I’m located in the tropics where it’s hot all year round

 

The start stop function works fine at the start of the day when I go to work in the morning but as I drive the car frequently over the course of the day (I’m in sales so I do a fair bit of running around), the start stop function stops working suddenly in the later part of the day and the message is always “Operating Temperature Not Maintained”

 

My understanding users this pertains to the engine temperature not being warmed up? But it’s been driven around and surely the engine is kept warmed up enough 

 

Could the message point to other areas not being maintained at operating temperature? Turbo charger maybe? Or some component is overheating?

There are two temperature related messages (forget exact wording)

 

A low temperature : Engine temperature insufficient 

A high temperature: Climate control requires air conditioner 

 

I suspect you are getting something needs cooling message, and there may be another message that is rare in UK, so not aware of it

 

Do you have large screen where a banner message pops up with an info button, click on the info, what is the exact message.  On some versions can also click into car - settings - start stop status on infotainment to get the message

@Rantzzz  Welcome.

So what engine / gearbox. how old is the car, and how many miles / km has it covered, 

and is this how the car has always behaved?

The car is pretty brand new, and only covered 13,000km, DQ200 gear box

its the Superb MKIII, a new car straight out from the dealer

 

I only started using the start stop recently (I used to off it whenever I started the car) so I’m not sure if it has always been like that since I got the car

 

mine has the Bolero infotainment screen in it and the message it displays is attached

 

im pretty sure it is not due to air conditioning. Pretty frustrating as the message does not say anything further

I assume, this is not a malfunction, but only a safe mode.

If the outside temperature is pretty high and if you mainly drive for short distances at reasonable speeds (town traffic / trafic jams?), it becomes to be 'severe' conditions for the engine, which needs to be cooled down. In the meantime, if the S&S is triggered and shuts the engine off, the coolant pump stops and the cooling is very downgraded. If the S&S doesn't start the engine again quickly, there's a risk of engine oil coking in the hotest place of the oil system.

Thus I assume, there's a safety function to prevent the S&S from shutting the engine off, to keep it cool enough.

 

Note: Take a look at this document: VAG SSP 86 - START-STOP System in Skoda Vehicles

The document states "The coolant temperature is between 25 °C and 100 °C" (see page 14).

 

There is also another reason linked to the A/C use. If you make short distances the A/C may struggle with reaching the requested temperature, which is a case of S&S non operating (anotehr safe mode). See page 17, the same document states "Reasons for the interruption of the START-STOP operation: [...]The set temperature of the air conditioning system differs more than 8 °C from the actual temperature in the interior of the vehicle."

 

 

Wow thanks! This explains it! Will look at the guide in more details to learn more 

Doesn't seem very well designed if you are hitting 100C, I presume your not ragging it to death or towing? anybody know what the rad fans kick in at? It seems like more of a fault than a function to me unless you are trying to drive it on the sun.

 

What does the oil temp say when you get this message?

 

Without diagnostic equipment though it leaves us all guessing but its in warranty why don't you get the dealer to investigate.

 

 

Edited 31 March, 20206 yr by SuperbTWM

My coolant temp needle stays at 90degC and I did raise this to the dealer, they say unlikely is due to over heating engine. Would still like them to check on the thermostat though. 
 

oil temps usually hover to 105 degC but it still functions, usually in the morning and early afternoon 

 

It’s only when I’ve driven it long enough during the day, it stops functioning all the way from late afternoon till night time

 

however when I restart the car the next morning after a cool down period of 9 hours, the function works again

 

It would seem that the function’s tolerances are very tight, and it prevents operation way too easily

Sadly the coolant temp indicator is pretty much useless as there is a very large range of temperatures where it will just stick at 90, which is why you read live data with a code reader or VCDS to find out the actual temperature.

Ic, noted on that

Will ask the dealer to check it

Thanks all for the replies!

After a trip to the dealer they found the start stop to be in “proper working order” which is not surprising to me. Those buggers

 

One reason they gave was that the temperature between the indoor cabin and outside temperature is too great, hence the engine does not shut off to keep the windows from fogging 

 

Is there any sense in that?!

 

unfortunately I could not get the “operating temperature not maintained” message out before sending it in because that would mean I have to drive  around for 4 to 5 drives (each drive around 15 - 20 minutes) Before it appears!

 

 

Hi all it’s been 2 months and I’m still having the same problem. Does anyone know if start stop function does not work after many short trips? It seems to be the case for me.. always this “operating temperature not maintained” pops up after around 4 short drives each 15 minutes in a day 

On 01/04/2020 at 02:09, SuperbTWM said:

Sadly the coolant temp indicator is pretty much useless as there is a very large range of temperatures where it will just stick at 90, which is why you read live data with a code reader or VCDS to find out the actual temperature.

If the digital readout is to be believed, the analog gauge tracks the digital readout pretty well on my car anyway

21 minutes ago, KeteCantek said:

If the digital readout is to be believed, the analog gauge tracks the digital readout pretty well on my car anyway

The digital readout will also be an adjusted reading, otherwise people would complain they didn’t match. 
 

the only way to know the actual temperature is through a diagnostic tool/software

Especially during lockdown and a week between starts, it takes a me 15-20 minute drive before stop/start kicks in. I always assumed it was a battery charging issue.