Idle Stop on Honda CR-V is not Working: This are the Reasons (incl. Solution)

As fuel prices are rising, the Honda “Idle Stop” function comes in handy now more than ever. So, if you find that it doesn’t work on your Honda, that is quite a bummer. 

The reasons behind it not working are quite extensive, but fortunately, they are all easy to solve.

In this article, you will learn about the different problems with this feature and how to solve them. You will also find some advice on how to turn it off.

Reasons for which the “Idle Stop” is Intended in My CRVHonda

First, let’s learn what the Start-Stop System (Idle Stop) is. 

The Idle Stop System shuts the engine off at traffic lights and other brief pauses. It is a great way to save money on gas. When you turn on the Idle Stop System, it turns the engine off and on for you when you stop and start up again.

But, sometimes, this feature can be intentionally disabled. 

Here are the reasons:

• Outside, where the temperatures are too high or too low,
• When the engine temperature is too low,
• When you didn’t reach the desired interior temperature,
• When the car doesn’t stop entirely by itself,
• Clutch pedal pressed when stationary,
• The driver’s door is open,
• Seat belts are not engaged,
• When the bonnet is opened,
• The parking assistant is active,
• Trailer operation active,
• The slope of the road is too great,
• When the wheels turn too hard,
• Too low pressure in the braking system,
• The cleaning cycle/regeneration of the diesel particle filter is active,
• When you are in stop-and-go traffic (whenever you don’t exceed a certain speed (e.g., 3 km/h)

If the start-stop system deactivates, there is usually a reason behind it. In most cases, your vehicle’s infotainment system will tell you when the automatic start-stop system is deactivated.

Defects that Cause the Automatic Idle Stop System not to Work on Honda CRV

There are a few technical reasons why the Idle Stop functionality may fail. Listed below you will find the most frequent ones.

1. The Battery is Too Weak or Faulty.

If the battery is too weak, the battery sensor detects it and reports it to the engine control. As a result, the start-stop function turns off.

Also, the mechanic can use a multimeter to check the battery voltage in the workshop.

If the mechanic states that the battery needs to go and you need to change it, you may expect a workload of 30 minutes to an hour.

But, again, it will depend on the vehicle and the type of battery.

2. The Alternator is Faulty.

When the engine is operating, the alternator turns some driving energy into electrical energy. The car’s batteries will use the energy to charge the batteries and power up the electrical appliances. 

You must replace the alternator if you want to properly change the battery.

The battery sensor detects this and reports it to the engine control. As a result, the automated start-stop mechanism is not functioning correctly.

You may need to fix the alternator or replace it, depending on the particular source of the problem.

The battery may be faulty in some situations, so you have to replace it as well. 

3. The Temperature Sensor for the Coolant is Not Functioning

The coolant temperature sensor keeps track of the cooling water temperature. Then, the engine control unit receives the recorded values.

The coolant temperature is also known as:

1. Coolant sensor, 
2. Engine temperature sensor, 
3. Temperature sensor. 

To be safe, the automated start-stop mechanism stops if the sensor malfunctions. It also stops when the records show improbable data.

If this happens, you must replace the faulty sensor. 

4. A Broken Clutch Switch

When stopping the car with a manual gearbox, you should take the following steps: 

1. Shift into neutral, 
2. Remove your foot from the clutch pedal, 
3. Apply the brake. 

The clutch switch keeps track of the clutch pedal’s location and sends the data to the engine control unit.

When the clutch switch malfunctions, it affects the Idle Stop functionality. This needs to be checked by a mechanic.

How do I Permanently Turn off Idle Stop on Honda CRV?

The straight answer is that there is no permanent solution. The Idle Stop was designed to be on all the time. But you can turn it off when necessary.

To turn off the auto idle stop, you have to press a button in your car. You can find it on the right side, just under or above the handbrake. You can easily find it because it has a little A letter surrounded by a circular arrow. 

The Auto Idle Stop system stops when you click it, and the Amber indicator lights up. You will see the red light on your dashboard as well. 

The Auto Idle Stop will turn on again when you turn on the car again. That function will also turn on if you put the car in sports mode. 

However, this is not a long-term solution. There is no possibility of turning off the system forever. From what it’s worth, it saves you money on gas. 

Do all Models of Honda CRV have an Idle Stop?

Here is a complete list of Honda models that have the Idle Stop system installed: 

1. 2021 Honda Accord 
2. 2021 Honda CR-V 
3. 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid 
4. 2022 Honda Odyssey 
5. 2021 Honda Passport 
6. 2021 Honda PIlot 
7. 2021 Honda Ridgeline

Conclusion

Now that you know what it is and how it works, will you use it, or will you deactivate it each time you need to drive somewhere? 

To help you answer the question, here is a mind-blowing fact: 

Most people believe that saving gasoline by using a start-stop system is insignificant. However, the truth is far away from that. The fuel wasted when idling at a halt adds up rapidly.

The Society of Automotive Engineers showed some impressive results. For example, adopting a start-stop function can increase a car’s fuel efficiency by 8% in heavy traffic. 

So, keeping in mind the current fuel prices, we can say that Idle Stop is a great functionality!