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Re: Stop / Start issues

Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2019 8:27 am
by AndyB
Just done over 600 miles, stop/start worked a few times, now back home......nothing. Did try the stop/start if i turned the heater off....omg it worked, so turned the heater to lo with no air con and nothing. The stop/start did work about 3 times, now im back to normal with no stop/start working.......
Also, too my vehicle in this week for the electrical recall, had made the appointment a few weeks ago...... gues what...... got to the dealership and they had not got the relevant parts in to complete this recall. So was sent home and a new appointment has now been made for next week.
What is happening to Vauxhall !!!!

Re: Stop / Start issues

Posted: Sat Aug 10, 2019 1:28 pm
by Mark.C
Well a few weeks following kitkats advice,stop start works all the time. In the winter I know once outside temp hats to a certain level it won't come on and a warning comes up explaining this.

I get the feeling the same goes in the summer when we have the fan on at low with A/C on the cat knows it's so hot that it won't come on.

Re: Stop / Start issues

Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2019 8:05 am
by Lock-N
Just left dealership and now know the fault code relates to the start Stop it’s seemingly the body control Module that needs changed Told them start and stop works fine now .I asked them about the other fault codes they said they found Was told there is none and I asked them how come when I phoned 3 times to ask for the fault codes I was told the technician never recorded them so can’t tell me and today they can but only 1 code .I need to find another garage

Re: Stop / Start issues

Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2019 3:49 pm
by Lock-N
Lock-N wrote: Tue Aug 13, 2019 8:05 am Just left dealership and now know the fault code relates to the start Stop it’s seemingly the body control Module that needs changed Told them start and stop works fine now .I asked them about the other fault codes they said they found Was told there is none and I asked them how come when I phoned 3 times to ask for the fault codes I was told the technician never recorded them so can’t tell me and today they can but only 1 code .I need to find another garage
UPDATE ?
Just been to collect my car and was told now no fault but 8am today I was told the body control Module was the fault code so would be fixed .Now no fault so I’m baffled.I was told the car has been on a test drive and Start & Stop works fine .I said I know I told you this when I booked in at 8am but you insisted that the Module is faulty and would be fixed He then went on to say it must have fixed itself as no fault codes are showing now so there’s your key I have now contacted Vauxhall to make an official complaint and await there reply .But don’t hold out any hope of a satisfactory answer

Re: Stop / Start issues

Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2019 11:46 am
by petepike
Hi All,

Sorry, this is a bit of a long winded message but might be worth a read for those having stop start issues.
Here's what I have found an my thoughts about the issue:-

I am also of the same opinion as others, that the batteries are simply just not man enough (sorry ladies... I mean... strong enough) to cope with the demands of the Grandland with all the toys and electrical bits a pieces on them.
I have a 1.2T Petrol Elite Nav with things such as Power Tailgate, Keyless Entry, Folding Mirrors, all of which can be used with the engine switched off (obviously). I found that if I wash/clean the car and open the doors and open the powered tailgate a few times then I almost always get the 'Vehicle has gone into Eco mode' warning when I come to start the car again (to be honest, I get this at other times too, not just when washing the car, but thought I'd use that as a good example).

As for start/stop... HAH!... I think it worked for the first two weeks... then nope... just the little flashing 'A' on the dash like everyone else has experienced.
I recently purchased a CTEK battery charger (the one specifically for start/start batteries such as the one fitted in the Grandland, as they are different to standard batteries and require charging differently). https://www.ctek.com/products/vehicle/ct5-start-stop
Connected it all up, left it for about 7 hours until it said it was done... guess what.... STOP/START STARTED WORKING AGAIN!!!!! Yay!!! :D

…. but only for about another week and a half. :cry:
(When people are taking their cars back to Vauxhall with the start/stop problem, all I think they are doing is putting them on a battery charger just as I have done. This gives it a full charge and you drive away with it working again... for a week or two!)

