Stop/Start Tech & DSG

[Hawaii-Five-O]

Just wondering how stop-start technology works in conjunction with DSG gearboxes?

For instance if you come to a halt in heavy traffic for a few seconds and the stop-start system cuts the engine, you're still in 'D' setting on the DSG, then when you pull away does it just fire up again and off you go? Do you have to press the break peddle and release when you want to move forward?

How does the DSG box cope with this as it normally prefers you to either press and hold the break pedal, select neutral or slip it into park. All of this seems to work against stop-start tech.

[dubber36]

It's a quite frustrating system with DSG. When the car comes to a stop, the engine stops. When you release the brake, it starts again. However, if you are stationary in a line of traffic, it means having to keep your foot on the brake to make sure the engine stays off, so the driver behind has to stare at your brake lights. Us courteous drivers who consider the car behind would normally come off the brake and let the Auto Hold, hold the car, but doing that will start the engine again.

Also when manoeuvring, it can stop the engine when you are stationary, going between D and R. It will re-start instantly when you release the brake, but it can make you look as if you've stalled the car.

You can of course switch it off, or trick it by applying slightly less brake pedal pressure to bring the car to a stop, but there is a very fine line between how much pressure to apply for the engine to turn off or not. You really have to think about it, which kind off goes against the rest of the cars effort saving driver aids. 

[Sootchucker]

I agree with the above. Have it on my BM Rocco DSG and whilst you do get used to it, it's not the most initiative of systems. It would be far better if you pressed the brake pedal to stop, kept it in for a couple of seconds (so the system knows you have actually stopped - not just manoeuvring), then allow you to take you foot off the pedal so the brake lights go out. Then, the slightest press on the accelerator to move off should restart the system.

Think this would be better than having to keep your foot on the brake. To be honest I'd have thought VW would have matured the system after 2-3 years of operation ?

[dubber36]

It would make sense for it to restart when you pressed the accelerator, as that's what you need to do to release the auto hold, but I guess the engine has time to start in the time between moving your foot from the brake to the accelerator, meaning you can move off a fraction of a second quicker.

[Hawaii-Five-O]

God it sounds very fiddley. Not liking the sound of it with DSG at all! DSG is such a lovely smooth system on my current non stop/start Scirocco.

Any way to deactivate via VAGCOM?

I know it's all about saving fuel, but honestly how much does it actually save in the long run especially if it pi$$es customers off.

[dubber36]

Any way to deactivate via VAGCOM?

Not as far as I'm aware, but there is is a button to turn it off. You just need to remember to do it every time you start the car.

I know it's all about saving fuel, but honestly how much does it actually save in the long run

Bugger all, but it does reduce the emissions in the lab tests, so we pay less road tax as a result.

[Hawaii-Five-O]

Anybody got their new GTI/GTD using stop-start with DSG? I'd like to hear how it works and your day-to-day experience?

[master_hayabusa]

I didn't find it a bother in my DSG test drive, even though I did not do 3-point turn.

In any case you have the option of moving your hand a few inches and turning it off. How much hassle can that be?

I personally think it's good to have both options at the flick of a switch.

[dubber36]

The frustrating part is having to leave your foot on the brake when stationary in order for the engine to stay off. You can put it into Park and then release the brake pedal, but that defeats the whole effortless point of DSG and Auto Hold.

[monkeyhanger]

Anybody got their new GTI/GTD using stop-start with DSG? I'd like to hear how it works and your day-to-day experience?

It pisses my dad off no end – he switches it off every journey. He stops for roundabouts but otherwise his commute is smooth flowing and he’s never stopped anywhere for long. Of course the system doesn’t know how long he’s going to be stopped for. If there is a VCDS solution to this, he wants his start-stop disabling ASAP.