Start-Stop Technology

[nissangirl74]

Does anyone here have this on their car? If so, can you tell when the engine stops / starts back up?

The feature can reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 12 percent, depending upon how much time is spent in city driving.

I'm guessing this would be pretty damn awesome when living in LA, NYC, or Jersey.

http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/10 ... d+Blogs%29

[ADDirishboy]

My car has the "Stop" technology, but the "Start" portion seems to be malfunctioning.

[Jesda]

I heard (probably from TG) that Switzerland required you to turn your car off while at a stoplight regardless of whether you had the system. Imagine a light turning green and waiting for everyone to crank and shift into Drive.

GM has a clever belt-alternator-starter system that works like a hybrid-light and doesn't cost extra. Nice way to save money without spending more.

[Ajax]

I've ridden in an Accord Hybrid which has the system. I didn't notice much as a passenger, but it was one round trip across town- not much to go by.
There are several lights around town that if I see I won't make it through, I shut it down and coast to my place in line. They are the longer lights and I know their patterns well. I can usually keep the car off for 40-90 seconds. Not saving much in gas, probably, but the car doesn't like to idle anyway.

[krash]

I've driven a bunch of hybrids that do it. As a valet, it scared the hell out of me the first time I experienced the shut-off. I thought I broke the car

[danshaz82]

it scared the hell out of me the first time I experienced the shut-off. I thought I broke the car

x2.
you can definitely tell when it stops and then turns back on. it just feels like it stalled out

[AZhitman]

My car has the "Stop" technology, but the "Start" portion seems to be malfunctioning.

I love you dude.

[MinisterofDOOM]

I was driving with a friend the other day and he asked me if my car has this feature because it idles like buttered teflon on ice. So basically I can pretend I have start-stop while still burning fuel. I can't decide if that's a win or a loss.

My concern with start-stop tech is what happens when the car's 10+ years old and in need of a tuneup. Is it going to be "chugachugachugachugachugawhirrrrrrr" and lots of honking every other light?
I can also see it becoming a nuisance in stop-and-go traffic if it's not really, really seamless in non-hybrid vehicles.

[Chaotic_Warlord]

And here they've been telling us for years that it takes more fuel and more wear and tear to do this sort of thing with your car. Wouldn't this tend to burn out your starter and battery in half the time? Wouldn't it be just as effective to kill spark to all but 1 or 2 of your spark plugs? Seems like a lot of possibility for something to go wrong or big repair bills for a measly a** 12%. You can save the same 12% by keeping your foot out of the throttle.