Vag Stop-Start System

[michaelmph]

Recently got one of the new Seat Leons (VW Golf in effect) with the stop-start system which I have just about got used to. A mechanic friend looked askance when I told him about it and asked how many starter motors I expected to get through. Does anyone here have experience of these systems? Do they really wear out starter motors? They've been around for a few years now in VW/ Audi models so there must be a history out there. Thanks in advance.

[johnny37]

Not an answer but ive got it on my Ford Focus. The saving in fuel must be tiny.

[mccfluff]

not got one myself but we've had them in the fleet for quite some time and its not something i recall as being a problem

[michaelmph]

I agree Johnny. In the SEAT, you can disable it once you start the engine but the default position is 'ON', so it will be enabled the next time you start the car. It's quite useful when stuck in awful traffic jams which you get in my area of north London.

[michaelmph]

Thanks mccfluff. Very helpful. I must investigate how they work.

[chas2008]

been around for a lot longer than people think,BMW & VW/AUDI have using this system for years. The starters and batteries are designed to take the stress, lets be honest would the manufactures want 1,000s of vehicles coming back with iffy starters?

[gingejbee]

My car has it....how much fuel it saves depends on how/where you normally drive. Lots of traffic queues and the savings are good...if you hardly ever are queuing (like me) savings are minimal.
As chas has said, batteries and starters are designed to cope with the system and there are lots of safeguards built-in...my handbook has lots of info on the operation of the system.
However, I'm pleased that I paid a bit extra on ordering the car for an extra two years factory warranty- making it 5 years- just in case !

[Baldric]

Two of our Motors have it fitted, it's disabled on both, we just don't do the type of driving that needs it!

[chas2008]

i have a new 14 plate manual fiesta with the system fitted, like gingejbee says depends on type of driving and how you drive, i tend to leave the vehicle in gear with my foot on the clutch at lights or roundabouts so it hardly ever kicks in.The only time i use it is showing other people how it works or when i do get bored..
Driving an auto with this system fitted is really odd, basically you pull up the engine cuts out!

[michaelmph]

Yes, It's a bit wired at first with an auto. My car has a DSG auto which does not have a torque converter but has two dry plate clutches with associated electronics to change gear. The car has 7 forward gears with all ratios very close so the engine hardly ever goes above 2000 rpm. When you stop at the lights, say, and put your foot firmly on the brake pedal, the engine stops. When you take your foot off the pedal, the engine re-starts automatically in 1st gear.

[cazzz1975]

I would have thought over time it would take it out of the battery, especially short congested trips so the battery never gets a chance to recharge itself properly

[michaelmph]

I'm not sure the battery is involved too much here. In the current heat wave, I've had the air conditioning on permanently. When the engine cuts out as you stop, I noticed the cold air from the vents became gradually warmer. So presumably the battery is not powering the AirCon, though it is powering the fan and the radio, if you have it on. They don't take much juice from the battery, though.

[tonyav]

The engine powers the air con compressor.