Mk7 Stop/Start System - Issues and Questions

[Midfielder]

Over 4 weeks now since 'software upgrade' - no further problems with Stop-Start

[capad]

Hi I'm glad to find this thread..mine has exactly the same problem, the car stopped and then wouldn't restart in traffic. VW dealer cant find a problem and just asked me to take the car back.

Just bump up the thread to see if anyone else has the problem? I'm sick of having dramas with the car and subject myself to danger so plan to go to fair trading.

[Midfielder]

3 and half months since software upgrade an no further problems - I wrote to mechanic who performed (after advice from Sydney HQ) and he wasn't very specific on what was done - I told him of capad problem above and he said he needs to see what sort of 'flash' update he needs. I'm not sure about all this but perhaps some cars need re installation of software- or an upgrade

[Regbaon]

Stop-Start

Hi
I have just picked up the Golf Comfortline Estate mk7 and while reading the manual on the Stop Start noted a warning.(That using the system over a long period of high outside temp can cause damage to the battery).So as we are getting into a hot summer here in Australia maybe we should turn it off.I believe the battery's are pretty expensive.

[Idle]

Constant stop-starts will damage any battery — ask any door-to-door van operator.

And yes, I've been one.

That's why many batteries only carry a three months guarantee in commercial use.

[Regbaon]

Hi Idle
Yes of course standard battery would deteriorate pretty quick.
The battery in the VW golf is supposedly designed to handle constant Stop-Start in traffic and at traffic lights but the cost of a new battery vs the saving of fuel,and as I'm a pensioner and plan my life outside heavy traffic times I think I'll turn it off.

[kryten2001]

Hi
I have just picked up the Golf Comfortline Estate mk7 and while reading the manual on the Stop Start noted a warning.(That using the system over a long period of high outside temp can cause damage to the battery).So as we are getting into a hot summer here in Australia maybe we should turn it off.I believe the battery's are pretty expensive.

Yeah turn that junk off, either on each start or permanently via coding.

Not just the battery but also think of your poor starter motor.

[Idle]

Hi Idle
Yes of course standard battery would deteriorate pretty quick.
The battery in the VW golf is supposedly designed to handle constant Stop-Start in traffic and at traffic lights but the cost of a new battery vs the saving of fuel,and as I'm a pensioner and plan my life outside heavy traffic times I think I'll turn it off.

I did find that fitting the biggest battery I could squeeze into a van extended the battery life, usually by about 50%, as I notice VW have done in my current Golf (Mk7 TDI.)

Presumably they've also beefed up the starter — my only recourse with the vans was to carry spares — but I've also noticed that the stop/start is erratic at best. I can queue at lights for five minutes and the diesel idles — then just a quick pause in traffic and it'll shut down, only to restart almost instantly.

In heavy traffic, sometimes I remember to turn it off, but so far it gives me the feeling that it'll last quite a while.

However, in a day's driving there are still nowhere near the number of starts those vans did (100 to 120 a day was normal, and in those days the electrics in Transits were nothing to write home about.)

[Regbaon]

Delete

[Regbaon]

I did find that fitting the biggest battery I could squeeze into a van extended the battery life, usually by about 50%, as I notice VW have done in my current Golf (Mk7 TDI.)

Presumably they've also beefed up the starter — my only recourse with the vans was to carry spares — but I've also noticed that the stop/start is erratic at best. I can queue at lights for five minutes and the diesel idles — then just a quick pause in traffic and it'll shut down, only to restart almost instantly.

In heavy traffic, sometimes I remember to turn it off, but so far it gives me the feeling that it'll last quite a while.

However, in a day's driving there are still nowhere near the number of starts those vans did (100 to 120 a day was normal, and in those days the electrics in Transits were nothing to write home about.)

I did parcel deliveries in a Transit van to homes in London many years ago,and I took a chance of leaving it running unless I went into a block of flats.

[Regbaon]

For the last two days I have been unable to get this function to work. Usually it defaults to being on unless you turn it off. I have turned the switch on and off several times, driven with A/C on and off. I have driven the car often enougn to know I have a problem.*I know some of you hate this function but i'm a fan of it. Anyone else had problems with this feature?

I note you live in Adelaide a pretty hot State in summer,so I think the warning on page 212 in the manual about damage to the battery when outside temps are high should be noted,that's why I decided to turn mine off.

[Moonee]

Had an interesting one the other day. Car had stopped with auto stop/start when all of a sudden it started up on its own. It was a cool day so the aircon was not running.


Speaking of aircon, is the aircon in the MK7 electric or at least capable of running independent of the engine? This is the first car I've owned where the aircon continues to run fine even with the engine off.

[Kesh]

Had an interesting one the other day. Car had stopped with auto stop/start when all of a sudden it started up on its own. It was a cool day so the aircon was not running.


Speaking of aircon, is the aircon in the MK7 electric or at least capable of running independent of the engine? This is the first car I've owned where the aircon continues to run fine even with the engine off.

Nah the AC compressor still runs off the engine belts. It'll stay cold for a little bit while it's clearing the pipes, then it'll slowly go back to being fresh air again. If you have it on a really slow fan speed, you might have some cold air in there for the whole duration the engine is off.

[jonoz]

Anyone else's stop-start seem to have become a little sluggish in engaging 1st gear after being stopped?

[lambertia]

Anyone else's stop-start seem to have become a little sluggish in engaging 1st gear after being stopped?

Yes. Sometimes in can take a couple of seconds and some times it engages the clutch resulting in an incredibly violent jolt forward.