Stop start system.

[Rmason00]

Good morning to all members.

Just joined the forum having  bought my first Audi Q5, I have a couple of questions a out the motor .

1st does the Q5 have the headlight warning/information button on display on the dashboard all my other cars have had the green headlight display showing when headlights are turned on.   My car has the auto then sidelights and then dip lights on the switch.  Regardless of which position I select there is no green lamp/icon showing, however the blue lamp lights up for main beam or for flash.

2nd the stop start system is very how can I put it at first it worked then only occasionally now it doesn't the dealership I got the motor from says that my battery must be running low and that will cause the fault.

Hoping some of you good people can impart some info on this otherwise annoying problem to a decent motor.

[Magnet]

Hello Robert,

To cut to your thread heading issue relating to stop/start, it would be reasonable to suspect that the battery will no longer be as serviceable as it needs to be to consistently operate the stop/start facility - even though it may adequately start the car on demand. Most manufacturers build in a battery monitoring system which continually monitors the battery’s performance, and if any of the parameters are below par, then the stop/start facility will be the first to shut down.if a 

Yes, the dealership will deduce the battery isn’t fully charged and it’s not unusual to blame the car’s usage pattern - short runs etc. - but at the age of the car, it would surprise me if the battery isn’t the main contributor here. You could try charging the battery (only - caps- via. an ‘intelligent’ charger if it’s an AGM type, which it most probably is ) and this might just result in the stop/start working again for a while, but reliably?? 

If the battery does need replacing, then personally, I would only replace it with a Varta/Bosch one having at least a 4 year warranty. 

Lights issues?? 

Kind regards,

Gareth. 

 

[Rmason00]

Many thanks for your reply to be honest after reading your reply I am inclined to replace the battery.  Why stick to varta/bosh is there issues with the age type.

[Magnet]

Well, of course you can simply replace it on the assumption that it’s now passed its best, but I’m from the school of test first and replace  if necessary. 

Why Varta or Bosch ( same batteries but branded differently so it seems)? 

It is likely that the original battery was made by Varta, so it makes sense to replace it with a brand which the manufacturer used. You can of course, use batteries from different suppliers/manufacturers as long as they are a match for the battery technology type and specification in terms of Ah and cold cranking current ratings etc., but I have found that buying ‘on price’ is false economy in the long run. Having said that, where I suggested you get your battery checked are amongst the dearest for replacement batteries.

I have simply stuck with Varta or Bosch batteries (but their 4 or 5 year warranty quality ones) and buy on line from specialist suppliers such as Battery Megastore ( buy via eBay to get free postage), Tanya etc. - there are more - and you are likely to find that the prices for these premium brands are little more than buying Brand x batteries locally. 

One thing to be aware of which might, just might, apply to your model year:- the battery may have to be coded in so that the battery monitoring system ( if fitted) is updated with the fact that a new battery has been fitted. 

Hope some of this helps.

Kind regards,

Gareth. 

 

 

[greysquirrel]

With regards to the lights, I have an A3, and have no lights on the dash to tell me if have my lights on, other than the blue high beam. It seems that only the light switch lights to show what is switched on, but I can't see this because it's behind my right hand/windscreen wiper control.

My stop start system was intermittent at best when I bought my car. the garage agreed to replace the battery under warranty (£299 at retail)

Since then, it has been better, but bear in mind that it only works if everything is meets certain criteria:

It checks things like:

Battery voltage, Outside versus inside temperature, current draw, engine temperature etc.

It will only activate if all conditions are met. Mine can go for a week without activating once, then will work 6 times in a 4 mile drive. Most of the time I find myself turning it off, because there is nothing worse than rolling up to a red light, having the engine switch off, only for the lights to go green 2 seconds later.

 

[Rmason00]

Magnet, grey squire thanks for your replies and info re my post.  Am getting the battery tested this week and if it's any way suspect shall replace it . 

GS re the dash icons your smack on width set up very weird and thanks.

[Magnet]

Hello Keith,

You might find an ‘ordinary’ battery test may not show up that the battery is substandard if the car is fitted with a sophisticated Battery Monitoring System, since the old ‘drop test’ effectively since tests for voltage drop under load. Main dealers and some independents will have more state of the art monitoring kit which will test parameters such as cold cranking amps (CCA) -  which can lead to the stop/start system not working if this CCA value is not consistently up to par. This test might be only possible via. an establishment equipped with a good VAG diagnostic set up. 

Have you checked on the price of a new battery - having taken the Ah and CCA rating figures off yours, together with the battery dimensions, so you double check you are looking at the right one? Maybe, worth buying a new one if the cost of a proper (in caps) test is more than you think. Well worth getting your economics sorted first. 

Kind regards,

Gareth.