1 minute ago, nta16 said:

Sorry I can't find anything either but I don't think I imagined it, @Ootohere is good with DSG and searches, I'm stuck for what words and terms to try Gogle jumps on the words that give a different result.  I can't even find stuff I know I've put up nowadays, perhaps Elon is against me. 😁

 

It's not the end of the world, but `I find it strange that after selectinn neutral and applying the hand brake that there isn't a software interlock that allows the engine to stay stop. Afterall you should then be able to apply the footbrake to move the gear selector and that should restart the engine.

 

I think I will contact Skoda and ask the question.

Ootohere might reply with the links later.

 

If I forget to turn of the stop/start on my wife's 2015 5-speed manual the engine will restart when stationary can't remember the details, perhaps when releasing clutch in neutral, perhaps with handbrake on but I can't remember, I do know the engine will stop when I stop to sift to reverse gear to line up to reverse car on to hardstanding which is a PITA and not "simply clever" of VW's computer programming engineers, the car thinks it knows what I am doing, and perhaps with more modern system it also thinks it know what I want to do, but it can be wrong with both, the computer programs are far too dumb for that, yet, or ever.  Having stop/start with a manual boxes has enough quirks for me I'd not want to combine it with an auto box.

 

If you get answers from VWSkoda it'd be interesting to know them.

 

My 2024 Skoda Fabia Mk 4 and my previous 2021 Hyundai i20 both have/had a Start/Stop system and neither system's operation  was affected by the handbrake (parking brake) being applied.

 

Although the Owner Manual for both cars explains the operation and use of the Start/Stop system and (separately) the use of the handbrake, there is nothing in either Manual to suggest that the Stop/Start system and the handbrake might in any way be linked.

 

Guidance on START-STOP in the Owner's Manual for Fabia Mk 4 cars is as shown below and - as will be apparent - the handbrake is not mentioned.

 

 

The Fabia Mk 4 Manual advises, "START-STOP decreases emissions of CO2 and harmful emissions and saves fuel", but as Start/Stop is not a mandatory 'safety' feature, there are no system functionality standards that a car manufacturer must adhere to. If a Fabia Mk 4 DSG's START-STOP system has stopped the motor and the driver keeps their foot on the brake pedal the motor will remain stopped until the driver takes their foot off the brake pedal. It's basically as simple as that, and will happen whether the car's DSG transmission is in  D or N and with the handbrake engaged or disengaged. 

 

There's quite a lot of online discussion about driving automatic cars with Start/Stop and using the handbrake (GOOGLE-Search on automatic cars start/stop use of handbrake ) and the general view (particularly in USA) seems to be that an  automatic car should be driven in D mode except when parked, and that the handbrake be engaged only when the car is parked and its motor turned off. 

 

To start the motor of  my manual-transmission 2021 Hyundai i20 required the transmission to be in Neutral, AND the clutch-pedal to be fully depressed, AND the brake-pedal to be firmly depressed. Failure to do any of those actions, resulted in a deathly hush and a related warning message appearing on the instrument panel. This seemed like over-kill to me, but that was the sequence Hyundai insisted on and I had no option but to put up with it.

 

Like many drivers I'm not a fan of Start/Stop systems, so - when I remember! - I turn it (and Lane Keeping Assist) off each time I start my Fabia's motor. It irks me to do this, but, other than hacking the car's software, there's no alternative.

Hi, thank you for the in depth reply.

 

It is a shame that engaging neutral does not disable the start mechanism. I like apply the handbrake, especially at night so that I am not dazzling the diver of any vehicle stopped behind me.

 

It's not a problem with my manual Skoda, but it would appear I will have to get used to it with the DSG.

4 hours ago, EltonGone said:

It's not the end of the world, but `I find it strange that after selectinn neutral and applying the hand brake that there isn't a software interlock that allows the engine to stay stop. Afterall you should then be able to apply the footbrake to move the gear selector and that should restart the engine.

 

I think I will contact Skoda and ask the question.

