mike82212

OK, my car has about 4,000 miles on it and I never though the Eco function worked as advertised. Now, it has pretty much stopped working completely.

Yesterday a few times when I was stopped, the green light would come on, then turn to yellow almost right away

getting ready to call the dealer. Any suggestions?

I did have it in once before and the SA gave me a list of things as to how it works. Told me mine was OK

mike82212

Anyone

stratman1954

I don't really have a suggestion, but, I drove a loaner with the eco button and absolutely hated it. I would be glad it stopped working.

Ron Jr

First thing I do after starting the engine is turn the ECO button off. Hate it.

mike82212

I thought it was a hood idea. Save gas when stopped. Seems most don't like it.

capt_paul

I use this function all of the time. There are many conditions that may cause the ECO light to remain amber. You may also have a defective aux battery that is located in the trunk. If you bring it to the dealer and the batteries check out, I wouldn't worry too much about it. My display is amber probably 60-75 percent of the time, especially after the first start of the day.

JaredP

I find the system very unpredictable, but I just ignore it. If my engine turns off, cool, if not, whatever. Sometimes weird things will cause it to engage, like creeping forward at a light will cause it to turn green, or accelerating quick from a stop.

mike82212

I agree with JaredP. Weird things cause it to engage and disengage. I travel the same 2 routes most days. Some days its works, others it doesn't.

I find it disappointing, I thought it was a really cool feature, designed to save gas, with the bigger engine, and figured the germans had it down pat, guess not.

C300CA

Glad my 2011 does not have it.
1st time I experienced it on a loaner GLK at traffic light. I thought engine stalled with such a brand new car? Tried re-started it...


If it's 100% reliable, what about starter wear and tear? I'd rather have 3 cylinders turned off at highway cruising speed or at red traffic light with engine still running. Honda van has that called "intelligent control"?

mike82212

It doesn't use the starter. It fires the plugs when the pistons are in the right position. I think its a really cool feature, just wish it worked

_RacerX_

There is a button to turn it off or on, it's hardly forced on you. That's like being glad your TV does not have a tint control. LOL.

I leave it on all the time commuting. Seems well implemented enough on my 2013 and I assume it at least saves me a little gas each day.

JaredP

Yeah, it's a very silly argument against this system, usually forumulated by those who don't know enough about modern engines to be arguing against it. It's a reliable system, but it's just not very usable because it has very strict parameters for it to engage. You can't get an M276 without start/stop, so it doesn't really matter to me, I didn't pay for it as an option.

bcmakesiteasy

I have a new 2014 C250, and what my salesperson said was the ECO was automatically the defaulted mode of the car. So everytime I turn on my 250, thats what it's on. Sport mode is available but if you turn off the car on sport mode and turn it back on, ECO mode will go back as the default when you start the engine.

C300CA

If I remember right, the loaner GLK rpm went down to 0 at red light. How can the engine be started w/o a starter? I believe I know little about engines...

mike82212

The 250 doesn't have the ECO Start/Stop. You are referring to the "E" "S" at the bottom of the gear shift

mike82212

C300A, yes it goes down 0 at a stop if its working correct. As had been mentioned, a whole lot of "Stuff" has to happen for that function to work. But it doesn't use the starter

capt_paul

The best way to describe it operating is like some golf carts, where they automatically shut off when you stop and start when you press the accelerator.

In the car, either turning the steering wheel, or foot off the brake will cause the engine to start up. The owners manual describes all of the conditions that have to be met in order for the ECO function to work.

In town, I average 28-34 mpg.....on the freeway at 80 mph, I manage 27-29 mpg. Most of my driving is local with urban freeways, so I think the ECO saves me gas and money.

edgalang

False.

I have an M276 without the ECO START/STOP option. I believe only the 2012 models didn't have the option built in, similar in that only the 2008 models came with automated folding side mirrors.

I take it you guys don't employ the "hold" function for the brakes either. If you did, you'd realize this combo would be perfect while waiting for red lights. I could probably squeeze in another 1 MPG in my fuelly log if I had the ECO START/STOP option built in.

As it stands without it, the only reason why I use the "hold" feature is to help me shoot out of the hole on red lights if I want to get in front of someone (assuming you're sticking to 1-foot driving).

JaredP

EDIT: nevermind, replied on mobile, didn't see who you were.

I use the hold feature at almost all red lights. It does work pretty good with eco. If someones up beside me, I do the same thing but turn off ECO.

edgalang

Exactly. I just find it funny that the feature that most folks seem to complain about is the one feature I envy (especially when my mood swings to hypermile mode). This and the location of the signal stalk for 2013+ of course.

mike82212

When the Start/Stop function works, I love it. I drive the same 2 routes pretty much everyday and at the same time of day. Different days, similar conditions and some days it works, others it doesn't! Drives me crazy.

So, I did stop by the dealer yesterday and decided not to leave it. I did have one thing I wanted a technician to look at.

I have the lighting package and lane tracking, so there is a camera in the center of the windshield up by the roof line. There are 2 small orange, yellow lines the span that opening. Now, I would think those would be at right angles or parallel. So I asked the tech. He asked if the windshield has ever been replaced. No, it hasn't. He didn't know the answer. We had to look at another car with the same features to see if mine was correct. It was.

Find it strange that the experts didn't know that answer. How can the fix some thing more complex , like the Start/Stop?

terrencetong168

isnt that just the rain sensor on the windshield?

mike82212

The rain sensor I thought was down closer to the dash, the camera is up top

c350nubie

A few months back I had a C300 2014 loaner that comes with ECO start/stop. I thought it wasn't so bad but then again I drove it for only a dozen miles. My only concern is driving in stop/start traffic but I could always turn ECO off.

capt_paul

I don't get it...so why would the ECO function be bad in "start/stop" traffic. The engine starts up the microsecond you take your foot off of the brake

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the system...its saves gas and improves economy. I have not had one problem with the system. True, there are conditions that have to be met for the engine to shut off, but for the most part, I get increased efficiency