I did a little more online research and spoke to my Dad who's been in the motor trade from when the dinosaurs were driving around in cars.... :lol: (sorry Dad)…. there are basically two types of start/stop battery technology, EFB (Enhanced Flooded Battery) and AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat).
Without boring you to tears with the design and technology differences (I'm sure you can look it up for yourself if you're interested), EFB are cheaper and used in conventional start/stop vehicles, and AGM are superior and are used in advanced start/stop vehicles.
AGM are recommended for cars with high energy demands, varied driving schedules, the most demanding accessories, and start/stop system with regenerative braking. Now I know we don't have regenerative braking, but the Grandland certainly seems to tick the others boxes.

https://batteryworld.varta-automotive.com/en-gb/car-battery-start-stop

the above link is to information from VARTA (who manufacture the battery currently supplied in the Grandland). Read down and you'll see that even they say that an upgrade to an AGM battery may be worthwhile in situations where there is 'extensive electronic equipment' or you 'drive short distances or are often in traffic queues', etc.

Guess which one is fitted in the Grandland… yep, the cheaper and less efficient EFB.

Now I'm no battery expert/technician, so if someone can tell me why Vauxhall would have used EFB over the premium AGM for any reason other than cost, then please feel free to enlighten me; but it seems as though they have fitted a battery only just up to the job of running things, but after a bit of day to day use, and the type of driving that the majority of people buying these cars use them for, they just don't work properly!

Vauxhall saying, "oh you need to drive the car for further and for extended periods" is a easy cop out in my opinion.
For starters, their dealership sell the car on PCP, PHC, etc. with a standard 8k mile a year limit (I think it's around 8k miles); why start with such a low basic allowance if you have a car that needs to be driven for about 30-40 minutes continually, every day, in order to keep the battery charged to enable you to use all the features. That's just mad!! :?

Anyway... as I said, a bit of a long winded response, and fair play if you made it this far :lol: :P , but hopefully it's a little helpful and gives another angle on why we all seem to be having these problems with start/stop and Eco Mode.

Whether Vauxhall will admit/address the problem is a different story. It would be nice to think that they will look into it possibly being a battery issue; but having a look at the latest MY20 spec list for the Grandland, it appears all they are doing is stripping off electric gadgets and 'toys' to save money (obviously) but I reckon it could also be to cut down on the battery drain on the latest models - Power tailgate now only on top end model (unless ordered as option) but used to be standard on Sport Nav and above; 240v socket gone as standard; Denon sound system gone; adaptive cruise option gone; wireless charging now optional on Elite, etc. etc.

Re: Stop / Start issues

Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2019 6:01 pm
by Deleted User 409
This all makes sense to me. I do find that leaving the powered tailgate open and several of the doors open always results in the car going into ECO mode. I have to have the tailgate open for a while as I have a hoist for loading my wife's mobility scooter. I now leave the engine running when unloading and loading the scooter as it is powered of course by the battery. This could well be my last Vauxhall car.

Re: Stop / Start issues

Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2019 6:47 pm
by AndyB
Ken, i think i am in agreement with you...... i have had Vauxhall vehicles for many years, but i too think this will be my last one.

Re: Stop / Start issues

Posted: Sat Sep 07, 2019 9:10 am
by Lock-N
Yes I’m 100% behind what to say in that the battery is not big enough for all the extras fitted .Mine now works but only after driving for a while .Then when sitting using radio ect battery goes down to the levels where to get stop & Start to work again you have to drive for a while .So Come on Vauxhall Admit our cars new more powerful battery’s

Re: Stop / Start issues

Posted: Sat Sep 07, 2019 5:48 pm
by Deleted User 409
I've passed the info about the batteries to members of the Opel/Vauxhall Facebook group and it seems an number of owners have already had AGM batteries fitted. Those that have say the stop/start works most of the time now. So that says it all. Maybe I will go that way myself.

Re: Stop / Start issues

Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2019 10:01 am
by AndyB
Ken, have these Grandland owners purchased these batteries themselves or had them fitted for free. I have spoken to vauxhall customer service many many times over this issue. Its like banging your head on a brick wall. I do think Vauxhall are aware of this issue but are burying their head in the sand. Surely there must be something us Grandland owners can do to get these small inadequate batteries replaced. My wife has an astra gtc diesel auto, even her battery is bigger than the one fitted in Grandland....