MK3 Octavia - List of Defects, Faults and Issues

**Hitman20** · 14-07-2016, 09:05 AM

Hey guys, have been having a intermittent recurring issue. I can't work out the parameters that cause it to occur and can''t seem to replicate it when I try. Occasionally my Auto Stop/Start will not engage when I am stopped with the brake depressed. It doesn't come up with an error code, however when I check the status in the MDI it says "Engine must be running". The engine is running by the way when this happens. Any thoughts as to what could be the cause? Feel like I don't have enough info to take this to a dealer yet, as they will just check the codes.
Thanks,

**nickd** · 14-07-2016, 09:20 AM

Things like AC, heated seats etc place a demand on the engine. You will also see it restart while you're stopped if the demand is there.

**woofy** · 14-07-2016, 11:35 AM

I wouldn't worry about it, there are several conditions that have to be working before it will do it. I thought it was broken from new in my manual car but then found I have to have it in neutral, handbrake on and take my foot off the clutch. 3 things noone ever does at the lights. It also won't kick in first thing if not warmed up and also if the battery needs charging a bit. Unless you are seeing a warning code, don't worry about it.

**brad** · 14-07-2016, 05:00 PM

Wife has stop start on her Honda. No matter how much I drive it, I still hate it.

to the OP: You probably haven't met all the parameters to stop the engine.

**Guest001** · 14-07-2016, 05:22 PM

Can depend on how hard you have your foot on the brake In my car Foot on hard engine stops Lift it off slightly engine starts but brakes still keep car still. Handy to get away at the lights if you anticipate them by doing so.

I have found if I dont want it to stop I just brake more gently.

**k_rider** · 14-07-2016, 11:25 PM

Originally Posted by woofy

I wouldn't worry about it, there are several conditions that have to be working before it will do it. I thought it was broken from new in my manual car but then found I have to have it in neutral, handbrake on and take my foot off the clutch. 3 things noone ever does at the lights. It also won't kick in first thing if not warmed up and also if the battery needs charging a bit. Unless you are seeing a warning code, don't worry about it.

Interesting you need the handbrake on. On holiday in Europe in 2012 I drove a rental Renault Scenic diesel with manual trans. As most rental places these days just give you the keys and wave you off (once you sign off all the paperwork), I wasn't aware it had stop-start until I put it in neutral and took my foot off the clutch at a set of lights somewhere in Munich (where I picked it up). Given that it was the first time in quite a few years that I'd driven a manual, sitting in the wrong side of the car and with a horde of impatient German drivers behind, I was a little panicked... lucky the car had Italian plates on it... As my habit is to push the clutch in to start, the thing sprang into life as soon as I tapped the clutch pedal, so crisis averted! So, all it needed was foot on brake, gear in neutral and clutch out to stop. As soon as the clutch pedal was pressed, and it didn't take much pressure, it started. By the time it was in first, the engine was well and truly ready. I was actually quite impressed by how well it worked. At least there was some immediate control over it with the clutch pedal.
I find the stop-start in the Skoda (with DSG) kills the engine way too early, almost to the point where it's cut before the car has actually come to a standstill. I haven't found brake pedal pressure to make that much difference and I always try to brake as lightly as possible anyway.

**Hitman20** · 15-07-2016, 10:32 AM

Originally Posted by k_rider

I find the stop-start in the Skoda (with DSG) kills the engine way too early, almost to the point where it's cut before the car has actually come to a standstill. I haven't found brake pedal pressure to make that much difference and I always try to brake as lightly as possible anyway.

In the interest of comparison, I find my my experience to be quite the opposite, in my experience the activation point for my Octavia is perfect and easy to control when slowing down / stopping. If anything I find the restart occasionally to frenetic, the slightest shift of foot on the brake pedal can restart the motor. But all in all, I love the system, except for this issue about the "engine must be running message", however as said above, if there is no error code, I won't worry about it too much.

**woofy** · 15-07-2016, 02:04 PM

It kicks in pretty quick when you touch the clutch. I was thinking of disabling it with VCDS, but it pretty much only comes on when I don't care so not fussed. It's pretty useless in the manual to be honest they may as well not have bothered. On another note, did others see that Skoda are doing a recall on 2016 built Octys for defective child door locks, letter in the mail coming apparently.

**Lams** · 15-07-2016, 03:24 PM

ours also doesn't activate sometimes for up to a day, even after cruising on the highway for a while. But as start-stop systems go I think it's pretty refined, especially the manual. However it can activate too soon sometimes long before we become stationary. I think it's a nice feature, but these engines run so lean at idle, you have to wonder how much fuel are you really saving!