There are a few minor things that I've found undesirable on my Fabia, one month in. Most of them relate to operation of the infotainment system. General quirks and clunkiness, especially updates and logging in. But apart from that I'm getting on fine using Waze or Maps with Android Auto and I like the audio quality. It's a great car and it gets me from A to B with panache. As long as A and B are connected by major A-roads or motorways. I find myself getting frustrated on trips to the shops and urban driving by the start/stop system and I'd like to disable it. Is there a way?

I think there's a button for that on the left side of the gear lever.  It must be saving us fuel with the stop start driving conditions we are having around us so we won't be changing that.  Sat nav which wasn't offered to us as an option on the mc and connectivity have been major challenges for me.  Needing to keep the engine running to work through the wealth of settings is a real fuel wasting exercise.  It's easy to just depress the clutch and  push a button to start but I miss the ignition switch for the reason just given.

Like you I get so annoyed with stop/start.

There is no way to 'disable' it, unfortunately.

You need to get in the habit of starting the car, pressing the S/S button to the left of gear shift and pressing the OK on the screen to get rid of the, also annoying, display message for privacy.

This is my routine now with every journey.

When wife is with me that is her job.

I should have added in the opening post that I'm the owner of a DSG model, so no S/S button for me.

Edited 2 June, 20242 yr by JFrankMiller

My DSG has it.  Left of the gearshift above the lock button.

On older models there a clip thing (forget the proper name) on the negative terminal of the battery terminal clamp connection which you can disconnect (unplug) and that's the start/stop system disconnected.  The car still operates fully and it might extend the battery use and life.  With a 2023/4 car I've no idea if this system is so integral to the running of the car that it can't be disconnected.  In which case I'd expected there not to be connector at the negative terminal clamp but if there is one try disconnecting it, I can't se how you can do anything wrong as the computers would take over and not let you start or drive the car or put up all sorts of warnings and lights at least to tell you off.

 

Have a look, try if you can and let us know or put up a landscape photo of the battery negative terminal on here.

 

Apparently it should be practicable to disable Stop/Start via OBDELEVEN

 

https://obdeleven.com/one-click-apps

 

I have liberally stuck kitchen-drawer adhesive domed 'bumpers' (examples here)

 

https://www.fruugo.co.uk/cabinet-door-bumpers-160-pcs-self-adhesive-clear-cupboard-door-drawer-bumpers-for-kitchen-cabinets-cutting-boards-picture-frames52mm/p-89840194-187464161?language=en

 

on certain buttons of my Fabia that I want to operate more easily by feel. 
 

(My Fabia has DSG and a Stop/Start button to the left of the 'gear lever'.)

Edited 2 June, 20242 yr by DerekU

8 hours ago, offthewall said:

You need to get in the habit of starting the car, pressing the S/S button to the left of gear shift and pressing the OK on the screen to get rid of the, also annoying, display message for privacy.

This is my routine now with every journey.

Same here - Having had my Fabia for 12 months now, it's becoming second nature every time I start a journey to a) press OK to switch off the privacy display, b) switch off the start/stop and then c) switch off the ridiculous  "Lane Assist". Who was the idiot that dreamt up the idea of "lane assist" ???  Positvely dangerous feature if you are crossing over white lines a lot of times driving in towns. The sudden pull of the steering wheel  is very disconcerting.              

I also occasionally turn off the lane assist when driving around our country lanes loaded with potholes. Like it on motorway journeys, as long as indicator is used it never cuts in when overtaking and returning to inside lane. But have felt it kicking in when I have slightly wandered occasionally. It needs fine tuning though, as certainly not perfect.

Edit. I am pretty sure this is standard on all newish cars and I reckon all BMW, Audi and Volvo drivers have it permamnently disabled, as indicator use is alien to most of them. Haha.

Edited 2 June, 20242 yr by Tintowellfan

@john1952That must be in town where you are in 40 or 50 or 60 mph limits because the lane assist does not operate under 37 mpg. 

