Start Stop Feature on the 2.3L Ecoboost

[DHare]

If you Google how to disable the feature on an F-150, you'll see several ways that supposedly work, along with some videos: trick the truck with a trailer wiring tester; pull an accessory plug at the negative battery terminal; pull a plug from a module under left side of dash; make your own disabling apparatus from some resistors and capacitors (at your own risk); use an OBDII tester with a laptop and a software program to rewrite one specific line of code; or buy a disabler that plugs into a connector hidden behind the radio for about $119. The proponents claim their method works but no one seemed able to answer the question about what else was disabled if you went one of the "pull the plug" routes.

Sponsored

 

[Pinecrestjim]

On the 2016 Escape, when a trailer is connected the rear radar object sensors are disabled and the camera still functions. I wonder if the trailer connector method would likewise disable the rear sensors in the Ranger.

 

[Desert_5G]

On the 2016 Escape, when a trailer is connected the rear radar object sensors are disabled and the camera still functions. I wonder if the trailer connector method would likewise disable the rear sensors in the Ranger.

are you talking about the cross traffic alert?

 

[Andy]

are you talking about the cross traffic alert?

No it would just be the reverse sensing system.

 

[Bubbabiker]

I wonder if the Ranger has BMS. If so on the F150 unplugging the BMS harness at the battery disables the auto stop/start feature.

 

[toddiscdn]

I decided to leave it on for a wile to see if I could live with it and so far it has no t shut off man times. It would appear that everything has to be "just right" for it to stop, it seems like if I come to a complete stop for more then a second with wheels perfectly straight, engine up to temp etc it will auto stop.

I live an commute through the country at 05:30 with about 4 stop signs and 1 stop light so it doesn't happen very often so far. Its early days so we will see, i suspect it might be a lot different on a city commute.

 

[19SilverRanger]

So my first mod will be to figure out a way to disable the engine start/stop. I realize there is a button. But it will become annoying to remember to push it every single time I start it. Is there a way to permanently disabling it?

There’s a company out there who appears to make a device that overrides the auto start/stop. This will be one of my first mods if it works. They have a Ranger version that needs tested for anyone who already has their truck

https://www.autostopeliminator.com/productsforford.html

 

[toddiscdn]

Apparently, all you have to do on the F150 is plug in a trailer light tester(if you have toe package) and it disables as it thinks there is a trailer attached.

Im going to try that one shortly.

 

[DHare]

Apparently, all you have to do on the F150 is plug in a trailer light tester(if you have toe package) and it disables as it thinks there is a trailer attached.

Im going to try that one shortly.

The tester also disables other safety features. The autostopeliminator.com web site has a link where they evaluate other methods of disabling auto/stop and the trailer tester is one they highly discourage using.

 

[khyros]

The tester also disables other safety features. The autostopeliminator.com web site has a link where they evaluate other methods of disabling auto/stop and the trailer tester is one they highly discourage using.

Well of course they discourage it - if everyone did that then they wouldn't make any money!

 

[DHare]

Well of course they discourage it - if everyone did that then they wouldn't make any money!

The trailer test plug "also disables other safety features." One of the reasons I went with a Lariat was for the extra safety features. I'd rather not disable them. From their website:

While a trailer is attached auto start-stop will not enable. With this hack a trailer light test plug is inserted into the trailer plug, fooling the truck into thinking a trailer is attached.

On the surface this appears to be a clever solution, but as it turns out, it’s one of the worst solutions. Modern trucks have many advanced towing features that work well while towing. Transmission shift pressures will increase. Fuel-based remaining distance estimates are adjusted for the reduced fuel mileage. Blind spot systems will expand their range to account for the length of the trailer. Rear ultrasonic object detection and cross traffic alert disables so as not to falsely alarm due to the presence of the trailer. Rear-view camera overlays used to visualize the vehicle path are disabled. Advanced trailer anti-sway controls are enabled, which may brake wheels independently to reduce trailer sway.

The list goes on and on for built-in towing optimizations, and each and every one can be a problem if there’s not actually a trailer connected. Please don’t even consider this as a means to disable auto start-stop.

