Finally understand the best way to control ISG (Auto off) don't push the brake all the way down

[bugaboo90]

So, like some others, the engine auto off while waiting at a light ( ISG ) has me irritated. I know I should like it because it helps w/gas mileage and heaven knows, we need all the help we can get. But, this silly thing turns off when I'm stopped for like 5 seconds.. it's annoying..

BUT, I finally figured out something ( I searched and didn't find this, so apologies if it was already listed somewhere..)

When you come to a stop and if you press the pedal all the way down then ISG will kick in. HOWEVER, if you find that sweet spot where you can stop the car but not push it down all the way, ISG will not take over. I tried this on flat, uphill and downhill stop and it worked beautifully. You can press hard to come to a stop but before you completely stop, release the brake and reapply just enough to keep the car from advancing. It can be done.

I don't know how to describe this so forgive me.. One way assess if you pressed just enough but not too much is, the auto hold function won;t engage either. it will remain white. Hope that makes sense to those who use the auto hold button.

Now, I can push all the way down at lights which I know are long and not all the way down at stop signs.

Hope this helps (and it wasn't already posted).

 

[mldavis2]

Braking is an art -- of sorts. A good driver always "feathers" the brake pedal as the car comes to a complete stop to prevent tipping or bucking as the weight shifts from the front suspension. What follows is sort of OT, so forgive me, but the technique is related.

As a service manager, I had several customers who were always coming back to the service department complaining about rotor warp on a Buick Century. We would turn the rotors, send them away and they'd be back in a week. We had to beg the factory to replace the rotors after 3 trips. We did and they warped. I asked the customer if he used the brakes hard (he was a truck driver and a big, burly, overweight guy) and he denied it. But I know that it is heat that warps rotors. It was a fairly small town and I happened to see him driving one day. He didn't know my car, so I followed him. He jackrabbited stoplights and rode the brakes hard at the last minute at stops -- every time. It was almost as though he was trying to warp the rotors. No video cameras available at the time (in the '80's) but I advised the district manager and turned the case over to him because he was my authorization to replace rotors on an essentially new car.

So one of the things I always do on my own cars is avoid repetitive hard stops. My wife warps rotors, I never have. The technique is similar to what @bugaboo90 says above regarding the ISG feature. Anytime you come to a stop, and especially a hard stop such as a downhill exit from an interstate down to a stoplight or stop sign, begin slowing down as early as possible to reduce heat and then stop at least two car lengths behind the intersection or the car ahead as you back off pressure on the pedal. Then as you wait for the opportunity to go, let the car creep forward very slightly over that space. When you stop hard and lock the brake in a complete stop, the brake pad(s) are stopped on one sector of the rotor while the remaining 75% or so is exposed and cooling. The pads prevent even cooling, so if you let the car creep, you turn the rotor slightly and continuously and allow even cooling over the entire rotor surface. That will prevent rotors from warping and you will get long, straight, smooth stops for the life of the brakes. I still have the original brakes on my 191,000 G8 GT and my 97,000 GTO. It takes a bit of discipline but it works.

 

[Gdank]

Most auto-stop/start's don't activate if you don't push the pedal too hard, well at least my last 3 cars it did this too.

 

[bugaboo90]

My first car with it, so didn't know. Pretty cool

Most auto-stop/start's don't activate if you don't push the pedal too hard, well at least my last 3 cars it did this too.

 

[CO-bound]

That's the best way to control it? And here I thought hitting the Off button five inches from the gear shift was the best way....

 

[bugaboo90]

Agree with you if I wanted it off all the time. I actually want it on, I just want to use it sometimes and not another. I guess I could on off as I need it.. I'm have to try that.

That's the best way to control it? And here I thought hitting the Off button five inches from the gear shift was the best way....

 

[Berzerker]

Most auto-stop/start's don't activate if you don't push the pedal too hard, well at least my last 3 cars it did this too.

My BMW would shut off before I even stopped lol.

That's the best way to control it? And here I thought hitting the Off button five inches from the gear shift was the best way....

Control it != turn it off. So no, that's not the best way to "control it."