How to Use the Correct Gear When Using Auto Start-Stop at Traffic Lights?

[McColton]

When approaching a traffic light, gently apply the brake while maintaining a safe following distance to bring the vehicle to a smooth and gradual stop. After coming to a complete stop, engage the parking brake and shift the gear into neutral.

[LaKevin]

To be honest, after driving an automatic start-stop electric car for these years, I've found that waiting at red lights is actually quite hassle-free. With the auto start-stop activated, just press the brake pedal firmly when stopping at a red light, and the dashboard will display the start-stop indicator showing the engine has turned off. At this point, keeping the gear in D is completely fine, but you need to keep your foot on the brake. When the light turns green, gently release the brake and the engine will start up—no need to even touch the gear lever. If the red light is exceptionally long, say over a minute, you can shift to neutral and engage the handbrake to rest your foot. One thing to note in summer: the auto start-stop might deactivate if the air conditioning isn’t cooling sufficiently, but it’s generally not a big issue. Just remember to check the battery condition during regular maintenance, as frequent start-stops place higher demands on it.

[DelAlexa]

I've been using auto start-stop for my daily commute for five years and would like to share some gear insights. The key at red lights is to let the system function properly: after coming to a complete stop, press the brake pedal firmly to activate start-stop, and keeping the gear in D is perfectly appropriate—no need to shift. Unless facing an exceptionally long red light, frequently switching to P can cause the engine to restart repeatedly. From my experience, short red lights of about 20 seconds in the city are the most hassle-free; just keep the brake pedal pressed while waiting. Before moving off, glance at the rearview mirror and gently release the brake to engage the power smoothly. One extra tip: remember to turn off start-stop before driving through water in rainy conditions to prevent engine damage from auto-restarting after stalling. This feature does help reduce fuel consumption effectively.

[DelFelicity]

Operating the auto start-stop system is actually quite simple. First, check if the start-stop indicator on the dashboard is lit when you get in the car. When stopping at a red light, firmly press the brake pedal while keeping the gear in D. You'll know the engine has shut off when the tachometer drops to zero - releasing the brake at this point will restart the engine. Some owners ask if neutral (N) gear can be used? Occasionally shifting to neutral works too, but the system might automatically restart. To move off, just gently release the brake pedal. Here's an interesting tidbit: Some vehicles come with hill start assist, preventing rollback when releasing the brake during auto stop. Remember to use the start-stop frequently during the first three months with a new car - it actually helps with the break-in process.

[Louis]

As an urban driver, auto start-stop is my most frequently used feature. The standard operation is to keep the car in D gear and press the brake after stopping, allowing the system to automatically shut off the engine. However, two points require special attention: first, the auto stop duration shortens when running AC on hot days to maintain cooling. Second, aged batteries may cause start-stop failure—replacing the battery every three years is recommended. During a 90-second red light, I once tried shifting to N gear and engaging the handbrake to rest my foot, but found some models restart the engine. Now I simply hold the brake at lights—it ensures quicker starts and better fuel efficiency. Surprisingly, the vibration during idling is much milder than expected.