I have this feature on my 2014 Forester (Sweden). Yes, it is annoying that you cant disable it permanently. But it only kicks in if you press harder on the brakepedal after coming to a stop. If you just stop like you normally do and keep your foot/brakepedal in the same position when stopped, the engine doesnt switch off. You need to push a bit harder for it to kick in. You get used to that (not applying more pedal pressure). What baffles me is that people buy into the special "stop/start" batteries, when replacing them. They are much more expensive than regular batteries, but there's really no need for them.
Auto Stop/Start System ► feature discussion ONLY (merged thread)
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^This. I used to have 2013 Forester with this feature. Works very well indeed once you get used to it. Just press brake pedal light enough, so the car will stay stationary and engine won't stop.
Peter_m
Here's a question for you, I was taught (when learning to drive) to keep the brake pedal fully engaged when stopped to avoid causing a chain-reaction accident when rear ended. Who is right? The driving instructor or the car company the wants to make all the decisions for you?
Here's a question for you, I was taught (when learning to drive) to keep the brake pedal fully engaged when stopped to avoid causing a chain-reaction accident when rear ended. Who is right? The driving instructor or the car company the wants to make all the decisions for you?
I'm wondering how this will work with Adaptive Cruise Control with stop hold which will keep the car stopped until the car in front of you moves. This is done without any pressure on the brake pedal at all. This is available now on the Outback and will be available on the '19 Forester.
I'm also wondering how stupid it will be after using my remote start to start the car to either warm it up or cool it off depending and letting it run 10 minutes or so, and then getting into the car to drive, and the car turns off at the first stop light?
I'm also wondering how stupid it will be after using my remote start to start the car to either warm it up or cool it off depending and letting it run 10 minutes or so, and then getting into the car to drive, and the car turns off at the first stop light?
And I am wondering how this is going to work on a 113 degree afternoon in the scorching hot Arizona sun, when the A/C compressor shuts down and fan speed is reduced while I sit at a long traffic light. I know, I know... I can push the defeat button, but I would rather not have to do that.
And how will Auto Stop/Start work at night? How much drain will there be on the battery with the headlights on? No doubt that batteries, starters and other components that occasionally have to be replaced will be more expensive for the 2019 thanks to this "feature".
Keeping my 2010 is looking better all the time.
And how will Auto Stop/Start work at night? How much drain will there be on the battery with the headlights on? No doubt that batteries, starters and other components that occasionally have to be replaced will be more expensive for the 2019 thanks to this "feature".
Keeping my 2010 is looking better all the time.
Wait, people press HARDER on the brake pedal after coming to a stop?
Your leg must sure be tired after a lot of driving.
In my opinion, if you are rear ended, you are not going to be maintaining pressure on the pedal.
Imho, you should have been taught to apply the parking brake when stopped as your foot will likely slip off the brake pedal if rear ended.
It takes a few seconds for Stop/Start to activate so if you engage the parking brake as soon as the car stops and take your foot of the brake pedal it shouldn't activate.
You've never been in a rear end collision, have you?
@slothman - In a truck, or a vehicle towing something, but not is a car, especially now that everyone has electronic e-brake substitutes.
Thankfully, no I haven’t.
I have read, but no practical knowledge, that the start/stop feature does not activate when the a/c is on. I will wait and test drive the 2019 Forester to see how this actually works in Tucson's heat with a/c running.
^^^Same with my Audi. If the AC is turned on, it will disable the Start/Stop feature. In many cars, if you just leave the automatic climate control in AUTO it will do the same.
With the AUS Spec SJ NA 2.5 Forester, the Auto Start-Stop doesn't get disabled when the A/C is turned on. We have had a very hot Summer and a quick foot pressure adjustment on the brake pedal prevents the engine stopping which keeping the A/C doing it's thing, 5 years and counting no dramas for this little black duck 
Playing with the brake pedal is not a great option. Can anyone else chime in if the auto start/stop turns on even if the a/c is on? This would cause a significant drag on battery and systems I would think.With the AUS Spec SJ NA 2.5 Forester, the Auto Start-Stop doesn't get disabled when the A/C is turned on. We have had a very hot Summer and a quick foot pressure adjustment on the brake pedal prevents the engine stopping which keeping the A/C doing it's thing, 5 years and counting no dramas for this little black duck
Along with a 2018 Forester we also have a 2018 Jeep Cherokee in this household. The Cherokee has the auto off/on feature. Not a fan. The main issue is everytime it does it, you can smell gasoline. If we leave it on, when we get home and park the car the gas smell stinks up the whole garage. We left it on the first few weeks just to try to adapt. I think we could have except for the gasoline smell every time. Going to call the dealer sometime and ask them about it.
There is no "playing" with the brake pedal, your right foot never leaves the pedal, there is a very slight pressure release required to prevent the auto start stop from stopping the engine, the brakes are always fully engaged and the vehicle doesn't move. Once you get a test drive of the 2019 Forester you will be able to try this technique and appreciate how simple and more importantly safe it is.
I'll chime in again and say again the Australian Spec. NA 2.5 SJ CVT Forester since February 2013 has been equipped as standard with the auto stop-start function, I have owned a MY13 (US MY14) and currently a MY15 (US MY16).
When the a/c is turned on it does NOT turn off or disable the auto start-stop in the Australian Spec. NA 2.5 SJ CVT Forester.
I don't know if the US market will get the same auto start-stop system as ours in the new 2019, time will tell.:smile2:
My comments are from over 5 years of physical driving experience with the auto start-stop system in the current Forester.:smile2:
I was very cautious of the auto start-stop system for the first 6 months in 2013, I carried a Jump Starter Battery all the time just in case the car battery died:smile2: all good so far, I regularly use a CTEK MXS5.0T Battery Charger to keep the car battery in good shape and pick up any issues with the battery ie. sulphation, before it becomes a drama.
BTW it is very rare for me not to have my a/c on all year round in this part of OZ - subtropical with many days over the last few years in Spring/Summer/Autumn with well over 100F and 80% + humidity.
I hope this clarifies some of your auto start-stop concerns
Cheers
Ian
Auto Start Stop
I've heard the 2019 Forester uses engine shut-off when stopped and re-start upon acceleration like some of the German cars already do. is this true? I hate that feature and it would prevent me from buying a Subaru unless its something that can be turned off.
I've heard the 2019 Forester uses engine shut-off when stopped and re-start upon acceleration like some of the German cars already do. is this true? I hate that feature and it would prevent me from buying a Subaru unless its something that can be turned off.
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It has automatic start stop, but it isn't exactly like you described it.
1) You can turn it off with the press of a button, but you need to do it every time you start the car.
2) It only turns the engine off under certain conditions, not at every stop.
3) The engine turns back on when you start to release the brake pedal. By the time your foot moves to the accelerator, the engine is on.
1) You can turn it off with the press of a button, but you need to do it every time you start the car.
2) It only turns the engine off under certain conditions, not at every stop.
3) The engine turns back on when you start to release the brake pedal. By the time your foot moves to the accelerator, the engine is on.
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