I just started using this option to see how I liked it. I understand that there are many things that need to be correct before it will actually work. Most of my recent trips have been city miles. In general I would say it only rarely turns off the engine at stoplights.

to me, it seems most of the parameters have been met for auto off, but the engine continues to run and I will get the “yellow A”, indicating one or more requirements for auto off have not been met. It definitely has worked, but in the last few days it hasn’t worked one time. It’s not a big deal, but I was curious if I was missing something? Thx

 

State of battery charge is the number one reason Start-Stop does not work. How old is your battery? It not working could be a sign your battery is aging out and/or your drivers are not long enough to get a full charge. Check your manual, but some features like Sport turn off Start-Stop. If you have a CTEK or other battery maintainer give the battery a full charge and see if it works.

 

thx. That might be it. Lots of short trips around town recently. Very little longer highway drives to fully charge the battery, and some colder temps.

 

The first button I press is the one to defeat the silly auto start/stop feature in any car I get into that has it. Carmakers had to implemwnt them for emissions reasons, but it's one of the dumbest things they've ever added. They're easy to confuse, prematurely wear the starters out, and can be deadly in an emergency. Even in the cars where you can't defeat it, using just enough brake pedal pressure to hold the car in place can keep the stop feature from engaging. Sport mode usually keeps them from engaging as well.

 

I don’t disagree with that. I’m just curious about how things work, as well as when those things don’t work as advertised.

 

I hate that feature! I do! It's turned off and stays off in my '18 model.

 

I hate that feature too, even in my 488 , the damn thing shuts off occasionally , as I don't drive the car frequently so I always forget to push the button.

 

On my '19S, when not in Sport or Sport Plus modes (which automatically deactivates A/SS, I have set the mode switch on the steering wheel for the "Individual" setting to include A/SS off. When I roll to a stop, I flick the dial CCW once to defeat A/SS because I'm not a fan. I turn it back on once rolling. It's easier than pressing the button on the center console.

Why, because the PDK with A/SS on and in normal mode will "Sail" when going down hills or incline. You will see the RPMs drop to idle thus saving gas. It will perfectly re-engage when the speed barely drops.

 

i haven’t seen the sail feature yet. Perhaps since auto on/off doesn’t seem to work much, the sail feature also isn’t working? I’ll have to see if my 2017 has this “individual” setting.

 

Even if the battery or other conditions aren’t met to turn the engine off at a stop light, the sail feature won’t be affected. All you need is to be in Normal mode with A/SS on (light on the button is off). Cruise control or ACC can be on or off. Once you go down a hill, the engine will sail until you put your foot back on the gas or if cruise control wants to keep you at selected speed. It’s pretty neat!

 

Living in the Chicago area, I have to ask...what are these "hills" you speak of?

(wish I was kidding)

 

so is it the same as if you shift the car into neutral going downhill? There is no speed control correct? You kinda get what you get? I have played with it a bit. How exactly do you know if it’s working? Thx

 

No. If you have cruise control set, if it gains speed, it will re-engage a gear to use transmission drag to slow down. If you start leveling off and the speed decreases, it automatically re-engages a gear and maintains speed. That's how you know it is working. Pretty nifty.

I have read on other fora that you can pull both paddle shifters back to switch to neutral, but that doesn't work on my '19 S PDK.

 

thx. If that’s the case, I’m pretty sure my sail feature isn’t working

 

You have to be in Normal mode, not SPORT/SPORT PLUS and can't have A/SS manually turned off (red light on)