How to Use Mercedes-Benz Auto Start-Stop?
3 Answers
To turn it on or off, simply press the button. The auto start-stop button in Mercedes-Benz vehicles is located in the functional control area in front of the center armrest, near the handbrake, and it is a mechanical button. Here are some precautions regarding auto start-stop and auto hold: 1. Some models are equipped with both functions: auto start-stop and auto hold, which can save effort and fuel. When using auto start-stop, the driver should turn off the engine. If the vehicle does not have the auto hold function, the driver should keep pressing the brake during the auto start-stop process; releasing it will restart the engine. 2. The principle of auto hold is to help the driver press the brake. During this period, the engine is in a stopped state but not turned off. Pressing the accelerator again will restart the engine. 3. Turning off auto start-stop is not permanent; the owner needs to turn it off every time they drive.
When I first started driving a Mercedes, I also wondered about the auto start-stop function. This system is enabled by default and automatically activates whenever you start the vehicle normally. During traffic jams or at red lights, pressing the brake pedal firmly will cause the tachometer to drop to zero, indicating the engine has stopped. To resume driving, just lightly press the accelerator. The dashboard will display the ECO symbol when the start-stop is active. If you find it annoying, you can press the button on the center console with an 'A' and a circular arrow to turn it off, which will be indicated by a yellow light. Using it in stop-and-go city traffic can save up to 12% on fuel, which is why I keep it on during my commute in traffic. However, remember to manually turn it off before driving through waterlogged areas in rainy weather to avoid water intake during restart, which could damage the engine. The start-stop won’t activate on highways, as the system intelligently judges the vehicle speed.
I love the fuel-saving effect of the auto start-stop feature when commuting in my Mercedes every day. It activates automatically without any input—the engine goes into hibernation about two seconds after coming to a full stop, and the ECO light on the dashboard illuminates. When the light turns green, just lightly lift the brake or tap the accelerator, and the engine restarts almost silently and seamlessly. On rainy days with slippery roads, I press the start-stop button on the left side of the steering wheel in advance to deactivate it, only driving with peace of mind once the yellow light turns on. This feature demands a lot from the battery; in winter, if parked for over three days in sub-zero temperatures, the start-stop might fail, requiring a battery check. It's recommended to enable it when waiting at red lights longer than 30 seconds—using it for stops shorter than 20 seconds may actually increase fuel consumption.
