I hadn't really noticed that Start/Stop wasn't working - it is rarely used on my commute.

However, driving yesterday and I was stuck at a level crossing twice and on each occasion the Start/Stop failed to kick-in.

 

Looking at the System Information it was telling me that the power consumption on the vehicle was too high (or similar).

It then dawned on me, a couple of weeks ago I purchased a low-profile USB charger for the Cigarette Lighter with the intention of leaving it plugged in all the time. I wasn't charging anything yesterday, however it was just there.

 

I've now unplugged this - I'll get to test the Start/Stop tomorrow.

 

I'm going to assume this is a "known issue" and there isn't really a work around? I can have the charger in all the time, but I'm not going to get Start/Stop?

3 minutes ago, Stoofa said:

I can have the charger in all the time, but I'm not going to get Start/Stop

And you'll kill your battery quicker by having it in a lower state of charge.

There is a mod to change the 12v socket to ignition switching rather than on all the time.  Have a dig around and you're bound to the find it.

I doubt if an unused power supply has any significant drain on the battery. If it was faulty it would not work , feel hot and smelly or have blown the fuse ( that happened to me).

 Faulty Stop/Start is usually cured by replacing the 12v battery. My car also showed the excess power consumption warning. The Moll battery was eventually replaced under warranty.

I must admit it did seem odd that just having the USB charger plugged in with no devices actually attached was enough to increase power drain to the point Start/Stop wouldn't kick in.

However.....it seems to be tipping things over the edge. So it could be indicative of a poor battery?

At this time of year could be other things on in the background using electricity :

lights (including DRLs), wipers, vent or demist blower, radio, heated mirrors, heated rear window, seat heaters, acc radar etc

 

You would need to manually turn all these off, before checking the message again if you suspect the USB unit to be only thing running.

 

 

10 hours ago, Stoofa said:

 

I'm going to assume this is a "known issue" and there isn't really a work around? I can have the charger in all the time, but I'm not going to get Start/Stop?

 

It is not. If you find out that it is related to the charger it is related to that specific one or some surrounding electronics. I have an USB charger permanently plugged in the lighter socket and start/stop works just fine. 

So on the way home this evening, sans USB charger and less than 15 minutes into the drive the car dropped into Stop/Start at some traffic lights.

The charger I'm using is this one:

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00M6Q83B4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

Mentioned in a previous thread - so I know at least one other person has one of these!

 

When the car failed to stop/start it was just the Infotainment and the AC left on it's default.

I do however have front and rear cameras, I wonder if the power draw from these - I just cannot understand how the charger, with nothing plugged into it is really drawing anything.

 

I had more things switched on this evening when it did go into Stop/Start.

Do the cameras turn off with ignition?

 

I would suggest you touched on it earlier with the battery not at its best. Do you have a multimeter and able to check the voltage of the battery with engine off then on?  Should be >12v with engine off and c14.4v (?) Running. If low when off it could point to a duff battery. If low when running it could point to a duff alternator (less likely IMO).

My cameras are on a monitored feed, so once ignition is turned off the cameras remain on and then if the battery voltage drops beyond a certain voltage, they are switched off.

I'll get hold of a multimeter and see what the battery voltage is showing.

 

Is there a battery "upgrade" as such over what is installed as standard in these vehicles?

9 hours ago, MarkyG82 said:

Do the cameras turn off with ignition?

 

I would suggest you touched on it earlier with the battery not at its best. Do you have a multimeter and able to check the voltage of the battery with engine off then on?  Should be >12v with engine off and c14.4v (?) Running. If low when off it could point to a duff battery. If low when running it could point to a duff alternator (less likely IMO).

 

Engine off - 12.7v

Engine on, no load - 13.4v

Engine on, foot off accelerator and slowing down still in gear - 14.4v

Before I had my battery replaced under warranty, I had similar readings. However if the car was not used for a day or two, then the engine off voltage dropped to 12.1. High power consumption was displayed with nothing connected or turned on even during a long drive. The main dealer checked several times over 2 years and the only drain they detected, minimal ,was from the tow bar monitoring circuit. I'd the fuses removed temporarily,  but the stop/start still did not work. A replacement battery has sorted the problem. Is the 12v battery a Moll?

Several threads reporting strange  electrical problems. After a  recent service I mentioned that my Stop/Start had problem only been resolved after a new battery was fitted. I was told that the garage was expecting a surge in electical and battery problems as winter draws on. Take that as you wish.

On 11/10/2019 at 22:16, Stoofa said:

So on the way home this evening, sans USB charger and less than 15 minutes into the drive the car dropped into Stop/Start at some traffic lights.

The charger I'm using is this one:

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00M6Q83B4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

Mentioned in a previous thread - so I know at least one other person has one of these!

 

I'm that 'at least one other person'. I don't see how an inactive USB charger could be causing that. My charger is left plugged in all the time, with nothing attached (unless I'm driving and want to charge my phone). I have absolutely no issues with stop/start, other than the normal ones I had before I bought the charger (i.e. stop/start doesn't work on the very odd occasion and I have no idea why)

Is "Banner" a battery brand?

Took a quick look under the hood and all I could see was:

 

Banner

EFB

6R0 915 105 B

12v 69ah 360A DIN

680A EN/SAE/GS

Yes.