Auto Start/Stop
Mountain Pass
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 210
Likes: 19
From: Southeast MI.
I saw a video this morning and a Ford technician plugged a round trailer light plug in to the female connector and it stopped the Auto SS. My 2020 XLT only has the small 4 pin trailer connector so I tried doing the same thing with a 4 pin male connector. I thought it solved the SS issue but it didn't. Guess I'll just get in the habit of pressing the button on the dash or splurge for the OBD auto start / stop eliminator.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 1,369
Likes: 417
Correct, I started out doing that but I have a travel trailer I use maybe 10x per year. I felt the plug was for limited use, and I worried that if I broke it, I'd probably end up buying a whole wire harness or something crazy. That's why I splurged on the eliminator.
Thread Starter
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Cross-Country
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 87
Likes: 13
I saw a video this morning and a Ford technician plugged a round trailer light plug in to the female connector and it stopped the Auto SS. My 2020 XLT only has the small 4 pin trailer connector so I tried doing the same thing with a 4 pin male connector. I thought it solved the SS issue but it didn't. Guess I'll just get in the habit of pressing the button on the dash or splurge for the OBD auto start / stop eliminator.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 4,114
Likes: 1,645
These aren't just run-of-the-mill starters when you start dealing with Auto Start/Stop. They are really beefed up, better bearings, better windings, etc. etc. Trust me, they can handle starting and stopping a few more times than normal.
Tuned
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 312
Likes: 12
From: Warsaw
Actually....Cabin Heater Coolant Pump
Vehicles equipped with the 2.7L EcoBoost engine or the 3.5L EcoBoost engine have the auto start-stop feature as standard equipment, which includes a cabin heater coolant pump. The cabin heater coolant pump provides coolant to the heater core whenever the HVAC system requests heat and the vehicle is in auto start-stop mode. The PCM sends a PWM signal to control the cabin heater coolant pump. Refer to the Owner's Literature, Unique Driving Characteristics for full auto start-stop enabling/disabling information.
ly....
Vehicles equipped with the 2.7L EcoBoost engine or the 3.5L EcoBoost engine have the auto start-stop feature as standard equipment, which includes a cabin heater coolant pump. The cabin heater coolant pump provides coolant to the heater core whenever the HVAC system requests heat and the vehicle is in auto start-stop mode. The PCM sends a PWM signal to control the cabin heater coolant pump. Refer to the Owner's Literature, Unique Driving Characteristics for full auto start-stop enabling/disabling information.
ly....
Thread Starter
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Cross-Country
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 87
Likes: 13
Thread Starter
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Cross-Country
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 87
Likes: 13
Ok so I 'Think' I see why this didn't work. The guy in the video was using a 7 pin plug in 'Trailer Light Tester'...not a dummy plug. I saw another video of a guy using a 4 pin trailer light tester and it stopped the auto s/s from working. Gonna get one and try it. Will let you know if it works or not.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 4,738
Likes: 103
From: FL
I used auto stop eliminator
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Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 7,907
Likes: 143
Putting a >> test plug << not a hookup plug, in either connector tells the computer there must be a trailer connected .
It sees the current drawn by the LED lights in the (test plug) that have to turn on per function.
A hookup plug does not draw any current >> unless it is connected to the trailer lights.
In this case, current still flows through the trailer lamps but at a very low value even without the lights turned on.
It sees the current drawn by the LED lights in the (test plug) that have to turn on per function.
A hookup plug does not draw any current >> unless it is connected to the trailer lights.
In this case, current still flows through the trailer lamps but at a very low value even without the lights turned on.
Thread Starter
|
Cross-Country
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 87
Likes: 13
Putting a >> test plug << not a hookup plug, in either connector tells the computer there must be a trailer connected .
It sees the current drawn by the LED lights in the (test plug) that have to turn on per function.
A hookup plug does not draw any current >> unless it is connected to the trailer lights.
In this case, current still flows through the trailer lamps but at a very low value even without the lights turned on.
It sees the current drawn by the LED lights in the (test plug) that have to turn on per function.
A hookup plug does not draw any current >> unless it is connected to the trailer lights.
In this case, current still flows through the trailer lamps but at a very low value even without the lights turned on.
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 7,907
Likes: 143
Here is how mine works;
A 2018 5L SCREW XLT.
4WD but no AWD selection.
Test plug in either 4 or 7 pin socket stops Auto start. This is normal with a treiler attached.
In the small dash screen, an indication of this appears.
On the big screen, the backup guide lines are missing and the sound alarm is missing. Just a clear screen view of the rear area.
The clear screen is for the special backup alignment asist to a trailer with the marking tapes applied so you can see what's going on and align the hitch.
As this would be normal with a Trailer hooked up since those displays would not be needed with a Trailer in tow, otherwise.
Don't know if other package and levels do it differently. The Ecoboost may do for other reasons.
After a while I went in with FORSCAN and inhibited the Auto start function and do not have a test plug any longer.
The reason is on the dash display you end up changing that everytime you start the truck so it became either push the button or change the dash display so little gained 'sort-of' as far as making driving changes from inside.
All the backup functions are operational as they were before and no dash display changes needed unless you want to see some other information.
A 2018 5L SCREW XLT.
4WD but no AWD selection.
Test plug in either 4 or 7 pin socket stops Auto start. This is normal with a treiler attached.
In the small dash screen, an indication of this appears.
On the big screen, the backup guide lines are missing and the sound alarm is missing. Just a clear screen view of the rear area.
The clear screen is for the special backup alignment asist to a trailer with the marking tapes applied so you can see what's going on and align the hitch.
As this would be normal with a Trailer hooked up since those displays would not be needed with a Trailer in tow, otherwise.
Don't know if other package and levels do it differently. The Ecoboost may do for other reasons.
After a while I went in with FORSCAN and inhibited the Auto start function and do not have a test plug any longer.
The reason is on the dash display you end up changing that everytime you start the truck so it became either push the button or change the dash display so little gained 'sort-of' as far as making driving changes from inside.
All the backup functions are operational as they were before and no dash display changes needed unless you want to see some other information.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 210
Likes: 19
From: Southeast MI.
So many people hate this stop start feature I can't believe that they make it so you have to turn it off every time or trick it to stay off. I should have the option to disable this in the settings. I pay for the gas I'm using and the more gas I use the more taxes the government gets so they should be happy to sell me more. 
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,467
Likes: 107
From: Staten Island, NY
Wow! All this effort and expense being expended just to avoid pressing a simple button each time you start your truck.
People would rather give up their back up sensors and rear camera guide lines just to avoid pressing a button!
I guess when your city finally bans gasoline and diesel powered vehicles - like some cities have already proposed for 2030 - 2035 - this problem will finally be solved.
People would rather give up their back up sensors and rear camera guide lines just to avoid pressing a button!
I guess when your city finally bans gasoline and diesel powered vehicles - like some cities have already proposed for 2030 - 2035 - this problem will finally be solved.