These instructions apply to the Renault Arkana Mk1 (XJL) 2021-Present.
For other models, please choose your vehicle here.
The Renault Arkana (XJL, 2021–present) has a Stop & Start system that switches the engine off at a standstill to save fuel. If you’d rather keep it running — in traffic, on a hot day, or before working in the engine bay — you can switch it off.
The engine cutting out as you come to rest is normal on the Arkana — it’s the Stop & Start system saving fuel, not a stall. It restarts the moment you lift off the brake or press the clutch. The “A”-in-arrow symbol in the instrument cluster simply shows the system is armed and ready. Many owners leave it working, but if you prefer a smoother feel in stop-go traffic, switching it off takes a single press for the current drive.
How It Works on This Model
Stop & Start only shuts the engine off when its conditions are met. Broadly, the Arkana wants the car at a genuine standstill, a well-charged 12 V battery, a warm engine, and the cabin near its climate target. If the charge is low, the engine is still cold, the heater or air-conditioning is working hard, the steering is turned, or a gradient is sensed, it keeps running instead. That’s by design — the engine only auto-stops when a clean restart is assured, which is why the stop doesn’t always happen.
Before You Start
- You can switch Stop & Start off with the engine already running — no need to stop first.
- Decide your method: the AⓇ console button, or the touchscreen vehicle settings if your car has no button.
- If you’re opening the bonnet, switch it off so the engine can’t restart on its own.
- The change lasts for this drive only, so do it early in the journey.
How to Turn Off Stop & Start
- Find the ‘AⓇ’ (Stop & Start OFF) button on the centre console or dashboard.
- Press it once — the indicator confirms Stop & Start is off, and the engine will keep running when you stop.
On cars without the button, switch it off in the vehicle settings on the touchscreen.
It Resets Every Drive
Like nearly every car with this feature, the Arkana re-enables Stop & Start each time you restart. There’s no permanent factory ‘off’ — press the button once per journey if you don’t want it. (On the E-Tech full hybrid the engine cycles on its own as part of normal hybrid operation.)
If the Engine Won’t Stop
If Stop & Start rarely triggers, it’s usually an inhibit condition rather than a fault. On the Arkana the common reasons are:
- A weak or ageing 12 V battery — the most frequent cause, and the first thing to check.
- The engine is still cold and hasn’t reached operating temperature.
- The heater or air-conditioning is working hard to reach the set cabin temperature.
- You’re stopped on a slope, or the car isn’t fully at rest.
- The steering is turned, the demister is on, or the bonnet is open.
- On the E-Tech hybrid, the engine follows its own on/off cycle — separate, normal behaviour.
Why Switch It Off?
- Before engine-bay work — stops an unexpected restart.
- Stop-go traffic — avoids constant restarts.
- Maximum cabin cooling/heating on extreme days.
What to Expect After
Once switched off, the indicator shows Stop & Start disabled and the engine keeps running at every stop for the rest of the journey. Next time you start the car it’s armed again automatically — that’s expected, not a fault. The effect on overall fuel use is small, so leaving it on or off is simply a comfort choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I turn off Stop & Start on a Renault Arkana?
Press the AⓇ button on the centre console or dashboard; the indicator confirms it’s off and the engine then stays running at stops. On cars without a button, open the vehicle settings on the touchscreen and switch it off there. You can do this with the engine already running.
Can I disable it permanently?
No — the Arkana resets Stop & Start to on every time you restart, and there’s no factory setting to make ‘off’ stick. Press the button or use the menu once at the start of each drive if you’d rather not use it. It quickly becomes part of your routine.
Why did it come back on?
Restarting the car re-arms it — it doesn’t switch itself back on mid-drive. If it seems to reappear during one journey, check the “off” indicator was actually showing when you pressed the button, as a brief press can be missed.
Why won’t the engine stop sometimes?
An inhibit condition is being met. The usual ones are a cold engine, a battery that isn’t fully charged, the climate system working hard, or a gradient under the wheels. The Arkana only auto-stops when it’s confident of a smooth restart, so this is normal behaviour.
Does the E-Tech hybrid work the same way?
Not quite. On the E-Tech full hybrid the petrol engine cycles on and off on its own as part of normal hybrid driving, independent of the Stop & Start button. So the engine going quiet at a standstill — and at other times — is the hybrid system managing power, not a fault.
Is a warning light the same as the Stop & Start symbol?
No. The plain “A”-in-arrow is just the status indicator. A separate amber Stop & Start or battery warning means a fault, most often a tired 12 V battery that can no longer support auto-restarts. Have the battery tested before assuming anything more serious.
If a Stop & Start fault light shows, look it up on autodtcs.com — a tired 12 V battery is the usual cause. See our Arkana battery guide.
Independent guide — not affiliated with Renault. Always follow your official service manual and safety precautions. Read our full disclaimer.