Turn Off the Stop and Start System

The Hilux Stop & Start system switches the engine off at a standstill to save fuel. If you would rather it stayed running — in slow traffic, when towing, or off-road — press the Stop & Start cancel switch (an “A” with OFF inside a circular arrow).

Turning off Stop & Start

1. With the engine running, press the Stop & Start cancel switch on the center console switch panel.
2. The indicator light confirms the system is off; the engine will no longer shut down at a stop.
3. Press the switch again to turn the system back on.

Important: this is a temporary setting. Stop & Start re-enables itself every time you restart the Hilux, so you need to press the switch again at the start of each drive. There is no menu toggle to make it stay off permanently.

When the engine won’t auto-stop anyway

Stop & Start only operates once the engine is warm and several conditions are met — seat belt fastened, driver’s door closed, hood closed, normal/Eco drive mode, rear diff unlocked and the battery adequately charged. It will skip the auto-stop when the air conditioning is working hard, the outside temperature is below −5 °C, the battery is low, or you are on a steep hill. None of that is a fault.

In L4 low-range it is best to cancel Stop & Start, as the system may not work properly off-road.

If a warning light accompanies the system not working, decode it on autodtcs.com.