Let’s Talk About Engine Stop-Start, Part 2: Disabling The Feature
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On Wednesday, we took a look at some of the consumer sentiment regarding General Motors’ automatic engine stop-start system, which seeks to conserve fuel during daily vehicle operation by temporarily shutting the engine off when the vehicle is at a stop, restarting only when the driver is ready to drive again. Much to the chagrin of many customers, GM remains committed to the technology, resolving to install it in nearly every new vehicle by the year 2020. Research indicates that it can effectively boost fuel economy in some driving scenarios, although that boost is perhaps not adequately reflected in EPA testing results.
Today, we’ll be looking at how to turn the feature off, especially when no dedicated shut-off button is present in the vehicle. Plenty of GM products do come equipped with an engine stop-start defeat button, wearing an icon that consists of a capital letter “A” encircled by an arrow. Anytime that GM’s auto engine stop-start is active, the driver need only press that button once to turn the system off for the time that the vehicle is in use, until the next shutdown and startup.
Engine stop-start defeat button in a 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500.
For vehicles without that button, such as the 2016-2018 Chevrolet Cruze and 2017+ Cadillac XT5, deactivating GM’s engine stop-start on automatic transmission-equipped cars is nonetheless a simple matter. The easiest way to defeat the system is to drive with the shifter in any mode other than the normal “D”. No, we’re not suggesting that you reverse your way to the grocery store. Instead, you can put the vehicle in whatever low-gear (“L”) or manual (“M”) mode option it has, and set it to shift through all the gears.
Such modes allow the automatic transmission to do its thing, with the driver setting a limit by selecting the tallest gear they want the transmission to reach. By selecting the top gear in the transmission, you’re allowing the transmission to shift into all gears as usual, but auto stop-start is deactivated because you’re outside of “D”.
On that note, another quick fix is to select Sport mode, assuming the vehicle in question has one. GM’s auto engine stop-start isn’t active in Sport mode, although the driver should be aware that other settings on the vehicle – throttle calibration, exhaust mode, suspension mode, shift scheduling, etc. – can also change in Sport, possibly causing a further reduction in vehicle fuel economy.
Finally, if the driver wants to temporarily disrupt the engine stop-start system, he or she can quickly move the automatic gear selector into any mode other than Drive – Low, Neutral, Reverse – and then back into Drive to manually force the engine to kick back on. This can be especially useful if you’re waiting to turn out into a busy intersection and you don’t feel comfortable with the delay in thrust introduced by stop-start.
Stay tuned for more GM engine stop-start news as we publish our third and final part in our series on the feature on Friday.
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you can put the vehicle in whatever low-gear (“L”) or manual (“M”) mode option it has, and set it to shift through all the gears.
Never heard of this. How is it done?
Yes! Put in L and manualy up shift to #9 and it then dive ,it will shift up as if it was in D.
Only problem is that you must set this up each time you restart the car!
I need to purchase a half ton pickup truck for my fire department. There is no way I will consider a GM product with this start/stop feature for an emergency vehicle. I will have multiple radios, a light bar and multiple warning lights running during both driving and on scene. I can’t imagine that a battery and alternator could last very turning on and off under such loads.
I believe this feature will also remove these trucks from any plowing operations.
Chris, although I’m replying to an older Post, this may help…..
” I will have multiple radios, a light bar and multiple warning lights running during both driving and on scene. I can’t imagine that a battery and alternator could last very turning on and off under such loads.”
Keep in mind that the autostop only “stops” under specific conditions. Under electrical load, it will not initiate an engine stop, or it will at least restart when the load becomes more than the non-running system can handle.
Believe me, I’m *NOT* defending the technology in any way as I don’t like it, or at least don’t like the way it is implemented in my vehicle, but it doesn’t simply shut off the engine when the vehicle isn’t moving. There is some intelligence built in to monitor conditions. I’m curious to see how often it kicks in in during the winter here in Canada.
yeah, well, i hope that someone from GM will actually read your comment. And if they did, would it get up the chain? who knows.
Just purchased a new 2018 Buick Enclave and knew nothing about the auto start stop feature. After doing some research, I found out that Buick likes to say that they “listen to their customers” and started putting a auto start stop switch in their 2019 models, too late for me. I contacted GM by email and asked that since there seems to be a lot of pre-2019 customers that don’t like the feature, why don’t they offer an optional aftermarket fix, that owners could pay for so that the issue could be fixed without voiding the warranty. I got a three paragraph response that I’ll paraphrase: first being thank you for contacting us; second being about four sentences long telling me that if I tamper with the feature I will be voiding my warranty and final paragraph, will pass your suggestion on to our engineering staff. Apparently, Buick division of GM could care less about listening to current customers regarding Auto Start Stop remedies.
The 2019 Enclave does not have a button to turn off stop/start.
