11

The ASS In Your Car - A Piece of Tape Works . . . For Now

Posted by freedomforall 1 month, 2 weeks ago to Government
77 comments | Share | Flag

Excerpt:
"First came ASS – the acronym that stands for Automatic Stop/Start, the system that automatically shuts off the vehicle’s engine every time the vehicle stops moving, then automatically restarts it when the driver lifts his foot off the brake.

At first – when ASS began to mysteriously appear in new vehicles as a standard feature that no one asked for about a decade ago – it was easy enough to turn ASS off. There was usually a button on the dash or somewhere on the center console. You often had to turn ASS off at the start of every drive in order to stop ASS from shutting off the engine every time the vehicle stopped moving – but at least you could turn ASS off.

Then it got harder to find the off button because there no longer was one. Instead, you had to figure out where “off” was buried within the various menus displayed on the LCD screen. These latter became unavoidable in a new vehicle about five years ago. No more just getting in and pushing the off button; it was necessary to go through a process of rigmarole to turn ASS off.

It was easier to just leave it on.

Just what they wanted. Just what was originally intended. The vehicle manufacturers knew few – if any – of their customers wanted ASS. That’s why ASS was never an option. It has always been a standard feature. But when a standard feature is unwanted, it’s generally wise for the seller to make it possible to turn it off. Hence the button – for awhile.

Now the physical button is gone – and the option to turn ASS off – is disappearing."
SOURCE URL: https://www.ericpetersautos.com/2024/08/26/a-piece-of-tape-works-for-now/


Add Comment

FORMATTING HELP

All Comments Hide marked as read Mark all as read

  • Posted by jack1776 1 month, 2 weeks ago
    Subaru is the worst... The designers decided we cannot or will not be allowed to think for yourself. My wife has MS and she relies on Eyesight (Subaru's driving assist) due to her legs. Subaru, in their infante wisdom shuts down all features if a check engine light comes on for any reason forcing you to take it to the dealer. Also, have a very long driveway, if I take my seat belt off to check the mailbox, I'm not putting it back on. The Subaru chime starts off, like hey, put your seat belt on and by the time I get to the end of my driveway, its screaming at me to put the seatbelt on, am I child? I put it on so I don't have to listen to it so I guess it won. I won't be buying another subaru...
    Reply | Mark as read | Best of... | Permalink  
    • Posted by CaptainKirk 1 month, 2 weeks ago
      Those of us in the 70s remember our parents just plugged the seat belts in, and SAT ON THEM.

      I think that was ONE of the reasons for the SHOULDER Strap edition... LOL
      Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
      • Posted by $ gharkness 1 month, 2 weeks ago
        Yeah but you can still connect lap/shoulder belt and sit on that. In fact, if you have anything heavy in the front passenger seat, it'll trigger the chiming.

        My Lexus gives me some time, but hubby's (newer) one doesn't. Talk about annoying! I'll put my seat belt on when I want to, TYVM.
        Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
        • Posted by CaptainKirk 1 month, 2 weeks ago
          I will never forget a Russian visitor, as we "discussed" all of these things. (For example, the rental company could not rent a 2 bedroom apartment to a mom with 4 kids, as the sq footage was maxed at 4 people).
          The Seat Belts.
          The Required Auto Insurance.
          ...

          And then he said it "Why do you believe you are freer than the average Russian?"

          It hit harder than he realized.
          Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
    • Posted by term2 1 month, 2 weeks ago
      get seat belt extenders that you leave permanently plugged into the seat belt catch. the actual seat belt then pluggs into the extender. Voila- the seat belt light and buzzer is deactivated.
      Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
  • Posted by $ Thoritsu 1 month, 2 weeks ago
    Used cars have a special value. In the People's Republic of Taxachussets, a car >20 yrs old has NO emissions checks. You can do anything with an old car like that.

