These instructions apply to the Jaguar F-Pace Mk1 (X761) 2016-Present.
For other models, please choose your vehicle here.
Your Jaguar F-Pace (2016–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 by preference — you can switch the system off in one press. Here’s how, and why it resets each drive.
On the F-Pace this feature is the stop/start (ECO) system, and its button carries an “A” inside a circular arrow. If the engine falls silent the moment you stop and refires as you lift off the brake, that is normal operation — not a fault, and not something that wears the car out. As a large SUV that is often used for towing or crawling in queues, the F-Pace is a car where owners frequently want a steady idle, and a single press gives it to you.
How Stop/Start Works on the F-Pace
The F-Pace only cuts the engine when a set of conditions is met at once: the vehicle is fully stopped, the 12 V battery is well charged, the engine is at temperature, and the cabin is near the temperature the climate control is asking for. A battery-management system (BMS) tracks the battery’s state of charge, so a tired battery — or one recently disconnected that the BMS is still relearning — is the usual reason the engine keeps idling. Any time you switch stop/start off with the button, that choice lasts only for the current drive.
First, a Few Checks
- Have the engine running and the F-Pace at a complete standstill before you press the button.
- Locate the stop/start (ECO) button on the centre console — the “A”-in-arrow symbol — ahead of time.
- Treat it as a per-drive action: there is no permanent “always off” menu setting.
- If you tow or expect heavy stop-go traffic, press it once at the start of the journey.
Turning the System Off
- With the engine running, press the stop/start (ECO) button on the centre console (an “A” inside a circular arrow).
- 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.
When the F-Pace Disables Stop/Start Itself
Even with the system on, the F-Pace 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, or the 12 V battery charge is low. It will also hold the engine on when the demister or climate is working hard, when you are stopped on a gradient, or in the first minute or two after a cold start.
If Stop/Start Stops Working
- Check the battery. The system relies on a healthy, charged 12 V battery and a settled BMS; an ageing battery, or a recent disconnection, is the usual reason it stops cutting out.
- Seat belt fastened, doors and bonnet closed — any left open inhibits it.
- Let it warm up. On a short, cold trip the engine may never reach the temperature it needs.
- Ease off heavy climate demand. Full heating or cooling keeps the engine idling to satisfy the cabin.
- Come to a full stop with firm brake pressure — a light or rolling stop won’t trigger a shutdown.
- Take a longer drive. After a battery disconnection the BMS needs a good run to relearn the state of charge before stop/start returns.
- Fault light showing? A charging or sensor issue stores a code — decode it on autodtcs.com.
Once It’s Done
Once you press the button, the indicator confirms the system is off and the F-Pace idles normally at every stop for the rest of that drive. Town fuel economy dips a little, but there is no impact on the engine, starter or battery life. At the next start the system re-arms itself, so if you prefer it off you will press the button again each drive.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I turn off stop/start on a Jaguar F-Pace?
With the engine running and the car stopped, press the stop/start (ECO) button on the centre console — the one marked with an “A” inside a circular arrow. An indicator confirms it is off, and the engine then idles normally at every stop until you next restart the car.
Does it stay off?
No. The F-Pace resets stop/start to on at every engine start, so there is no permanent off. If you want it disabled, press the button once at the start of each drive; the setting then applies for the whole journey.
Why has my F-Pace 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 and cabin not yet being at temperature. Heavy climate demand and a run of short trips can also keep the engine idling.
Is leaving stop/start on harmful?
No. The engine, uprated starter and battery in the F-Pace are all designed for repeated stop-start cycling, so leaving the system on causes no extra wear. Switching it off is purely a comfort and preference choice.
Why does my F-Pace not stop/start after I disconnected the battery?
The battery-management system has to relearn the battery’s state of charge after any disconnection or a new battery. Until it has settled — which usually takes a few normal drives — the car holds the engine on to protect the battery. This is expected, not a fault.
Should I turn stop/start off when towing?
Many owners do. Repeated restarts under load are harmless, but a steady idle is more comfortable when hitching up or crawling with a trailer. Press the button once at the start of the drive and the engine stays running throughout.
If a warning light appeared with the change, decode it and check the likely cause on autodtcs.com.
Independent guide — not affiliated with Jaguar. Always follow your official service manual and safety precautions. Read our full disclaimer.