Has anybody experienced this problem?

When driving on a run in the driver display a message pops up saying start/stop system deactivated and then a few seconds later it says it's activated. This can go on for many miles and is independent of the car being hot or cold. The button to turn the start/stop system off is working OK, so I don't believe it's that. I'm not sure what conditions are required for the system to deactivate, apart from A/C being on and using a high fan speed, or if the battery is low, but it doesn't appear to be any of those.

 

Sometimes the system works without problems and is OK in traffic queues, but on other occasions I get the messages in the display.

 

Does anybody have any ideas? The car is going in for a diagnostic check next week, but it could be useful to know if somebody has had the same issue and I can help the dealer locate the problem.

It deactivates when the DPF is regenerating in a diesel. I don't think it gives a full maxidot screen warning that it's deactivated when this happens though, just the discreet 'A' with a cross through it in the corner.

It's independent of the regen process.

My suggestion is that you read the relevant pages in the Owners Manual then you will know the conditions that require the system to deactivate including the difference between interior temp and set temps and ambient etc.  Just for future reference come winter.

Then the high electrical drain times.

 

Do you have the situation you are describing on runs with the engine at operating temperature and travelling along on roads out of town?

Yes the problem occurs on any type of run, whether it's 100+ miles or 10 miles, engine and car hot or cold. I thought initially it was to do with the A/C and fan use, but I've proved to myself that isn't the problem.

Don't believe  what the handbook tells you about start/stop.

 

My Superb with DSG cuts the engine whilst the car is still moving at low speed. The handbook states quite clearly that the engine should not cut out until the car comes to a halt. However, my Skoda dealership and Skoda customer service  say this is normal. However, they are both unable to explain why the handbook states the opposite.

There is a difference between start stop activated/deactivated, and it being unavailable. The former is a manual function caused by you pressing the button. The latter (presuming you have it switched on) is a function of lots of other parameters. On the Car menu you can bring up the stop/start page where it lists any reasons why stop/start is unavailable. But in your case, it sounds as though the button is effectively being pressed. A mechanical issue with the button or wiring issue, I’d suspect.

Thanks for the comments, the big problem I have is getting Skoda Uk Technical support to accept there is an issue. They and the dealership where I got the car from just say that "the engine cutting out before the car comes to a halt is normal" despite the owners handbook stating that it should only cut out when the car has come to a halt. I previously had an Octavia with same configuration 2.0D DSG. The stop/start on that car performed in exactly the way in which the owners handbook stated it should. I never had it cut out whilst moving once in the 51000 miles that I drove whilst owning  the car.

 

My experience of Skoda "customerservice" is very negative. I have asked why the handbook states an opposite to what they are quoting, however, they just ignore this question and thank me for contacting Skoda Uk. 

32 minutes ago, CLMAS08 said:

Thanks for the comments, the big problem I have is getting Skoda Uk Technical support to accept there is an issue. They and the dealership where I got the car from just say that "the engine cutting out before the car comes to a halt is normal" despite the owners handbook stating that it should only cut out when the car has come to a halt. I previously had an Octavia with same configuration 2.0D DSG. The stop/start on that car performed in exactly the way in which the owners handbook stated it should. I never had it cut out whilst moving once in the 51000 miles that I drove whilst owning  the car.

 

My experience of Skoda "customerservice" is very negative. I have asked why the handbook states an opposite to what they are quoting, however, they just ignore this question and thank me for contacting Skoda Uk. 

Unfortunately the cutting out before fully stationary is the way it is designed, it is not a fault as such -although you could of course say that the design is faulty - I’d agree!

 

To be fair to customer services, they can’t write new software for you to upload, or issue a new handbook. All they can do is pass the complaint back to Skoda HQ with a request for a software design change, something that is likely to take a long time even if Skoda HQ have a will to do it. I’ve just got into the habit of turning off start/stop when I move off, and turning it on only if I can see a significant delay eg lights just gone to red. I’d still do this even if it didn’t cut the engine whilst the car was still rolling, since I don’t want it to cut out when I momentarily become stationary eg at a roundabout.