    Time to keep the old ones. I can rebuild anything in one, so will have no nannies for a long time.
    Reply | Mark as read | Best of... | Permalink  
    • Posted by 1 month, 2 weeks ago
      👍 I can't recall ever having had an emission check on my car.
      (The last new car I bought was in '89 plus an almost new one in '95.)
      Where I live now, there is no car inspection required.
      I'm seriously considering doing an engine swap on my car
      (25 yr old) for greater performance in a couple of months.
      Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
    • Posted by term2 1 month, 2 weeks ago
      my 1950 plymouth was easy to fix, no fancy electronic sensors to go bad and turn on the check engine light. When the engine ran rough, you knew it was either carburetor or spark.
      Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
  • Posted by rhfinle 1 month, 2 weeks ago
    Being someone who has a generally negative response to any authority, I can't stand a vehicle that tells me what to do. My wife "needed" a "new" car this year - and we got her a ten year old Toyota Highlander with the TV screen in the dash, keyless fob, start/stop button, the whole works.
    I tallied up, and pointed that it's HEr car, not "ours", and that we spent more on that car than on ALL the new and used cars - and - parts cars that I have ever bought for myself. She, of course, went into a gaslighting fit with "That's just not true", but refuses to look at the numbers.
    I'm at retirement age, and do not intend to ~ever~ buy myself another vehicle that doesn't have a carburetor and a straight shift. If you have to push a button to roll the window, I don't want it.
    I'm a computer engineer, and the last thing I want under the hood is software.
    Reply | Mark as read | Best of... | Permalink  
    • Posted by term2 1 month, 2 weeks ago
      the problem with newer cars is that the more complicated they are, the more likely things are going to break and cost you an arm and a leg to gt fixed. That "check engine light" is a retirement program for the mechanics
      Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
  • Posted by $ allosaur 1 month, 2 weeks ago
    Me dino's ass has never even heard of this.
    Dumped Fords due to one car having an automatic transmission problem during the early Seventies and another having the same problem during the mid-nineties (drove a Mercury Bobcat with a straight shift in between).
    Been driving nothing but Hondas with automatic transmissions ever since. Sweet! First Honda lasted 12 years before old age problems forced me to trade it in for another.
    Reply | Mark as read | Best of... | Permalink  
    • Posted by $ Thoritsu 1 month, 2 weeks ago
      tsk tsk. I am all about Fords. Great cars for a knowledgeable buyer. My 1968 Gallaxie I bought from my HS Chemistry teacher went>200K miles (my brother got >300k on his). 1990 Mustang went 200k miles before I gave it away for nothing, and it ran great. I drove it like I stole it. Never even needed a clutch. My Ranger has 170 k miles and runs perfectly.

      Used to absolutely hate Hondas. They were not repairable, disposable things. I can do a clutch on an US car in a couple of hours. Tried to do a throwout bearing (and clutch) on a 1979 CVCC... what a complete POS! Ended up taking it to the dump after breaking off god knows how many bolts screwed directly into aluminum, stuck and galled. We still have to put up with all the BS in Consumer Reports and America haters like: "Honda's go 2,000,000,000 miles between oil changes". "Toyotas never even need new tires..." blah blah blah. My buddies have engine issues with their "indestructible" Jap crap, and there I go to fix them, while they rave about how reliable they are. Sister-in-law's Camry water pump failed and the whole engine went with it. That side of the family still swear by Toyotas.

