VW disable start/stop eco stupidity

Doltanian · 20-03-2018 8:23pm #1

I am driving a VW and I've heard that you can get the start-stop eco stupidity permanently switched off. I've been using the switch and I just switch off each time I start the car but I'd like to get it permanently disabled. Its a pain at traffic lights or roundabout as the engine shuts off and by the time it restarts it basically renders the reaction time of the DSG autobox back down to Manual snails pace. It also places alot of unnecessary wear and tear on the starter motor.

biko · 20-03-2018 8:30pm

You need a VCDS tool to do it. Do you have one?

teediddlyeye · 20-03-2018 8:35pm

Disconnect the battery monitoring. Its the small connector on the battery negative terminal.
One way of doing it!

Toyotafanboi · 20-03-2018 9:01pm

It's not an option on some of the newer cars. It couldn't be done on our Mk7.

If you unplug the switch it stops it working but it leaves an error on the MFD. Might be an option.

GarIT · 20-03-2018 9:05pm

Doltanian wrote: »

It also places alot of unnecessary wear and tear on the starter motor.

I've read that this isn't true. They use a different type of starter motor that is built to withstand the stop/start sequence.

Toyotafanboi · 20-03-2018 9:07pm

GarIT wrote: »

I've read that this isn't true. They use a different type of starter motor that is built to withstand the stop/start sequence.

The engine is also conditioned to stop just before TDC on cylinder one to minimise the amount of cranking necessary to restart.

GarIT · 20-03-2018 9:11pm

amber2 wrote: »

There’s an A button with a circle around it to the left Of the gear leaver turns it on and off.

They know that, they want it off permanently.

Spook_ie · 21-03-2018 1:23pm

I just disable it when I think a faster take off is required, then reengage it afterwards, seems to save a good deal of fuel when in use, and obviously if in stop/start traffic cuts down on fumes.

As to reaction times at roundabouts etc. do you (OP) switch the box to S mode to get away faster or rely on the drive settings? When I need to go at busy roundabouts etc.I just flick the gear stick into S mode and then back to Drive/Eco mode, works for me.

Henry Ford III · 21-03-2018 1:31pm

Just hit the disable switch. Makes less than no sense to disable it permanently.

tossy · 21-03-2018 2:05pm

I believe you can disable it permanently by changing the changing the parameters on the conditions it needs to work in, you can change the voltage settings or temperature settings, i've never done it but i imagine it's pretty easy, once you have VCDS.

The downside is you will need VCDS to re enable it again.

Doltanian · 21-03-2018 4:36pm

I haven't used Sport mode yet, I only managed to test out the Cruise control yesterday for around 5 minutes. I was thinking to disable the on/off feature as my father (elderly) occasionally borrows the car and finds it to be a right balls of a system. But in he's truth he is fond of the automatic, which is attraction to my car to him lol.

I find it a nuisance myself when I forget to turn it off. I am in the country and average 80-100km/h the whole time with very little stop start traffic except the few times I'd go into the cities, towns etc.

lawred2 · 21-03-2018 4:38pm

Don't you have to drop into neutral with your foot on the brake for it to shut off the engine anyway?

if you want a quick getaway - just keep the clutch depressed

that's the way it works in mine anyway

Doltanian · 21-03-2018 4:42pm

lawred2 wrote: »

Don;t you have to drop into neutral with your foot on the brake for it to shut off the engine anyway?

if you want a quick getaway - just keep the clutch depressed

that's the way it works in mine anyway

Mines a DSG Autobox, keeping my foot on the brake at a stop for more than a second or two e.g. a Junction or Roundabout will switch off the engine.

lawred2 · 21-03-2018 4:43pm

Doltanian wrote: »

Mines a DSG Autobox, keeping my foot on the brake at a stop for more than a second or two e.g. a Junction or Roundabout will switch off the engine.

ah

zilog_jones · 21-03-2018 5:44pm

If you need to pull off quickly, use your left foot on the brake so you can press the accelerator at the same time. Always worked for me driving hybrids and other automatics.

Caliden · 21-03-2018 5:47pm

I'm pretty sure you'll need to get the ECU coded to turn it off permanently.

It should really be a system setting somewhere to have it always on/off and then allow you to turn it off/on at will.

tossy · 21-03-2018 6:01pm

Caliden wrote: »

I'm pretty sure you'll need to get the ECU coded to turn it off permanently.

It should really be a system setting somewhere to have it always on/off and then allow you to turn it off/on at will.

Thats the thing with VCDS your not turning it off per say you are just changing the parameters at which it operates. It's probably a 5 min job.

uncle-mofo · 21-03-2018 6:03pm

On a slightly related note, has anyone thought of how this might affect turbos? I always read that it was bad to turn off the engine straight away when the turbo is hot, and better to leave it run until the turbo cools. My stop/start kicks in straight away when stopping at a toll on the motorway after some spirited driving.

tossy · 21-03-2018 6:07pm

Is there an after run pump on your car ? If so it probably kicks in when the stop start kicks in also.

