Disable the Auto Stop feature

306357 Views 262 Replies 75 Participants Last post by RIT333, 13 d ago

JGreg7

Discussion Starter · Feb 10, 2018

The auto stop feature in my 2018 Equinox is driving me crazy. I live in traffic plagued southern California, where creeping along is a way of life. The Auto Stop feature keeps killing the car while in traffic or in parking lots.

The Auto stop turns the engine off when the car comes to a stop instantly. In the case where the stop is momentary, you have to wait for the engine to re-start before being able to proceed.

In traffic, when creeping along, or start-stop, the engine stop has almost caused me to be rear-ended several times.

It also takes too long to start, causing a lag when trying to pull out into traffic. A very dangerous problem when trying to pull into traffic.

The concept is generally useful if there was a long traffic light, however the implementation is poorly done. There needs to be a programmable delay before the car simply turns off, or better yet a switch to disable it when in traffic.

Is there any way to turn this feature off? Or somehow control it?

241 - 261 of 263 Posts

Car hobby

· #241 · Aug 30, 2018

Auto stop disengage

I have been putting my car in neutral as I get to a traffic light for 40 years. This stops my Chevy Equinox is use for work from turning off by auto stop.

Marvin19

· #241 · Sep 26, 2018

Best thing we can all do is lodge complaints to https://www.nhtsa.gov so that GM is forced to defeat the auto stop upong request on vehicles that to not have an override. Don't think for a moment that because they say they can't disable it that it's not possible, it's a computer and can be reprogrammed to do whatever they want i to.

I put in my complaint on my 2019 Equinox...

JosephEquinoxMD

· #242 · Jun 26, 2020

I live in the DC Metro area and we have bad rush hour traffic. To be honest, I'm kind of used to the stop/start but things like the AC running now being summer reduces the engine stopping. As mentioned above, changing the gear to Neutral should keep it running as you brake.

repairman54

· #243 · Jun 28, 2020

Shifting into neutral is just putting excessive wear on the trans. by going in/out of gear.
Shift into M instead, it will stay running.

NXR71

· #244 · Jun 30, 2020

I haven't tried it but the procedure is to put the gear shift into L instead of D. Then tap the + button on the gear shift repeatedly to change the center dashboard gear display from 1 to 6 (or 9). That apparently allows the transmission to shift normally. It needs done each time you start the car, though.

Crankme69

· #245 · Jul 1, 2020

L9 is the norm here and has been since took delivery of ours new...

Reactions: 1

tom3

· #246 · Jul 4, 2020

And keep in mind for a lot of in town trips you don't need much over third gear so just punch the + button three times or so.

tharvey57

· #247 · Jul 4, 2020

I don't get it, because you cannot control it, you have over 12 pages on how evil it is. It's like wearing a mask, because some places require you to wear a mask to protect other people, some people get upset.

I have numerous vehicles from my 2019 terrain to my 2010 Mercedes, all with autostart, and the majority time, I find it impossible to notice any difference.

It saves gas and the environment, in Bellingham, some idiot decided we need 2 minute red lights, which in general sounds good until you have to go through 10 different lights to travel 2 miles.

Greenie

· #248 · Jul 4, 2020

I've always heard to allow a turbocharged motor to idle for a brief time before shutting it off. The auto stop feature may shorten the life of the turbo charger by baking oil on bearings. The auto stop feature is also hard on the starter and battery - neither of which appear to be designed for so many cycles. I'm hoping to keep this vehicle for a long time.

RIT333

· #249 · Jul 4, 2020

Tje coking of the bearings is not an issue... According to someone on this forum. Yrs, everyone agrees about the shortening of the life of the starter motor, bu5 i don't plan to keep mine long enough for it to come into play.

JayTee2014

· #250 · Jul 4, 2020

Once again. . . I must say. . . once reason we bought a 2019 GMC Acadia SLT-1 with 3.6L V6 engine. No Auto Stop/Start, No turbo. . . . No premium gas like what is "preferred" in the 2.0L turbo, No worries about associated turbo stresses, wear and tear and still get 22 MPG in mixed city driving and up to +28 to 32 MPG highway.
Also, got it very nicely appointed for $30,779 rather than the $40,845 MSRP.

