Just curious. We have a tedious level crossing nearby that can hold us for 7 mins or so. Normally at night I switch off manually and drop lighting to sidelights to spare the battery...

When a greentech model 'stops' do the headlights stay on??

Yes.

Interesting. Thank you.

But if power drain is high it'll restart. Same with aircon

start stop monitors battery voltage and all sorts of other things

 

so if it senses battery dropping it will restart the engine

But if power drain is high it'll restart. Same with aircon

Ah OK. I was just trying to think why a stopped car would 'need' its full headlights on. Given the choice I would prefer them switched off, keeping side or position lights on. Then switched on once the engine starts.

Of course as an urban driver I am mostly in well lit streets...

Using fuel to run the engine to charge the battery to light the headlights just seems less 'green'...

'less green' - I am sure you are right but is it safer? If you come to a stop in the middle of the road wanting to make a right turn and the car decided to turn the (engine and) lights off, the police may have something to say about it. Yes, you can choose to over-ride the stop-start or choose to turn off the headlights, but I don't think a car could be doing this by default.

I am sure you are right but is it safer...

No... I was thinking of coming to a stop in a traffic queue waiting for the level crossing barrier to be lifted.

On balance after thinking about your example, let's keep the lights on

I had an incident today with the stop/start function, the engine didn't cut out when I had stopped. It was enabled, out of gear, handbrake on, engine still kept running, why? Only had the aircon on, something to do with that? The aircon has been on before and it's always turned the engine off. Anyway I moved the car forward a few yards pressed the switch off then on again and it worked as it should again. Sods law when I really wanted it to work (I don't normally bother with it) when waiting for the ferry near Swanage it decides not to play.

staib - rather you decide when to switch off than a car - ha ha.

MickA - as bluecar1 said, it monitors the amount of charge and drain on the battery at the moment of decision, so I guess it just depends - bound to be 'sod's law' sometimes, as you say.

I had an incident today with the stop/start function, the engine didn't cut out when I had stopped. It was enabled, out of gear, handbrake on, engine still kept running, why? Only had the aircon on, something to do with that? The aircon has been on before and it's always turned the engine off. Anyway I moved the car forward a few yards pressed the switch off then on again and it worked as it should again. Sods law when I really wanted it to work (I don't normally bother with it) when waiting for the ferry near Swanage it decides not to play.

many things cause it not to stop the engine

 

heater set to demist screen

to bigger difference in inside / outside temp

battery voltage (mine don't stop until I seem to have don't 15-20mph since initial start)

steering angle, apparently if you have a moderate angle or more it seems to assume you are waiting to turn and not stop the engine

 

from manual

 

 

The START-STOP system helps you to save fuel while at the same time reducing

harmful exhaust emissions and CO2 emissions.

The function is automatically activated each time the ignition is switched on.

In the start-stop mode, the engine automatically switches to the vehicle's idle

phase, e.g. when stopped at traffic lights.

Information regarding the current state of the START-STOP system is indicated in

the display of the instrument cluster.

 

Automatic engine shut down (stop phase)

› Stop the vehicle (where necessary, apply the handbrake).

› Take the vehicle out of gear.

› Release the clutch pedal.

 

Automatic renewed engine restart (start phase).

› Depress the clutch pedal.

 

Switching the START-STOP system on and off

The START/STOP system can be switched on/off by pressing the button

 

» Fig. 67.

When start-stop mode is deactivated, the warning light in the button lights up.

If the vehicle is in the stop phase when manually switching off the system, the

engine starts immediately.

The START-STOP system is very complex. Some of the procedures are hard to

check without servicing. The general conditions for the proper functioning of the

START-STOP system are listed in the following overview.

 

Conditions for the automatic engine shut down (stop phase)

› The gearshift lever is in Neutral.

› The clutch pedal is not depressed.

› The driver has fastened the seat belt.

› The driver's door is closed.

› The bonnet is closed.

› The vehicle is at a standstill.

› The engine is at operating temperature.

› The charge state of the vehicle battery is sufficient.

› The stationary vehicle is not on a steep slope or a steep downhill section.

› The engine speed is less than 1200 1/min.

› The temperature of the vehicle battery is not too low or too high.

› There is sufficient pressure in the braking system.

› The difference between the outdoor- and the set temperature in the interior is

not too great.

› The vehicle speed since the last time the engine was switched off was greater

than 3 km/h.

› The front wheels are not turned excessively (the steering angle is less than 3/4

of a steering wheel revolution).

 

Conditions for an automatic restart (start phase)

› The clutch is depressed.

› The max./min. temperature is set.

› The Defrost function for the windshield is switched on.

› A high blower stage has been selected.

› The START STOP button is pressed.

 

Conditions for an automatic restart without driver intervention

› The vehicle moves at a speed of more than 3 km/h.

› The difference between the outdoor- and the set temperature in the interior is

too great.

› The charge state of the vehicle battery is not sufficient.

› There is insufficient pressure in the braking system.

 

WARNING

?The brake servo unit and power steering only operate if the engine is running.

?Never let the vehicle roll with the engine switched off.

 

CAUTION

If the START-STOP system is used at very high outside temperatures over a very

long period of time, the vehicle battery can be damaged.

Edited 15 September, 201312 yr by bluecar1

steering angle, apparently if you have a moderate angle or more it seems to assume you are waiting to turn and not stop the engine

 

I think this has more to do with the amount of electrical energy that is required to operate the power steering, especially at extreme ends of the lock?