[CSIMME01]

AGM batteries can, but can other electronics handle the constant voltage fluctuations caused by auto stop/start? I have seen the voltage spike from 11.2 to 15.3 V. With Smart AutoStart it runs at a steady 13.8 V, which would prevent a lot of electronic wear and tear.

Just thought you might want to know this.
The charging system of the vehicle monitors the battery state of charge and state of health. It varies the alternator output to keep the battery charged but not overcharged. It will reduce the voltage to reduce engine load to help fuel economy. It also looks for battery sulfation and will change to a special mode to try to correct for that. It will increase voltage if you turn on the headlights, wipers or other systems depending on the voltage required by those systems. None of this system relies on any moving parts or wear items. It is all software running in the BCM that controls the solid state regulator built into the alternator. The regulator controls the fields current in the alternator to control it's output. If the battery sensor sees that the battery is at less than 80% state of charge the stop start system is disabled and the alternator will increase it's output to recharge the battery.

When you install the smart auto stop you turn off all of these features. The smart auto stop device plugs into the sensor that measures the battery state of charge and constantly tells the vehicle computer system that the battery has less than 80% state of charge. Yes, it disables stop start, that's what you like. It also is telling the alternator it needs to recharge the battery. That's why the voltage ramps up to and stays at 13.8 volts. (An AGM battery is fully charged when it's voltage is 12.8) 13.8 volts is overcharging the battery. That results in excessive battery temperature and extra load on the alternator.
If you are disabling the stop-start system to save wear and tear on the vehicle you are not necessarily doing that.
I don't care what you do, you be you. Personally I wouldn't install the defeat device.

 

[Kikk]

The only thing I know about the second generation Smart Stop/Start is from their web site which indicates that it does connect differently from the first generation, which connected to the hood switch. I had the first generation installed for almost 3 years and I couldn't use remote start. Apparently, this isn't an issue with the second generation model but I don't like that it connects through the sensor as was stated above. "Smart" indicates that there are no issues with this type of connection. Regardless, I've been using the one advertised on Amazon that was mentioned on the forum for over a year, that connects through the hood switch, and I've had no remote start issues or a check engine light.

 

[mzflorida]

I have disconnected the battery several times on my XT5, without maintaining power to the car, to clean the battery terminals or do other maintenance to the car without any problems. It even retains the radio presets. A few carmakers may have issues with this, but not the XT5 nor GM in general, nor Toyota, nor Ford in my experience.

You don't need a tender to disconnect the battery. I've probably disconnected it 20x or more while monkeying around with engine mods. The only thing you must do is ensure that the alarm isn't armed otherwise it will go off when you disconnect it. Simplest thing to do is leave a door open before you do it, so it doesn't arm.

Well I guess i wasted 25 bucks on and OBD2 maintainer! Thanks guys. Appreciate the response.

 

[Pearlwhiteluxury]

Has anyone had Smart AutoStart installed for 4 years or longer? At this time, 4 years is likely the maximum amount of time because that would be a 2017. The reason for the question is if Smart AutoStart will extend the life of our AGM batteries? There seems to be a pattern that the life of an AGM battery is roughly 4 years if everything operates as delivered when new. Has anyone with electronics issues had Smart AutoStart installed for any length of time?

My 2017 that I built a stop start override system for in November of 2016 is still running on the original battery and it load tests OK and still operates just fine. My stop start module does not tie into the charging system. That is 6 years on the battery now and I hope to get a few more. My 2018 is also still on the original battery with my stop start module. 5 years on that one.

 

[njacobsen]

My 2017 that I built a stop start override system for in November of 2016 is still running on the original battery and it load tests OK and still operates just fine. My stop start module does not tie into the charging system. That is 6 years on the battery now and I hope to get a few more. My 2018 is also still on the original battery with my stop start module. 5 years on that one.

How does your override defeat the start-stop? Sounds like yours is successful by not compromising engine functions.

 

[Maximumkk]

My 2017 that I built a stop start override system for in November of 2016 is still running on the original battery and it load tests OK and still operates just fine. My stop start module does not tie into the charging system. That is 6 years on the battery now and I hope to get a few more. My 2018 is also still on the original battery with my stop start module. 5 years on that one.

Where do you live? Climate has a big effect on battery life too. Starts in bitterly cold temps where I live are hard on them. And extreme high temps too are not good.

Max

 

[CSIMME01]

The stop start system that plugs into the hood latch uses a safety feature of the vehicle to disable stop start. From the factory the start stop feature is disabled and the engine is left running any time the hood is open. That prevents a mechanic from getting his hands chopped by an engine that suddenly starts when his hands are in the wrong spot.
But the same safety feature kicks in to prevent the remote start system from working.

