These instructions apply to the Porsche Macan Mk1 (95B) 2014-Present.
For other models, please choose your vehicle here.
The automatic stop/start on your Porsche Macan (2014–present) — the 95B — shuts the engine off at a standstill to save fuel and reduce emissions. As you stop with the brake held, the engine cuts; ease off the brake and it fires straight back up. That restart is by design, not a fault. If you’d rather keep the engine running — crawling in traffic, on a hot day, or before working in the engine bay — you can switch it off with the dedicated button.
How Stop/Start Works on the Macan
The Macan only cuts the engine when its energy manager is happy: the AGM battery must hold enough charge, the engine must be warm, the cabin at your set temperature, and the car firmly stopped on the brake. When those line up, the engine stops; ease off the brake and it restarts. If any falls short — a cold engine, a hungry battery, the climate working hard, or a Sport drive mode selected — it leaves the engine idling instead, so a stop is only made when a clean restart is guaranteed.
Getting Ready
- You only need the ignition on to change the setting — no need to be moving.
- The Auto Start/Stop button is on the centre console, marked with the ‘A’ and a circular arrow.
- The change lasts for this journey only — it defaults back to on when you next start the engine.
- Before opening the bonnet, switch it off so the engine can’t restart while you work.
Turning Stop/Start Off
- Find the Auto Start/Stop button — marked with the ‘A’ with a circular arrow, on the centre console.
- Press the button once.
- The button’s indicator / a dash message confirms the system is off — the engine now idles at a stop.
Turning It Back On
Press the button again, or restart the car — stop/start defaults to ON each time you start the engine, so press it each drive if you want it off.
Why It Sometimes Keeps the Engine Running
With stop/start switched on, the engine may still refuse to cut out at a stop. That usually means an inhibit condition is being met — not a fault:
- 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, or Sport/Sport Plus mode is selected.
- You’re on a gradient or haven’t come to a full stop with firm brake pressure.
- The bonnet is open, which disables the system as a safety measure.
If Stop/Start 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 type; registering it to the energy manager needs Porsche equipment.
- Lots of short trips that never fully recharge the battery have the same effect — a longer run can restore normal operation.
- A stored fault can disable it — look up the code on autodtcs.com.
What Happens Next
Once you press the button, the indicator confirms stop/start is off and the engine idles at every stop for the rest of the drive. Nothing needs resetting and no warning stays lit. Next time you start the Macan it defaults back to on. Selecting Sport or Sport Plus also holds the engine running regardless of the button’s state.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I turn off stop/start on a Porsche Macan?
Press the Auto Start/Stop ‘A’ button on the centre console once. The indicator or a dash message confirms it’s off, and the engine will idle at your next stop. There’s no menu to open — it’s a single button, and the change lasts only until you next start the engine.
Can I disable it permanently?
Not from the button — it resets to ON at each engine start. There’s no built-in setting to keep it off for good, so you press the button once each drive if you prefer. Selecting Sport or Sport Plus also holds the engine on for the duration of that mode.
Why does the engine keep running with it on?
The system holds the engine on when the battery charge is low, the cabin is still heating or cooling, the engine is cold, you’re on a slope, or a Sport mode is selected. Each of those is an inhibit condition by design. Once they clear, you’ll usually find the engine starts cutting out again at stops.
Why won’t stop/start work at all?
Usually a weak battery; the Macan disables stop/start to protect it. An AGM battery that’s ageing, or a run of short journeys that never fully recharge it, is the typical cause. A longer drive can restore it, but a battery near the end of its life will need replacing.
Do I need to register a new battery?
Yes — the Macan should have the correct AGM battery fitted and registered to the energy manager so it charges and monitors it properly. That coding step needs the right diagnostic equipment. Skipping it can leave stop/start behaving oddly even with a fresh battery.
Is it bad to leave stop/start on?
No — the Macan is built for it, with an AGM battery and starter designed for frequent cycling. Leaving it on saves fuel in town. Switching it off is down to preference, or a safety step before you open the bonnet.
If a warning light came on with the fault, decode it on autodtcs.com.
Independent guide — not affiliated with Porsche. Always follow your official service manual and safety precautions. Read our full disclaimer.