The Automatic Engine Shut-down/Start-up (AESS) System may be going away

telcodad

That system on many new automobiles is very annoying to me. My daughter’s car has it and every time she stops for a red light, I always think the engine has stalled.

Most Drivers Hate This Feature, And It Looks Like It’s Finally Going Away
By Nadeem Sarwar, SlashGear - May 12, 2025
https://www.slashgear.com/1857877/epa-rule-change-auto-start-stop-button-feature/

The automatic start-stop system on modern automobiles comes with all the good intentions, but it can be annoying, as well. Research suggests that completely shutting off the car (even for brief spells, like a traffic signal) offers tangible benefits, but at the same time, non-standardized implementation and turning off features such as the AC unit can be a pain. It seems the Trump administration is going to get rid of the auto start-stop system in cars, for good.

Earlier today, Lee Zeldin, a cabinet member and Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, announced that the agency will soon get rid of the controversial system. “EPA approved it, and everyone hates it, so we’re fixing it,” Zeldin wrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter:

Sparkchaser

telcodad system on many new automobiles is very annoying to me.

Me too but on my Honda I can turn it off. I always wonder how much, if any, starting/stopping the engine causes extra wear on it.

egeezer

Sparkchaser
My daughter has a 2011 Toyota Prius that does that. It doesn’t seem to have damaged the engine any, with no engine issues or failed starter.

I’d have no issues with the feature, but would want the ability to disable it. I would find those touch screens located down on the low center of dash that’s out of the driver’s field of view to be much more of an irritant.

px_eliezer_

telcodad My daughter’s car has it and every time she stops for a red light, I always think the engine has stalled.

What kind of car?

I had no idea this existed in the USA.

Hate to agree with Lee Zeldin on ANYTHING but guess he’s right in this case.

Milo_DeTeckel

I have gotten into the habit of turning the feature off every time I start my 2023 Tahoe. At least Chevrolet has a button on the dashboard to disable it, but it enables it every time I start my Tahoe.

telcodad

px_eliezer_ What kind of car?

I had no idea this existed in the USA.

It is a 2024 Mazda CX-90

just_4_fun

I installed the Start-Stop Eliminator, it works for me.

https://www.4dtech.com

Somewhat-Reticent

When first at an intersection, such hesitation delays traffic and adds risk.

Andyross

I don’t think the changes will ban it. It just removes any incentives for automakers to add it.

real_aurgathor

Somewhat-Reticent

Only in case of ICE only power trains. Hybrids with electric motors can start to move without any wait. Furthermore, the wait added at stop lights by human inattention can be orders of magnitude higher.

real_aurgathor

px_eliezer_ Hate to agree with Lee Zeldin on ANYTHING but guess he’s right in this case.

Wong.

real_aurgathor

egeezer My daughter has a 2011 Toyota Prius that does that. It doesn’t seem to have damaged the engine any, with no engine issues or failed starter.

The only item with extra wear would be the starter, but that’s normally taken into account during design.

real_aurgathor

telcodad That system on many new automobiles is very annoying to me. My daughter’s car has it and every time she stops for a red light, I always think the engine has stalled.

Older people known to have troubles to get used to *certain* things that are different from what they were grown up with. 😉

telcodad and everyone hates it,

That’s obvious rubbish – “some people”, or even “many people” may hate it, but “everyone” is most certainly an exaggeration. The only major drawback I see is the lack of AC with the engine off, but that could be worked around.

The mpg improvement depends a lot on traffic, and can vary from non-existent in rural areas to easily measurable in crowded urban areas. I think there are some hybrids now that can run electric only at low speeds, and turn on the engine only when more power is needed.

https://practicalmotoring.com.au/car-advice/myth-busting-stop-start-damage-engine/

Somewhat-Reticent

The “everyone” indicated may be a perceived majority of intended followers.
As in “everyone who supports me (for now, at least)”

real_aurgathor Wong.

( Sumsing ? 😆 )

telcodad

real_aurgathor telcodad That system on many new automobiles is very annoying to me. My daughter’s car has it and every time she stops for a red light, I always think the engine has stalled.

Older people known to have troubles to get used to certain things that are different from what they were grown up with. 😉

I thought you would have began your reply with “OK Boomer.” 😉

just_4_fun

real_aurgathor Older people known to have troubles to get used to certain things that are different from what they were grown up with.

Speaking of old people I’m old enough to remember cutting seatbelts out my first couple cars and driving 3-on-the-tree. I don’t like the Auto Stop period however it would be acceptable to me you could disable it and NOT have turn it off at each ignition. Supposedly some cars like BMW could have it programmed off and have it remain off unless the driver wants it enabled. I didn’t have that option and that’s why I went the Auto Stop Eliminator route.

At best Auto Stop is a feel good thing for the environmental people. It don’t off-set emissions and fuel savings for the same people that think it’s a good idea that remote start their car with an app in 40 degree weather for heat or remote start for A/C in the summer and then let the vehicle idle for 10 minutes.

real_aurgathor

I never cut or removed a seatbelt, but my 1st own car had 3-on-the-tree with a shtick shift, and a reasonably big engine coupled with a relatively light rear end making burn-outs really effortless. Of course changing the clutch wasn’t exactly effortless, but after 3 or 4 I became an expert and could do it really fast.

just_4_fun At best Auto Stop is a feel good thing for the environmental people.

Rubbish – it can bump up mpg significantly under the *right driving conditions*. As an example, a recent workplace of mine was about 20 miles away from my home, but occasionally it could take up to 1.5 (!!) hours to get to work, or get back home. I don’t have the exact count of traffic lights ATM, but if I took the most common “scenic route” (which was usually faster than the mostly freeway route) there were close to two dozen traffic lights on the way.

just_4_fun the same people that think it’s a good idea that remote start their car with an app in 40 degree weather for heat or remote start for A/C in the summer and then let the vehicle idle for 10 minutes.

Likely largely baseless assumption and mostly unrelated goalpost moving attempt.

egeezer

real_aurgathor Older people known to have troubles to get used to certain things that are different from what they were grown up with

Those troubles and opposition to new and different technologies are not limited to “older people”. 😉

just_4_fun

real_aurgathor but my 1st own car had 3-on-the-tree with a shtick shift, and a reasonably big engine coupled with a relatively light rear end making burn-outs really effortless.. Of course changing the clutch wasn’t exactly effortless, but after 3 or 4 I became an expert and could it really fast.

I would say this is unrelated and a goalpost moving attempt combined with a misdirection play. However if you had such a race car you should have converted to a Hurst floor shifter, that what we use to do

real_aurgathor right driving conditions

Love the under right conditions, what ever trips your trigger. BTW I heard the fuel saving from BS from a current REAL mechanic. Go enjoy your Auto Stop and I’ll enjoy knowing my Auto Stop is disabled

Sparkchaser

real_aurgathor Older people known to have troubles to get used to certain things that are different from what they were grown up with. 😉

“Balderdash”, I’m probably one if the oldest geezers here. I’ve worked in “technology” since the …. well a long time. I like new technology BUT I don’t like when it’s forced on me for no good reason, like the Google latest update to my phone.

My 2021 Honda has it right. It has the auto shut down but there is a way to disable it. Most of the time it’s on. If I feel the traffic conditions are not right, I shut it off. Simple!