Pressing the brake pedal while the engine is stopped will restart the engine due to depletion of brake booster vacuum - is that what is possibly happening here? 

For a Fabia Mk 4 with DSG transmission and START-STOP active, It's not pressing the brake pedal that causes the motor to restart, it's the opposite - it's taking one's foot off ("releasing") the brake pedal that causes restarting (as it says in the Owner's Manual). 

 

This may well go against the grain if one is used to driving a manual transmission car and following 'good practice' when coming to a halt by putting the car in neutral and  engaging the handbrake to prevent the vehicle rolling. A practice that, at night, will ensure that the car's brake lights do not illuminate and dazzle a driver queueing behind (as EltonGone has said).

 

This 2013-2019 Honest John discussion may be of interest as it touches on driving automatic cars and Start/Stop systems.

 

https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=103354

 

This link is to a driving instruction 'automatic car' video

 

 

In the Comments section this question was asked

 

...one question as I'm being taught by my dad instead of paying for lessons- when coming to a stop at traffic lights which you will be at for a good minute or so, is the pattern handbrake + park, handbrake + neutral or would you just keep your foot on the brake and stay in drive?

 

The reply given was

 

We would normally stay in drive and not go to neutral. We would use the handbrake or parking brake when 'a pause becomes a wait'. Especially after dark when our bright red brake lights can become dazzling to a vehicle behind us.

 

 

Edited 10 February, 20251 yr by DerekU

Well it looks like we have the answer above the car doesn't recognise the handbrake being on so as soon as you lift your foot off the brake pedal it restarts.  Strange and I think that is different to other auto cars I've driven!

13 minutes ago, skomaz said:

Well it looks like we have the answer above the car doesn't recognise the handbrake being on so as soon as you lift your foot off the brake pedal it restarts.  Strange and I think that is different to other auto cars I've driven!

Indeed, it would appear so. I did contact Skoda via the website and  customers services link. That was about as useful a pair of knitted wasp underpants.

Edited 10 February, 20251 yr by EltonGone

My Volvo restarts if you take your foot off the brake if you are not using Autohold and if you are it restarts when you touch the throttle as you are ready to pull away. I use Autohold on and off dependant on the situation and find it works very well.

 

When I drive the Fabia I miss having a proper Autohold (is the brief holding called Hill Hold Assist?) and when stopped hold it on the footbrake. I did try the handbrake once out of interest, but as said, the car's systems don't recognise it being applied and the car creep easily overcomes it. I've also tried going into N but unlike with manual it doesn't feel like a natural thing to do and you have to check that you are in fact in D before pulling away.

SKODA FABIA MK4 Style – DLAA engine – 6speed manual

It has happened to me 3-4 times that the auto start-stop system does not activate with the relevant indicator on the dashboard coming on. This happening completely randomly and for no apparent reason. The same completely randomly and mysteriously works again... It doesn't really bothers me much since most of the time i disable it myself anyway, but it annoys me psychologically when something doesn't work properly even if i don't use it or need it.

Any idea ?

Edited 14 January14 Jan by fabiamk4man

2 hours ago, fabiamk4man said:

SKODA FABIA MK4 Style – DLAA engine – 6speed manual

It has happened to me 3-4 times that the auto start-stop system does not activate with the relevant indicator on the dashboard coming on. This happening completely randomly and for no apparent reason. The same completely randomly and mysteriously works again... It doesn't really bothers me much since most of the time i disable it myself anyway, but it annoys me psychologically when something doesn't work properly even if i don't use it or need it.

Any idea ?

When took my Fabia in for a service last year, I was told that this is normal. There is some sort of algorithm built into the system relating to the number of times that the start stop system activates and the number of times the vehicles is used. Not sure if this is true or not, but this garage I use for servicing are Volkswagen/Audi specialists so I'm inclined to believe that there is some truth in it. (Fabia engine is identical to Volkswagen Polo). I'm like you, I usually disable it every time so it doesn't really bother me.

