My current car (Mazda6 Automatic) system works like this:

Stop the car on the brake... engine shuts down.

Put in neutral.

Remove foot from brake (if necessary apply handbrake)... engine remains shut down.

Push on brake...engine fires up.

 

Considering getting a BMW 3 but their system seems to require the brake to be continually pushed in order for the engine to remain off.

Dont think I can live with that.

 

How does the Skoda 3 system work?

 

Many thanks.

two modes:

1. normal(for me), shut down engine just before stop and start when remove foot from brake

if brake pedal touched softly then prevent shut down engine

2. with Autohold activated,

 shut down engine just before stop, activate handbrake when stop,

 foot can move away, start engine only when touch accelerator

 

p.s.

when drove VW Passat on test noticed engine also starts when trafic light changes from red to red+yellow or green

maybe some secret VAG option can activate this also for S3

The bit that worries me is the engine stops before the car! The number of times this has happened to me (almost every day) and if I ease off the brakes to roll to a stop the engine then restarts only to stop again when I do stop. Seems pointless as well as counter-intuitive. The BMW system stopped the engine only once the car had stopped and auto brake activated. It stayed off until, like the S3, the throttle was gently touched.

The auto brake is also less sensitive than in BMW as it won't engage just because the car has stopped. You need to gave a minimum brake pedal pressure in the endure it kicks in.

Both concerns have been raised with Skoda UK, and they aren't interested and claim neither is a safety issue and is completely normal. I disagree, especially as losing the engine also cuts the steering assist off!

+1 for the car cutting out and restarting all of a sudden if the car thinks i'm stopping but actually don't. It's as if the engine is over eager to cut out too quickly. 

 

Careful use of the brake pedal can stop the engine cutting out, instead the 'creep' function is engaged - in the case of DSG at least. 

 

When the car comes to a stop with ACC on, the engine cuts out as usual. the ACC then restarts the engine when the car in front moves away, as a prompt to touch the accelerator pedal to restart the ACC system. 

Well, thanks chaps...but I'm now totally confused!

I've no idea what `auto brake` is.

I suppose what I'm asking is, is the Skoda system the same as my Mazda system whereby I can come to a halt, put it into neutral, remove my foot from the brake, and the engine remains off?

Y-see, it seems that in the BMW, in order to have the engine remain off, you need to keep your foot on the brake...which I think is daft.

On a manual car that's come to a halt: if you put it in neutral and take your foot off the clutch pedal, the engine will cut out. Touch the clutch pedal to engage 1st and the engine will be running before you can finish putting it in gear. The brake pedal has nothing to do with it in this instance. 

 

Stop/Start is made more complicated when DSG is added to the equation. 

Edited 27 March, 201610 yr by dstev2000

The Auto Brake keeps the service brake (foot brake) on until you start moving so you don't need to put the handbrake on. Not quite part of your original question so apologies for confusing you.

On a manual car that's come to a halt: if you put it in neutral and take your foot off the clutch pedal, the engine will cut out. Touch the clutch pedal to engage 1st and the engine will be running before you can finish putting it in gear. The brake pedal has nothing to do with it in this instance. 

 

Stop/Start is made more complicated when DSG is added to the equation. 

So, if I did get a Skoda III it would definitely be a petrol DSG.

So, same question really...can I bring the car to a halt, put it into neutral, take my foot off the brake and the engine will remain off...until I put my foot on the brake again to restart the engine?

On a Skoda III with DSG, you bring the car to a halt with a firm press of the brake, auto hold kicks in (confirmed by a green light on the dash), engine cuts out. Handbrake will automatically engage if you take the ignition key out or open the driver's door.  Take feet off all pedals and relax, enjoying the silence.  When you need to start again, a gentle press of the accelerator will restart the engine with the DSG box allowing the car to creep forward (I'm not sure if auto hold will keep the car in position at that point - depends on how firmly you press the accelerator I think).

Edited 27 March, 201610 yr by Legacy

when drove VW Passat on test noticed engine also starts when trafic light changes from red to red+yellow or green

maybe some secret VAG option can activate this also for S3

Is this a coincidence or can anyone confirm that it's a VW feature?

If you put the car (with dsg) into neutral whilst in the stop mode then you will get woken up with an alarm and be told to put the handbrake on pdq as the car will roll. I also seem to remember that the engine started as well but I have avoided going to neutral ever since !!!

 

Stop start uses the hillhold (or autohold) to hold the car whilst in the stop mode. The electric handbrake is a different switch.

 

hth

On a Skoda III with DSG, you bring the car to a halt with a firm press of the brake, auto hold kicks in (confirmed by a green light on the dash), engine cuts out. Handbrake will automatically engage if you take the ignition key out or open the driver's door.  Take feet off all pedals and relax, enjoying the silence.  When you need to start again, a gentle press of the accelerator will restart the engine with the DSG box allowing the car to creep forward (I'm not sure if auto hold will keep the car in position at that point - depends on how firmly you press the accelerator I think).

