start/stop

buzi

Is start/stop good, I'm looking at a Ford Ka with this but am unsure it is good.

Thanks

JP08

Savings are clear - you use less fuel by not burning it when you are not moving - with the minor proviso that you do not use more restarting than you did for being stopped for a very short time (debatable as the new systems are supposed to stop in the most efficient starting position).

I think the jury is still out on long term costs. Some people have expressed concerns about wear and tear on components (starter motor etc). Personally I think that 100 stop starts on a warm engine are going to put less strain on the motor / battery than one good hefty cold start. The Toyota fires up on Stop/Start with what can only be described as a automotive polite "Ah Hem". Even an old style mini starter from the prince of darkness Lucas was good for 10 years / 100,000 miles of "Urrrr Urrr Urr Urr Ur" cold starting throughout the 1960's and '70s. I'd have thought a modern starter motor would just shrug it off. But that is strictly a personal opinion on it.

SailorSam

buzi wrote: »

Is start/stop good,

Thanks

It's better than stop/start.

facade

JP08 wrote: »

Even an old style mini starter from the prince of darkness Lucas was good for 10 years / 100,000 miles of "Urrrr Urrr Urr Urr Ur" cold starting throughout the 1960's and '70s. I'd have thought a modern starter motor would just shrug it off. But that is strictly a personal opinion on it.

I agree with the rest of your analysis. Remember that in the 1960s, everything was made up to a specification rather than down to a price.

Personally, I remember the days when if ever you let the engine stop, nothing on earth would start it again, and you had to push it to the side of the road, and wait 20 minutes or so before you could start it with the choke, so I would be psychologically damaged if the engine kept stopping.

bigjl

Starter motors on vehicles equipped with stop/start are likely to be more robust than those fitted to cars without it.

WellKnownSid

bigjl wrote: »

Starter motors on vehicles equipped with stop/start are likely to be more robust than those fitted to cars without it.

Especially as some don't use a starter motor but dump a big capacitor across the alternator. Saves on starter gear wear and tear, and saves strain on the battery.

sillygoose

Its another annoying thing to remember to turn off when you get in the car each time.

EdGasket

Its a Ford KA; when it breaks down you stop.

thescouselander

I have it on my car and it seems to save quite a bit of fuel in the massive traffic jams we get round here. I'm not sure about the effect on reliability but then I don't really care as my car is within warranty So far so good though.

JP08

facade wrote: »

Personally, I remember the days when if ever you let the engine stop, nothing on earth would start it again, and you had to push it to the side of the road, and wait 20 minutes or so before you could start it with the choke, so I would be psychologically damaged if the engine kept stopping.

Ohhhh yesss. Why do you think I mentioned a mini (Van in my case) !?! But it could have been the Fiat 127, Vauxhall Viva, MkII Escort, Ford Cortina Mk4, Morris Ital just as easily. I've had a horrible car history
The Super Snipe (although you expect it with "classic cars") was addicted to DampStart. On a murky morning it got to the point that the starting procedure was to open bonnet and spray before even trying the key.

The Toyota is the first I've had with stop start. It gave me the heebie-jeebies too to start with.

But thinking about it, I've not had a car fail to restart for about 20 years now. And even some of the older ones could be reliable enough - the '79 Chrysler Sunbeam, whilst a rust-bucket, was electronic ignition as standard and always started on the nail.

peter_the_piper

Its good on the Picanto but if I cruise up to the traffic lights that are about to change I depress the clutch which overrides it. Not sure if it makes any difference to me as most of my driving does not involve much stopping. Turned off easily by leaving fan speed on zero or turning on AC.