent….The on and off cycling can only increase failure rates of the components. Does it not increase takeoff time ?
All this for a few carbon credits..
According to mechanic Scotty on YouTube, the stop start system explains why ‘not’ to buy a car that has one. Why stop start technology can lower your car’s engine and starter lifespan, car review with Scotty Kilmer. Do stop start systems really improve your gas mileage? How to disable the stop start system in your car. The pros and cons of owning a car with a stop start system. There are advantages to buying a car with stop start technology, but also a lot of downsides. DIY car repair with Scotty Kilmer, an auto mechanic for the last 50 years.
I love reading all the so called experts here on the stop start systems. Knock yourself out people.
And you dont think he’s trying to get as many views as possible? You dont get views with rainbows, you get views with negative comments.
Nobody watches YouTube for my car runs amazing!
Some people are just gullible
This post is kind’of old but, OK.
Charles do you think all stop-start systems are designed the same? I for one think a system using a traditional starter/ring gear is nothing more then a rush to market gimmick. When I hear a car restart at a light with one of these setup’s it’s like scratching a chalkboard. takes me back to the days of starter misalignment, shims and hearing that “SCREEEECH” that announces the incoming maintenance expense. GM had it right with the integrated electric starter/generator to fire up the engine, the engine just started running again with not “starter cranking”.
It was probably expensive though.
So there’s my one 2¢ punch on this subject!