That's just like what I've been used to in my current car... and fabulous news.

Thank you so much.

If you put the car (with dsg) into neutral whilst in the stop mode then you will get woken up with an alarm and be told to put the handbrake on pdq as the car will roll. I also seem to remember that the engine started as well but I have avoided going to neutral ever since !!!

 

Stop start uses the hillhold (or autohold) to hold the car whilst in the stop mode. The electric handbrake is a different switch.

 

hth

Yes that really does help.

Thank you.

Remember, when the auto hold (green brake icon on dash) is engaged, the brake lights stay ON. Any more than a few seconds and it's worth engaging the parking brake. When then engine restarts and you proceed to pull away, the parking brake is automatically disengaged. 

Remember, when the auto hold (green brake icon on dash) is engaged, the brake lights stay ON. Any more than a few seconds and it's worth engaging the parking brake. When then engine restarts and you proceed to pull away, the parking brake is automatically disengaged. 

 

Is it really worth engaging the parking brake though as the green "P" of auto hold will keep the brakes on until you lift the clutch.

Is it really worth engaging the parking brake though as the green "P" of auto hold will keep the brakes on until you lift the clutch.

If there's someone sitting behind you (especially at night) I would say yes. Sitting at a set of lights that you know aren't changing for a while, for example. 

Having the brake lights on all the time is the main reason I dislike the BMW system. That and, of course, having to keep your foot pushed on the brake pedal.

The brake lights stay on because the hydraulic 'service' brake is in use not the parking brake. It's supposed to work that way. Because the brake light switch is being held on, as it is connected to the foot brake, the lights stay on.

Every car I have driven with 'auto hold' does it and they all work the same way - via the foot brake.

The only way around it would be to operate the parking brake all the time and it isn't really designed to be used that way, or you put the car in P or N and apply the parking brake yourself which defeats the purpose of the system.

TBH plenty of drivers without auto-brakes just sit at junctions/lights etc without taking their feet off the brakes and just jump on the throttle and clutch when they want to move off.

I think that the Stop/Start system in my 190 DSG is very good.  As soon as the car comes to halt, the engine cuts. You have to do nothing, but sit back and relax and when it comes to moving off, a gentle dab of the accelerator is all that is needed to start the engine.  My car will not even creep when in drive when the engine is merely ticking over.  I have the autohold function operating all the time and stopping on gradients with the stop/start system is no problem.  In my car, the system operates when the engine is cold and ambient temperatures are as low as 7 or 8 degrees. 

I prefer the element of the brake lights on, more so if no one is behind you they ca nsee you lit up like a christams tree..... its been like this for years with auto drivers anyway.

 

Its a great system.... plus i recall there been an option for maybe £120 for some other hill hold maybe with is clearly not needed ?

I totally understand why the brake lights stay on with auto hold as the braking system is still engaged etc etc. 

 

The highway code clearly states one should use the parking brake in stationary traffic to reduce glare to the driver behind, even more important with full LED brake lights. The only exception I can think of is if you're last in the queue, then keep your foot on the brakes so anything coming up can see you are stationary. 

 

That and the fact it's really 'kin inconsiderate. I always engage the parking brake at traffic lights. It's even easier these days as it's just the pull of a switch.....

 

Anyway. This is drifting OT now. That's my 2p's worth. 

Edited 28 March, 201610 yr by dstev2000

It is possible to turn it off in my car by pressing a button in the center console, and that is what I prefer to do  (But I rarely have to stop at a traffic light / roundabout so when that happens I feel it slows down my responsetime when I need to "get going")

Edited 28 March, 201610 yr by pstraums

As I have said before, you can control the start/stop with the brake pedal, if you only press on the pedal lightly it will not activate.

So if you know you will not be moving for a while you can press harder and it will activate.

You soon get used to this and you can completly control the start/stop this way. No need to turn it off.

You can actually feel/hear it coming into action and a slight release on the pedal will keep the engine running, or vice versa of course.

Edited 28 March, 201610 yr by philsmith

As I have said before, you can control the start/stop with the brake pedal, if you only press on the pedal lightly it will not activate.

So if you know you will not be moving for a while you can press harder and it will activate.

You soon get used to this and you can completly control the start/stop this way. No need to turn it off.

You can actually feel/hear it coming into action and a slight release on the pedal will keep the engine running, or vice versa of course.

 

And on a manual, Auto stop / start is enabled by putting the car into neutral and lifting the clutch.

I have diesel DSG. Engine cuts out when I stop, but starts again when I come off break, how do I get it to auto hold until I hit accelerator?