Mk7 Stop/Start System - Issues and Questions

[AJD]

Mine comes and goes. On occasion I will attempt to turn it on when I am stuck in traffic and get a message on the dashboard "engine must be switched on" - it's no the end of my world but it is another of the frustrating issues with this car.

[Longy]

Just took an Audi A3 and and S3 out for a test drive, both cars had that function stop/start, we had the air-con running on both test drive, in the A3, it didn't stop the engine at the lights until we turned off the air-con, but was surprised when the S3 shut down the engine even though the air-con was on, that's a strange feeling given it was a manual, basically as soon as you engaged the clutch, the engine fired up again.

[pologti18t]

Mine comes and goes. On occasion I will attempt to turn it on when I am stuck in traffic and get a message on the dashboard "engine must be switched on" - it's no the end of my world but it is another of the frustrating issues with this car.

How is it an issue?... if it is working as intended?

[Hillbilly]

Mine comes and goes. On occasion I will attempt to turn it on when I am stuck in traffic and get a message on the dashboard "engine must be switched on" - it's no the end of my world but it is another of the frustrating issues with this car.

Please Explain


????? if motor is not running lift your foot off the brake a bit

My aircon is never turned off and the stop start works all the time.

If I don't want it to work I just don't hold the brake down so far and engine keeps on going.

Or if I want it to start before the lights change I just lift my foot a bit and we are ready to roll.

Just a matter of getting used to it.

[fopple]

If you go into the car menu on your centre console there is a screen that will tell you why the Start-Stop system isnt turning the car off.
Can't remember exactly where at the moment because I'm not near my car.

[DV52]

RTFM - Read the manual, there is a list of requirements that have to be met in order for the blue motion to work. If it's hot in the cabin, AC on high, heaters on high, battery voltage, moons of jupiter in alignment……...

FactoryFit is entirely correct. The VW manual quotes about 18 different preconditions that must be satisfied before the Start/Stop will work correctly (including the driver wearing his/her seat bealt). Unfortunatley in my case my Golf has always fullfilled every condition (damn!). I think Stop/Start is an accident waiting to happen - particularly when completing a RH turn against oncomming traffic.
The manual also explains when the car's air conditioning will interrupt the operation of ths Start/Stop function. For cars with climatatronic, the manual says that Start/Stop only operates when the vehicle is within the pre-set temperature range. Makes sense that when the inside temperature is at the preset setting, turning the engine off will have minimal effect on the airconditioner (and as well, the compressor load on the engine is smallest).

[Hillbilly]

When you stop, apply the brake only hard enough to hold car in position and usually engine wont stop.

Normally takes a firm application to make the stop start work

[AJD]

Sorry, obviously not clear in my explanation - I drive through the city every day, sometimes when the traffic is inching along I turn the stop/start off, when the traffic frees up, I turn it back on while the engine is running and I get the message "engine must be switched on". The stop/start does not reactivate until the ignition has been turned off with the key and then restarted. Undoubtedly I will be told it's a battery charge issue or the car is running the DPF process or even the air con.
As for the amount of brake pressure, when the stop/start on mine is operating, bringing the car to a stop on an incline is sufficient to have the engine switch off (no, the auto hold is not engaged).

[angelus512]

I'm sure you guys already know this but on the really off chance somebody doesn't you all know that putting your foot down "lightly" on the brake will bring the car to a stop and the engine will continue running.

Pushing harder will see the engine shut off. I just mention this because lots of people complain about BlueMotion but it can be controlled at will without having to turn the function off near the shifter.

[Hillbilly]

I'm sure you guys already know this but on the really off chance somebody doesn't you all know that putting your foot down "lightly" on the brake will bring the car to a stop and the engine will continue running.

Pushing harder will see the engine shut off. I just mention this because lots of people complain about BlueMotion but it can be controlled at will without having to turn the function off near the shifter.

Yes I do know that and have in fact mentioned it several times.

I use it like that when the delay is only short.

I did nearly get caught the other day when I lifted my foot to go and the car in front didn't . I hit the brake a second time and the engine shut off and it nearly caused the car behind to hit me cause then I couldn't take off fast enough.

Was a lesson learned not to anticipate what a half asleep driver didn't do.

The secret is to push hard enough to fully disengage the clutches and hold the car still.

Not hard enough and you may wear the clutches out.