VW Polo - Auto Start-Stop

Gaygle said:
I don't really like auto start/stop either, but it's definitely worse with an automatic gearbox. Several times I've had it turn the engine off just as I'm about to launch out of the junction onto a busy roundabout. Then it takes what feels like a lifetime for the engine to restart and the automatic gearbox to re-engage as your half poking out onto the roundabout. This isn't an issue with manual boxes as you'll be in gear and have you foot on the clutch whilst you're waiting for an opportunity to go, so the engine won't turn off, but this isn't the case with an auto.
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Start/Stop can be quite maddening on an autobox. The number of times it's cut out at a busy roundabout that requires a really prompt getaway is too many. Then when you've missed your opportunity (you shouldn't gun it when it's in the process of spinning up, mechanical sympathy etc) your foot is back on the brake and yup, kills the engine again. Rinse and repeat until you turn the damn thing off. If the system was truly clever it would disable itself:

- when you are at a roundabout or give way junction (detectable by the satnav and GPS positioning),
- when the indicator is indicating,
- when the wheels are pointing in any direction other than straight
- or if that particular day has the letter 'a' in it.

Basher said:
Autohold systems (on BMW at least) keep the brake lights illuminated anyway, so not sure that solves the 'dazzling' issue.
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I was surprised and disappointed at this on my BMW. It's why in the States where autohold is quite prolific, in traffic jams all you can see is a chain of brake lights. It doesn't quite bother me anymore and I understand the driver in front isn't trying to burn my eyes out on purpose, nor me to the person behind. If it bothers you, look away. Unless your behind one of those Mercs that has something like 8 brake lights, then you should wear sunglasses at night!
 
Interesting article: http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/stop-start-long-term-impact-your-car-s-engine

Also this one: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Start-stop_system

The i-Stop system, Mazda’s first start stop system, detects which piston is in the best position to restart quickest, which is the one in the combustion stroke phase, where air and fuel are in the cylinder, ready to be ignited. The mixture in this cylinder is ignited by the spark plug, forcing that piston down, and with partial-assistance from the starter motor, results in a near instantaneous engine restart time of 0.35 seconds.[24]
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Gaygle said:
I don't really like auto start/stop either, but it's definitely worse with an automatic gearbox. Several times I've had it turn the engine off just as I'm about to launch out of the junction onto a busy roundabout. Then it takes what feels like a lifetime for the engine to restart and the automatic gearbox to re-engage as your half poking out onto the roundabout. This isn't an issue with manual boxes as you'll be in gear and have you foot on the clutch whilst you're waiting for an opportunity to go, so the engine won't turn off, but this isn't the case with an auto.
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I completely agree with this. Start/Stop works fine on my wife's manual Golf. On my auto C class it's a huge pain in the backside. I live in Milton Keynes, and being able to exploit a gap on a roundabout is imperative. Quite often you'll crawl to the line and stop as a car approaches, expecting to go after they've passed, only to have the engine turn itself off and miss your chance.

Basher said:
Autohold systems (on BMW at least) keep the brake lights illuminated anyway, so not sure that solves the 'dazzling' issue.
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It's the same for Mercedes too.
 
On the new car that's coming in.. the driver has a button to disable this as and when required.. 9/10 it didn't seem to be needed.
 
I disabled my Stop/Start permanently using VCDS to save the wear on battery, starter and ring gear

Basher said:
Autohold systems (on BMW at least) keep the brake lights illuminated anyway, so not sure that solves the 'dazzling' issue.
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VW system is the same, never bothers me being behind one as it doesn't dazzle unless you are staring at them a total non issue.
 
Exactly, all the op needs to do is find a person who can adjust the coding using either vcds or use the carista app http://www.caristaapp.com/ As far as the start/stop system is concerned with my car, A4 stronic, I don't have a problem with it you just adapt. Yes the hold assist does apply the brake lights because it applies the brakes to all four wheels however I apply the eletronic handbrake once a car has pulled up behind me as it releases automatically when I pull away. The electronic brake is simply a brilliant device...
 
Before disabling make sure the car has no effiency tracking installed.
In ours for example if we don't use stop start we get penalised for idling.

I don't mind stop start when I decide when to use it but due to the above I have to let it kick in for every little stop and it becomes a right pain, especially in heavy traffic.
 
As people already said, you can code it out. The only reason I'm adding to that is to say the method is to increase the car's required voltage to a level that will never be reached, so the car is forever waiting for allowable stop/start conditions that never materialise (hence it never kicks in). It's a two minute tweak on VAGCOM/VCDS. As for auto hold and stop/start, our DSG Superb has it and it doesn't bother me at all at genuine stops. It's an absolute pain at roundabouts etc though, as on the Skoda it will actually cut in while the car is still moving. :o

At around 3 to 5 mph during braking the engine will cut, as it expects you to come to a stop. Unfortunately that's just about the kind of speeds you might have to slow to in traffic at the approach to a give way line on a busy roundabout. Just as you spot that gap through the closed visibility, the engine dies on you the moment you're planning to hit the throttle... and you're left coasting hopelessly toward the line debating on whether to risk the engine firing in time or slamming back on and losing your gap. It takes some driving around, but you get the hang eventually. Rumour is Skoda are planning a remap/update for the DSG that eliminates this (and a couple of other annoyances), but nothing concrete so far. It's bonkers to have released a car that will cut its engine while the vehicle is still moving!
 
