How to Turn Off Mazda's i-stop Auto Start-Stop System?
4 Answers
Mazda i-stop auto start-stop system deactivation method: There is an i-stop button on the vehicle's center console. Press and hold this button until the dashboard indicator turns yellow, indicating the auto start-stop system has been deactivated. For i-stop to function normally, besides the vehicle being stationary and having sufficient battery power, several other conditions must be met. Below are the additional requirements for i-stop operation: 1. Ambient temperature must be between -10°C and 50°C (to prevent excessive air conditioning system load). 2. The vehicle must be on a slope not exceeding 8 degrees or on level ground (automatically sensed by the vehicle) (to prevent rolling backward or forward when releasing the brake). 3. Both engine and transmission must reach operating temperature. 4. The gear must be in D position. 5. The front windshield defroster must be turned off.
As a Mazda3 owner, I have to manually turn off the auto start-stop every time I start the car. There's a small round button below the left side of the steering wheel, diagonally above the brake pedal, with an icon of a circle containing an 'A' and an arrow. Press it before driving, and the dashboard will display a yellow start-stop icon with a slash. Note that this function automatically resets after each engine shutdown, so you'll need to press it again next time you drive. Frequent start-stop during traffic jams can be annoying, but it does save some fuel on highways or during long red lights. I've actually noticed that the start-stop pauses itself when the air conditioning is on, and it won't trigger if the battery charge is low.
Last week, I permanently disabled the auto start-stop function on my wife's CX-5, as it causes too much battery wear. You can completely deactivate it by having the dealership reprogram the ECU using their diagnostic equipment. Professional modification shops can also do it, usually charging around 200 RMB. If the car is still under warranty, modifying it might affect the coverage, so it's better to confirm beforehand. Actually, disconnecting the battery in the trunk for five minutes can temporarily disable it once, but that's too troublesome. I installed an auto start-stop disabler, which connects the original button to a small control box - it only takes thirty seconds to set up.
Mazda's start-stop function is all about the braking technique. When lightly pressing the brake to decelerate to a stop, maintaining gentle pressure keeps the engine running (indicated by the green start-stop light not illuminating on the dashboard). If deep braking triggers engine shutdown, turning the steering wheel 15 degrees left will immediately restart the engine. Avoid using this feature in rainy conditions as water entering the intake tract may cause starting difficulties. Remember: Turning the AC to maximum fan speed while the engine is off forces an engine restart. Having AUTO HOLD activated doesn't affect the start-stop function.
