stop start error

[lockhart]

Hi,

got an issue with my GTI. On starting the car, there is a MFD error' stop start system'

so booked into my local (aberdeen) dealer only to be told the system does not work below 7degrees and if I book it in and nothing is wrong I will be charge £50 diagnostic fee. I just about blew up! 3rd GTI I have had and very rarely have I been in with warranty issues or the like. Extremely disappointed with the customer service. Car now booked in via another person on the service desk but I will be complaining about this to specialist cars Aberdeen.

also have a really annoying rattle (worse in sport mode) under acceleration. believe it is coming from the glasses compartment mounted up near the map reading lights. Also squeak/squeal from the suspension under low speed maneuvers.. so far not so good on the mk7 (had a mk5 and mk6) other than that it's a nice car.

[dippy_x]

If the stop/start is not working due to a condition (temp to low /power draw from other items that are on) you normally get the Circle A symbol with a line through it. 

If the system is reporting an error then I would guess that it is an actual problem?

[CraigW]

If your seeing an MFD error then there is no way they should be charging you any fee as it should be covered under your warranty

[corgi]

The car should not report an error on the MFD if the only reason for stop-start not working is the ambient temperature.

There will be a number of criteria that need to be satisfied (including ambient temperature) for stop-start to engage, the ECU makes this determination every time you stop and is not an error. If the MFD is reporting an error this would suggest that one of the sensors used for stop-start is not working or has received a transient out-of-range value...

[lockhart]

yep, that's my thoughts Corgi. I have other cars with these systems and know that it won't go on if it's cold, not enough battery reserve etc. I was just shocked at the service actually... speaking to me like I was stupid and then threatening me about a cost implication if I actually took the car in and there was nothing 'actually' wrong!

[mullermn]

If you look in 'Car' / 'Vehicle status' and push the 'stop start' button on the main display screen you can see a list of the conditions that are preventing stop start from working (or confirmation that it is currently available).

There are quite a few things that can stop it working, like 'windscreen may become misted'. The most bizarre one I've seen is 'Ignition not on' or something similar. 1) The ignition was on at the time 2) If it wasn't on, why would you be wanting to stop start anyway?

[lockhart]

nope.. if I push vehicle status, it has a graphic highlighting the engine and saying ERROR stop start system.

[Raymondo]

Hi Lockhart,

I'd stand your ground with the dealer.

I had sat nav trouble in my MK5 GTI about 7 years ago and took it to VW Leeds.  It was going mental and constantly rebooting like a PC.  The chap on the service desk said the disc had expired to which I replied - "I've never heard of that before".  Went away, researched it and nothing about discs expiring.  Phoned him back, told him my findings and in an arrogant tone was told to wind my neck in as it was his profession and not mine (not exact words, but along those lines).  Anyway a few months later I was over in Warrington and had it in for a service there and asked them to look at the unit. Within 2 hours I got a call to say the unit was faulty and they'd order a new one asap.

They're probably just looking at the first thing their diagnostics manual is telling them and hoping that's what it is - stop start doesn't work below a certain temp.

[lockhart]

suppose its not clear on my first post... the car has not gone in.. this complaint was just to get the dam thing looked at!

[ChrisJL]

If you're still getting that error even after you come back to the car for a new journey then get it booked in with your dealer.

Don't let them fob you off that its just not met its conditions for it to auto stop start. If it hasn't met the conditions you just get the little A with a line through it as mentioned above, this is just a little notification.

An ERROR is indicating that there is a problem, you wouldn't get an error if its too cold to auto stop start, you'd just get the little A with a line through it as a notification.

If you're still suffering the problem I'd get a photograph or two of the error you're getting displayed and then get it booked in, so you have the proof it was happening even if it "magically resolves itself" at the dealership. Don't let them fob you off, awful customer service that they just said that.