The newest Passat has a button next to the auto gear selector which means you can turn it off when you don't want it. E.g when trying to pull out of a junction quickly.

I also think its brake sensitive e.g. If you brake gently it will keep running to a standstill and stay on longer but if you press the brake pedal hard at low speed it predicts you are coming to a stop and cuts out early before you have actually stopped.

It my opinion the DSG with auto hold and electric handbrake takes so much faff out of driving in traffic. The handbrake also turns itself on when put in park and the engine is switched off, so you never usually have to even think about it. Not sure I could go back to a normal setup for a daily driver.
 
Finglonga said:
Yet some batteries are failing within 3 years and are not covered under the warranty as they are consumables.
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And you have proof that it's the start/stop causing this? You know batteries fail for other reasons don't you and I have never had one battery failure on the four cars we've had with the system and I don't expect to have any..
 
Rainmaker said:
As people already said, you can code it out. The only reason I'm adding to that is to say the method is to increase the car's required voltage to a level that will never be reached, so the car is forever waiting for allowable stop/start conditions that never materialise (hence it never kicks in). It's a two minute tweak on VAGCOM/VCDS. As for auto hold and stop/start, our DSG Superb has it and it doesn't bother me at all at genuine stops. It's an absolute pain at roundabouts etc though, as on the Skoda it will actually cut in while the car is still moving. :o

At around 3 to 5 mph during braking the engine will cut, as it expects you to come to a stop. Unfortunately that's just about the kind of speeds you might have to slow to in traffic at the approach to a give way line on a busy roundabout. Just as you spot that gap through the closed visibility, the engine dies on you the moment you're planning to hit the throttle... and you're left coasting hopelessly toward the line debating on whether to risk the engine firing in time or slamming back on and losing your gap. It takes some driving around, but you get the hang eventually. Rumour is Skoda are planning a remap/update for the DSG that eliminates this (and a couple of other annoyances), but nothing concrete so far. It's bonkers to have released a car that will cut its engine while the vehicle is still moving!
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Then simply switch it off or put the gearbox into sport, its not really that difficult to overide. Even less pressure on the brake pedal stops the system from kicking in on my A4...
 
chriscatt said:
Then simply switch it off or put the gearbox into sport, its not really that difficult to overide. Even less pressure on the brake pedal stops the system from kicking in on my A4...
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Which would work, except then I (1) lose stop/start in the genuinely busy traffic around the city and/or (2) drive to the 7k red line in every single gear thanks to sport mode, even though I'm in 20/30/40mph limits with busy urban traffic (in practice this means never leaving 2nd gear). Of course I could switch in and out of sport mode as required but that would mean literally every minute to every few seconds depending on the road, which kind of defeats the purpose of an auto.

Unfortunately not all driving conditions are binary nose to tail traffic OR open roads and roundabouts. In the city and suburbs, you get both at the same time. I didn't say it was difficult to override, I said it's a pain for cutting in while you're still moving, and if I were to manually override when required I'd literally be turning it off and on every few seconds on most journeys lol. It doesn't always respect the brake pedal pressure, nor is it always possible to avoid slightly heavier braking (with the massively over-servoed system you're talking 1-2mm at most). It can be a pain, hence why Skoda are working on a remap. Sorting the system to only kick in when the car is stationary (as with manuals) costs nothing. Leaving it to cut out when cars are doing several miles an hour has no upside but several cons.
 
Rainmaker said:
Which would work, except then I (1) lose stop/start in the genuinely busy traffic around the city and/or (2) drive to the 7k red line in every single gear thanks to sport mode, even though I'm in 20/30/40mph limits with busy urban traffic (in practice this means never leaving 2nd gear). Of course I could switch in and out of sport mode as required but that would mean literally every minute to every few seconds depending on the road, which kind of defeats the purpose of an auto.

Unfortunately not all driving conditions are binary nose to tail traffic OR open roads and roundabouts. In the city and suburbs, you get both at the same time. I didn't say it was difficult to override, I said it's a pain for cutting in while you're still moving, and if I were to manually override when required I'd literally be turning it off and on every few seconds on most journeys lol. It doesn't always respect the brake pedal pressure, nor is it always possible to avoid slightly heavier braking (with the massively over-servoed system you're talking 1-2mm at most). It can be a pain, hence why Skoda are working on a remap. Sorting the system to only kick in when the car is stationary (as with manuals) costs nothing. Leaving it to cut out when cars are doing several miles an hour has no upside but several cons.
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So would skoda be liable if it cut out and caused a crash?
 
I have to admit, i rarely use the stop/start feature on my car, it's only if i've just been stopped at a set of lights that i know takes a couple of minutes to change that i might let it auto-stop.

The problem is normally traffic is so unpredictable, sometimes you might be sat still for 5 mins, which would be a perfect opportunity to use it. Other times you're moving forward every 15-20 seconds, and constantly stopping/starting your car for that just seems pointless.
 
paradigm said:
My god the luddites on this forum :(

The electronic handbrake is a wonderful thing, what is there to dislike, unless you want to frequent McDonalds and show off to the 14 year old girls?
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Exactly this. Again, people on here need to get with the times a bit.

I have however, found the quality of stop start systems varies quite a lot. For example, the vauxhall insignia hire car I had as a hire car with what must be the loudest diesel engine I've ever heard was really abrupt when the auto stop start kicked in. To the point where setting off made you shake around in the seat for a moment.
 
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