I would have more confidence in skoda customer service if they had not suggested I take my car to my nearest SEAT dealer to have the system checked, give me a link to SEAT UK to find my nearest dealer and thank me for contacting SEAT UK. The response is the then signed by Skoda UK.

 

With this lack of attention to detail you can perhaps see why I have no confidence in Skoda customer services. 

You state (with no supporting evidence) that "cutting out before fully stationery is the way it is designed" well, not according to the owners handbook which clearly states"

■ No automatic engine shut-down takes place when a vehicle with automatic transmission is moving at low speed (e.g. during a traffic jam) and remains sta- tionary after pressing the brake pedal lightly. Automatic engine shut-down takes place if you press the brake pedal down with more force.

■ For vehicles with automatic transmission there is no automatic engine shut- down when the system detects a manoeuvring action due to a large steering angle.

 

 

You say "To be fair to customer services, they can’t write new software for you to upload, or issue a new handbook." I have never mentioned new software, let alone expect someone in customer services to write new software and then distribute it to me  to upload. Where on earth did you get that idea ? I don't appreciate being accused of saying something which I have not said.

 

As for issuing a new handbook, the text I quote above is taken from the latest Superb drivers handbook issued earlier this year. This handbook has many updates in it compared with last years issue. I therefore don't see why the section on start/stop could not have been amended at that time if it was no longer valid.

 

As for your advice on how to drive the car to obviate the problem, I am an experienced driver having been a member of the IAM so I can work that out for myself.  Interesting that you say there is not a problem and then suggest a way to get round it.

 

Are you employed in some way by Skoda UK to protect their online reputation and image ?

VW Group Owners Manuals are 'Lost in Translation' and full of Typo's, and even Safety Critical errors go uncorrected, and get re-published, 

Fluid Quantities etc.

 

German, to Czech, Spanish, English, US English etc, who knows to Chinese, Russian, etc etc.

 

Regular error, Oil checks,

  Skoda 'Check Warm'

yet VW for same engine 'At Operating Temperature',  

Seat 'Check when hot'. 

 

Oil quantity top up in VW USA Video says '1 US Quart',  that will be a US Quart then so not an Imperial Quart. or European litre.

(UK VW official how to Video does not even mention checking Hot, Warm, Operating Temp or anything,

Manuals say only the 1.2 44kw engine checked Cold.

 

Edited 21 October, 20178 yr by Headinawayoffski

On 21/10/2017 at 10:00, CLMAS08 said:

You state (with no supporting evidence) that "cutting out before fully stationery is the way it is designed" well, not according to the owners handbook which clearly states"

■ No automatic engine shut-down takes place when a vehicle with automatic transmission is moving at low speed (e.g. during a traffic jam) and remains sta- tionary after pressing the brake pedal lightly. Automatic engine shut-down takes place if you press the brake pedal down with more force.

■ For vehicles with automatic transmission there is no automatic engine shut- down when the system detects a manoeuvring action due to a large steering angle.

 

 

You say "To be fair to customer services, they can’t write new software for you to upload, or issue a new handbook." I have never mentioned new software, let alone expect someone in customer services to write new software and then distribute it to me  to upload. Where on earth did you get that idea ? I don't appreciate being accused of saying something which I have not said.

 

As for issuing a new handbook, the text I quote above is taken from the latest Superb drivers handbook issued earlier this year. This handbook has many updates in it compared with last years issue. I therefore don't see why the section on start/stop could not have been amended at that time if it was no longer valid.

 

As for your advice on how to drive the car to obviate the problem, I am an experienced driver having been a member of the IAM so I can work that out for myself.  Interesting that you say there is not a problem and then suggest a way to get round it.

 

Are you employed in some way by Skoda UK to protect their online reputation and image ?

 

Sorry, if I’d realised you were a troll I wouldn’t have bothered to reply to you.

Edited 22 October, 20178 yr by nicknorman