An after run pump, pumps coolant around the engine for 10 minutes adter switching off.

uncle-mofo · 21-03-2018 6:21pm

OSI wrote: »

They have an electrical coolant pump that continues to circulate oil through the turbo if it needs cooling post engine shut off.

Nice one, learn something new every day!

tossy · 21-03-2018 6:27pm

uncle-mofo wrote: »

Nice one, learn something new every day!

You're welcome

Doltanian · 21-03-2018 6:48pm

OSI wrote: »

They have an electrical coolant pump that continues to circulate oil through the turbo if it needs cooling post engine shut off.

Oh, I have noticed something humming alright after I switch off the engine and had no idea what it was, I thought it was maybe the fan or something.

whippet · 21-03-2018 7:18pm

I have it on my manual and being able to control the stop/start with the clutch is a god send .. my wife’s car is a DSG and it is infuriating at lights and roundabouts when you forget to switch it off.

As an aside I’ve well over 300,000km done on mine and no starter motor or turbo issues so not sure where this paranoia comes from

Doltanian · 21-03-2018 7:30pm

whippet wrote: »

I have it on my manual and being able to control the stop/start with the clutch is a god send .. my wife’s car is a DSG and it is infuriating at lights and roundabouts when you forget to switch it off.

As an aside I’ve well over 300,000km done on mine and no starter motor or turbo issues so not sure where this paranoia comes from

What are you driving? I've a 2.0L VW Jetta DSG 2015 model. Its good to hear that at 300,000kms, are you servicing at the VW Main dealers or an Independent Mechanic?

JoeA3 · 21-03-2018 8:36pm

You don't need VCDS. OBDEleven will do it - far cheaper and suits the casual user much more.

Depending on the model, you can possibly code it so that it remembers last setting... so you switch it off once and never worry about it again - this doesn't work for all models. I know I did this in an A4 but it wasn't possible in a Golf.

When you "disable" it with OBDEleven, the car is effectively coded to raise the battery voltage cut off level (to a point it'll never fall below) at which it thinks its OK to switch off the car. So the "stop" never kicks in then as the car thinks it isn't OK to do so.

Reversing it again to standard is as simple.

whippet · 21-03-2018 10:20pm

Doltanian wrote: »

What are you driving? I've a 2.0L VW Jetta DSG 2015 model. Its good to hear that at 300,000kms, are you servicing at the VW Main dealers or an Independent Mechanic?

It’s a 1.6tdi superb 2011 .. serviced at main dealers for the first 3 years and at an Indy since then.

Rusky rusky · 22-03-2018 12:48am

Doltanian wrote: »

I am driving a VW and I've heard that you can get the start-stop eco stupidity permanently switched off. I've been using the switch and I just switch off each time I start the car but I'd like to get it permanently disabled. Its a pain at traffic lights or roundabout as the engine shuts off and by the time it restarts it basically renders the reaction time of the DSG autobox back down to Manual snails pace. It also places alot of unnecessary wear and tear on the starter motor.

The s/s button in vw golf is located on the lhs of the gearstick so it’s easy to find it w/o looking. I usually disable it at the junctions where I need to drive off quickly. On the new golf the s/s shuts the engine before you come to a full stop and restarts it when the car in front move off. This could be annoying if the driver in front keep on creeping forward....
Btw, pulling back the gearstick from drive position will put the gearbox into the sports mode which good for fast overtaking. Pulling back again will return it into the drive mode. I also find useful manual mode to stop the car constantly changing gears on Cork hills:)

Doltanian · 22-03-2018 1:06am

I've also got tiptronic but haven't tried it out yet, I haven't drove a manual car since 2005 so the whole concept of changing gears is alien to me, even without a clutch.

Spook_ie · 22-03-2018 3:41am

Doltanian wrote: »

I've also got tiptronic but haven't tried it out yet, I haven't drove a manual car since 2005 so the whole concept of changing gears is alien to me, even without a clutch.

Don't think you'll keep up with the recommend a change up/down display but yeah useful to keep the car in a lower gear going downhill and things like that.

Doltanian · 22-03-2018 12:09pm

Spook_ie wrote: »

Don't think you'll keep up with the recommend a change up/down display but yeah useful to keep the car in a lower gear going downhill and things like that.

I think it’s used for towing like a small caravan downhill etc. I don’t have a hitch so it’s just another feature I’ll probably never use.

Skylinehead · 22-03-2018 12:46pm

Doltanian wrote: »

I think it’s used for towing like a small caravan downhill etc. I don’t have a hitch so it’s just another feature I’ll probably never use.

It's handy for setting off in heavy snow too, chuck it in 2nd or 3rd and off you go.

VW disable start/stop eco stupidity

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