Do you put the car in neutral (automatics) when at traffic lights etc?

[glojo]

Hi John

Heading off-topic, whilst I agree that the accountants did a quick asset strip on mid-2004 cars on-wards, I would personally bet that SBC stop was dropped for fear of litigation, rather than cost cutting.

Certainly a possibility that would be hard to dispute but what about the location of the so called 'HAND-BRAKE' bit of a contradiction in terminology but it takes some getting used to and is not in the usual place for a hand........ brake.

John

 

[Diapason]

SBC stop

Hi Simon,
Sadly the accountants have attacked the 211 far quicker than corrosion There are numerous threads on this subject and I have always maintained the best 211s were constructed between January 2004 and the summer of that year. After that date standard features have disappeared quicker than money from my wallet SBC Stop is just one small feature that has been struck down by the pen. I believe the Easy Entrance\Exit feature is now a cut down version. On the wing mirrors of your car you have the indicator lights, are there nice little puddles lights on the underside of these mrrors?

Going back to this topic, SBC Stop is only a convienant feature in slow, stop start traffic and I don't think we have really used it, but in inner cities where the driver might be at low speeds and stopping at lots of traffic lights, hold-ups etc then it will not kick out so it might be a nice option.

John

Thanks John,

My car was registered in March 2006 so is just before the facelift - ie it has SBC (which I think is fantastic). I have the easy entrance/exit feature which moves the steering wheel (and I think also the seat if it's far forwards?). Does yours do something else? I don't think I do have puddles under the mirrors but there are lights under the doors which I suppose do the same thing.

SBC hold is a great feature which I use almost every day. I understood the principle of SBC stop and was looking forward to trying this out, but alas I've never done so as it simply wasn't an option.

I too wonder how leaving this feature out could possibly have saved even one penny - as, yes, it's just another software feature. So I, too, tend to the opinion that there might have been another reason. However, if there had been any slight hint of litigation then the feature could have been 'switched off' all existing cars too. And they haven't done that, so if I were you I'd drive with a satisfied smile on your face that you've got something that none of us new boys have

All the best,

Simon

 

[Diapason]

SBC Stop

See post above for possible SBC Stop removal. But SBC Hold?? That's still there on the post-SBC (Facelift) cars, isn't it??

Sorry, my for my ambiguous English. I have a March 06 car, pre-facelift. It has SBC with SBC hold but not SBC stop. I also believe the facelift cars, without SBC, offer a hold facility.

Simon

 

[glojo]

My car was registered in March 2006 so is just before the facelift - ie it has SBC (which I think is fantastic). I have the easy entrance/exit feature which moves the steering wheel (and I think also the seat if it's far forwards?). Does yours do something else? I don't think I do have puddles under the mirrors but there are lights under the doors which I suppose do the same thing.

Hi Simon,
It would take this thread way off topicto list all the ommissions but I believe te Easy Entrance\Exit feature has also been stripped down. I think it a good point about litigation regarding the Stop feature but I also realise that looking after the pennies enables the pounds to florish. As I mentioned earlier the foot type hand brake is sometimes blamed for incidents, more often with manuals but infrequently this pops up with automatics.

John

Who mentioned charcoal filter switches

 

[DieselE]

Nobody seems to have mentioned getting under way once the traffic lights change. If you're in Drive with your foot on the brake a restart is nearly instant. If you've selected park and applied the parking brake you have to press foot on brake, select drive (if you're kind to your car, wait for drive to properly engage) and then release parking brake. That's when you remember the old saying "An instant in time is the interval between the traffic lights changing to green and the guy behind sounding his horn".

 

[prprandall51]

Who mentioned charcoal filter switches

.... Puddle lights, rear armrest strap, glove box release illumination, adjustable upper / lower cabin temperature differential control, front console storage box cooling, SBC Stop ....

 

[Diapason]

Charcoal filter switch

Who mentioned charcoal filter switches

John,

OK, I give up. What's this all about then? I know what the charcoal filter does, but what does your switch do

Simon

 

[BTB 500]

Nobody seems to have mentioned getting under way once the traffic lights change. If you're in Drive with your foot on the brake a restart is nearly instant. If you've selected park and applied the parking brake you have to press foot on brake, select drive (if you're kind to your car, wait for drive to properly engage) and then release parking brake. That's when you remember the old saying "An instant in time is the interval between the traffic lights changing to green and the guy behind sounding his horn".

