Auto Engine Stop Start No Longer Working, Should I Change My Car Battery?

DOGGYWOWWOW on 29/10/2022 - 17:17
Last edited 29/10/2022 - 17:23 by 1 other user

I have a Subaru Forester 2016 with its original battery still fitted. The auto-stop-start feature has stopped working recently and I suspect it has to do with the age of the battery. The car otherwise starts and runs fine so I'm on the fence about whether to replace the battery. I have heard that cars with stop-start technology are fitted with extra large batteries to facilitate frequent starting so I was wondering if the battery still has enough life to last a while longer. I never really liked the stop-start feature and I doubt it saves much fuel so I don't mind losing the feature.

I might use my new free NRMA blue membership from the recent deal to get NRMA to come to do a battery health check but what readings would suggest I should get a new battery? I just don't want to get upsold for a new battery if I don't need it.

Also, does anyone have experience with NRMA batteries as they seem to only sell their own branded batteries?

POLL: Should I Change My Car Battery?

Poll Options

  • 27
    No
  • 5
    Yes
Automotive Car Subaru SUV

Comments

  • MS Paint on 29/10/2022 - 17:24
    +14

    I thought all cars with stop/start were…

    • Unlock car
    • Hop in car
    • Start car
    • Disable start stop
    • Drive to destination
    • pegaxs on 29/10/2022 - 17:50
      +5

      There should be a permanent option to select in these vehicles that you don't have to reset it each time you turn the key. Such a useless and pointless feature that adds cost and complexity and costs more to implement into the vehicle than the amount of fuel it saves. It is only included as an emissions reduction scheme to get that car across the line in pollution tests.

    • brendanm on 29/10/2022 - 17:57
      +2

      This is why everyone needs to drive a VW. I have turned stop start off in software in mine and the wife's cars. Stupid function.

    • bobbified on 29/10/2022 - 19:37
      +4

      Hop in car

      I'm fat so, for me, it's actually "Roll in car".

  • Hybroid on 29/10/2022 - 17:33
    +10

    The auto-stop-start feature has stopped working recently

    That's a win. No longer have to press the disable start/stop button every single time start car anymore.

    • AdosHouse on 29/10/2022 - 18:25
      +1

      F-ing A. Had a work car with this stupid feature. I'd always have to turn it off, every drive. Nothing worse than trying to merge into heavy traffic and you see a gap but the engine has to turn back on before you move. Also bloody annoying in crawling peak hour traffic.

  • CrazyBargainCatcher on 29/10/2022 - 17:33

    Some cars while stopped, might prompt you to manually restart the car, in that case. I would replace the battery as they are trying to warn you the voltage is lower than expected. Yes, start stop cars have 2 different types of batteries with cost alot more, EFB and AGM

    • MS Paint on 29/10/2022 - 17:36
      -1

      Some cars while stopped, might prompt you to manually restart the car, in that case.

      Really? That is so friggin' dangerous and a dumb arse design. Don't turn off if you can restart you stupid bloody car.

  • thatonethere on 29/10/2022 - 17:38

    Yeah I have had issues with stop/start cars - it can be the battery - but it also can be the starter motor (it gets a fair bit of wear and tear stopping and starting all the time). Worst one was going to pick up the kids from school - was in the big car line and boom starter motor dead and the car is dead in the water. Even tried a jump start from a kind dad but it refused. Caused traffic chaos for school pickup and drop off the next morning as the wretched tow truck didn't come at 7am like they promised (845am they eventually showed).

    You don't get a straight answer from battery providers (especially NRMA) who replace it at the drop of a hat - make sure you keep warranty info.

  • Euphemistic on 29/10/2022 - 17:46
    +1

    Go to a battery place and ask them to check your battery. They’ll do a load test and let you know if it’s dying.

  • Wiadro on 29/10/2022 - 17:48

    just turn off stop start

    • redfox1200 on 29/10/2022 - 17:53

      its already off

      • mapax on 29/10/2022 - 18:09

        Problem solved…

  • solidussnake on 29/10/2022 - 18:45
    +1

    Pretty decent age for a battery close to 7 years, I would only replace it when it's struggling to start the engine also super cheap Autobarn offer free battery testing fyi

    • CurlCurl on 30/10/2022 - 15:54

      It could be less than 6 years.

  • robbyjones on 29/10/2022 - 18:55
    +1

    Our start/stop function stops working if we don't drive enough to charge the battery, could be you just need to take the car for a decent drive.

  • outlander on 29/10/2022 - 19:08
    +1

    IMO the only vehicles that stop-start really make sense in are hybrids. In those cases the traction battery and electric motor are used to crank the engine, so you don't need to factor in a larger battery and beefier starter motor

    You can visit Supercheap or any battery place and I think they'll check the CCA of the battery for you

  • hentabara on 29/10/2022 - 20:09

    It happened to me.
    Then I did annual logbook service with the stealership. Suddenly my car's battery was completely gone. It CANT turn on and I cant PICKUP the car from stealership. And I must replace the battery.

    • JIMB0 on 29/10/2022 - 21:51

      They must have given it a proper load test which finally killed it.

    • doctordv8 on 30/10/2022 - 11:06

      This happens legitimately.

      Any electrical device be high or low voltage can fail, at anytime without any warning. The next time you turn it on…zap it fails.

      The worry is when you do get warning…like that funny brown smell…just before it catches fire or explodes.

  • doctordv8 on 30/10/2022 - 11:03

    I would imagine the vehicle Owners Manual explains how to diagnose this basic fault… But obviously it is Not the Battery.

    If you can not follow this, time to book into a Professional in Vehicle Repairs.

    Diagnostics of Electronics can not be sorted by crystal ball.

    • Euphemistic on 30/10/2022 - 18:20

      How is it ‘obviously not the battery’ when others have said that when the battery starts to lose capacity the stop/start function gets disabled in some models? A failing battery will start a car easily - until it doesn’t.

      Disabling the stop start function would allow the battery to recharge more before restarting the car, instead of requiring it to start the car every time you get a red light.

      • doctordv8 on 31/10/2022 - 08:10
        +1

        The "vehicle starts and otherwise runs fine" by key start with no symptoms therefore we need to consider the many other common causes although unknown here until a proper diagnosis is performed. An intermittent dead cell, poor condition battery or low start of charging will give conventional starting problematic indications.

        Factors that can prevent Stop-Start systems from functioning are but not limited to:
        Interior temperature not within spec.
        Outside temperature too high/too low.
        Engine temperature too high/too low.
        Bonnet not closed/catch not engaged.
        Doors open or seat belts not engaged.
        Low charge rate or voltage sensor fault.
        Gradient too high or park assist engaged.
        Incorrect battery installed or correct battery incorrectly installed(not in this case).

        • Euphemistic on 31/10/2022 - 09:32

          Go for your life on all these other diagnosis. First thing I’d be doing is getting the battery load tested. If it passes, then you go down the rabbit hole.

          Modern engine start pretty quickly. They don’t generally wind and wind like the good old days. it is entirely possible the battery is on its last legs but still capable of starting the car effectively and the alternator takes over running the car.

  • Gunnar on 30/10/2022 - 23:20

    If your battery is 6 (nearly 7) years old it will be very close to need replacing anyway

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