 

[mzbk2l]

The stop start system that plugs into the hood latch uses a safety feature of the vehicle to disable stop start. From the factory the start stop feature is disabled and the engine is left running any time the hood is open. That prevents a mechanic from getting his hands chopped by an engine that suddenly starts when his hands are in the wrong spot.
But the same safety feature kicks in to prevent the remote start system from working.

That doesn't seem to be the case with the $25 Amazon hood latch harness start-stop disabler. It has no discernable effect on charging state, nor does it affect remote start.

Lot of satisfied users in this thread, and no issues mentioned: 2019 XT5 start/stop disabled - thanks Eldo678! | Cadillac Owners Forum (cadillacforums.com)

 

[Pearlwhiteluxury]

The stop start system that plugs into the hood latch uses a safety feature of the vehicle to disable stop start. From the factory the start stop feature is disabled and the engine is left running any time the hood is open. That prevents a mechanic from getting his hands chopped by an engine that suddenly starts when his hands are in the wrong spot.
But the same safety feature kicks in to prevent the remote start system from working.

Not exactly.
I have a switch on the module that I built so I can just turn it off and the stop/start works again as it is suppose to so if I would take it in for service I just shut the module off.

 

[Pearlwhiteluxury]

Where do you live? Climate has a big effect on battery life too. Starts in bitterly cold temps where I live are hard on them. And extreme high temps too are not good.

Max

Michigan and 4 months in Florida with one of the cars. So both hot and cold.

How does your override defeat the start-stop? Sounds like yours is successful by not compromising engine functions.

How does your override defeat the start-stop? Sounds like yours is successful by not compromising engine functions.

It's the same system that everyone made jokes about back 2017 when I put a post here about what I was doing. Like the car burning up and calling me a scammer and on and on. I believe you where one of them.

 

[Eldo678]

I've taken the vehicle to service multiple times with the Amazon switch installed w/o issue. I'm willing to bet that the car jockeys have no clue that it's not cycling.

 

[Den49]

I was initially skeptical about the Amazon Auto Start/Stop Eliminator, that it might damage the battery and starting system. When I first connected it, I turned on the volt meter display and watched it. The car seemed to hold a higher than normal charge so I disconnected the device. I then watched the volt meter display and noticed that the voltage readings were the same with the device disconnected as they were with it connected. I reconnected the device. The car charges normally, runs smoother and the battery and charging system have suffered no ill effects. The remote start and everything else on the car works normally as well. If you look at the Amazon website, there are 560 reviews with an 82% 5 star rating and no one that I can find who reports any negative effects or car damage caused by the device.

Amazon.com: Auto Start Stop Eliminator/Delete/Disable for Chevrolet Equinox (2017-2018)/Malibu (2016-2018)/ Cruze (2015-2018) and for Cadillac XT5 (2016-2018) : Automotive

 

[tinwindow3]

I agree with you on changing the battery out every 4 to 5 years, even if you don't think it is bad. In Florida, seems the heat/humidity combination is brutal on batteries. And when they have failed (had a battery on my XTS replaced under the factory warranty, only to have that replacement fail in 1 year), I have gone from not having any problem starting the car one day to a completely dead battery where I can't even charge or jumper the battery to get the car started the next day.

I don't have to think about doing this myself yet because my 2019 XT5 is still under warranty, but if you have a XT5 Platinum with the self powered alarm system, the alarm will go off if you disconnect the battery. Any recommendation or additional step to take in this case? I'm assuming you have to hook up a battery maintainer on the battery cables prior to removing them, but I sure hate to think about having live circuits sitting loosely around under the hood while I'm taking everything else apart.

I'm also one of those where I realized the auto Start/Stop function has stop working (it hasn't done it in months). While I don't really want it fixed (I'm not a fan of it), I'm wondering if I have some other problem, like a battery that is going bad. I probably reluctantly mention it to the dealer on my upcoming oil change.

This is a problem for me. Battery bout 3 years old. The auto start stop won’t work for months, I’ll disconnect that small wire from the battery (what is it ) and plug it back and then the start stop works again for awhile. I like it “not working” but in my mind something must be wrong if it isn’t. Any ideas?

 

[njacobsen]

This is a problem for me. Battery bout 3 years old. The auto start stop won’t work for months, I’ll disconnect that small wire from the battery (what is it ) and plug it back and then the start stop works again for awhile. I like it “not working” but in my mind something must be wrong if it isn’t. Any ideas?

That small wire is used to determine the state of health of your battery while the vehicle is sitting. By disconnecting, you are interrupting that calculation and fooling the system to think the battery is in better health than it is. During the subsequent run times, the charging system will dial back because the battery is assumed to be in a better state and start-stop will function once again which causes the battery to be discharged toward a poorer state of health. You are better to leave the wire connected and take longer drives for a while. Any drives during that period of time where the state of health is reduced will start off with a more aggressive charging rate.

What are your driving habits? Short trips and infrequent use contribute to reduced state of health.