Ah so that's what the left button is for. On the ST the middle butt on is to change / disable the ESP (which I've never touched), but what is the right button for?

Heated seat switch?

Heated seat switch?

Those are lower down, you can see them in the photo (obscured by the arrow).

When my car was very new i.e. <500 miles I was also hyper aware of the start stop stuff including the engine coming back on again. These days perhaps I have just got used to it (and I don't notice it) but I don't think it is the result of any problems and as one other person has said that is what it is meant to do.

Ok just thought I would test something. I emailed my dealership and they know med me the stop start will switch the car back in again when the car thinks there's too much strain on the battery when off eg when air con and radio is on.

Makes sense.

I've just gone to pick up my partner from work, cars up to temp running great, pulled up outside and the car stopped. I timed it and all I have on is the radio on quiet, that's it. The car went 2 minutes and 12 seconds before it switched back on.

Surly this is too short a time? Sounds like the battery is either very weak or there's an issue. If this is normal ( which I don't think it is ) it makes stop start completely pointless and useless

Sounds right Adam. It's really for short stops so you should turn off the engine if your waiting for long periods.

Surly this is too short a time? Sounds like the battery is either very weak or there's an issue. If this is normal ( which I don't think it is ) it makes stop start completely pointless and useless

Sounds right Adam. It's really for short stops so you should turn off the engine if your waiting for long periods.

Exactly what I was thinking Willy. The real purpose for stop/start is to save fuel in heavy traffic like at traffic lights, where you normally won't stop for more than a minute (even thought the amount of fuel saved isn't going to be much). Or you could say the real purpose is to get the CO2 below 100g/km so Ford can make a big deal out of the fact that you pay no road tax, and sell more cars ;)

When your sat in traffic your MPG figures begin to drop. Ford can advertise higher MPG figures because the engine isn't running so the avg MPG can't begin to tumble.

i see guys :) thanks for the knowledge! was just curious thats all :)

First thing I do when I get in the car is switch it off :) ;) :p

How do you switch it off?? (I haven't got an ecoboost yet, but will be soon).

With the special button ;)

http://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/61379-stop-start/?p=406445

How do you switch it off?? (I haven't got an ecoboost yet, but will be soon).

Actually the stop start is the easiest thing to get used and I can't actually think of a reason why I'd want to turn it off, the thing that takes longer to get used to in the Ecoboost is the tall gearing.

the thing that takes longer to get used to in the Ecoboost is the tall gearing.

I noticed this when I test drove an ecoboost fiesta last weekend, I messed up my gear changes a few times. The stop/start was a worry I had, but the traffic was very light & I didn't have to stop at any traffic lights or roundabouts for longer than 15 seconds or so & I didn't see the stop/start in action for myself.

Maybe on my next test drive I will see it in action.

I think Ford are playing the devils advocate with the stop start system.Everyone knows that short journeys shorten the life of certain parts,the most obvious being the cambelt.All manuals tell you to re place the cam belt at shorter intervals if the car is used for short or stop start journeys,As for the starter motor and ring gear being designed for stop/start,yeah !,they will just last for the same amount of "starts" as any other type.If my car had the eco-boost turbo that would be my worry,how long does an ordinary cars turbo last and they are flat out at 100,000 rpm,the 3 cylinder eco boosts revs at 248,000 rpm,BANG.
Rant over.