Two weeks ago, I bought a 2024 LE AWD exactly like yours, color and all! You have saved me a BIG headache with this video! Much appreciated!

U are a genius!! I am going to disconnect that dumb sensor rn! I have drove my 2020 rav4 for for 3 years now put over 80,000 miles on it and every time it shuts motor off I lose my mind! 🤯 I have searched all over how to disable this useless feature with no success. Thank you again for the information. It helps people out and I wish you the best❗✌

Hello, I have a 2022 Canadian LE AWD and I thought I was able to trust the auto start/stop feature. Bought the car brand new and sometimes I use the feature to save a little bit of gas. However, it seems that the computer wasn’t smart enough to fully charge the battery. at around 17,000kms 15 months, I experienced some abnormal electrical warnings like forward radar error and abnormal power steering voltage and these come and go. We have the dealer checked it and they said it was OK. No problems at all. Then finally, the 21,000kms mark. The car died on the street and won’t restart. We have to jumpstart the vehicle on side of the road. Car went back on but no electrical systems were operational. It was sent to the dealer and took them a while to diagnose. They said it was a faulty battery but they also suspect that frequent start stop usage, the alternator cannot catch up to fully charge the battery causing the cells to have accelerated degradation. Now, I don’t use the start stop feature, I don’t trust it. Especially when we have -50C winters here in Northern Canada. Btw! keep uploading rav4 stuff. love to watch it!

Great video to show how to disable that stupid feature. I am glad I bought my 2020 Rav4 LE without auto start/stop. I don't want to save a few cents on gas by shortening the life of the starter.

Start/Stop feature is horrible. It doesn’t even save that much gas and it wears out the starter so fast.

Keep on going good with that car, i like it to see more about the rev 4. thanks

Thank you for your videos and I'm learning a lot about the Rav4 from you. Also, I am retired US Air Force and I used to live in Happy Valley near Portland. It's refreshing to me to see that there are still people there honoring our flag, so thank you for your patriotism!

Thanks so much! Works great! I did tape up the plug ends to keep dirt out.

Thanks for the video, but I would like to add a couple of thoughts. You are right to disable Start/Stop - it is not just hard on the starter and battery, it shortens the life of the engine by producing excessive wear on the crankshaft bearings. (Scotty Kilmer has a good video on this) A typical engine is good for about 100,000 cranking cycles, and START/STOP is burning them up at a much higher than normal rate. But I have to take issue with your solution. Without access to the source code for your car's computers you don't know what operational changes are caused by unplugging the sensor. It may very will be invoking some sort of service mode on some systems in the car. Why risk it? At the very least you can bet that this status is being logged and could eventually come back to bite you on an emission check or more importantly, a warranty claim. It does not have to actually hurt anything for the manufacturer to use it as an excuse to deny your warranty. But perhaps the "ghost trailer" trick is a better example. When you trick the car into believing you are towing a trailer it will disable start stop, But it will also change pressures in your transmission, change shift points, alter braking, cooling, and over time, reduce your transmission's life. I strongly suggest that you use one of the electronic devices that plugs in between the switch and the car. They will not cause problems because they simply press the button for you every time you drive the car. It is easy to remove and does not leave a trace. At most the logs will show that you are really OCD about pushing the button every time you start the car. There are several vendors, do an Internet search or look on ebay. I have seen them range in price from $17 to $99. I went with one that was $40 because it was nicely thought out and did not require a connection to the fuse block. For the electronically inclined you can make your own, but you will spend as much getting the connectors and parts as you will pay for one that simply plugs in and works. Hope this is helpful to someone.

I think the people who like that feature are lunatics. I’m in Florida and when it’s hot, the a/c doesn’t work well when the engine stops.

Thanks for demonstrating this option.

You are the MAN!

It doesn’t void your warranty but it does save your starter life

My feature of this doesn't seem to bother me. Most times it doesn't work so I am glad for this. I am not a fan of this feature either. I enjoy watching your videos.

I think this is the simplest and cleaver idea to turn off auto start/stop feature although the message might bother you. I don't like this feature because (1) Real world fuel saving is very negligible less than 3% if you drive in rural areas although EPA claims 3 - 10%. (2) It damages engine bearing eventually. Assuming this is not a hybrid model, typically it completely breaks your engine after 1-2 million times of start/stop - now you think about how many times it stops per day if you drive in downtown when you turn this on. This is just a sloppy idea that EPA came up with and US automakers install it to get a few grams of co2 credits to meet EPA CO2 compliance. Trust me, I'm in automotive industry. I think start/stop and cylinder deactivation are the worst fuel saving technologies that automakers ever created.

Very helpful tip! Thanks!

I hate that feature!!! Thanks 4 the easy fix.

Thank you ! I am going to do it right now !

