V Dub stop/start

[daverapid]

Do any of you remember or have a Polo, Derby or Golf from the 80's with a stop/start economy devise? I think it was the Formel E models that had it, in fact it's rattyjetta's Jettta in Readers Rides that reminded me of this system. I seem to remember the engine would stop while in neutral after a certain time, and then utomatically start when you put it in gear or something? There was a dash switch to turn off the system too I think?

There was diesel Mk3 Golf in the mid 90's with a more complicated version too I seem to remember?

[goaferboy]

yeah my buggy has that. leave it at idle for a while and the engine stops. it just doesnt start up again when you put it in gear. plus its not intentional

[bstardchild]

daverapid said:

Do any of you remember or have a Polo, Derby or Golf from the 80's with a stop/start economy devise? I think it was the Formel E models that had it, in fact it's rattyjetta's Jettta in Readers Rides that reminded me of this system. I seem to remember the engine would stop while in neutral after a certain time, and then utomatically start when you put it in gear or something? There was a dash switch to turn off the system too I think?

There was diesel Mk3 Golf in the mid 90's with a more complicated version too I seem to remember?

I had a monster battery and an uprated starter motor from memory.

I don't remember there being an overide button

but it definately started itself when you depressed the clutch and went to put it in gear

[lordyoung1980]

I knew someone who had an Audi that had something like that and the over ride switch was on the stalks.

[Pillock]

Yes indeed 'Formel E' - was out in 1985 when my mum bought a Polo from the dealer. He told her not to bother with it as it was too unreliable!! She was a district nurse though, most of her journeys were about a mile so maybe the starter motors weren't that great.

The Golf diesel trialled an Ecomatic system which also had stop-start and freewheel transmission too.... not sure it ever got released, remember it being on TV, it was when the Umwelt diesel came out I think. Think it was the end of the Mk2 run.

[Odin]

My '83 Golf Formel E didn't have it. Maybe that was before it was introduced, or it was optional? The engine was swapped, but I would have thought some of the associated gubbins would remain.

I think most VWs of the era have a similar system though - it's called a knackered Pierburg autochoke.

[rmad]

I thought that Formel E was merely a low compression engine or a fifth gear or something like that. I remember reading an article on a Transit that used the idle/stop/autostart technique relatively recently and it wouldn't have been as interesting if it was standard fitment on VWs years before would it?

[rmad]

From en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Polo :

"A high fuel efficiency model which did make production was the Formel E (E for Economy), introduced in 1983. This used a high compression 1272 cc engine, taller gear ratios and an early stop-start ignition system (called "SSA") which would cut the engine when idle for more than two seconds to save fuel whilst temporarily stopped in traffic, and re-start the engine on moving the gear lever to the left in neutral. Similar systems were later used on the Mark III Golf and various systems from other car manufacturers."

That's that sorted then! ;D

[goaferboy]

it stops if it idles for more than 2 seconds? what about coasting? cant be good surely?

[lordyoung1980]

Anyone remember the fiat strada energy saving, i belive it had a similar system but being italian the electrics were probably naff