Stop Start Technology - a question
Discussion
I've always driven bangers for the most part (ancient Punto, Morris Minor, 15 year old Clio, TR7) so getting a 'new' car is a bit of a shock to the system being used to basic motoring and cars I could usually go some way towards fixing myself.
I've just bought a 61 Plate Fiat 500 1.2 Lounge which I actually love to bits. I'm still trying to figure out all the buttons and beeps on the thing and will be for some time I suspect, however, my question relates to the stop/start technology in the car.
My journeys are usually short, barely 5 miles on a round trip some days. I tended to theorise that using stop/start would use more fuel on a short journey than turning it off (though Stop/start doesn't actually function until the engine is warm I believe).
So whats the verdict? Worth using on my minuscule town journeys or keep it turned off?
I've just bought a 61 Plate Fiat 500 1.2 Lounge which I actually love to bits. I'm still trying to figure out all the buttons and beeps on the thing and will be for some time I suspect, however, my question relates to the stop/start technology in the car.
My journeys are usually short, barely 5 miles on a round trip some days. I tended to theorise that using stop/start would use more fuel on a short journey than turning it off (though Stop/start doesn't actually function until the engine is warm I believe).
So whats the verdict? Worth using on my minuscule town journeys or keep it turned off?
I usually turn it off on hire/courtesy cars just because I don't like the engine turning itself off, feels horrible.
I guess the system has been designed to only operate when it will cause the least damage and most potential increase in economy / decrease in emmissions, so if you are going to stick with using it, I'd say just use it.
I guess the system has been designed to only operate when it will cause the least damage and most potential increase in economy / decrease in emmissions, so if you are going to stick with using it, I'd say just use it.
Herbs said:
The BMW system only comes into effect once the car is fully warmed so may be the same for Fiat.
It doesn't. My M135i will stop/start at the lights 30 seconds from my house.To OP: I'm sure the manufacturers have taken into account cold / hot start fuel use. It's a bit of a myth starting a car "uses more fuel than idling" with modern FI systems anyway, we don't run carbs anymore.
As for temperature and wear issues, stop start will likely be reducing wear. At idle the engine will take an age to build temperature, but will still be wearing stuff out. Building temperature under load is more efficient, so why not stop the engine when it's not doing anything. This is why manufacturers now recommend driving off as quickly as possible after starting.
I really don't get the hate for stop/start. It saves you fuel, end of. I'd rather not have money coming out of the exhaust when my car isn't moving.
thatdude said:
I dont mind stop start, however what about battery life? Is there any detriment?
Never buy an EV.TangerinePool said:
Might be me being old fashioned but I fear for the starter motor giving in early as well as being convinced it will fail to start up again at lights somewhere!
Weird paranoia
So you're worried about an extremely simple, unstressed electric motor failing. Never read about how the rest of your car works, you'll never drive it again Weird paranoia
jon- said:
Never buy an EV
I'm not sure I understand the relevance of your reply?My question was related to the possible plentiful discharging of the battery under constant stop-start conditions, like driving in a city were one may be inclined to stick it in neutral at each traffic light
jon- said:
So you're worried about an extremely simple, unstressed electric motor failing. Never read about how the rest of your car works, you'll never drive it again
Probably very good advice but just to compound matters I do worry about 'something' going even on new/nearly new cars *wibble* 
See I'm of the old school that a car stopping in traffic means its buggered or you've stalled it so it's a bit disconcerting when it does it. I keep seeing conflicting advice as to whether to turn it off or on and admittedly factoring in my short journeys just compounds this.
My old car needed a monthly blast with the battery charger anyway because I wasn't going far enough to really condition it so if stop start is going to add to the drain it's not something I want to keep on really.
If general consensus is it's worth it then ok, I'll get used to it, but it does concern me with starter motors etc as well.
It doesn't kick in until engine is warm btw, it also disables when fuel is low.
My old car needed a monthly blast with the battery charger anyway because I wasn't going far enough to really condition it so if stop start is going to add to the drain it's not something I want to keep on really.
If general consensus is it's worth it then ok, I'll get used to it, but it does concern me with starter motors etc as well.
It doesn't kick in until engine is warm btw, it also disables when fuel is low.
thatdude said:
jon- said:
Never buy an EV
I'm not sure I understand the relevance of your reply?My question was related to the possible plentiful discharging of the battery under constant stop-start conditions, like driving in a city were one may be inclined to stick it in neutral at each traffic light
I have to say I love the peace & quiet when the engine stops, who wants to sit and listen to a diesel idling!
thatdude said:
jon- said:
Never buy an EV
I'm not sure I understand the relevance of your reply?My question was related to the possible plentiful discharging of the battery under constant stop-start conditions, like driving in a city were one may be inclined to stick it in neutral at each traffic light
Stop/start systems factor in battery charge level, battery condition and current electrical load on the engine. They naturally won't stop the car if the battery isn't in a sufficient state to start the car again without damaging the battery.
They really are quite clever systems, they don't just blindly stop the car because you're not moving and hope the car will start again.
A starter motor is no more complex than a windscreen wiper motor, I find it odd how people never worry about these failing.
That said, OPs car has Italian electrics, so everything I'm saying is null and void.
jon- said:
That said, OPs car has Italian electrics, so everything I'm saying is null and void.
Oh believe me I've worn that particular shirt with the Punto I owned. Spectacularly good electrics if you liked the back end to light up like a fruit machine when you indicated and, just to sweeten the deal the head gasket blew up at 39k.....I believe the 500's are better made (ok ok, I'm PRAYING). I do actually love the car, it's great fun to drive and might actually tempt me out to drive a little further than I usually do because of that.
This new fangled technology though, most confusing. Pressed a button on the steering wheel and called the Chinese Takeaway on Sunday. Fortunately it was closed as it took me a good couple of minutes to figure out how to end the call
TangerinePool said:
GroundEffect said:
TangerinePool said:
Might be me being old fashioned but I fear for the starter motor giving in early as well as being convinced it will fail to start up again at lights somewhere!
Weird paranoia
A higher spec starter motor is fitted to S/S vehicles.....Weird paranoia
The Fiat system seems to work pretty nicely - I used to have a 1.2 Pop with Start/Stop too.
It won't actually enable the system for the first few minutes of driving so if you only really do very short trips it might not activate.
One tip I can give you is I would occasionally get a fault with the start stop system and I couldn't work out what was causing it... took me a while to realise that my bad habit of stopping at lights with my foot on the clutch for minutes at a time was the cause. Not sure how long you actually need to do this for, but if you hold the clutch down for more than a couple of minutes, it might warn and deactivate the stop start system. The fault will not clear until the car has been turned off for a few hours (so if you simply just pull over and stop & start the car, the fault does not clear).
They are great little cars though - packed full of technology, and quite comfortable and fun to drive! Surprisingly practical too. Just a little lacking in performance!
It won't actually enable the system for the first few minutes of driving so if you only really do very short trips it might not activate.
One tip I can give you is I would occasionally get a fault with the start stop system and I couldn't work out what was causing it... took me a while to realise that my bad habit of stopping at lights with my foot on the clutch for minutes at a time was the cause. Not sure how long you actually need to do this for, but if you hold the clutch down for more than a couple of minutes, it might warn and deactivate the stop start system. The fault will not clear until the car has been turned off for a few hours (so if you simply just pull over and stop & start the car, the fault does not clear).
They are great little cars though - packed full of technology, and quite comfortable and fun to drive! Surprisingly practical too. Just a little lacking in performance!
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