AUTO STOP/START QUOTE

[Dude]

Thank you for this info. I will try it next time I use the Bronco. Several people suggest low battery being the problem. The Bronco sat after use for about 2days without the tender plugged in and the voltage reading was 12.45 so I don't think that is the problem.

Mine does show “Engine on due to vehicle charging” a fair amount of time and I also see a similar voltage as you but please let us know when you get a chance to see if there is a more detailed message in your vehicle.

Don’t forget there is the known recall coming up mid May ‘24, details in this PDF:

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V267-6161.PDF

Bronco Sport BCM Software might not be calculating the battery State Of Charge correctly and it’s reasonably common for owners to see the auto start stop disabled.

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[ATLAS BLUE BADLANDS]

I feel stop/start is unnecessary and stupid but I do like that there is a button to turn it off which I do when I start my BS. The move is automatic now. So no big deal.

True and sport mode keeps it off - and a 110V LED night light keeps it off. I installed the Auto Start Eliminator today, the same day it came in the mail, 3 days after taking delivery of the BS. Simple install but in a tight place.

 

[Forestpatrol]

Using your logic, I can find it ridiculous that anyone would take the position that the starter is going to fail quicker because of the start/stop. As mentioned, the starter used with the engines equipped with the start/stop feature are designed and built with more robust components to handle it. For me, I simply press the dash button after starting the BS to disable the feature.

I have no proof of the following statement... it would not surprise me that the issue of starters failing early due to a start/stop feature are spread by those venders that sell a device to disable it; more sales if they can convince you.

Remember the myths years ago of synthetic oils, and how they would cause engine wear?

I've had the start/stop feature on several other vehicles/makes, all kept for 4 or more years before trade in, and none had a starter fail on me for any reason, including the stop/start operation.

I'll wait to see if/when a documented BS starter fails due to the start/stop feature causing premature wear on it before I accept the myth that a starter is going to fail early.

I stated that I was specifically not worried about the starter.

 

[kshaw]

This is an easy fix using ForScan. Just need to get a compatible OBDII cable and a free license.

 

[magicbus]

True and sport mode keeps it off - and a 110V LED night light keeps it off. I installed the Auto Start Eliminator today, the same day it came in the mail, 3 days after taking delivery of the BS. Simple install but in a tight place.

I never did that because our annual State Inspection requires plugging into the OBD II connector and I'm sure they would fail me for making plugging in difficult. In the end I found that my trips are short enough that my battery is always charging so my auto stop/start is always disabled.

 

[ATLAS BLUE BADLANDS]

I never did that because our annual State Inspection requires plugging into the OBD II connector and I'm sure they would fail me for making plugging in difficult. In the end I found that my trips are short enough that my battery is always charging so my auto stop/start is always disabled.

It plugs into the BACK of the port out of sight. Which is why the install is in a bit tight of a place.

 

[Bucko]

I never did that because our annual State Inspection requires plugging into the OBD II connector and I'm sure they would fail me for making plugging in difficult. In the end I found that my trips are short enough that my battery is always charging so my auto stop/start is always disabled.

It plugs between the OBDII and connector. The state inspection would not know it is there.

 

[Frosty]

Common sense dictates that the more you use the starter motor the more wear it gets. Like a switch or anything else. So it does get extra wear.

I’ve always subscribed to the theory that everything works fine right up until the moment it breaks. And if something is designed to work say, a million times before it doesn’t work anymore, the more often you use it, the quicker you’re going to get to those million times. I’ve been driving a lot of years, and for all of those years, I start the engine, it runs the entire time I’m driving, until I shut off the engine. Plain, simple, works great. I installed the Auto Stop Eliminator on my BS, and life goes merrily on. ?

 

[RichEubanks]

Yep. Common misconception that it puts stress and wear on the starter.

I hate this option! And it does wear out the starter! If I'd known how aggravating this was, I'd never have purchased a Bronco Sport! I don't know why it isn't a button to turn it on, not off! The battery went bad in mine, after only three years, and I jumped it to get it started to take it to the dealer. If I hadn't remembered to turn off the damn auto off, I'd have been stuck at the first traffic light. And, speaking of the battery, it's nothing you can do yourself! This vehicle sucks!