 

[khyros]

To repeat "also disables other safety features." If you feel comfortable with that, then go for it. From their website:

Let's take this one step at a time.


While a trailer is attached auto start-stop will not enable. With this hack a trailer light test plug is inserted into the trailer plug, fooling the truck into thinking a trailer is attached.

On the surface this appears to be a clever solution, but as it turns out, it’s one of the worst solutions. Modern trucks have many advanced towing features that work well while towing.

1) Transmission shift pressures will increase.
False. Trans shift schedules are indeed altered when you're towing... but that's not determined by plugging in a wire. Instead, it's activated via pressing the Tow/Haul button on the truck.

2) Fuel-based remaining distance estimates are adjusted for the reduced fuel mileage.
Again, if this is a thing, I would expect it'e tied to the tow/haul mode and/or your custom trailer profile, not tied to having a trailer connected. There's a huge difference between having a 7500lb max load trailer compared to a 500lb lawn mower trailer. But even still, who cares? The Ranger has a 18 gallon tank, and if you trust your DTE, then you should trust your calculated MPG. 18 * 22 = 396 miles. Or you know - just look at when you drop down to 1/4 tank since it still has a gauge.

3) Blind spot systems will expand their range to account for the length of the trailer.
False. This is a programmable thing. You *MUST* tell your truck how long the trailer is for it to expand it. Otherwise it covers just the truck.

4) Rear ultrasonic object detection and cross traffic alert disables so as not to falsely alarm due to the presence of the trailer.
Thanks to the maker! I can't stand all of those beeps. But at least in my families' super duty, we still have to manually turn off the reverse sensors when we have a trailer connected, but since it's not a 2019MY, it's possible that they've wised up and made that automatic.

5) Rear-view camera overlays used to visualize the vehicle path are disabled.
I turn those off anyways so I can use the camera instead of having overlays on it. PS - don't become overly reliant on those anyways - you'll find yourself hitting your front quarter panel since you're just focusing on the path of the rear tires on the screen.

As a side note - do you know that the gov't forced vehicles to come standard with a rear view camera due to a camera supplier study? The study basically went as follows: ask people to get in vehicle and adjust mirrors. During that time, have a cardboard pop up of a kid playing with Matchbox cars appear behind vehicle. Ask driver to back out of driveway. Without a camera, the driver hit the kid 100% of the time. With a camera, they only hit the kid 30% of the time. Therefore, rear view cameras save children's lives!

6) Advanced trailer anti-sway controls are enabled, which may brake wheels independently to reduce trailer sway.
False. Without an actual trailer connected (and mis-loaded), you're not going to get trailer sway from the non-existent trailer fed into the truck, activating trailer sway control.

The list goes on and on for built-in towing optimizations, and each and every one can be a problem if there’s not actually a trailer connected. Please don’t even consider this as a means to disable auto start-stop.
Again, you have to setup your trailer for a bunch of this stuff, and activate tow/haul mode to turn it all on. Just plugging in to the hitch doesn't automatically do any of it. Otherwise all of those folks with LED light bars under their tailgate would be SOL (since a ton of them just tie into the trailer for power instead of manually routing all the way to the engine compartment and splicing).



The company is biased in their assessment. For someone looking to permanently disable S/S, this is the easiest solution, and does not direct any money towards their own pockets. As such, they absolutely need to address it, and whether that's with scare tactics or the truth, just putting doubt into most people's minds is enough to migrate their spending habits. Even if I'm 100% wrong on everything I just said (which I'm not), just think through their motivations and perhaps look at some F-150 boards to people who've actually done this and see if it collaborates the company's statement.


PS - What's the big deal with wanting to disable S/S anyways? I get it back in 2013 when it first came out, but it's pretty unobtrusive these days. Plus, i4 engines aren't known for their idle NVH characteristics... Might as well just shut off the engine and enjoy a vibration free steering wheel and seat track.

 

[DHare]

Let's take this one step at a time.


While a trailer is attached auto start-stop will not enable. With this hack a trailer light test plug is inserted into the trailer plug, fooling the truck into thinking a trailer is attached.

On the surface this appears to be a clever solution, but as it turns out, it’s one of the worst solutions. Modern trucks have many advanced towing features that work well while towing.