      Now Hondas and Toyotas are fine, but they are not some magical devices. Most cars are good. German cars are less reliable and impossible to self-service, due to a requisite revenue stream to make up for them the massive waste manufacturing in socialist economies. If you want to set me off, say "German Engineering".
      Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
      • Posted by $ allosaur 1 month, 2 weeks ago
        Me dino had no trouble getting a Honda fixed as long as I took it to a Honda dealership. Two decades ago I learned the hard way not to trust someone one else who without being asked said, "Oh, we can fix that." Won't have the parts for one thing.
        Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
        • Posted by $ Thoritsu 1 month, 2 weeks ago
          My example was more like 35 years ago.
          Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
          • Posted by $ allosaur 1 month, 2 weeks ago
            Hmm, 35 years ago was was saying stuff like "copy that" and "10-4" on a state prison's hand radio.
            Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
            • Posted by $ Thoritsu 1 month, 2 weeks ago
              I was in Grad School, and working on cars in a parking lot across the street from my house.
              Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
              • Posted by 1 month, 2 weeks ago
                (I had just picked up my first Miata in Atlanta on the way back from a vacation in Rio.)
                Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
                • Posted by $ Thoritsu 1 month, 2 weeks ago
                  What do you think of Rio for vacation. I have a bunch of Brazilian friends I play soccer with. I could get a great guided tour.
                  Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
                  • Posted by 1 month, 2 weeks ago
                    It was 35 years ago and it has probably changed.
                    I think it is probably more dangerous now but that could just be fake news.
                    When we were there my friend and I were accosted by a gang of boys -
                    because my friend was wearing a small gold chain that the boys wanted.
                    We were not harmed but they did take the chain. Grab and run. This was
                    about 1/2 block off the main beach road Copacabana just barely after dark.
                    Other than that, it was a fun trip and we enjoyed Rio very much.
                    With some local guides, I think you'd have a great time.
                    If you go that far, you might want to take time for Buenos Aires, Argentina, too.
                    I haven't been there but friends tell me it's great. I'm trying to decide
                    where to go this winter between SE Asia (Malaysia) and South America.
                    Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
      • Posted by 1 month, 2 weeks ago
        German cars have great marketing.
        And cost a fortune to maintain.
        I stopped looking at them in the late 80's when a
        friend's new BMW started falling apart after 2 years
        of driving in L.A. traffic.
        About as economical as Afghanistan war.
        Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
        • Posted by $ allosaur 1 month, 2 weeks ago
          Once followed my most conservative of 4 brothers in his first and only BMW to a BMW dealership. He sold his car to them. Riding back with me, he said, "Never again."
          Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
        • Posted by $ Thoritsu 1 month, 2 weeks ago
          No more cars for me that have lug bolts, instead of lug studs. This is a completely stupid approach that no one will ever convince me has any value. More "German Engineering", right up there with 5-cylinder engines, and dumb-ass figure eight windshield wipers.
          Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
  • Posted by VetteGuy 1 month, 2 weeks ago
    Do your research. While car shopping last fall, we looked at one car that had ASS. The first question was where is the button - it was located on the console. Not exactly in line-of-sight, but convenient enough. We didn't buy that car, but for other reasons.

    We already had ASS on our truck, and it has become part of our standard start-up routine to reach over and shut it off before we even leave the driveway. The minuscule amount of gas it saves is not worth replacing a starter motor.

    The car we ended up with (Mazda3) does NOT have ASS, which is good. It has other annoying traits I'm not particularly fond of, and have complained about before. We call it 'the nag'.

    The drowsy driver alert is something that popped up on a recent long-distance road trip. But it goes away in a few seconds if ignored. It has never appeared on in-state trips. Apparently you have to drive uninterrupted for a period of time.
    Reply | Mark as read | Best of... | Permalink  
    • Posted by term2 1 month, 2 weeks ago
      Try my trick of jamming something between the ass button and its bezel to prevent the button from popping back when depressed. You do this once, and the ASS system is automatically disabled with no further work on your part. I have used it for years now with no adverse things happening. Its as if ASS never happened.
      Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
  • Posted by NealS 1 month, 2 weeks ago
    When I got the "Hot in the Gulch.." email showing, "The ASS In Your Car - A Piece of Tape Works...For Now"", I immediately opened the link to read your post. I thought it might be an article written by my wife, about my comments on her when we ride together and she is driving. Frankly, I was a little concerned about the "Piece of Tape Works". Please do not send this article to my wife, it might give her ideas.
    Reply | Mark as read | Best of... | Permalink  
    • Posted by term2 1 month, 2 weeks ago
      I jam some folded up paper into the crack between the ass button and its bezel while the button is held depressed to keep the button from returning to its upright position. The button stays down, and ass is forever foiled as long as the button is held in the depressed position. Try it- I have used it for years.
      Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
  • Posted by dansail 1 month, 2 weeks ago
    This is exactly why I bought a 2013 Toyota Tacoma with 5-speed manual and nothng more fancy than that. None of the features:
    - Automatic Start/Stop
    - Driver assist
    - Detection radar
    - WiFi
    - Inter-vehicular communications
    Reply | Mark as read | Best of... | Permalink  
  • Posted by CaptainKirk 1 month, 2 weeks ago
    Yeah, I've rented cars with this and HATE IT.

