EPA Administration Hints At Imminent Auto Start-Stop Change

[Dude]

Update: Auto Start-Stop Incentives Have Been Eliminated

https://fordauthority.com/2026/02/epa-says-auto-start-stop-incentives-have-been-eliminated/

Many will be happy with this for future vehicles:

https://fordauthority.com/2026/02/epa-administration-hints-at-imminent-auto-start-stop-change/

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[jkernitzki]

FORScan beat them to it.

 

[Stircrazy]

its not a madatory feature. but it does help fuel milage in stop and go traffic, and you jcan just push a button to turn it off when you start your car.. I don't see what the big deal is.

as for softening the epa, aparently grocerie prices are lower than they have ever been also

 

[Garth]

I wish I could turn it off permanently without paying for the privilege.
Its hard on the engine and a pia because many times I dont realize its on until my first stop.

 

[Frenchy906]

Ya I’m a huge fan of it when I’ve got my music playing, and I come to a stop sign… and there’s just enough of a gap to pull out, and it takes me two seconds before I can go again.

/sarcasm

 

[incavulator]

its not a madatory feature. but it does help fuel milage in stop and go traffic

This is correct. Part of the problem (opening Pandora's box here) is that when they decided CO2 was a pollutant, it created opportunities for contradictions within the regulations.

Manufacturers are pushed to improve fuel economy (which means reducing CO2 - they are effectively one and the same) while also simultaneously reducing the other constituent pollutants (hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and oxides of nitrogen). Features like this help CO2 (fuel economy) but typically don't help the other constituents, so they are damned if they do and damned if they don't.

When the government provides CO2 credits for features like this, it encourages manufacturers to add them to our vehicles whether we like them or not. The same is true for trying to meet fuel economy targets. If they get rid of some of these requirements (as we saw happen yesterday) and credits, it should lead to fewer features like this that customers really don't want.

The reason you can't turn it off "permanently" is because the manufacturer would not get the credit if it was designed like that. Hence the need to find an aftermarket solution.

 

[Robins21]

I hate it. I am glad I have an older truck that does not have it. My wife does not mind it. Good thing it is on her BS/BB.

 

[Dannyp56]

its not a madatory feature. but it does help fuel milage in stop and go traffic, and you jcan just push a button to turn it off when you start your car.. I don't see what the big deal is.

as for softening the epa, aparently grocerie prices are lower than they have ever been also

Not in Payson, AZ. Gas finally came down another penny to 3.14. Groceries are higher than they have been in the ten years we have lived here.

 

[Stircrazy]

Ya I’m a huge fan of it when I’ve got my music playing, and I come to a stop sign… and there’s just enough of a gap to pull out, and it takes me two seconds before I can go again.

/sarcasm

you know you can slightlyy lift your foot off the brake with out releasing it and it will start, or even just turn the stering wheel a bit. and 2 seconds, that sounds like there is more of an issue than the auto start/stop. and what does your music playing have to do with anything?

 

[Frenchy906]

you know you can slightlyy lift your foot off the brake with out releasing it and it will start, or even just turn the stering wheel a bit. and 2 seconds, that sounds like there is more of an issue than the auto start/stop. and what does your music playing have to do with anything?

Can’t hear the engine cut out?

Straightforward connection between those two.

 

[wireman]

Keep it on the vehicle but default to the off position. If I want to turn it on I will.

As Garth said, it really can't be good for the engine and the starter. JMO.

 

[TheX]

FORScan beat them to it.

Forscan can't disable it, or we wouldn't have these conversations.

 

[Frenchy906]

Forscan can't disable it, or we wouldn't have these conversations.

I’m curious on this one. One of the modifications I did last night was disable auto start/stop. I haven’t driven it yet, but I’m going to find out soon if it took it or not

 

[jkernitzki]

Forscan can't disable it, or we wouldn't have these conversations.

I disabled mine months ago with FORScan.

 

[Bill G]

Maybe it’s just me . . . but I see some problems with changing ASS, so I just have to keep trying to remember to ”push the button” before it shuts off the first time:

1. I don’t have the necessary laptop/software and I don’t want to buy them just for that.

2. Nothing is free . . . the dealer will charge to make the change for you (IF they will do that). The next time you go in it might get changed back, and voila, another charge to change the setting.

3. I don’t want a “dongle” under my dash (cost and possible hassles) just to make MY car work like I want — the gov. nannies and the mgr. should have made the thing work so that “off” was the normal setting and you could turn it “on” with the damn button.

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