Recent bought a Octavia 3 1.6 DSG estate. Love the car but really dislike the way that the stop/start feature works.

 

For example, when I stop at my home and try to reverse into my driveway, the stop/start feature switches the engine off before I can move the gear shift from D to R. Also the road outside my driveway is on a slight downhill slope so when you put your foot on the throttle to start reversing, you are actually moving off on the starter motor. It's the same when you momentarily stop at a give-way even for only a second. 

 

Is there a way to introduce a delay (say 5 seconds) between stopping the car and the stop/start activating. Failing that is there a way to switch this feature off by default instead of on by default. I gress I'm asking what options are available. Any advice is much appreciated. 

No way to delay as far as I'm aware.

 

You can code it so it's permanently "off" with VCDS or OBDEleven.

Haven't you got the 'disable' button on the console behind the gear selector?

I thought the same soon after getting mine. I'm used to it now and know the point on the accelerater at which the engine stops. Also you can lift the pedal briefly to restart the engine without pulling away.

 

My guess is you are too swift onto the gas. Give the 'box time to think.

its a pointless gimmick to get the car through lower emissons tests. It can be turned off as mentioned in ODB2 or VCDS by upping the lower voltage threshold for it to come on tricking to it into thinking the battery voltage is low.

Ive always believed you put less stress on the engine and starter components anyway with it off.  

12 minutes ago, JohnnyType2 said:

its a pointless gimmick to get the car through lower emissons tests. It can be turned off as mentioned in ODB2 or VCDS by upping the lower voltage threshold for it to come on tricking to it into thinking the battery voltage is low.

Ive always believed you put less stress on the engine and starter components anyway with it off.  

 

Ignoring the wear and tear on the components (which are usually designed with stop start in mind) I saw an investigation recently that showed an improvement in fuel usage when using stop start.  they even went into the amount of fuel used to restart the engine compared to keeping it on tickover.  stop start came out on top by a large margin.  a lot depends on route and traffic conditions though.

ask yourself are you always stuck in heavy traffic? if not... then what is the point? especially if its causing problems like the OP has? just seems like common sense to me.

Edited 24 October, 20187 yr by JohnnyType2

Engineering Explained youtube channel has a video presenting a recent research paper showing stop/start system can save fuel from as few as 7 seconds of engine off time. So unless you are in stop/start traffic that is stopping for less than 10s each time, stop/start systems have major fuel saving benefits.

 

Have you tried moving the gear leaver to N just before the stop/start system kicks in? Sometimes moving gearstick to N disables stop/start with my older Euro5 Octavia.

Always the first thing I reach for after starting the car - IMHO is doesn't work well with the DSG box. My Mrs has a Manual Mini Cooper S and Start-Stop works well, if you are in a situation where you wouldn't want S/S to kick in - you hold it in gear with the clutch depressed - It you want S/S to kick in - drop it out of gear and lift the clutch. I haven't bothered to permanently disable it with VCDS on mine as it will still allow me to enable it under the right conditions e.g. stuck in traffic on the Motorway. The idea for me would be if you could invert the function - so it is normally disabled - but you can enable it on a journey if you want to.

 

 

5 minutes ago, Gti Jazz Blue said:

Always the first thing I reach for after starting the car - IMHO is doesn't work well with the DSG box. My Mrs has a Manual Mini Cooper S and Start-Stop works well, if you are in a situation where you wouldn't want S/S to kick in - you hold it in gear with the clutch depressed - It you want S/S to kick in - drop it out of gear and lift the clutch. I haven't bothered to permanently disable it with VCDS on mine as it will still allow me to enable it under the right conditions e.g. stuck in traffic on the Motorway. The idea for me would be if you could invert the function - so it is normally disabled - but you can enable it on a journey if you want to.

 

 

 you cant unfortunately there in lies the problem

There is another solution but it's not cheap:

 

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F302902403795

 

Basically remembers the last status of stop start when you turn off the car, i.e. you could have it set to off by default.

3 hours ago, pist0nbr0ke said:

There is another solution but it's not cheap:

 

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F302902403795

 

Basically remembers the last status of stop start when you turn off the car, i.e. you could have it set to off by default.

good find though

7 hours ago, Gti Jazz Blue said:

The idea for me would be if you could invert the function - so it is normally disabled - but you can enable it on a journey if you want to.

Would this do that?

 

Stop Start memory module

Thanks a lot guys for all the replies. Lots to think about there. 

 

Should have said that I live in the country and rarely in stop/start traffic situations. It would be handy if if it could have been inverted to have it normally off, but if that's not an option, I'll probably let it run another while before deciding whether or not to turn it off permanently. I should also have said that my long term fuel consumption is indicated  to be 56.5 mpg. Doubt if the stop/start is contributing that much considering the type of driving I do. 

 

Thanks again for all the replies 

I just disable it when I turn the engine on. Mine is a manual, does the DSG not have a disengage button that lasts until the next time you start the car manually ? 

Its not that bothersome is it?