These instructions apply to the Skoda Kamiq Mk1 (NW4) 2019-Present.
For other models, please choose your vehicle here.
Your Skoda Kamiq (NW4, 2019–present) shuts the engine off at a standstill to save fuel. When you’d rather it didn’t — crawling traffic, a hot day, or before any under-bonnet work — one button switches it off.
Auto stop-start is a normal fuel-saving feature on the Kamiq, not a fault. Whenever you roll to a stop with the brake held — at lights or in a queue — the engine cuts to zero idle, then fires again the instant you lift the brake or dip the clutch. It is one of the ways the car keeps its official economy and emissions figures down, and there is nothing wrong with a car that does it. If the shutdowns simply annoy you, the button below turns the feature off for the current drive.
How It Works on the Kamiq
The system only allows an engine stop when a long list of conditions is satisfied. The 12 V battery must be well charged and above a minimum temperature, the engine has to be warm, and the cabin climate must be close to its target. If you are demanding strong heating or cooling, sitting on a gradient, steering near full lock, or the brake vacuum has run low, the car keeps the engine running deliberately. That is why the Kamiq sometimes stops the engine and sometimes doesn’t — the software is reading those inputs every time you halt.
Before You Begin
- The engine can be running or just at the ignition-on stage — either is fine to press the button.
- Do it at the start of the drive if you want the engine to keep running from the first stop.
- Look for the small light or message in the instrument cluster that confirms the change.
- Remember the setting is per-drive; it is not a permanent change.
Turning Start/Stop Off
- Locate the AⓇ button (an “A” circled by an arrow), usually by the gear lever.
- Press it once; the indicator confirms the system is off and the engine stays running at stops.
Why It’s On Again Next Time
The Kamiq switches start/stop back on at every ignition cycle — there’s no permanent off from the factory. Tap the button once at the start of each drive if you don’t want it.
Reasons to Switch It Off
- Engine-bay jobs — no surprise restart.
- Heavy traffic — no constant stop/start cycling.
- Hot or cold extremes — steady climate output.
The system also declines to stop on its own when the battery is low, the cabin still needs heating/cooling, or you’re on a slope — all normal.
If the Engine Won’t Stop (or Won’t Stay Off)
If you have left the system enabled but the engine never cuts, the Kamiq is almost certainly blocking a stop for one of these reasons:
- 12 V battery not charged enough — short trips or an ageing battery leave too little reserve, so the car protects itself and keeps running.
- Engine still cold — on the first minute or two after a cold start, no stop is allowed until it warms.
- Strong climate demand — full heating on a frosty morning or max cooling in summer keeps the engine turning to drive the system.
- Brake not pressed firmly — a light pedal or too little brake vacuum can prevent a stop; press and hold.
- On a slope or steering near full lock — the car often stays running for control.
- Bonnet open — with the bonnet catch released the system is inhibited for safety.
If it keeps refusing on a warm engine with a firm brake, suspect a tired 12 V battery first.
After the Reset
With the button pressed, the engine keeps idling at every stop for the rest of that drive. The indicator light or the “off” message stays showing. Next time you start the car the feature is armed again, so you press the button once more if you want it off. Leaving it on causes no harm — the restarts are designed to be seamless.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I switch off auto stop/start on a Skoda Kamiq?
Press the AⓇ button near the gear lever once. The instrument cluster shows the system is off and the engine will then keep running at every stop for the rest of that drive. There is no menu step involved — it is a single physical button.
Can I turn it off permanently?
Not from the driver’s controls. The Kamiq re-arms start-stop every time you switch on the ignition, so the button only holds for the current drive. Some owners have the default changed at a workshop with diagnostic software, but the built-in button is always a per-trip toggle.
Why did the system turn itself back on?
Because cycling the ignition resets it to the factory default of “on.” That is intended behaviour, not a fault. Simply tap the button again at the start of your next drive if you prefer the engine to keep running at stops.
Why won’t my engine stop at lights even with the system on?
The Kamiq only stops when its conditions are met: a healthy 12 V battery, a warm engine, modest climate demand, a firm brake and level ground. If any of those is out — a cold engine, strong heating, a weak battery — it keeps running on purpose.
Does frequent stop-start wear out the engine or starter?
No. Cars fitted with this feature use a heavy-duty starter and a battery suited to repeated cycling, and the engine is designed for it. If you dislike the constant cutting in slow traffic, just switch the feature off for that drive with the button.
Could a warning light mean the battery is failing?
If a start-stop fault symbol shows instead of the normal indicator, a weak or ageing 12 V battery is the usual cause on the Kamiq. It is worth checking the battery’s health before assuming a bigger problem, especially if the car does mostly short journeys.
If a start/stop fault symbol shows rather than the normal one, look it up on autodtcs.com — usually a weak 12 V battery. See our Kamiq battery guide.
Independent guide — not affiliated with Skoda. Always follow your official service manual and safety precautions. Read our full disclaimer.