Activate or Deactivate the Start/Stop System

Last updated: May 18, 2026

The second-generation Nissan Qashqai (J11 chassis, 2014–2021) was offered with Nissan’s ECO Stop/Start system on the 1.2 DIG-T petrol, 1.6 dCi diesel, and 1.5 dCi diesel from facelift onwards. The system shuts the engine when the car comes to a stop with the brake held and restarts it when you lift off the brake. It defaults to ON every time you start the car (regulatory requirement in the EU), but you can disable it for the current drive cycle via a dashboard button. This guide covers the manual override, the auto-disable triggers, and the situations where deactivation is sensible.

Before you start

The Qashqai’s ECO Stop/Start button is on the centre console near the gear lever — a square button marked with the standard “A” inside a circular arrow icon. A green light on the cluster confirms the system is armed; the amber “ECO OFF” or “A OFF” warning lamp confirms it’s disabled. The system requires several gate conditions to satisfy before it will arm for the first auto-stop:

• Battery state of charge ≥ ~75%. The BMS sensor on the negative battery terminal tracks this continuously.
• Engine coolant warmed to operating temperature (around 70 °C on the petrol, 75 °C on the diesel).
• Outside temperature above approximately 3 °C and below 35 °C. Extreme heat or cold suppresses ECO Stop/Start.
• No active diagnostic faults. A warning lamp on the dashboard (ABS, VDC, airbag, EPS) suppresses ECO Stop/Start until cleared.
• Climate-control demand within limits. Heavy AC compressor duty (set to MAX on a hot day) suppresses auto-stop because the engine needs to run for cabin cooling.

Tools required

None.

Method 1 — dashboard A-OFF button

This is the standard, factory-intended way to disable ECO Stop/Start for a drive.

1. Press the A-OFF button on the centre console (the button next to the gear lever marked with “A” inside an arrow).
2. The amber “ECO OFF” warning lamp illuminates on the cluster to confirm the system is deactivated for the current ignition cycle.
3. The engine continues to run at idle when stationary — it will not auto-stop.
4. To re-enable for the current drive: press the button again. The amber lamp extinguishes; the system re-arms within a few seconds, contingent on the operating-condition gates.

Method 2 — driver seat belt unbuckle

ECO Stop/Start includes a safety override that disables auto-stop whenever the driver might be about to exit the cabin:

• Unbuckle the driver’s seat belt while stationary: the system immediately disables for the rest of the drive.
• If the engine has already auto-stopped, releasing the brake or unbuckling restarts it within about 0.5 seconds.
• Re-buckling does NOT automatically re-arm the system — you must press the A-OFF button to bring it back, or end the drive and start fresh.

Method 3 — open the bonnet

Lifting the bonnet triggers the bonnet-ajar microswitch, which the ECO Stop/Start system reads as a “do not auto-stop” condition. This is a safety feature to prevent the engine restarting while you have your hands in the engine bay. If you need to work under the bonnet with the engine running, open the bonnet fully — ECO Stop/Start will not trigger.

When to disable ECO Stop/Start

• Heavy stop-go traffic where the system would cycle several times per minute — frequent restarts add wear to the starter (rated for many cycles but still finite).
• Towing a trailer. The Qashqai J11 is rated for moderate towing; extra mass means each restart pulls more torque from the starter.
• Hot weather with AC at MAX. The system usually self-suppresses but manual override is more predictable.
• Cold mornings below about 0 °C — though the system usually self-disables in extreme cold, manual override is more reliable for the first 5 minutes of driving.
• Any under-bonnet work with the engine running.

Troubleshooting

“ECO OFF” is permanently illuminated even after pressing the button. The system has self-disabled due to one of the gate conditions. Most common cause on a Qashqai older than 4 years: weak battery — the BMS algorithm has decided the battery can’t sustain a restart. Have the battery load-tested, or fit a smart charger overnight and try the next morning. Second most common: a stored fault code in another module (e.g., steering angle sensor after suspension work). Read with a Nissan-aware scan tool.

Engine auto-stops but won’t restart automatically. Two common causes: (a) battery state of charge dropped below the algorithm’s threshold mid-stop, often because radio and AC were drawing while parked — the starter cranks normally on next attempt but the system aborts further auto-stops for the rest of the drive; (b) on manual cars, the clutch pedal switch is faulty — the engine won’t restart on clutch press because the ECU doesn’t see the signal. The clutch switch is a common Qashqai J11 wear item; replacement is around £25 and a 15-minute job.

ECO Stop/Start works yesterday but not today. Temperature effect: cold mornings tighten the operating-condition gates. Drive 10 minutes to warm everything before expecting auto-stop to arm.

System keeps disabling itself after only one auto-stop. Indicates marginal battery health — the BMS classified the recovery from the first restart as borderline and suppressed further attempts. Load-test the battery; if older than 5 years on a Stop/Start variant, replacement is overdue.

I want ECO Stop/Start to be default-OFF — is there a software setting?
Not factory-officially. Some aftermarket modules (“Stop-Start memory” or similar) plug between the A-OFF button and the ECU and effectively “press” the button automatically at every start. These cost around £30–50 and install in 10 minutes. They’re road-legal because they don’t modify ECU software.

Frequently asked questions

Why doesn’t my early Qashqai J11 have ECO Stop/Start?
The system was introduced on the J11 facelift in 2017. Pre-facelift J11 cars (2014–2016) didn’t have it as standard, though some late 2016 production did receive it as an option in select markets.

Will disabling ECO Stop/Start hurt fuel economy?
By about 2–4% in urban driving. In motorway use the difference is negligible because the engine rarely auto-stops at speed. Most owners who disable do so for comfort rather than fuel.

Does the Qashqai use a special starter motor?
Yes. The Stop/Start variants use a reinforced starter rated for 300,000+ cycles versus the conventional starter’s typical 30,000–50,000. Replacing a Stop/Start starter with a non-Stop/Start unit means the system needs to be permanently disabled to avoid premature failure.

Will the AC keep working when the engine auto-stops?
Briefly — the cabin stays cool for about 30 seconds from residual cold in the evaporator. After that, the AC pauses (the compressor needs the engine running). On a hot day with AC at high demand, the system suppresses auto-stop entirely.

My ECO Stop/Start worked in summer but never in winter — is something wrong?
Probably not. The gate temperature thresholds tighten in cold weather, especially with the heater running. If your dashboard shows “Battery condition does not allow auto-stop” or similar, the BMS has decided the battery couldn’t sustain a cold-start restart. This usually clears as the engine warms.

Related: Qashqai J11 battery disconnect and reconnect. For DTCs related to ECO Stop/Start or the battery management sensor, see autodtcs.com.