Reactions: 1

NXR71

· #251 · Jul 5, 2020

From the pics of the now-delayed 2021 Equinox it has a button to disable the autostop/autostart "feature". It's apparently now delayed until 2021 and will be sold as a 2022 model year so I guess there will not be a 2021 Equinox.

RIT333

· #252 · Jul 5, 2020

But JayTee...people with the 1.5L engine are getting highway mileage of "up to" 200 MPG ! YMMV !!! LOL

my19nox

· #253 · Jul 6, 2020

Greenie said:
I've always heard to allow a turbocharged motor to idle for a brief time before shutting it off. The auto stop feature may shorten the life of the turbo charger by baking oil on bearings. The auto stop feature is also hard on the starter and battery - neither of which appear to be designed for so many cycles. I'm hoping to keep this vehicle for a long time.

My 2 cents on this...I'll think we'll be fine. When turbos were first seen on production cars in the late 70s and 80s, the procedure of allowing the engine to idle before shutting down was valid. Many improvements in cooling and lubricating turbos, especially the use of synthetic oils , which our Equinox's have, have altered that advice. Also the starter motors and especially the use of AGM battery technology, which our Equinox's have, also has dramaticaly altered these components.

NXR71

· #254 · Jul 6, 2020

my19nox said:
My 2 cents on this...I'll think we'll be fine. When turbos were first seen on production cars in the late 70s and 80s, the procedure of allowing the engine to idle before shutting down was valid. Many improvements in cooling and lubricating turbos, especially the use of synthetic oils , which our Equinox's have, have altered that advice. Also the starter motors and especially the use of AGM battery technology, which our Equinox's have, also has dramaticaly altered these components.

Absolutely agreed. Sadly, too much of the hard-earned knowledge I've gained over the years is now obsolete and occasionally dangerous due to changes in technologies and I need to keep reminding myself of that.

repairman54

· #255 · Jul 12, 2020

Nope, AGM battery in my '16 only lasted 3 yrs and it's a 3.6 with no auto stop.
It's about Corp. fleet fuel usage and that only. Engine restarts are more polluting than idling with hot cats in these PZE motors. All day idle at a stop light savings are not even a mouth full of gas.
Just Mfgr. BS on better, just like FWD is better in snow.....

colinlister47

· #256 · 24 d ago

turning on the front demister will negate the Auto Off feature but only if the air con is turned off also. 2018 Equinox LTZV

Greenie

· #257 · 18 d ago

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09W2YTJDY?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details
This $19.50 Amazon part I suspect triggers an open hood signal which does defeat the autostop but also does not allow the remote start option to work. I like the remote start more than I hate the autostop.

Brennb

· #258 · 16 d ago

Greenie said:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09W2YTJDY?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details
This $19.50 Amazon part I suspect triggers an open hood signal which does defeat the autostop but also does not allow the remote start option to work. I like the remote start more than I hate the autostop.

Not true. I bought this exact harness last august, and have no issues with remote start on our 2018 equinox 2.0t. It does connect through the hood signal harness, but doesn't effect the open hood signal to the dic. I was the opposite of you. I was willing to give up remote start, but was pleasantly surprised, and have had no issues. Best $20 I've spent on this rig.

Greenie

· #259 · 15 d ago

Brennb said:
Not true. I bought this exact harness last august, and have no issues with remote start on our 2018 equinox 2.0t. It does connect through the hood signal harness, but doesn't effect the open hood signal to the dic. I was the opposite of you. I was willing to give up remote start, but was pleasantly surprised, and have had no issues. Best $20 I've spent on this rig.

Good to know! I've read comments from buyers of the harness that claimed it did disable the remote start. I have the harness but it has the large connectors which they company claims it will send the smaller connector free upon request. I'll contact the company and ask for the smaller connector harness and hopefully will find the remote start feature still operational.

Brennb

· #260 · 15 d ago

Greenie said:
Good to know! I've read comments from buyers of the harness that claimed it did disable the remote start. I have the harness but it has the large connectors which they company claims it will send the smaller connector free upon request. I'll contact the company and ask for the smaller connector harness and hopefully will find the remote start feature still operational.

Yes, I believe the connector changed for 2019. As far as reviews, I don't get it, I read them too. All I can say is everything works as designed, for me. No issues. Good Luck.

241 - 261 of 263 Posts