At each stop, start-stop turns off the engine to save fuel. This puts a strain on some components of the car. Does the system do more harm than good?
The start-stop system automatically switches off the engine when the car is not driving. As soon as the driver depresses the clutch pedal (or releases the brake in automatic cars), the engine restarts immediately.
This automatic has been on the market for many years. And motorists have been asking themselves for just as long: does it damage the starter, the battery or other components of the car?
Anything to worry about?
If the car has a start-stop system, a correspondingly powerful starter and a larger battery are also installed. This is necessary because they are used much more frequently and are therefore more heavily used than in cars without the system.
The automatic does not harm the engine either. It only works when the engine is already at operating temperature. This avoids the engine having to make too many cold starts. This would be the case, for example, if it kept switching on and off shortly after starting a stop-and-go drive. And that’s actually not good for any engine.
In addition, there are other restrictions. For example, an open bonnet (detected by sensors by the software) can prevent the engine from stopping. That seems strange, but there is a good reason: in the workshop it may be necessary for the engine to run despite the hood being open.
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Why does the start-stop system go on strike in winter?
Even in winter it can happen that the automatic system goes on strike. In order to avoid high loads or even damage, the automatic start-stop system stops working in extreme cold. Because in winter the battery is already under stress. Each manufacturer has specifically determined the cold at which the automatic system stops working. As a rule, this temperature limit is in the range of plus three to minus five degrees.
This is not a technical error or even damage – on the contrary. You can continue driving as usual. And when the temperature rises again, the automatic system will also work again.
