Annoying 'helpful' features on C4 Picasso - Stop/Start and auto parking brake.

Jeepers_Creepers

sheramber said:

No, it stays off  until you switch it on again.

THAT is what I want!

Rats...

Biggus_Dickus

sheramber said:

Stubod said:

sheramber said:

My Skoda has a button to switch start stop off. You need to switch it on again if you want it.

..yes but you have to remember to turn it off every time you start a new trip.

I'm with the OP, stop/start is largely a con to allow manufacturers to meet some arbitrary emissions target, and for me is also a pain in the proverbial, (I always turn it off if I remember).

Same as electronic handbrake, a solution to a problem that doesn't exist. Just something else to go wrong as the car gets older.

No, it stays off  until you switch it on again.

I’m quite happy to be proved wrong but I don’t think??? any new‘ish car has a start/stop system that stays deactivated when the ignition is switched off. When the ignition/engine is restarted the S/S system always reverts to its default state of being ‘active’,...in my experience anyway, which is reasonably extensive but certainly not all encompassing.

You mentioned your Skoda in an earlier post;...do Skoda have different S/S systems dependent on the model type?

This is from a ‘Skoda Superb’ instruction book:

Deactivation of the START-STOP system:  The START-STOP system can be temporarily deactivated, by pressing the button in the front centre console. After switching the ignition off and on, re-activation of the START-STOP system always takes place.

p.s. I’ve never driven a Skoda, btw. 🙂

 

 

 

Jeepers_Creepers

Biggus_Dickus said:

I’m quite happy to be proved wrong but I don’t think??? any new‘ish car has a start/stop system that stays deactivated when the ignition is switched off. When the ignition/engine is restarted the S/S system always reverts to its default state of being ‘active’,...in my experience anyway, which is reasonably extensive but certainly not all encompassing.

You mentioned your Skoda in an earlier post;...do Skoda have different S/S systems dependent on the model type?

This is from a ‘Skoda Superb’ instruction book:

Deactivation of the START-STOP system:  The START-STOP system can be temporarily deactivated, by pressing the button in the front centre console. After switching the ignition off and on, re-activation of the START-STOP system always takes place.

p.s. I’ve never driven a Skoda, btw. 🙂

I'd be happy even with that - a single push of a button.

On the C4, tho', you need to go into 'car settings', stab that button, and then go back to radio or whateves. Unless you leave the screen in 'settings' which is unhelpful.

Mil's one-year old Twingo has a physical button, so it's off permanently.

gabitzul

OH has the same car (2015) but with the silky EAT6 automatic gearbox. S&S sometimes works, sometimes not (if you look online, there are about 10 conditions to be met before it engages, otherwise the ECO light on the dash just blinks and nothing happens). On mine, it works I would say about 50% of the cases when you expect it to, but then the car does short journeys and often does not get up to temp and the car battery does not have much charge either I suppose.

It engages again when I release the break pedal, works really well actually.

It helps S&S to engage if I charge the battery when the car is on the drive (I have one of those smart 4A 12v chargers).

Edit: forgot to say: I believe you can disable it permanently, using the diagnostic software (diagbox).

Jeepers_Creepers

gabitzul said:

OH has the same car (2015) but with the silky EAT6 automatic gearbox. S&S sometimes works, sometimes not (if you look online, there are about 10 conditions to be met before it engages, otherwise the ECO light on the dash just blinks and nothing happens). On mine, it works I would say about 50% of the cases when you expect it to, but then the car does short journeys and often does not get up to temp and the car battery does not have much charge either I suppose.

It engages again when I release the break pedal, works really well actually.

It helps S&S to engage if I charge the battery when the car is on the drive (I have one of those smart 4A 12v chargers).

Edit: forgot to say: I believe you can disable it permanently, using the diagnostic software (diagbox).

Thanks gabitzul.

I have no issue with the way it works; if I wanted it to work, then all would be fine. The issue is I don't always want it to work on the types of journeys I usually take, so I'd rather judge when I do instead of when I don't.

