Hi all,
most folks who know a thing or two about engines know that there's no way Start/Stop system is beneficial to the engine in your Q2. This applies especially to diesel engines. Cons vary from engine to engine but it's mainly starter motor and battery wear, frequent starts cause momentary poor oil lubrication etc. The only reason SSA is present in nowadays cars are emissions. Yes it does lower your overall emissions score a bit but at what price?
Since I have 1.6TDI in my Q2 and disabling SSA after each start-up is a pain, I have decided to install the SSA memory chip. There is a way to disable it via diagnostics slot but that means losing warranty on the ECU and everything it controls.
The memory chip is a very simple device with three wires going out of it. Ignition current, ground, and SSA (Start/Stop Automatic) wire.
The way it works is: As you turn the ignition key (or push the engine start button), current from the Ignition wire wakes up the module. Chip then waits 4-5 seconds and sends a short signal via a SSA wire, then goes to sleep. This means it basically pushes the SSA disable button for you every time you start the car. You can leave it set to always disable SSA but you can also disable the module itself so it doesn't interfere the SSA.
I bought mine from here: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-Start-Stop-Memory-module-with-SERVICE-MODE-Start-Stop-SSA-memory/322352078637
Important:
There are two types of SSA module - negative or positive (plus / minus version). The Q2 needs the negative / minus version of the module.
Installation instructions
The whole point is to basically attach or t-splice three wires from the module to their respective siblings running in the center console. You don't alter or tweak any existing wiring inside your Q2 - just attach three wires and that's it.
1. Remove the center console
You will need radio removal key.
Insert both in slots as shown in the photo, flat side of the ring facing outwards
Slowly pull the console out. Rotate it to see the clip release on the connector. Disconnect the connector while keeping the release clip pressed.
2. Find correct wires
I have downloaded wiring diagrams from erwin.audi.com and found out that SSA wire is green/white, ignition-current wire is red/blue and ground - obviously - brown.
Please note this may be different in your Q2 version.
You don't need to know how to read wire diagrams for this job but if you're interested, here's a very good tutorial:
[URL=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMn0i-yHhSA][url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMn0i-yHhSA
3. Connect SSA module wires
You may need to unwrap the black fabric harness tape a bit to release the tension to get all three wires more easily.
You have multiple options on how to connect wires - solder it, dry-twist threads into each other or use t-tap connectors.
I have used t-tap connectors that you can buy in any electronics store for a few cents. The final result is not as pretty as soldered and heat-sleeved wire connection but it does get the job done in no time and leaves minimal footprint if you ever decide to remove the module from your car.
There's one tricky part though:
Ground and ignition-current wire are both 0.5mm2 thick which is okay for the t-tap connector, however SSA wire is only 0.13mm2 thick. The t-tap connector is for wires from 0.2mm2 thickness upwards. It's therefore a good idea, when closing the t-tap connector with SSA wire, to add a few copper threads from any scrap wire you have at home, just to make up that 0.07mm2 thickness difference and ensure reliable electric current transfer.
4. Put the console back
You may wish to wrap the module in an insulation or fabric tape to potentially prevent weird sounds coming from the dashboard as it hangs in there freely, or even attach it to the harness.
Finally, connect the harness connector back to the console and slowly push it back to the dashboard. Once fully inserted, hold the console with one hand while slowly pulling removal keys out.
Time to enjoy SSA-free drive!
This is how the memory module works in action:
More information
Here's a link to german article where you can verify all the information I've given here. There's also much more detailed description of the SSA memory module and this german chap even tested it for radio interference and electric current consumption - all checks out.
https://www.nicomania.de/auto/start-stop-automatik-deaktivieren
I really hope this tutorial helps anyone who dislikes start-stop as much as I do.
Feel free to share your thoughts on this or ask any questions!
most folks who know a thing or two about engines know that there's no way Start/Stop system is beneficial to the engine in your Q2. This applies especially to diesel engines. Cons vary from engine to engine but it's mainly starter motor and battery wear, frequent starts cause momentary poor oil lubrication etc. The only reason SSA is present in nowadays cars are emissions. Yes it does lower your overall emissions score a bit but at what price?
Since I have 1.6TDI in my Q2 and disabling SSA after each start-up is a pain, I have decided to install the SSA memory chip. There is a way to disable it via diagnostics slot but that means losing warranty on the ECU and everything it controls.
The memory chip is a very simple device with three wires going out of it. Ignition current, ground, and SSA (Start/Stop Automatic) wire.
The way it works is: As you turn the ignition key (or push the engine start button), current from the Ignition wire wakes up the module. Chip then waits 4-5 seconds and sends a short signal via a SSA wire, then goes to sleep. This means it basically pushes the SSA disable button for you every time you start the car. You can leave it set to always disable SSA but you can also disable the module itself so it doesn't interfere the SSA.
I bought mine from here: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-Start-Stop-Memory-module-with-SERVICE-MODE-Start-Stop-SSA-memory/322352078637
Important:
There are two types of SSA module - negative or positive (plus / minus version). The Q2 needs the negative / minus version of the module.
Installation instructions
The whole point is to basically attach or t-splice three wires from the module to their respective siblings running in the center console. You don't alter or tweak any existing wiring inside your Q2 - just attach three wires and that's it.
1. Remove the center console
You will need radio removal key.
Insert both in slots as shown in the photo, flat side of the ring facing outwards
Slowly pull the console out. Rotate it to see the clip release on the connector. Disconnect the connector while keeping the release clip pressed.
2. Find correct wires
I have downloaded wiring diagrams from erwin.audi.com and found out that SSA wire is green/white, ignition-current wire is red/blue and ground - obviously - brown.
Please note this may be different in your Q2 version.
You don't need to know how to read wire diagrams for this job but if you're interested, here's a very good tutorial:
[URL=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMn0i-yHhSA][url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMn0i-yHhSA
3. Connect SSA module wires
You may need to unwrap the black fabric harness tape a bit to release the tension to get all three wires more easily.
You have multiple options on how to connect wires - solder it, dry-twist threads into each other or use t-tap connectors.
I have used t-tap connectors that you can buy in any electronics store for a few cents. The final result is not as pretty as soldered and heat-sleeved wire connection but it does get the job done in no time and leaves minimal footprint if you ever decide to remove the module from your car.
There's one tricky part though:
Ground and ignition-current wire are both 0.5mm2 thick which is okay for the t-tap connector, however SSA wire is only 0.13mm2 thick. The t-tap connector is for wires from 0.2mm2 thickness upwards. It's therefore a good idea, when closing the t-tap connector with SSA wire, to add a few copper threads from any scrap wire you have at home, just to make up that 0.07mm2 thickness difference and ensure reliable electric current transfer.
4. Put the console back
You may wish to wrap the module in an insulation or fabric tape to potentially prevent weird sounds coming from the dashboard as it hangs in there freely, or even attach it to the harness.
Finally, connect the harness connector back to the console and slowly push it back to the dashboard. Once fully inserted, hold the console with one hand while slowly pulling removal keys out.
Time to enjoy SSA-free drive!
This is how the memory module works in action:
More information
Here's a link to german article where you can verify all the information I've given here. There's also much more detailed description of the SSA memory module and this german chap even tested it for radio interference and electric current consumption - all checks out.
https://www.nicomania.de/auto/start-stop-automatik-deaktivieren
I really hope this tutorial helps anyone who dislikes start-stop as much as I do.
Feel free to share your thoughts on this or ask any questions!