1) Transmission shift pressures will increase.
False. Trans shift schedules are indeed altered when you're towing... but that's not determined by plugging in a wire. Instead, it's activated via pressing the Tow/Haul button on the truck.

2) Fuel-based remaining distance estimates are adjusted for the reduced fuel mileage.
Again, if this is a thing, I would expect it'e tied to the tow/haul mode and/or your custom trailer profile, not tied to having a trailer connected. There's a huge difference between having a 7500lb max load trailer compared to a 500lb lawn mower trailer. But even still, who cares? The Ranger has a 18 gallon tank, and if you trust your DTE, then you should trust your calculated MPG. 18 * 22 = 396 miles. Or you know - just look at when you drop down to 1/4 tank since it still has a gauge.

3) Blind spot systems will expand their range to account for the length of the trailer.
False. This is a programmable thing. You *MUST* tell your truck how long the trailer is for it to expand it. Otherwise it covers just the truck.

4) Rear ultrasonic object detection and cross traffic alert disables so as not to falsely alarm due to the presence of the trailer.
Thanks to the maker! I can't stand all of those beeps. But at least in my families' super duty, we still have to manually turn off the reverse sensors when we have a trailer connected, but since it's not a 2019MY, it's possible that they've wised up and made that automatic.

5) Rear-view camera overlays used to visualize the vehicle path are disabled.
I turn those off anyways so I can use the camera instead of having overlays on it. PS - don't become overly reliant on those anyways - you'll find yourself hitting your front quarter panel since you're just focusing on the path of the rear tires on the screen.

As a side note - do you know that the gov't forced vehicles to come standard with a rear view camera due to a camera supplier study? The study basically went as follows: ask people to get in vehicle and adjust mirrors. During that time, have a cardboard pop up of a kid playing with Matchbox cars appear behind vehicle. Ask driver to back out of driveway. Without a camera, the driver hit the kid 100% of the time. With a camera, they only hit the kid 30% of the time. Therefore, rear view cameras save children's lives!

6) Advanced trailer anti-sway controls are enabled, which may brake wheels independently to reduce trailer sway.
False. Without an actual trailer connected (and mis-loaded), you're not going to get trailer sway from the non-existent trailer fed into the truck, activating trailer sway control.

The list goes on and on for built-in towing optimizations, and each and every one can be a problem if there’s not actually a trailer connected. Please don’t even consider this as a means to disable auto start-stop.
Again, you have to setup your trailer for a bunch of this stuff, and activate tow/haul mode to turn it all on. Just plugging in to the hitch doesn't automatically do any of it. Otherwise all of those folks with LED light bars under their tailgate would be SOL (since a ton of them just tie into the trailer for power instead of manually routing all the way to the engine compartment and splicing).



The company is biased in their assessment. For someone looking to permanently disable S/S, this is the easiest solution, and does not direct any money towards their own pockets. As such, they absolutely need to address it, and whether that's with scare tactics or the truth, just putting doubt into most people's minds is enough to migrate their spending habits. Even if I'm 100% wrong on everything I just said (which I'm not), just think through their motivations and perhaps look at some F-150 boards to people who've actually done this and see if it collaborates the company's statement.


PS - What's the big deal with wanting to disable S/S anyways? I get it back in 2013 when it first came out, but it's pretty unobtrusive these days. Plus, i4 engines aren't known for their idle NVH characteristics... Might as well just shut off the engine and enjoy a vibration free steering wheel and seat track.

I agree with you on why there is or isn't a need to disable start/stop. The feature doesn't bother me, so I don't plan on disabling it. I was just offering some info that's out there that some may find useful. We know that companies tend to bend things in their favor. Thanks for your clarity.

 

[StAugKid]

When I tested a 2019 F150 with the 2.7L the auto start/stop felt and sounded very obtrusive to me. During the test drive it kept shutting off and turning on the engine all down US1 and it turned me off to the truck at first blush until I took a few moments to consider I would end up hooking up a tuner to whatever I bought and turn it off anyway .

 

[j0shm1lls]

My RS has Start/Stop and the car is obviously manual and it still doesn't bother me. I don't get the hate.

Sponsored