You reckon it can be disabled?! Now that's interesting :-)

Jeepers_Creepers

Jenni_D said:

In my car if I'm stopped at a junction and auto-stop has kicked in, if I press the clutch pedal the car engine starts. If I release the pedal whilst still in neutral (and PB still on) the car engine remains on - it is a one-time thing until the car has been put in gear and is moving again.

Tried that today when stopped at red lights and engine fairly warm. Engine stopped as soon as I engaged neutral and released the clutch. Dipped the clutch and engine restarted. Released and it stopped. Dipped and it started again. Released and it stopped. One more time and it stayed running for the remaining few seconds until the lights changed, but I reckon that was just because of the drain from restarting so many times!

No 'one-time' scenario here, I'm afraid.

Herzlos

I disliked the stop/start on mine for the first month or so but it's actually great now. My engine also stays on if I dip the clutch.

Even taking your neutral/handbrake approach at junctions, by the time you depress the clutch and engage 1st in preparation to move off, the engine will have restarted and be good to go long before you start moving.
I doubt many people could engage a gear faster than the engine can restart.

The only problem I could see is that if the engine is 'off' for long enough it requires you to restart it properly with a key, but that takes 5+ minutes and there's a huge dash warning about it.

Jenni_D

Jeepers_Creepers said:

Jenni_D said:

In my car if I'm stopped at a junction and auto-stop has kicked in, if I press the clutch pedal the car engine starts. If I release the pedal whilst still in neutral (and PB still on) the car engine remains on - it is a one-time thing until the car has been put in gear and is moving again.

Tried that today when stopped at red lights and engine fairly warm. Engine stopped as soon as I engaged neutral and released the clutch. Dipped the clutch and engine restarted. Released and it stopped. Dipped and it started again. Released and it stopped. One more time and it stayed running for the remaining few seconds until the lights changed, but I reckon that was just because of the drain from restarting so many times!

No 'one-time' scenario here, I'm afraid.

Once you're stopped, HB on and in neutral (so the engine stops) have you tried dipping the accelerator? Does that make the engine start and stay on?

Jeepers_Creepers

Herzlos said:

I disliked the stop/start on mine for the first month or so but it's actually great now. My engine also stays on if I dip the clutch.

Even taking your neutral/handbrake approach at junctions, by the time you depress the clutch and engage 1st in preparation to move off, the engine will have restarted and be good to go long before you start moving.
I doubt many people could engage a gear faster than the engine can restart.

The only problem I could see is that if the engine is 'off' for long enough it requires you to restart it properly with a key, but that takes 5+ minutes and there's a huge dash warning about it.

I have no issue with it when it conks out when I'm stopped for a good few seconds. And, yes, it starts up (and the parking brake releases) easily quickly enough to not delay setting off - it's all great, it really is.

What I can't abide - I really dislike 'cos I'm old-school - is the car conking out when I'm stopped for a half second. Eg, pull up to red light that I know will likely be changing very soon, neutral - conks out - light's change immediately. What's the bludy point, other than starter wear. Yes, I could sit with car in gear and clutch in waiting for these few seconds - but what's the bludy point, other than clutch bearing wear.

Or, my main gripe, is at give-way junctions. Now that really pi**es me off. When I need to be ready to pull out quickly into an oncoming gap, what I don't need is a car that's not running. What I don't need is sitting with the clutch depressed just to keep an engine running. What I don't need is a car that conks out again when I decide the gap is too risky. And ditto for the next gap.

What I need is a car that keeps running - until I tell it not to. Jeepers, not much to ask :-)

Oh, and doesn't apply the bludy parking brake unless I tell it to... Creepers.

Jeepers_Creepers

Jenni_D said:

Once you're stopped, HB on and in neutral (so the engine stops) have you tried dipping the accelerator? Does that make the engine start and stay on?

Hmm, no idea - I'll try. Cheers.

Even if that does work, it still assumes the engine is going to conk out at every light and junction first. Sigh...