These instructions apply to the Skoda Superb Mk3 (3V) 2015-Present.
For other models, please choose your vehicle here.
Your Skoda Superb Mk3 (3V, 2015–present) has a Start/Stop system that switches the engine off when you stop and restarts it as you pull away. It saves fuel, but many drivers prefer it off in traffic. This guide shows how to switch it off, why it sometimes won’t engage, and how it can be made permanent.
How Start/Stop Works on the Superb
When you brake to a stop (DSG) or stop, select neutral and release the clutch (manual), the engine shuts off. Lifting the brake or pressing the clutch restarts it. It only operates once the engine is warm and the battery is healthy.
How to Switch It Off
- With the engine running, press the Start/Stop OFF button — an “A” inside a circular arrow, on the centre console or dash.
- The start/stop warning light illuminates to confirm it’s off, and the engine idles normally at a stop.
How to Switch It Back On
Press the button again, or simply restart the car — Start/Stop defaults back on every time you switch the ignition off and on.
Making It Permanently Off
The button is per-drive only. To have the car remember “off”, the behaviour can be coded with OBDeleven or VCDS (or at a specialist). It’s a popular, reversible change on the Superb.
Why It Sometimes Won’t Activate
- The engine isn’t yet up to temperature.
- The battery charge is low — common after a battery change or short trips; the system blocks auto-stop to protect the battery.
- Cabin heating or demisting needs the engine running.
- The steering is turned, the car is on a slope, or you’re reversing.
If it stopped working entirely after a battery change, the new battery may need registering — see our Superb battery guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Superb remember my Start/Stop setting?
No — it resets to on each start. A permanent change needs coding (OBDeleven/VCDS or a specialist).
Is it bad to keep using Start/Stop?
No. The Superb’s reinforced starter and AGM/EFB battery are built for it, and it skips stops when the battery is low to protect itself.
Why did it stop working after a new battery?
A new battery should be registered so the system trusts its charge state; until then (or until it charges) auto-stop may stay off.
Will coding it off cause problems?
No — it’s a reversible comfort setting many Superb owners apply. It doesn’t affect anything else.
If a warning light appeared alongside the fault, look up the code on autodtcs.com. To clear a service reminder, see our Superb service reset guide.
Independent guide — not affiliated with Skoda. Always follow your official service manual and safety precautions. Read our full disclaimer.