    Side note. WHILE It does "improve" gas mileage. My mechanic friends ALL tell me that the wear and tear on the Engine is LIKELY the bigger reason. See, cars can now last 500K miles if you take care of them. Some can last 1 million miles.

    Well, that becomes a lifetime purchase, especially if you work from home, or at least 3 days/wk.

    Now, I have no proof it likely destroys the transmission starting and switching into a running gear because it was in gear when it powered off, but I assume it does. (Anyone?)

    No surprise here.
    Reply | Mark as read | Best of... | Permalink  
    • Posted by $ gharkness 1 month, 2 weeks ago
      I dunno. Both my cars are hybrids, and they turn the engine on/off at their leisure. I don't mess with it and couldn't if I wanted to. I DO know I get 34 MPG on one and 40 MPG on the bigger, heavier one. I do love both of them, but I get ya on not wanting to be told what to do. The newer one has "lane assist" which fights me the entire time I am driving (until I turn it off). Lexus's idea of "middle of the lane" and MY idea of the same thing - are decidedly different, and I WILL and DO win. But it's tiring, so I turn it off.

      OTOH on our drive back to Tucson from DFW last trip, I literally fell asleep driving my older (non lane assist) vehicle and was halfway out of the lane before I woke up (micro-sleep). Hubby didn't even realize I had fallen asleep, nor did I until I bounced back open. SCARY and why we WILL use lane assist on long drives in the future.

      However, now that hubby's had his lung surgery, we're FLYING again! DFW, here we come in November to visit family!
      Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
      • Posted by term2 1 month, 2 weeks ago
        I use the lane assist and advanced cruise control- both as safety features. The lane assist doesn't always work when the lanes are not well marked, but the cruise control and forward collision avoidance actually saved my ass so far .

        When everyone has fully self driving cars which can communicate with other self driving cars, it will make a big difference in reducing the dangerous maneuvers that some drivers do currently to save a few minuted
        Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
    • Posted by term2 1 month, 2 weeks ago
      Try my trick of jamming something into the ASS button and its bezel, so as to keep the button from returning to its upright position. VOILA- ass is automatically turned off each time the engine in restarted. NO cost, and totally effective. I have done this for 4 years on my Kia Soul and 3 years on my Hyundai Palisade
      Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
    • Posted by term2 1 month, 2 weeks ago
      I dont think it saves significant gas either. It sounds like something a politician like Butthead just put in to exert his power. Why having to restart an engine hundreds of times per day while you are in traffic just sounds STUPID to me.
      Reply | Mark as read | Parent | Best of... | Permalink  
  • Posted by $ Abaco 1 month, 2 weeks ago
    I just rented a car with ASS. As an engineer I wince at the thought of that engine turning on at every stop. I imagine the oil draining out of where it's needed then CRUNCH-GRIND as the motor starts up. So...I had an idea. Why not have a small pressure tank in the plumbing of the oil to temporarily (long enough) keep that oil pressurized for stops at lights? Always thinking. I can't imagine the big V8 in my truck firing up every time I pull my foot from the brake. It'd be unnerving.
    Reply | Mark as read | Best of... | Permalink  
  • Posted by term2 1 month, 2 weeks ago
    I have a 2020 Kia Soul and a 2023 Hyundai Palisade. Both have this stupid system which requires pushing a disable button each time you start the engine.

    However, try this trick. Push the button and hold it down while you jam something into the crack between the button and its bezel to prevent the button from returning to its normal position.

    VOILA- the autostopstart is disabled automatically every time you start the car.

    I have used this trick for years on my Kia Soul, and nearly 2 years on my Hyundai Palisade. It works flawlessly with absolutely NO deleterious side effects.
    Reply | Mark as read | Best of... | Permalink  
  • Posted by 73SHARK 1 month, 2 weeks ago
    As if the ASS wasn't bad enough, I'm reading a lot about how the car companies are selling your data to insurance companies and law enforcement. Depending on how you drive, this can adversely affect your insurance rate. Supposedly you can opt out of the feature but it is about as hard as opting out of ASS on newer cars.
    Reply | Mark as read | Best of... | Permalink  

FORMATTING HELP

  • Comment hidden. Undo