If the car's 12v battery is getting a bit low the first sign is often the stop/start not working when it should, it can work again shortly after depending on if there's enough electric back to satisfy the system.

There are lots of circumstances where the stop/start may not be available - but this time of year don't neglect the state of charge in the battery, even if the lights seem bright enough, and the engine not starting is about the last sign of low battery with a modern car.

If you're interested in the stop/start system here's something from VW. - SSP-426-Start-stop-system-2009.pdf

Thanks for the info.

I have absolutely no indication that the battery is weakening but i will have it in mind.

.

On 10/02/2025 at 16:16, Warrior193 said:

Pressing the brake pedal while the engine is stopped will restart the engine due to depletion of brake booster vacuum - is that what is possibly happening here? 

Yes, on my 2019 (petrol) Polo, you may have to press/release the brake pedal a few times before the engine restarts, obviously when the vacuums falls to some minimum level.

Engine coolant temperature has no effect whatsoever on mine, the OAT (& engine) temperature can be as low as -2C, once you drive the car its mandatory exactly 0.5kms, the engine will stop if the stop/start is enabled, its disabled if the OAT falls to -2/-2.5C, can't rememer which just now.

10 hours ago, fabiamk4man said:

SKODA FABIA MK4 Style – DLAA engine – 6speed manual

It has happened to me 3-4 times that the auto start-stop system does not activate with the relevant indicator on the dashboard coming on. This happening completely randomly and for no apparent reason. The same completely randomly and mysteriously works again... It doesn't really bothers me much since most of the time i disable it myself anyway, but it annoys me psychologically when something doesn't work properly even if i don't use it or need it.

Any idea ?

Within the START-STOP section of the Owner's Manual for my 2024 Fabia is this

Basically (rather like the logic of the cranky software I used to write when I was programming at GCHQ) most of the time the Fabia's START-STOP system works as the driver expects it to (and the Owner's Manual suggests it should) except for the times it doesn't!

2 hours ago, fabiamk4man said:

Thanks for the info.

I have absolutely no indication that the battery is weakening but i will have it in mind.

If you let the state of charge and health get too low for the computers, after stop/start non-function when it should, the computers can make you suffer with all sorts of unexpected warning lights and messages and unseen error messages and issues - even though your headlights seem bright enough and you have no issues starting the engine (battery has to be very low for that), there are lots of threads and posts on Briskoda about this as it catches out even very experience and long time drivers.

One way to test the battery's current state of charge (not health) is to use a multimeter with the probes on the battery terminal posts, as long as possible after the car was last driven or charged, preferably after a good number of hours. Then you could allow say a 0.2 or 0.3 amp drop for the stuff going on with the car's awake computers and other bits.

The car's happy with (about 80% of full battery charge) 12.4v or less to allow for regenerative stuff it might or might not give the battery enough or enough of with the car's use.

Below VW's figures there are others with slight variances but we're not dealing with exact figures on real world car use.

VW

 

Charge level             No-load          voltage

1.28 g/cm3                 100%              12.7 V

1.21 g/cm3                 60%                12.3 V

1.18 g/cm3                 40%                12.1 V

1.10 g/cm3                 0%                  11.7 V

Edited 14 January14 Jan by nta16
typos

nta16

I own the car only for the past 6 months but at it's service history i can see that original battery has been replaced under warranty 15 months ago. Don't know the reason, but the fact remains that is a fairly new battery.

Anyway, i have a CTEK charger so i will give it a full charge and see what happens.

My guess is that regardless charging it will fix it's self randomly just as the previous times

12 hours ago, fabiamk4man said:

My guess is that regardless charging it will fix it's self randomly just as the previous times

Αs i had predicted, today without me doing anything at all the start-stop system was working normally again. After i tested it 2-3 times and made sure it was working fine, i turned it off as usual. 😇

After 4-5 times it has done the same, i tend to believe that it has nothing to do with anything other than bugs in the software and/or its algorithm.

