These instructions apply to the Jeep Compass Mk2 (MP) 2017-Present.
For other models, please choose your vehicle here.
Your Jeep Compass (MP, 2017–present) shuts the engine off at a standstill to save fuel and restarts it as you pull away. If you’d rather keep it running in traffic or while manoeuvring, you can switch the system off in one press. Here’s how, and why it resets each drive.
How Stop/Start Works on the Compass
The stop/start system only cuts the engine when a set of conditions is met: the Compass is fully stopped, the brake is firmly held (or on a manual, the gearbox is in neutral with the clutch up), the 12 V battery has enough charge, and the engine and cabin are near temperature. A battery sensor tracks state of charge, so the system holds off whenever a stop would leave too little reserve for a clean restart. That reliance on a healthy battery is why the feature can seem to come and go with the weather and the age of the battery.
First, a Few Checks
- The engine must be running — the button acts on the current drive, not a saved setting.
- Do it stationary, in Park or neutral, never while moving.
- Find the stop/start “A” button on the dashboard before you set off.
- Planning any engine-bay work? Switch the system off first so the engine can’t restart on its own.
Turning the System Off
- With the engine running, press the stop/start “A” button (an A inside a circular arrow) on the dashboard.
- The stop/start warning light illuminates to confirm the system is off.
- The engine stays running at a standstill until you switch it back on or restart the car.
Stop/start defaults to on each time you start the Compass, so this is a per-drive choice — press the button again to re-enable it.
When the Compass Disables Stop/Start Itself
Even with the system on, the Compass won’t stop the engine when it isn’t appropriate, so continued idling isn’t necessarily a fault. It keeps the engine running when, for instance, the cabin is still reaching the set temperature, the engine is cold, or the 12 V battery charge is low.
If Stop/Start Stops Working
- Check the battery. The system needs a healthy, charged 12 V battery; an ageing one is the usual reason the engine stops cutting out.
- Seat belt fastened, doors and bonnet closed — open ones inhibit it.
- Cold start — on a cold morning the engine and exhaust must warm up before a stop is allowed.
- Heavy climate demand — strong heating or air-con holds the engine running to keep the cabin stable.
- Brake not firmly held, or on a manual the clutch not fully up in neutral.
- Recent battery disconnect — the charge sensor relearns over a few normal drives before it trusts a stop.
- Fault light? A charging or sensor issue stores a code — decode it on autodtcs.com.
Once It’s Done
Once the warning light is on, the engine idles normally at every stop for the rest of that drive — there is no stored fault and nothing else changes in how the Compass behaves. The next time you start the car, stop/start returns to on automatically, so if you always prefer it off, make the single button-press part of your routine before you pull away.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I turn off stop/start on a Jeep Compass?
Press the “A” stop/start button; the warning light confirms it’s disabled until the next restart.
Does it stay off?
No — it resets to on every start, so press the button each drive if you want it off.
Why has my Compass stopped switching the engine off?
Usually a low or ageing 12 V battery, or the engine/cabin not yet at temperature.
Is leaving it on harmful?
No — the system and starter are designed for it; switching off is purely preference.
Why does it work in summer but not on cold mornings?
On a cold start the engine and exhaust have to reach temperature before a stop is allowed, and the battery works harder in the cold, so stops are held back until the car warms up. Once everything is up to temperature, normal stops usually resume for the rest of the drive.
Do the diesel and 4×4 Compass have the same button?
Yes — the stop/start “A” button and its logic are the same across the Compass range, whether petrol, diesel, front-wheel drive or 4×4. A diesel may take a little longer to permit stops on a cold morning because it warms up more slowly, but the same inhibit conditions apply.
If a warning light appeared with the change, decode it on autodtcs.com.
Independent guide — not affiliated with Jeep. Always follow your official service manual and safety precautions. Read our full disclaimer.