Disable the Start/Stop System

Last updated: June 8, 2026

The automatic start/stop on your Alfa Romeo MiTo (2008–2019) shuts the engine off at junctions to save fuel. If you’d rather keep it running — in stop-start traffic or before working on the engine — you can switch it off with a single button.

Turning Start/Stop Off

1. Find the start/stop button — marked with the ‘A’ with a circular arrow, on the centre console.
2. Press the button once.
3. The warning light illuminates to confirm the system is off — the engine now idles normally at a stop.

Turning It Back On

Press the button again, or restart the car — start/stop defaults to ON at every engine start, so you press the button each drive if you want it off.

Why It Sometimes Keeps the Engine Running

Even with start/stop active, the MiTo holds the engine on when conditions aren’t met, for example:

• The battery charge is low, or the battery sensor isn’t satisfied.
• The cabin is still heating or cooling to the set temperature.
• The engine is still cold.

If Start/Stop Has Stopped Working

• A weak or ageing battery is the most common cause — the system disables itself to protect it.
• After a battery change, fit the correct AGM/EFB type and let it learn over a few drives.
• A stored fault can disable it — look up the code on autodtcs.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I turn off start/stop on an Alfa Romeo MiTo?

Press the ‘A’ button on the centre console; the warning light confirms it’s off.

Can I disable it permanently?

Not from the button — it resets to ON at each engine start.

Why does the engine keep running with start/stop on?

The system holds the engine on if the battery is low, the cabin is still heating/cooling, or the engine is cold.

Why won’t start/stop work at all?

Usually a weak battery; the MiTo disables start/stop to protect it.

If a warning light came on with the fault, decode it on autodtcs.com.