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F-150 Auto Start/Stop

Posted on 11/10/21 at 5:43 am
Posted by K E V 8 4
Member since Jul 2010
608 posts
Posted on 11/10/21 at 5:43 am
I had an F150 as a second vehicle for many years, then did without for a few years. Earlier this year I bought a pre-owned 2018 F150. The auto stop/start thing was annoying at first - I would just turn it off. Then, I just starting going with the flow and would let it do its thing. Recently I noticed that it doesn't seem to be auto-stopping at red lights, etc. any longer. Not sure why or if that's any indication of something else to worry about. Thanks for any advice/learnings. (I understand that I cannot permanently turn this feature off, so figure that I didn't accidentally do that.)
Posted by taylork37
Member since Mar 2010
15327 posts
Posted on 11/10/21 at 5:57 am to
frick this feature in general, on any vehicle.

I have it on my 2016 pilot and at least once a week it fails to start back up. It always seems to happen at the worst moment and I end up having multiple cars behind me honking while I fumble around trying to put the car back in to park and restart it.

Our Ford Escape work vehicles also have this feature and we have had complaints about them turning off mid-drive as well as the same problems restarting the vehicle once off.

It wouldn't be an issue if you could turn the feature off but I assume that wasn't made an option for a reason.

The worst part is not being able to diagnose it because it happens randomly and seemingly without reason.
This post was edited on 11/10/21 at 5:59 am
Posted by RoosterCogburn585
Member since Aug 2011
1535 posts
Posted on 11/10/21 at 5:58 am to
Usually that is a sign that your battery is getting a little weaker and is charging instead of turning the vehicle off.
Posted by Jibbajabba
Louisiana
Member since May 2011
3880 posts
Posted on 11/10/21 at 6:01 am to
There is a list of conditions that must be met before the auto shut off engages. The engine temp must be so and so and the transmission temp must be so and so, etc.

It is actually quite a lengthy list. One of your boxes isn’t getting checked. It may be for any of those reasons.
Posted by Tarps99
Lafourche Parish
Member since Apr 2017
7411 posts
Posted on 11/10/21 at 6:18 am to
Ask your husband to fix.
Posted by TigerSaints318
Shreveport
Member since Dec 2009
1797 posts
Posted on 11/10/21 at 6:20 am to
If you order a F-150 now you can order it without that feature. It saves a chip.
Posted by member12
Bob's Country Bunker
Member since May 2008
32095 posts
Posted on 11/10/21 at 6:21 am to
It’s an F-150. Be glad that it starts and not just stops.
Posted by Perrydawg
Middle Ga Area
Member since Jan 2014
4769 posts
Posted on 11/10/21 at 6:22 am to
Light pressure on the brake pedal when stopping will also not engage the auto stop.
Posted by AndyCBR
Baton Rouge, LA
Member since Nov 2012
7547 posts
Posted on 11/10/21 at 6:27 am to
You can disable it permanently by jumping the switch from behind.

Check out some of the F150 forums.

This is the most useless technology ever put into a truck. Most engine wear happens at startup.
Posted by K E V 8 4
Member since Jul 2010
608 posts
Posted on 11/10/21 at 6:43 am to
quote:

sign that your battery is getting a little weaker
Thanks - that was my first thought.
Posted by CaptainsWafer
TD Platinum Member
Member since Feb 2006
58334 posts
Posted on 11/10/21 at 6:45 am to
I can’t figure out how to permanently turn it off and I HATE it.

It only stops at the worst times, like when I have to pause for a second before making a turn through traffic, causing me to have to wait for the next car to pass because that dumb arse feature just shut the truck off.

I hate it.

ETA, just wanted to add one more. I hate it!
This post was edited on 11/10/21 at 6:47 am
Posted by elprez00
Hammond, LA
Member since Sep 2011
29377 posts
Posted on 11/10/21 at 6:49 am to
quote:

frick this feature in general, on any vehicle.

Yes. It’s a pain in the arse. I’ve had my truck stall out twice when I’ve made a quick stop and had the engine shut off then given the gas immediately.

quote:

It wouldn't be an issue if you could turn the feature off

My f150 has a button on the dash that turns it off. I do it a lot when I’m in traffic.

OP, there’s likely nothing wrong. Lot of factors will prevent the engine from auto shutting off if the demand on the engine is too high. I’ve noticed if my heater is on it rarely shuts down.
Posted by CaptainsWafer
TD Platinum Member
Member since Feb 2006
58334 posts
Posted on 11/10/21 at 6:51 am to
quote:

My f150 has a button on the dash that turns it off. I do it a lot when I’m in traffic.


So does mine but having to push the button every time I get in the truck is almost as annoying.
Posted by elprez00
Hammond, LA
Member since Sep 2011
29377 posts
Posted on 11/10/21 at 6:51 am to
quote:

So does mine but having to push the button every time I get in the truck is almost as annoying.

Agreed. I wish you could just disable it in settings.
Posted by Bunta
Member since Oct 2007
12236 posts
Posted on 11/10/21 at 6:55 am to
Posted by prostyleoffensetime
Mississippi
Member since Aug 2009
11434 posts
Posted on 11/10/21 at 7:03 am to
It’s easy to disable. Look above where your left foot is supposed to sit when driving. There’s a wiring harness with 3 plug ins. Unplug the smallest one.

It’s that simple.

It does disable trailer lights, so you’ll have to plug it back in if you’re hooked to a trailer.
Posted by Art Vandelay
LOUISIANA
Member since Sep 2005
10699 posts
Posted on 11/10/21 at 7:12 am to
It is dumb. Plug in a trailer hitch tester. $10 at Walmart
Posted by CocomoLSU
Inside your dome.
Member since Feb 2004
150706 posts
Posted on 11/10/21 at 7:13 am to
quote:

Usually that is a sign that your battery is getting a little weaker and is charging instead of turning the vehicle off.


I always figured the batteries in these have to be many times stronger/longer-lasting than normal car batteries. I mean, instead of starting the vehicle once or twice a day, it's doing it 10-15 times (depending on length of your drive and frequency of stops). I'm no mechanic, but in theory that seems to mean the battery will go bad 10-15 times faster.

I've always thought this was a stupid feature, and what's funny is the first time I ever saw it was years ago in a really nice/expensive vehicle (I think it was a Jaguar).
Posted by Boring
Member since Feb 2019
3792 posts
Posted on 11/10/21 at 7:28 am to
Terrible feature that became popular because of the perception of better gas mileage.

The nominal amount of money you save on gas will be spent on a new starter or some engine component that was prematurely worn out thanks to the start/stop feature.

Fortunately, there are various tricks to disable it in most vehicles. This was a deal breaker for me when I bought a new vehicle earlier this year, along with blind spot warning, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. All annoying gimmicky bullshite that just breaks.
Posted by vol-boy
Dixie
Member since Feb 2012
1382 posts
Posted on 11/10/21 at 7:30 am to
Should have bought a Toyota
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