Turn Off the Start-Stop System

Reviewed by the Service Reset editor · Updated August 9, 2026 · How we verify
Quick referenceToolsNoneTimeunder 1 minMethodAuto Stop/Start button or menu

These instructions apply to the Land Rover Discovery Sport Mk1 (L550) 2015-Present.
For other models, please choose your vehicle here.

Your Land Rover Discovery Sport (2015–present) switches the engine off at a standstill to save fuel, then restarts it as you pull away. If you’d rather keep it running — in traffic, when towing, or off-road — you can switch the system off in one press. Here’s how, and why it resets each drive.

Land Rover Discovery Sport Mk1 — the vehicle covered in this reset guide.
Land Rover Discovery Sport Mk1. Photo by OSX via Wikimedia Commons, licensed Public domain.

Turning the System Off

  1. With the engine running, press the stop/start (ECO) button on the centre console (marked with an “A” inside a circular arrow).
  2. An indicator confirms the system is off; the engine now stays running at a standstill.

The system defaults back to on each time you start the car, so disabling it is a per-drive choice — press the button again to re-enable it.

Land Rover Discovery Sport Mk1 auto stop-start warning light and how to enable or disable it.
What the auto stop-start (A-in-arrow) light means on the Land Rover Discovery Sport Mk1, and how to switch it on or off.

When the Discovery Sport Disables Stop/Start Itself

Even with the system on, the Discovery Sport 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 example, the cabin is still reaching temperature, the engine is cold, the car is on a gradient or off-road, or the 12 V battery charge is low.

If Stop/Start Stops Working

  • Check the battery. The system relies on a healthy, charged 12 V battery and a settled battery monitoring system; an ageing battery (or a recent disconnection) is the usual reason it stops cutting out.
  • Seat belt fastened, doors and bonnet closed — open ones inhibit it.
  • Fault light? A charging or sensor issue stores a code — decode it on autodtcs.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I turn off stop/start on a Discovery Sport?

Press the ECO (“A”) button on the console; an indicator confirms it’s off 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 Discovery Sport stopped switching the engine off?

Usually a low or ageing 12 V battery, a recent battery disconnection the BMS is still learning, 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.

If a warning light appeared with the change, decode it on autodtcs.com.

Independent guide — not affiliated with Land Rover. Always follow your official service manual and safety precautions. Read our full disclaimer.

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