 

[cprcubed]

If I'd known how aggravating this was, I'd never have purchased a Bronco Sport!

C'mon man! How many new vehicles have you seen that don't use AS/S? I've used the AS/S Eliminators on both my 2022 BS and my 2023 Toyota Highlander AWD. I don't even think about it anymore and I don't get aggravated when I forget to turn the systems OFF. Easy fix. Cheers!

 

[Mwittke5857]

AUTO STOP/START SWITCH
“The switch that turns this system off may be more popular than the AUTO STOP/START feature itself.”

Not my quote but it’s a good one… the quote is from a current Consumer Reports issue, article is titled: SOME NEW CAR LINGO TO KNOW

If I wanted a golf cart, I would have bought one!!

 

[Mwittke5857]

I hate this option! And it does wear out the starter! If I'd known how aggravating this was, I'd never have purchased a Bronco Sport! I don't know why it isn't a button to turn it on, not off! The battery went bad in mine, after only three years, and I jumped it to get it started to take it to the dealer. If I hadn't remembered to turn off the damn auto off, I'd have been stuck at the first traffic light. And, speaking of the battery, it's nothing you can do yourself! This vehicle sucks!

I’ve had mine out once detailing the engine bay. I decided then when the time comes, I’ll replace it with a lithium ion battery

 

[Hedge36]

I hate this option! And it does wear out the starter! If I'd known how aggravating this was, I'd never have purchased a Bronco Sport! I don't know why it isn't a button to turn it on, not off! The battery went bad in mine, after only three years, and I jumped it to get it started to take it to the dealer. If I hadn't remembered to turn off the damn auto off, I'd have been stuck at the first traffic light. And, speaking of the battery, it's nothing you can do yourself! This vehicle sucks!

Man, I love these threads.

 

[V8 Yankee]

The Auto Stop feature is definitely a polarizing subject. A real love/hate kind of thing. I admit when I first bought my BS it was slightly irritating but after 3 months of getting used to it, I came to like it. I drive about 16K a year and I average about 10 auto stops a day or 3650 cycles a year. Just throwing an average of one minute each cycle, probably more like 90 seconds but I will go low. So, after 31 months of ownership that comes to 9429 auto stop cycles which equals 157 hours the motor is not running. Using a conservative number of .4 gallons an hour at idle that comes to 62.8 gallons of fuel that is not being used. Using an average cost of fuel at $3.25 a gallon that comes to $204 in savings.


Now back to the wear and tear on the starter and battery. So far there is no evidence of either being compromised by "average" start/stop cycles. Of course, there is a point a starter wears out and Ford engineered more robust starter elements. Batteries are another animal with too many other variables to average out the life cycle. With the BS being an extension of the Escape and other Ford models that have the feature there is plenty of history of this feature not having contributed to premature starter or battery failure. Of course, if a car is driven in heavy traffic and you have 100 cycles a day then yes, I would say it becomes an issue. In my case I am for it, I'll take the $204 savings any day.

My numbers are conservative, so I believe my savings is even more. Also, I don't plan on keeping miy 21 for no more than 5 years after which I will move on to maybe the 2027 hybrid model or something else. I like the BS, it's not a Toyota so I expect more issue's before I give it up but for now It's a great CUV, and fairly economical considering it's not an economy model.

 

[Dude]

Great analysis V8 Yankee!!!

I’ve owned my ‘22 Badlands for 2.65 years and I average $1,951 in fuel cost per year.

There are many published reports of fuel savings of AS/S Systems including the one in the attached pic which shows a savings from 3% to 10% with use of AS/S.

3% fuel savings per year: $59 (3% * $1951)
10% fuel savings per year: $195 (10% * $1951)

Other statistics over that timeframe:
- Averaged 23.8 mpg (hand calculated)
- $4.438 avg. cost per gallon of premium gasoline
- Driven 27,683 miles
- Battery: OE EFB failed 07/29/2024 at 26,219 miles and replaced under warranty with AGM Battery
- I routinely used AS/S however I stopped using AS/S sometime around the Jan 2024 timeframe

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