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Ok, I know everyone here probably shuts off he engine at a red light or even when coasting to a red light. I figured I should check with some senior members on the long term wear if you turn off the enging about 20 times a day for a 2 hour commute. Interested in anyone that has similar commute with a longer track record on their vehicle. I want to make sure the benefit is worth it as the smart's starter may not be cheap, at least not while aftermartket parts are not available.

Hi, Gabe -- I've been starting and stopping the engine in my Elantra for lights ever since I bought it in 2002. It has over 100K mi on the clock now and still has the original starter.

The main thing that causes the starter to wear is long cranking sessions. If the engine is warmed up this generally isn't the case (though the Vibe I drove did have long cranking times every single time the key was turned). Do your vehicles start right up when they are already at operating temperature?

Actually the vehicle has a self start where you turn the key release and the car cranks until car is on (usually takes me a while to adjust back to my wife's car). It seems to crank for about the same time as on a regular start, but every oncde in a while you turn the key, hardly hear it krank and the engine is on. How many cycles do you go through in a regular day? Also do you space out starts to greater than x minutes? So if there are two lights in a row that will be red do you stop the engine for both?

I stop the engine as much as I possibly can. The Elantra really isn't very efficient compared to many other vehicles and it is the only way I can hit numbers I consider "acceptable."

Per commute I probably hit the key at least 12x (each way) and after the initial start it typically takes less than 2s to get the engine going again. My commute is around 23mi each direction and I drive for about an hour each time.

Just an anecdote:

The starter in my Civic, which is heavily hypermiled, is still going strong, with over 175,000 miles.

I had to replace the starter in the Odyssey, which is NOT hypermiled, at 60,000 miles.

Sean - I do love the starter in your Insight. ;)

Sean - I do love the starter in your Insight. ;)

Me too!! :D

It would be nice if I had the mini hybrid they have in europe. Wonder if I could get the part here?

PaleMelanesian- Wonder if that has to do with the size of the engine causing more wear or is it just the luck of the draw? If that was the case I probably don't need to worry with my 1L engine and 1-2 sec crank time.

I think the Ody was just a premature failure. That happens sometimes. *shrug*