Logic...?

[greeng4309]

Hi, I've had my A4 Avant now for a couple of months, and so far have covered 6000 very happy miles in it.

Couple of minor niggles that I hoping for some advice on..

Firstly, the stop-start thing is a bit weird. Sometimes when coming to a stop I put the car into neutral, the engine cuts out, until I put it back into first gear. Most of the time when I put the car into neutral the engine remains on. Any ideas to why this is? (I never drive with cancel button on either, always remains unlit)

Similar experience with the handbrake. I would say 90% of the time when starting up the car, all I have to do is put the car into gear, 1st or reverse, and the hand-brake automatically disengages. Sometimes though, I get the 'press your foot on the brake pedal' message when putting the car into gear. I'm not doing anything differently.

I don't understand the logic of how these two devices work. Do you think this is a fault with the car? Am I doing something wrong.. As I said minor issues, but having spent 3 hours stop-starting on the M25 this evening, I was really struggling to understand how the stop-start device thing works, hence this post...

Any advice please,

Cheers, Rob

[a8 tech]

Park brake control unit reads clutch and brake switch position and they are failing with the fault code relating to the clutch switch but its the park brake control unit at fault.
Scan with vag com and look for clutch switch faults

[21stCentury]

Stop/Start is affected by many factors but in today's weather conditions the most likely causes of the engine not stopping are; engine temperature (the need for circulation of coolant), air-conditioning (the need to keep the compressor and blower running), low battery (no continuous running to charge the battery). Also Stop/Start does not work unless you have travelled a certain distance/time since the last Stop/Start event.

As for the handbrake, it is level sensitive, it only releases automatically when the vehicle is on a slope if you try to move in a direction going up the slope. Despite the message saying 'apply footbrake', you can move off down a slope by pressing the handbrake button and applying the accelerator whilst releasing the clutch.

[a8 tech]

some truth there but again scan for implausible clutch switch fault code

[B8 TDI]

...
As for the handbrake, it is level sensitive, it only releases automatically when the vehicle is on a slope if you try to move in a direction going up the slope. Despite the message saying 'apply footbrake', you can move off down a slope by pressing the handbrake button and applying the accelerator whilst releasing the clutch.

I'm slightly confused about this, Mine will release at any time I apply enough torque to the wheels, no matter if I'm going uphill, downhill or level...

[a8 tech]

I'm slightly confused about this, Mine will release at any time I apply enough torque to the wheels, no matter if I'm going uphill, downhill or level...

Don't be confused as you are correct

[thescouselander]

Something that caught me out when I first got the car - the handbrake doesn't automatically disengage if your seatbelt isn't on. Make sure you're wearing your seatbelt.

[ScottyUK]

From the manual :

"For safety reasons the parking brake will only release automatically if the driver's seat belt is engaged in its buckle."

Go to the back of the class!

[thescouselander]

From the manual :

"For safety reasons the parking brake will only release automatically if the driver's seat belt is engaged in its buckle."

Go to the back of the class!

Obviously, as a bloke, I didn't bother to read the manual until after trying to operate the car.

[MFGF]

Something that caught me out when I first got the car - the handbrake doesn't automatically disengage if your seatbelt isn't on. Make sure you're wearing your seatbelt.

It also doesn't disengage if the engine is at complete idle and you lift the clutch. You need to apply at least a slight throttle pressure then lift the clutch and away you go - either up or down hill.

MF.