P.S Seems to me that many of the modern digital features are not that smart as they think they are…  I have the same bad opinion about the system that suggests gear changes that are driving the engine (which is not the most torquey below 2.000 rpm) at absurdly low rpms without taking into consideration either the car's load or the slope of the road, with the result that its suggestions are often laughable and possibly harmful….🙄

Edited 15 January15 Jan by fabiamk4man

12 minutes ago, fabiamk4man said:

Αs i had predicted, today without me doing anything at all the start-stop system was working normally again. After i tested it 2-3 times and made sure it was working fine, i turned it off as usual. 😇

After 4-5 times it has done the same, i tend to believe that it has nothing to do with anything other than bugs in the software and/or its algorithm.

P.S Seems to me that many of the modern digital features are not that smart as they think they are…  I have the same bad opinion about the system that suggests gear changes that are driving the engine (which is not the most torquey below 2.000 rpm) at absurdly low rpms without taking into consideration either the car's load or the slope of the road, with the result that its suggestions are often laughable and possibly harmful….🙄

Even though I only use the Stop/Start selectively, I allways test it my enabling it (Stop) every time I exit the car and even with a battery SOC as low as 70% (VCDS) will still operate perfectly. The battery, a 59AH EFB, is the original and is exactly 7 years old. I returned very recently from abroad, the car had been idle for 11/12 days but Stop/Start operated perfectly after travelling the mandatory 0.5kms.

The norm nowadays is for the Stop/Start feature to automatically default to ON every time the vehicle's ignition is turned on, and (usually) the driver can then turn the feature OFF using a button or through a touch-screen.

As far as I'm aware Stop/Start (or START-STOP as Skoda calls it) is not a mandatory feature: its purpose is to reduce fuel consumption and exhaust emissions and there's no doubt that it can potentially do this. That some drivers would prefer to have the feature operate vice-versa (defaulting to OFF and then enabled by the driver if he/she so chooses) is academic - no car manufacturer (to the best of my knowledge) markets vehicles with that capability.

OBDeleven offers "One-Click Apps" for Skoda Fabias and there are many of these for Fabia Mk3 cars, including one that permanently disables STOP-START (for Mk3s up to Model-Year 2020).

https://obdeleven.com/customizations/skoda/fabia/2018-2021/start-stop-system-deactivation

However, fewer One-Click Apps are offered for 2021-2023 Fabia Mk4s, even fewer for 2024+ Mk4s, and none of the Mk4 Apps include disabling STOP-START. It's may be that, using OBDEleven, VCDS or Carista, it might be possible to alter a Fabia Mk4's software coding to permanently disable STOP-START, or that ODIS can be used by a Skoda dealer/specialist to do this, but I don't think such an approach could vice-versa the way a Fabia Mk4's START-STOP button is designed to operate.

A possible alternative would be the type of inexpensive adapter shown in this Aliexpress advert below, but it would be wise to read through the reviews!

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007849850443.html

More expensive/versatile 'memory modules' are also advertised (examples below) but I don't know if there are any that would be suitable, reliable (and 'bomb-proof') for Fabia Mk4 cars.

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

https://burteq.com/products/octavia-4-memory-module?srsltid=AfmBOoqTN-0S-Hrlc0CQvt4t286tpLeDYuJc50Hrb2pSC57abBOpVa8O

6 hours ago, fabiamk4man said:

i tend to believe that it has nothing to do with anything other than bugs in the software and/or its algorithm.

You could well be right but it might be a part problem, have a look for the issue in the Mk3 as well as Mk4 Fabia forums and probably in other models made around the same time, I've seen this issue reported before but can't remember the outcome(s).

You could see if there are any updates to the computer systems, often solving or patching over one issue to introduce two more.

I forget, have you checked for an admitted Recall. - https://www.skoda-auto.com/services/recall-campaigns

Silent recalls are a different matter, they are the ones they know about but don't want to advertise hoping customers will pay for the work instead, you need to find Technical sheets they keep hidden for those.

