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Recently updated on January 7, 2022 at 12:04 am
You can save fuel when you stop at traffic lights - at least if you have installed the automatic start-stop system at the factory. Or can that be retrofitted? Yes, it can be retrofitted. However, it remains questionable whether the cost of a renovation will be profitable. A car needs the least fuel when the engine is not running. So it makes sense to switch off the engine every time you stop driving. The system that is responsible for this is called the start-stop system. Factory-installed it for example. BMW, Mercedes, Smart, Citroën and many other automobile manufacturers. The system manages to reduce fuel consumption by up to 15%. But not only owners of new vehicles can help with this technology to reduce the burden on the environment and their own wallet, because old vehicles, for example an Audi A4 from 2001, can be retrofitted with this technology.
Installation only with extensive experience
There are certainly providers of retrofittable start-stop systems. Such a system is available on some websites for as little as 99 euros. However, the installation instructions for the system require knowledge and experience, which is why laypeople should rather leave the installation to the specialist workshop. The factory solution is somewhat more practical than the retrofit solution, because the engine does not start automatically with the retrofit solution. An additional button must be installed and pressed to start the engine.
Start stop - retrofitting is hardly worthwhile
The start-stop system reduces fuel consumption and thus protects both the environment and your wallet. However, anyone who has no screwdriving experience and would have to go to the workshop for retrofitting will not recoup the costs for retrofitting in a reasonable time due to the savings made during the traffic light stops. Switching off the engine by turning the ignition key is a cheaper solution. Small bill on the edge: The kit costs around 99 euros. With a consumption of 0,7 l / h and an annual idle time of 100 hours as well as an average petrol price of 1,41 EUR / L, one comes to a consumption of 70 liters and costs of 98,7 EUR in one year.
When the system is annoying! So it can be deactivated permanently.
If the costs for the installation, namely 280 euros, are added, then there are still more over three years until the costs are amortized. The assumption of 100 hours for waiting at traffic lights in one year is very high. Anyone who drives a lot of freeway and cross-country routes is much further under this assumption. So we see that, even with the start-stop system's low price, it would take an extremely long time before the investment in the technology was amortized again. If you want to do the math, you can read off the idle consumption from the vehicle's multifunction display or ask the manufacturer. In addition, the gearbox, starter and other components such as the battery can wear out more quickly with a retrofitted system. If these then have to be replaced sooner due to the start / stop technology, then these costs must also be taken into account. Thus, such a system can even become a cost trap. We therefore clearly advise against retrofitting.
The factory start-stop system no longer works? Overview of possible effects and causes!
- When exactly the automatic start-stop system is deactivated in the car can be found in the relevant manual
- The aim of the start-stop function is to reduce fuel consumption and emissions in idle phases
- on an hour's drive in town (with about 25% idle time) results in a saving of approx. 180 ml per hour
- Does the automatic start-stop function sometimes not or generally no longer work?
- in many cases the start-stop function is deliberately deactivated by the engine management system (when the engine is not warm enough, when the outside temperature is too high or too low, etc.)
- The behavior of the automatic start-stop system varies depending on the vehicle and manufacturer
- Various defects on the vehicle can also be a reason
- The automatic start-stop system can be deactivated, for example, if it could damage the engine or other components (if, for example, the optimum operating temperature has not yet been reached)
- The deactivation of the engine is also prevented if the set interior temperature cannot be reached (Air conditioning / heating only work when the engine is active) - Reasons for an intended “not going out” from the engine
- the outside temperature is too high or too low
- Otherwise the desired interior temperature will not be reached / maintained
- Trailer operation is active
- the slope of the road is too high
- the wheels are turned too hard
- the car does not stop completely
- the clutch pedal is operated while the vehicle is stationary (with the hand switch)
- the driver's door is open
- the seat belt is not engaged
- the hood is open
- the parking assistant is active
- the engine temperature is too low
- too low pressure in the brake system
- the cleaning cycle / regeneration of the diesel particulate filter is active
- stop-and-go traffic (if a certain speed has not been exceeded since the last time you went out, e.g. 3 km / h) - Defects that cause the start-stop system to be deactivated
- the battery is too weak or even defectiveMaterial & service approx prices battery Battery 60 to 300 euros Removal and installation of the Lima 30 to 100 euros total cost 90 to 400 euros - the alternator is defectiveMaterial & service approx. prices Lima Alternator (new part / exchange) 100 to 1.000 euros Removal and installation of the Lima 60 to 600 euros total cost 160 to 1.650 euros - a defective coolant temperature sensorMaterial & service approx prices Coolant temperature sensor 20 to 80 euros workload 30 to 150 euros total cost 50 to 230 euros - a defective clutch switch on the hand switch
Material & service approx prices Clutch switch 20 to 100 euros workload 30 to 150 euros total cost 50 to 250 euros - the rough functionality of the automatic start-stop system
- The process of the function is largely identical for the vehicle manufacturers
- If the car is stopped with the start-stop system activated, you press the brake pedal, shift to idle and release the clutch pedal, then the engine cuts out. If you depress the clutch pedal again to engage a gear, the engine starts up again
- similar functionality in automatic transmissions. Due to the automatic start-stop system in "D" mode, the engine stops when the brake pedal is depressed. When the brake is released and then the accelerator pedal is depressed, the engine is restarted.
- Attention: If certain parameters change so that the engine needs to be started, the engine can also restart automatically during the stop phase. Examples would be the activation of the air conditioning during the stop or if a sensor detects that the windshield is fogging up.
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