I bought my 2024 rav4 XLE AWD Premium. I have had it 3 weeks, I may try this. I am already used to pressing the start button and then the off switch for stop/start. BTW I had Toyota dealer do first oil change at just under 1000 miles, I told em I didn't care if it was not part of the Toyota care plan that came with car. I told the service tech that I did a bunch of research on break in oil changes. I really like the car.

I find auto/on-off is a safety hazard when entering busy intersections to make a left turn and it suddenly turn off when you really really really dont need it to shut off because your making a left turn (sometimes on an amber when you need to get movin quick)

Outstanding. I am deciding between the Toyota Rav-4, 2019 Honda Passport, and 2024 CR-4. I won't buy unless the auto stop is permanently shut off. Doc Stevens.

I hate that auto start stop feature. Thanks for the video!

great video! auto/start stop is the dumbest thing ever....also a great way to wear out your engine faster.

Enjoy all your great videos. Well i tried it on my 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross XLE Canadian model and it doesn't work. I get a picture of the vehicle in the dash with it's hood showing open and a shine keep ringing and ringing all the time. So it's always showing hood is open while driving . So i hooked it back up and i will keep pressing that stupid button to off and put up with the big yellow light in the dash. No choice. I don't think there is another way around it. I don't want to install that amazon thing on the button. In Canada, they may try to find any reason not to cover a warranty so not taking any chances. But thank you for your video, I'm sure you helped out a lot of Toyota owners.

Cool video 👍

I have a 2015Le with 224k miles and love it. I fixed the torque converter chatter by draining and filling the tranny twice.

Another thing bad about the engine restarting over and over again is that it put more wear and tear on your engine. Ask any mechanic!!! I always turn it off soon as I get in my car!!

Love the RAV4 videos

Good to know. We're deciding between a non-hyubrid XLE and an SE (hybrid). Glad to see I can easily disable auto s/s on the XLE. Thanks!

Thanks for sharing. My only concern would be with the plugs being exposed to outside elements since they’re not connected to each other. Best wishes!

you are my hero

Thank you so much

Wow.. thank you

I've had my 2024 RAV4 XLE for a month and the auto start/stop was driving me crazy. It felt like the brakes were jerking and it was very annoying. Finally, I found the switch to turn it off, but then I found out that I have to disable it every time I restart the car.

There is a part you can buy online with the same button to save your on/off setting :)

When I'm waiting for a train to pass or I know I'm going to have to sit and wait for a long light, I appreciate that feature. But I don't always use it. I have no problem hitting that switch once I start the car if I don't want to use it. I don't get how that is "a hassle". On my 2024 LE I don't have to engage or disengage the parking brake due to automatic parking brake so I use it instead of even thinking of the parking brake.

Can I do that in grand highlander? Is it the same?

The first few weeks I owned my Rav4 I left the start/stop on. It turned off as I started turning left at an intersection with a few cars coming but still plenty of time to make it. The car shut off on me just as I was about to hit the gas. That was all I needed to not want that to happen ever again. I disconnected the hood latch sensor under the latch. No more start/stop and no error codes alarms or lights for almost two years now.

Thanks! Good job!

Will the same trick work on a 2024 rav4 XLE?

Brilliant!

Didn't realise that Toyota is offering an auto start/stop function in North America. Due to a lack of fuel efficiency requirements, the Australian versions have long missed out on the auto start/stop function along with many Asian manufacturers. The only brands that always make auto start/stop as standard in Australia are Subaru and Mazda.

Agree.

Thanks for the 5th gen RAV4 engine stop/start cable disconnect trick. Challenge for you: Build a jumper cable that will restore the hood unlatched warning function but leave the engine start/stop function disabled - I’ll pay $15 plus shipping for one. Thanks!

I just bought 2024 rav4 le Any ideas why eco mode is on slow speed when I’m driving in normal mode?

I love the start stop. The trick is don't press the brake pedal too hard when you come to a complete stop the engine doesn't switch off. If the traffic lights go red and you know you'll be idling for a while depress the brake harder

Some people don't realize that if you come to a more gentle complete stop by applying less hard braking pressure on the Brake Pedal the Stop-Start feature will not activate👍 More gentle stops = no engine shut down even when Stop- Start is activated which is how you should be driving anyway 😉

Muchas gracias amigo, desconecté ese sensor, y se acabó ese dolor de cabeza, ya mi camioneta no se apaga, Ese botón de star/stop solo sirve para fastidiar, no veo para nada ningún ahorro de gasolina.

Interesting. But count me among those who just don't find the stop/start feature bothersome. While it isn't going to result in any significant saving, it can be useful. A "fer instance" is when stopped for a flagman.

Do you know where it is on the Highlander

The Car Care Nut said shutting it down doesn’t use extra gas. It reduces emissions per federal standards. On every startup, I hit the off button, just to the left of my steering wheel on my Toyota Highlander.