If you're in a queue you normally have plenty of time to do this before you need to move off though. Even at the front, if you're paying attention you'll know roughly when the lights are going to change in your favour and can put it in drive.

But having said that, now I've reminded myself that the handbook says to leave it in drive unless parked ... that's probably what I'll do from now on (unless stuck in non-moving traffic).

 

[DieselE]

If you're in a queue you normally have plenty of time to do this before you need to move off though. Even at the front, if you're paying attention you'll know roughly when the lights are going to change in your favour and can put it in drive.

But having said that, now I've reminded myself that the handbook says to leave it in drive unless parked ... that's probably what I'll do from now on (unless stuck in non-moving traffic).

I wish I had £1 for every time I've been in a queue at traffic lights where the driver at the front has both car and brain in neutral.

 

[Dryce]

If you're in a queue you normally have plenty of time to do this before you need to move off though. Even at the front, if you're paying attention you'll know roughly when the lights are going to change in your favour and can put it in drive.

SBC H on. Cover brake.

Lights about to change. Cover accelerator.

Lights change. Push right foot. Instant getaway.

In the real world I reckon it's worth about 0.5 to 1.0 seconds.

 

[philangst]

D or N

old topic I know but I am new to Autos. I have a 2005 A-class and mostly leave it in D at the lights. Have noticed recently though its started what can only be described as a jerking movement every 5 seconds or so, like its trying to engage/disengage gear, so I put it in N when its in this mood! I think its probably related to the jerky/rumbling gear change its developed when its warmed up and other posters on here think it probably needs a replacement torque converter and valve body

 

[HR17]

Prior to taking my advanced driving test, I asked my instructor what he thought. He said that its generally best to keep in drive with your foot on the brake. Most importantly, from a safety point of view, this means that your brake lights are also on, so warning anyone behind you, or approaching you from behind, that you have stopped, are stopping or are still stopped. Sensibly he said that a part of the advanced test they also look out for the driver making adequate progress, part of which means not holding traffic up at lights etc. By keeing in drive, all you need do is come off the brake to make that adequate progress without having the hassle of parking brake and moving from park or neutral back into drive again. He mentioned that anything more you can do to simplify driving makes it easier, less stressful and safer for a driver and other road users, and removes unnecessary distractions, however small. There is also the small mechanical benefit of reduced wear on components. I think he was talking a lot of sense, and as he was a former Police instructor and ROSPA instructor, I'm inclined to believe him.

Out of interest, I could recommed the ROSPA or any other advanced driving test. Its an eye opener and totally different to the basic compulsory test, and doesn't bother with the ' feed the wheel' and parrot fashion learning of outdated facts from the Highway Code. Its a lot more about safe, efficient, common sense driving, and while it does not encourage speeding or breaking the law, its teaches you to make 'adequate progress' when safe to do so. Give it a try.

 

[grober]

old topic I know but I am new to Autos. I have a 2005 A-class and mostly leave it in D at the lights. Have noticed recently though its started what can only be described as a jerking movement every 5 seconds or so, like its trying to engage/disengage gear, so I put it in N when its in this mood! I think its probably related to the jerky/rumbling gear change its developed when its warmed up and other posters on here think it probably needs a replacement torque converter and valve body

That's because there are different types of automatic. The old torque converter type could be left in drive when stationary indefinitely-the only penalty being extra fuel used by the engine trying to turn a stationary transmission. This is normally dissipated as extra heat in the transmission fluid. The newer more efficient transmissions often a CV design have what in essence is a electro/hydraulic actuated "clutch" or 2 clutches in the case of the Audi S-tronic preselect twin shaft type gearbox. When cars with this type of gearbox come to a halt the clutch is automatically partially disengaged and the gearbox put into a gear where its ready to drive off. What you are possibly feeling is this automatic clutch partially biting. Personally with these newer gearboxes I think you are best to select neutral when you come to a halt which may help to reduce wear in the clutch/clutches. If your gearbox is the older torque converter type ignore the above but you may well have a transmission problem as previously suggested. first thing get the fluid level checked.