I would still suggest you check the battery and as you have got an appropriate battery charger maintainer fully recharge the battery to 100% rather than the car's set of about 80% it will do a 15 month old battery good and if the battery is good at 15 months old hopefully it will take the charge well. Age of battery means only so much of course it's use (abuse and neglect) affects its performance and longevity, even a brand new battery potentially can be depleted for various reasons.

6 hours ago, fabiamk4man said:

P.S Seems to me that many of the modern digital features are not that smart as they think they are…

Smart is only a marketing term, none of these things are smart, they are extremely dumb really only following rules, same for AI and "smart" phones and other devices. It is only recently I have been promoted to a "critical thinker" rather than a Luddite against technologies I and we were using and having problems with decades back.

6 hours ago, fabiamk4man said:

I have the same bad opinion about the system that suggests gear changes that are driving the engine (which is not the most torquey below 2.000 rpm) at absurdly low rpms without taking into consideration either the car's load or the slope of the road, with the result that its suggestions are often laughable and possibly harmful….🙄

I totally agree and it is correct.

They are to help (fiddle) the figures rather than help the engine. I proved to my neighbour that they don't even help with fuel economy as the systems can't (yet?) see the road conditions ahead and make the judgements the driver can (or should).

It was and is all part of this. - SSP-426-Start-stop-system-2009.pdf

As I put have a search I'm sure this thing has come up before but sorry I can't remember the results - and check and recharge the battery, checking it's charging on the car might (or might not) help but at least possibly rule it out.

Good luck, let us know how you get on.

Edited 15 January15 Jan by nta16
typos

nta16

As i wrote, i almost always disable the function myself, so it's not that important for me to waste time, energy and constant searching in the hope of finding a solution - which may or may not exist.  

I wrote it to the forum just in case there was a simple and define answer from the community.

I will follow your advice and charge the battery - not exclusively for this, anyway i have been doing it preventively for many years at least 2-3 times during every winter and even more often as the battery ages (that's why I have also purchased the charger long ago).  

But i believe that a safe conclusion will not be drawn since the malfunction occurs randomly and at inopportune moments at rare intervals of time, so i will never know if something i did or did not do played a role.

A GOOGLE-Advanced search of the complete BRISKODA forum group, using "stop" "start" "random" as the search criteria retrieves (as one might expect) a shed-load of results. Top of the results-list was this one

https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/514550-stop-start-rarely-works/

Arthur C Clarke's 3rd law is "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic", so maybe a Skoda Fabia Mk4 owner should consider the START-STOP system as magic when it works OK and inexplicable when it does not.

(Try hanging a black tourmaline crystal from the rear-view mirror as that stone is claimed to be one of the most powerful for shielding against negative energy, electromagnetic fields (EMFs), and psychic attacks. And much classier than furry dice...)

Edited 15 January15 Jan by DerekU

2 hours ago, fabiamk4man said:

As i wrote, i almost always disable the function myself, so it's not that important for me to waste time, energy and constant searching in the hope of finding a solution - which may or may not exist.  

Yeah I don't blame you if this is the only issue. I try turn off before I start the engine to get a routine but I don't drive the car often so have difficulty forming the habit.

2 hours ago, fabiamk4man said:

I will follow your advice and charge the battery - not exclusively for this, anyway i have been doing it preventively for many years at least 2-3 times during every winter and even more often as the battery ages (that's why I have also purchased the charger long ago).  

That helps generally, might also delays the next onset of the computer doing as it pleases too.

2 hours ago, fabiamk4man said:

But i believe that a safe conclusion will not be drawn since the malfunction occurs randomly and at inopportune moments at rare intervals of time, so i will never know if something i did or did not do played a role.

I think that's how VWHAL 9000 wants us. 😄 Later (if I don't forget) I'll have a look at Derek's link and see if anything triggers my memory (I'd would need at least 100% charge for that and I'm not sure if I've ever had that).