Disable Automatic Stop/Start

[FavaBean]

@Zeta30 Throw us a bone. Do you know what they did to disable it?

 

[1500cc]

Even if dealerships are able to disable it, I would think they would still be very reluctant. What happens when the car is sold and the next owners wonder why the start-stop doesn't work? Someone (perhaps warranty) could end up spending a fair bit of money trying to figure it out.

 

[voipdog10]

Even if dealerships are able to disable it, I would think they would still be very reluctant. What happens when the car is sold and the next owners wonder why the start-stop doesn't work? Someone (perhaps warranty) could end up spending a fair bit of money trying to figure it out.

I wouldn't think the dealer wouldn't touch a "new" car and disable an emission related component/feature without running into a major issue with the EPA Police.

If my recollection serves me correctly Harley dealers ran into the same problem with the EPA....they were modifying "new" bikes with custom tuning maps, pipes, piggyback fuel controllers, big bore kits, etc....all without the vehicle even being titled and they came down hard.

Granted the EPA cant't stop the end user from doing what he/she wants to do their vehicle so all the work was done "after" the sale so maybe that's how the dealer is getting around disabling the ASS above. I'm also confident that GM Techs/Dealers have access to a whole laundry list of ECM/BCM features that the public never sees and keeps it secret so they can keep it their back pocket......like the sale of a car and/or keeping a customer happy, (and doing them a "favor" too boot) who's livid with the insane amour of start/stop cycles in urban driving the ASS system subjects the end user to.

Still it would be nice to know exactly what the dealer did......and thank goodness the LastFit back-up lights swap worked for me.

 

[saab93driver]

I wouldn't think the dealer wouldn't touch a "new" car and disable an emission related component/feature without running into a major issue with the EPA Police.

If my recollection serves me correctly Harley dealers ran into the same problem with the EPA....they were modifying "new" bikes with custom tuning maps, pipes, piggyback fuel controllers, big bore kits, etc....all without the vehicle even being titled and they came down hard.

Granted the EPA cant't stop the end user from doing what he/she wants to do their vehicle so all the work was done "after" the sale so maybe that's how the dealer is getting around disabling the ASS above. I'm also confident that GM Techs/Dealers have access to a whole laundry list of ECM/BCM features that the public never sees and keeps it secret so they can keep it their back pocket......like the sale of a car and/or keeping a customer happy, (and doing them a "favor" too boot) who's livid with the insane amour of start/stop cycles in urban driving the ASS system subjects the end user to.

Still it would be nice to know exactly what the dealer did......and thank goodness the LastFit back-up lights swap worked for me.

I’ll watch and see as I’d like to give the benefit of the doubt but It’s a curious first post for someone to make just after joining. I think If dealers, any dealer, could/would disable it via software somebody here would have had it done a long time ago and it wouldn’t be a secret.

 

[Zeta30]

@Zeta30 Throw us a bone. Do you know what they did to disable it?

I don't have a clue what they did. I know the option was enabled when I test drove it. They took the car away when I was signing the paperwork. When they gave it back it was disabled. My guess would be that the dealers diagnostic software has options to turn features on or off. Anyone that has a BMW or as Uniqez mentioned a VAG-COM vehicle then you are probably familiar with INPA-D software. There are even apps you can purchase on your mobile device to turn these types of features on and off on the BMWs through a BlueTooth OBDII scanner.

Even if dealerships are able to disable it, I would think they would still be very reluctant. What happens when the car is sold and the next owners wonder why the start-stop doesn't work? Someone (perhaps warranty) could end up spending a fair bit of money trying to figure it out.

It probably depends on the dealer. It sounded like it was a very simple task to perform. it took us about 30 minutes to sign the paperwork so it took the dealer less time than that to perform the job. So to turn it back on I'm assuming it would be just as easy. My dealer was not reluctant at all, like I said in my first post they said they did it quite frequently.

 

[saab93driver]

I don't have a clue what they did. I know the option was enabled when I test drove it. They took the car away when I was signing the paperwork. When they gave it back it was disabled. My guess would be that the dealers diagnostic software has options to turn features on or off. Anyone that has a BMW or as Uniqez mentioned a VAG-COM vehicle then you are probably familiar with INPA-D software. There are even apps you can purchase on your mobile device to turn these types of features on and off on the BMWs through a BlueTooth OBDII scanner.



