For what’s worth I purchased the Carista OBD. The reports are excellent.
unfortunately whenever I try to disable the automatic shut off (the primary reason I purchased it) it works for about an hour then reverts. I’ve tried leaving the module in place while driving to no effect.
you’d think once you alter a setting it would “stick.” At least that’s what I expected.
still good for reading codes, but that’s about it.

 

What are you driving? I just purchased my 2020 XLT on Saturday. Of course I didn't know where any of the buttons were so I just drove off. Honestly it was 2 hours of highway driving with no stops so I had no idea if the truck would stop/start. I did tons of research ahead of time and the $50 'Auto Start/Stop Delete' was not listed on the original sticker. But I have driven it a few times since and it did not stop, even though I had not pressed the 'Off' button on the dash.

My point is my previous owner must have installed something but I have no idea how to find out what or how. Related to the previous post, is there any way to check all this? Further, is there any action (accidental reset perhaps) by a mechanic or dealer that might negate or reset whatever had been done? Thanks!

 

On my 2016 the auto start quit for a couple of years due to the old original battery getting tired. The truck would still start just fine. I replaced the battery a couple of years ago and the auto start works like it should now.

 

2021 F-150 XLT Super Crew.
I honestly didn't encounter the auto-start until I was driving it home from the car lot. I kept it moving just enough, or it was manually switched off, during the test drive that it never stopped/started.
I'm more annoyed the Carista device didn't deliver on it's promise.

 

I purchased my truck out of state. So when I receive my tags in the mail, I will be taking it for state inspection, emissions, transmission service and a once-over. If my mechanic can "locate" a device on my truck, I will let you know what it is. In all fairness, I have not been driving it enough to say if anything computer related will fail or would have quirks.

As for the auto start/stop feature in and of itself, I think it is one of dumbest things ever thought of. Probably invented by someone who holds a bunch of ignition-related manufacturer stock. Then there is the engineer two seats over who says to himself "WTF man!? I am going to add a button on the dash to turn that sh** off because it's a stupid idea" Then there is the guy at the board room table who says "Wait, let's charge the customer an easy $50 to permanently disable that feature" Personally, I would quickly get in the habit of pressing that button as part of my get-in-and-go routine - IF I had to. But why should I??

 

I'm sure ford did it just to score some emissions points with the gov't.

 

Exactly. These days it's somewhat about the customer, but push comes to shove, rules, regulations and profit will certainly always win out.

Not to hijack the thread, but I ride a Harley. And they certainly do not sound like they used to without all sorts of mods. Luckily I live in a state where we are still semi-free to do those mods. That reminds me. I need to get a quote to get dual exhaust put on my "new" 2020. I need to distance myself from the late model "whistler" trucks that sneak by in my neighborhood.

 

"Personally, I would quickly get in the habit of pressing that button as part of my get-in-and-go routine - IF I had to. But why should I??"
To add to your theory, the ignition-related stock owner has a brother-in-law who makes the dashboard switch. When the switch wears out, I wonder how much it will cost to replace it?

 

Just get in the truck, turn the key to start, then push the button to disable. It becomes 2nd nature and you will do it instinctively without knowing.

If the battery is low it will not work anyway until the battery charges up.

 

True. In theory, yep it's just a switch. My wife traded a perfectly good AWD Mercury SUV way back in the 90s because some of the buttons and switches were going bad. We ended up with a POS Pathfinder which was a lemon. Uggh! My real concern would be the backend programming to make that damn switch work. Sorry, I assume nothing with vehicles these days.

That said, I will "ride it out" for as long as it works as-is. I can quickly get in the habit of pressing that button when/if it comes time. Because I am sure that would **** me off to no end at first. First world problems eh?