I am a mechanic and have rebuild approximately 380 engines in the last 35 years. The manufactures state that the auto stop/start feature vehicles have stronger starters and batteries that will not wear at an accelerated rate and can handle the many additional engine stops and starts, Great, however that’s not the issue. If you are stopped at a traffic light for approximately 2 minutes, oil has drained from the main, rod and cam bearings and other engine components, depending on engine design. . The engine now restarts, shocks the oil pump and has to pressurize the engine bearings with the crankshaft already turning. Extreme accelerated wear to main engine components that will result in catastrophic fail rates. These systems have not been tested and the consumer is the guinea pig! Please do not believe me and educate yourself about how bad the stop/start feature really is.
thanks so much for that great info. i typically defeat the s/s 98% of the time, now I will endeavor to do so 100% of the time.
-S
It is supremely arrogant of GM to assume customers don’t care if they have control of engine ON/OFF.
Anytime you take control away from the customer, you create anxiety.
GM is making an enormous mistake here.
A permanent disable feature is needed badly.
I’m shocked they don’t get it.
Put in a button to turn it ON So the owner can turn it on if they want to.
Yes all of the thing mentioned probably work. But who wants to mess around bypassing something they don’t want. So, GM you most likely have lost another customer with a lot of this newfangled Garbage. ——– While I am on this I will say “Drive By Wire” Really SUCKS.
I have been researching SUVs and I really like the new Chevy equinox, but I will not buy one if the auto start stop feature isn’t allowed to be turned off. GM you have just lost another customer, I will buy the Toyota RAV4 instead. Good luck with that feature, I have tried it on a rental car for a month and absolutely hate it!!
The easiest way to defeat the stop/start function is to disconnect the hood latch sensor, however doing so does turn on the ‘Check Engine’ light. If you don’t want the light on you can install the module from Smart Stop/Start.
Module works great…well worth the money. No more start stop and no check engine light. Memo to GM: Look at the money you’re missing out on by not developing this module yourself.
I recently picked up a new 2019 Traverse (fleet vehicle) and need to know how to disable the engine start stop feature permanently. What a piece of crap! Please let me know. If this can’t be disabled I will need to talk to our fleet department to stop ordering GM vehicles with this feature
As you can see in previous posts, disconnect the hood latch sensor or install the aftermarket module.
I’ve been loyal to GM, but after the stop/start crap they’ve pulled with the Cadillac XT5, I’m done. I did purchase the Range Technology disabler and so far, it’s working great. no codes, no check engine lights. But the fact that Cadillac forced this on their customers with no disable button is a deal breaker for me. Never. Again. By focusing on appeasing CAFE standards instead of their bread and butter (buyers) they will join the bygone era. Because Americans won’t support this fleecing. Cadillac had better run to China, like they plan to, because they won’t be welcome here if they keep this up.
I just posted a question about has anyone tried the Range Technology disabler before seeing your post. Great to hear that it has been working well for you. I am going to give it a try!! Thanks for posting.
DeAnne,
I’d recommend the Range Technology disabler, I’m very happy with mine. Just make sure to unplug it before heading to the dealership service department- just in case they would refuse warranty work because you’re using something aftermarket. If your state requires emissions testing, Range also recommends removing it for a few days prior to your appointment:
https://rangetechnology.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/204980485-What-do-I-do-if-I-have-to-do-an-emissions-test-
Other than these 2 precautions, I forget it’s even there. Except that it makes my car act the way it’s supposed to, of course! ?
A week with a brand new silverado and the auto stop doesn’t work , it work for 3 days and then nothing, will take the truck to the dealer
Anyone try the Range Technology start/stop module to delete this horrible functionality? I want to purchase one but haven’t seen any reviews for the start/stop module only the AFM module
Looks like I’m not going to buy another GM because that option sucks
I simply “hate” this feature! I have a 2019 Traverse. When stopped at a light and the AC compressor kicks in, the car starts but lunges forward. If your foot is not securely on the brake, I really think it could cause a rear-end collision. Looking to get rid of mine now, but not sure what other comparable vehicles do not have this feature, because I do not want it ever again!
I override the auto stop on my 2019 Buick Regal tourx by braking with my left foot and putting slight pressure on the gas pedal leaving the rpm just under 1000.
Good morning, I have a chevrolet cruze 2017, the auto / stop function, it was working until I went to the revision of the 20mil kilometers, leaving some components badly connected and the light of the heck engine was on, they managed to repair the problem that lit the light, but after two days the car / stop stopped working, I took the car to the workshop 10 times and in this last occasion reported me that after days of not presenting the fault, they called me to tell me that they failed and that they will review because I stop working, I have never been bothered by that function, my concern is that I stop working for a damage that they caused in the workshop and they may have damaged something else in the engine.
Any GM vehicle I’ve driven will not turn off if you toggle the shifter rearward to enable manual shifting. When you return to driving simply toggle the shifter rearward again to return to automatic transmission mode
At a long light. You may also simply engage the parking brake. Take your foot off the brake pedal. When light changes, depress brake pedal then disengage parking brake. Welcome to the 21st Century. Regards, M4rk