Automotive Automatic Shutdown Help

[detroit1]

Could someone please explain the reason  and/or the advantage of the auto shut off on these new cars and trucks? Is it to save gas? For some reason it bothers me to no end. Is there some sort of safety regulation? How many starters will you buy in 100k miles? Does it even use a starter? I counted 8 times my wife's Escape had gone thru the cycle on a 1/2 mile drive. It drove me crazy. Just because you have the technology doesn't mean it's practical or needed. Please explain it to me so it won't bother me anymore.

[1BADAIR]

Saves fuel.  remote start a vehicle and watch the average mpg drop quickly.  The starting and charging systems on these vehicles are enlarged to handle the process. Jeep and others actually have two batterys. 1 normal large one and one the size of a lawn tractor unit.  The newer E-assist ram, jeep, silverado use a large belt drive generator/motor . When stop/start is active the vehicle shuts off. Then the MGU unit drives the car away from a stop for up to 30 feet or so before the engine starts. This unit also adds up to 130 ft lbs of torque to the engine when at full throttle.
Some of the older units have a small delay  after brake release due to having to getting the transmission back online(line pressure and everything) before the car will move.
If you drive in heavy stop and go traffic these designs can save alot of fuel

[detroit1]

Thanks for explaining, but it's still gonna bother me....

[1BADAIR]

My mothers van does it. My father almost refuses to ride in it lol

[Hollada]

My F150 has it.  Drives me nuts.  There's probably a hack out there you could find to make it go away but I'm on a Ford mgt lease so can't mess with it.

[1BADAIR]

FCA vehicles have a button to shut it off

[Hollada]

Ford has button as well.  Resets when car is turned off.

This is a workaround for those who want it.

[Hollada]

Software work around.  DANGER use at your own risk

[djkimmel]

Seems like the craziest idea ever as far as vehicles go... I can't help but expect stalled vehicles all over the place, especially at lights and stop signs, at some point in the future as they get old and things aren't working as sharp as they were when you bought it... It could be the end of civilized society as people degenerate into packs of crazy carjackers because their vehicle is sitting at the light after it didn't restart when they tried to continue on their travels...

I admit I took a trip with my Mom in her new car and most of the time it wasn't really noticeable though there where a few times something didn't seem right just long enough to confuse me... 'what was that hesitation all about...??' A little concern may be relieved if the car makes it through the winter without any problems. I sure don't want to see her stranded somewhere because the car is acting up. She might not do well in one of the future carjacking hordes...

[dartag]

They system is called Stop Start.   It was developed to get better fuel economy from a vehicle.   Fuel economy standards were raised by the last administration to levels that are hard to achieve with current vehicles.  Stop Start was created to help.  It cost the automakers Millions of dollars to develop. 

Here is an explanation.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Start-stop_system