It probably depends on the dealer. It sounded like it was a very simple task to perform. it took us about 30 minutes to sign the paperwork so it took the dealer less time than that to perform the job. So to turn it back on I'm assuming it would be just as easy. My dealer was not reluctant at all, like I said in my first post they said they did it quite frequently.

What dealer did you buy the car from?

 

[White guy]

Just why would anyone really want to disable the ASS?
Fuel saving and emissions would suffer, not to mention the cost of the modification,

Of course this is just my opinion.

 

[Hunter Mike]

Just why would anyone really want to disable the ASS?
Fuel saving and emissions would suffer, not to mention the cost of the modification,

Of course this is just my opinion.

Wear and tear on the engine & starter. The transmission holds pressure by design but oil pressure in the engine drops to zero. The starter is beefed up but that means it’s now a $186(current RockAuto price) part to replace.

some of the new systems show promise by using GPS to enable and disable the ASS. If I’m coming up to a 4-way stop and am there for 0.5 seconds, I don’t want the engine shutting off. If I get to a light as it turns red it’s ok to shut down.

i haven’t paid a penny to disable mine. I’m just adept at slipping the shifter to the left or to N when I don’t want it to work.

My neighbor has an Equinox and every time he pulls in his driveway the engine shuts off. It restarts immediately when he puts it in park, by design. I shared with him the ways to defeat it but he doesn’t care. When I pull in it gets shifted to N and then gets shut down once, by me.

 

[D2R]

Just why would anyone really want to disable the ASS?
Fuel saving and emissions would suffer, not to mention the cost of the modification,

Of course this is just my opinion.

Actually, some of us just want to have the option to defeat it whenever we want/need to.
For example, pulling forward into a parking spot and then the stop/start kicks in before putting it into park.
So, the engine stops, then restarts when shifted to park, and then gets turned off one more time when driver actually turns off the car.

 

[1612202]

I also have an Acadia with SS. When pulling forward into a parking space it will occasionally stop and restart quickly and lurch forward a few feet. Not a problem unless there is a pole or another car in front of me that I am trying to get close to so the back of the SUV is not in the aisle. The SS is a pain in the ASS.

 

[1500cc]

Wear and rear on the engine & starter. The transmission holds pressure by design but oil pressure in the engine drops to zero. The starter is beefed up but that means it’s now a $186(current RockAuto price) part to replace.

Did you also price out a new HVAC blower motor while you were there? Or a windshield wiper motor? Because those have a designed-in finite lifespan as well. But for some reason we don't have threads about people not driving in the rain to save their wiper motor, or shivering in the cold for fear of wearing out their fan motor.

 

[Zeta30]

What dealer did you buy the car from?

Carr Buick GMC in Vancouver, WA.

 

[GermyShoe]

Same thing they have for VAG group vehicles, called vag.com, if I remember it right.

I'm not clicking on THAT link on a work computer 😳

 

[Hunter Mike]

I'm not clicking on THAT link on a work computer 😳

It stands for Volkswages Audi Group. I think you’re safe. You could just click here: Ross-Tech: Home

 

[fng]

It stands for Volkswages Audi Group. I think you’re safe. You could just click here: Ross-Tech: Home

Ross-Tech renamed their product VCDS. The lack of a similar aftermarket product makes me slightly regret my choice of a GM product; the unavailability of the repair manual two years after the car hit the US market is the final nail in GM's coffin for me. Screw me once...

 

[Uniqez]

I'm not clicking on THAT link on a work computer 😳

Sorry, it wasn't the link, rather the name of the device.

 

[PrincipalDan]

Sorry, it wasn't the link, rather the name of the device.

But Volkswagen Auto Group gave the world a gift of really great/silly/stupid puns when they chose that name.

I mean who doesn't like VAG?

 

[1500cc]

But Volkswagen Auto Group gave the world a gift of really great/silly/stupid puns when they chose that name.

I mean who doesn't like VAG?

Might have been more appropriate for Subaru.

 

[landsharkmz3]

Starters used in ASS systems were redesigned(much more expensive) to quadruple the design life of old style starters.
I’m still a little leary of it starting up a bunch only shutting off for a few seconds while barely saving any fuel.

 

[Discod]

The ASS bugged me at first, but it seems like it’s almost acclimated itself to my driving and doesn’t kick on as fast or often as it used to. I do enjoy the good mileage with these cars, and the ASS works pretty seamlessly, so you really shouldn’t notice it. There is no lag with my car restarting.