Hi Taco, I disconnected on my 2023 rav4. Working, but I lost many info , like how far can I go, and mileage . I reconnected, but still lost the info. What is your thought on this ?

tried it with my 2023 XLE, then the hood open warning just beeps non stop!

Wow great job, the starter is going to last forever now

I’ve tried this on my 2023 RAV4 and now I get a non stop beeping sound

Awesome I HATE auto stop start

I have a 23 rav4 le gas and hate this feature. I spoke to Toyota and they said the cars that have this feature usually come with an advanced starter and this feature does not impact the engine nor wear out any part. But I still turn it off manually with the switch inside and most of the times I do not forget to do it.

That is the worst feature. I hate it also. I got in the habit that every time I start the car I push the off button. With my Toyota I hate the phone app and Toyota connect software in the infotainment. Wireless Android auto only automatically connects a few times during the week then it will not connect and I need to go into the Bluetooth menu and tell it to reconnect the phone. Mine is a 2024 but I might see about removing the Toyota head unit and getting something that is only Android.

Wow, thanks for this tip ! However, if you just leave it unplugged, moisture (rain) will get into the contacts and cause corrosion. I would leave the plug inserted a little bit into the connector, just enough so it won't connect together, and then wrap some electrical tape around the two halves at the point where they touch each other, so that moisture won't get into the copper connector pins themselves.

My 2024 RAV4 TRD Off Road does not have this 'feature', so how come Toyota has it on some models and not on others? I would not have bought the car of it came with this.

I agree I would disable it too and I would never ever ever ever ever buy a hybrid the batteries are way too expensive

I had a 2018 XLE Rav4 ICE, and now I have a 2021 XLE HYBRID. I didn't realize that the ICE Rav4's had that stop/start feature. I had the stop/start on a 2018 Chevy Malibu, and it worked great.

I have discovered on my 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander t Gas Turbo that if I unplug and disconnect the Hood Latch Sensor as you have described that it will successfully defeat the Auto Stop-Start feature but it will also "disable" the use of my Key Fob to Remotely Start my vehicle which I enjoy... therefore No Bueno for me ☹️

I really doubt that this feature saves any gas. The alternator has to work harder to recharge the battery between shut downs. The 2.5 liter engines uses practically no fuel to idle with minimal load.

I am thinking of buying a new Rav4 and hate any Start/Stop feature. Question, does the Rav4 have a Remote Start and if it does wouldn't it not work if the Hood Sensor tells the computer the Hood is not latched?

I have a 23 RAV4 XSE and that button does not exist....it's a blank button. Why?

Hybrid Rav4 stop start is perfect! The Hybrid doesn’t even have a starter motor. The stop/start is nearly impossible to detect....

I watched another video saying that unplugging this also disables your pre collision system. Has anyone checked for fault codes after doing this?

How’d u get 29mpg?! Driven the 3 month old rav4 from ca to nv & highest i got was only 23mpg

👍

Does this also disconnect the pre collision sensor by doing this?

I also bought a RAV4

So if you unplug the start/stop button, how do you start the car? Can you still start/stop the car? Or do you plug it back before you start/stop the car?

This feature is dangerous, my car wouldn’t restart in the middle of a busy street. All it needed was a battery but had to call a tow truck.

thanks ..... just disable this feature on my rav4

What kind of gas mileage are you getting now?

I jammed piece of credit card in the switch in my non toyota suv so it stays off. The dumbest thing ever created

Is it safe to do it? It will not void any warranty or something?

How much is your overall / average MPG so far since you’ve bought this nice car?

Waste of time, My 2024 has a button on the dash that turns the start stop off next to the emergency brake button. I get in and push them both. It becomes a habit.

Yes Yes Yes

My 2024 adventure doesn’t have it

You disabled the front collision warning by doing that ?

That pop up is distracting and annoying. That's ridiculous. The start/stop feature is a deal breaker for me and that pop up is still too annoying. I don't need my eyes being dragged to the console everytime i stop

First. You bought what you needed not what you wanted.

I can't believe customers have pays extra money for this .

I would not advise you do this. I am concerned messing with physical wiring will void your warranty if the dealer does a diagnostic check.

I really really hate this stupid START SOP engine feature!

i have 2020 RAV4 and i hate this stupid Sensor.

I share your dislike for that feature. I've developed through muscle memory the habit of just turning it off immediately after pushing the start button.

If you're auto start/stop sits idle for longer than 7 seconds you save gas. My Ford Edge is so smooth I barely notice it. And when I do I'm glad I'm saving fuel. Plus there's no harm to the starter as they put a heavy duty starter. Hybrids don't use starters so no concerns there. Don't know why anyone would "hate" this system. It's great for me and never activates while parking.

I absolutely HATE IT!!!

That feature is useful when you're sitting at an extra long red light or at a train track.

Give car care nut a watch, tldr is dont mess with emissions system. I freaking hate it too but I like to keep the car for a long time