Edited 2 June, 20242 yr by Ootohere

3 minutes ago, Ootohere said:

@john1952That must be in town where you are in 40 or 50 or 60 mph limits because the lane assist does not operate under 37 mpg. 

No, country lanes where I live are 60 limits,. It is almost impossible to drive without moving side to side to avoid potholes and cow **** and silage.

Edit. Sorry, just noticed Ootohere was responding to john1952.

Edited 2 June, 20242 yr by Tintowellfan

Lads (and possibly ladies). I know it's only the 2nd June but I must qualify for some sort of buffoon of the month award.

 

After reading the replies on here I went to check, and I do indeed have a S/S button, just to the left of my gearstick.

 

I was going to end with a facepalm emoji but I don't think there's one big enough. 

I've been out for a long drive tonight. About 3 hours.

 

Now that I've found a way to disable the stop/start I'm even more confident that I picked the right car 😎

Edited 2 June, 20242 yr by JFrankMiller

20 hours ago, JFrankMiller said:

After reading the replies on here I went to check, and I do indeed have a S/S button, just to the left of my gearstick.

 

I was going to end with a facepalm emoji but I don't think there's one big enough. 

We all do such things, me all the time.  At least you can admit it to yourself and others, many simply can't.

 

21 hours ago, JFrankMiller said:

Lads (and possibly ladies). I know it's only the 2nd June but I must qualify for some sort of buffoon of the month award.

 

After reading the replies on here I went to check, and I do indeed have a S/S button, just to the left of my gearstick.

 

I was going to end with a facepalm emoji but I don't think there's one big enough. 

Don't worry - We've all been there and got the T Shirt  !!

Besides deactivation of a Skoda car's Start/Stop system being practicable via the vehicle's OBD port and suitable equipment/software, a 'cabling' approach may be an alternative method.

 

There are several on-line videos about this using an inexpensive 'insert cable' and the following webpage advertises a more sophisticated product.

 

https://www.carelectronic-webshop.de/en/car-memory-modules/deactivation-engine-stop-start-system/skoda-engine-stop-start-system-deactivation-memory-module_23_26

That's actually pretty interesting and I would consider doing it if my car was a few years old. 

 

It's a bit pricey at €78 but it would be really nice to start the car and not have to press the button.

 

I've got a bit of experience with fitting vehicle electrics so it's something I will bear in mind. Maybe when the Fabia is 5 years old. 

On 02/06/2024 at 17:47, Tintowellfan said:

I also occasionally turn off the lane assist when driving around our country lanes loaded with potholes. Like it on motorway journeys, as long as indicator is used it never cuts in when overtaking and returning to inside lane. But have felt it kicking in when I have slightly wandered occasionally. It needs fine tuning though, as certainly not perfect.

Edit. I am pretty sure this is standard on all newish cars and I reckon all BMW, Audi and Volvo drivers have it permamnently disabled, as indicator use is alien to most of them. Haha.

I'm an Audi and Volvo driver but I'll let you off just this once! 🙂 Unfortunately drivers of many makes don't know how to use indicators and many drivers of German cars are very aggressive. Their ranks are being joined by powerful EV drivers.

 

Anyway, enjoy being able to turn things off whilst you still can. I hate stop start as well and Collision Avoidance (with its false alerts and sudden braking). With my first XC40 my starting routine included turning them both off but with the new one I can't do that - partly due to it being a mild-hybrid with coasting function. The SS is better and quicker reacting as it uses a combined starter and generator but I'd still prefer to not have it. I get round it by using "Manual" which keeps the engine running or heel and toeing to restart the engine when coasting and wanting engine braking. In city driving I find it so annoying and frustrating with it's frequent and unnecessary operation. At least the Lane Assist isn't too intrusive as it just vibrates a warning rather than tugging the steering.

 

As I mentioned elsewhere this was one of the attractions of the less complicated Fabia and still being able to turn off the SS is great!

Edited 6 June, 20241 yr by VAGCF