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How to Turn Off Automatic Stop/Start on the Chevy Equinox

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Mitch Bartlett
Chevy Equinox

The Chevy Equinox has an Auto Stop/Start feature that shuts off the engine when the brakes are fully applied, and the vehicle is stopped. Despite the fact that this feature saves fuel consumption, there are many drivers who find it annoying and don’t like it. If that’s you, here’s what you can do!

2022 – 2023 Models

Unlike earlier models, the Chevy Equinox 2022 and 2023 have a button to enable or disable the auto-stop/start feature.

  1. Press the button to disable the feature.
  2. Check on the dashboard to see the “Auto-stop has been turned off” notification.

2011 – 2021 Models

Chevrolet decided not to make a switch or button for those who want to disable the Auto Stop/Start feature. However, there is a workaround that will work to shut it off. Follow these steps:

  1. Start the Equinox and shift the gear to “L.” This puts the transmission into “Manual Mode.”
  2. Use the + and – buttons on the top of the gear shift to change the range of gears repeatedly until you are in L6. You can go up to “9” as you drive. This number should show on the display located on the instrument panel.

That’s it! With the Chevy Equinox gear set up in this manner, the Automatic Stop/Start feature is turned off and won’t bother you again.

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Comments

67 responses to “How to Turn Off Automatic Stop/Start on the Chevy Equinox”

  1. Betty Foglesong

    Mine only goes to 6. Is it supposed to go to 9?

    Reply
    1. Austin

      It depends which motor you have. The 1.5 l has a 6 speed trans and the 2.0 l has a 9 speed.

      Reply
      1. Geoffrey Walker

        So I have to manually shift my equinox all the time

        Reply
        1. Jim

          Do you have to do that with the gear shift even time you get in the car?

          Reply
          1. Antonio

            Hey do I have to shift it in low every time I get in my car.

      2. Mitch

        Do I keep the car in the “L” whenever I drive then, or can I go back to “D”?

        Reply
    2. Arvie L Oswalt

      Too complicated.. Just slip it in neutral when you pull to a stop. Them drop back in drive. I never have a problem with it.

      Reply
      1. Steve Zinn

        I have the 1,5 engine and it will not go to 9. hence this workaround does not work.

        Reply
        1. Phillip Rios

          I HAD A 2017 CHEVY CRUISE 6 SPERED PUT IT IN L THEN SHIFT TO THE HIGHEST GEAR U HAVE AS U DRIVE, WORKS BUT A PAIN IN THE ASS. BOTHERED ME SO MUCH TRADED IT AFTER 2 WEEKS,
          GOOD LUCK.

          Reply
    3. Eric

      You have a 6-speed transmission like I do. That’s the highest gear choice, and will work fine with that. I do that every time I drive. Some models have the optional 9-speed. We do not have one.

      Reply
  2. Rick

    Everyone forgets to tell you that this fix only works until you cut the engine off. Then, you must repeat the steps with each start of the engine.

    LOOKING FOR A PERMANENT FIX!!!!!!!!

    Reply
    1. Stephen

      unplug the hood latch switch

      Reply
  3. Ric

    I have a 2020 equinox and I found that as the auto stop system works with the clutch you just need to play with the force you push the brake. If you push it to the bottom auto stop activates otherwise it keeps off.

    Reply
    1. Rick D

      I noticed the same when feathering the brake verses hard braking. The hard braking turned the engine off and feathering did not.

      Reply
  4. Jerome A. Okon

    Once chevy equinox start , stop engine feature is turned off can it be turned back on? 2020

    Reply
    1. Eric

      It will go back to normal each time you start your vehicle (unfortunately).

      Reply
  5. Jerome A. Okon

    Also will equinox still operate as an automatic ?

    Reply
    1. elderberry

      Yes it will!

      Reply
  6. Mart

    Had a malibu with automatic temp. Control a/c. And start stop. HATED THE START STOP. Discovered if temp. Dial was set to LOW it overode the start stop. Which, in Texas,in summer, is where everyone keeps the temperature dial.

    Reply
    1. Colin

      Sounds like whet just experienced in our new (used) 2018 equinox.
      Three days after purchase the stop/start just stated activating all the time. The first two days were super hot today cold and rainy.
      I’ll try keeping the temp on Lo.

      Reply
  7. Lynette Ramsey

    so when you put the shifter in L and go up to 6, do you then put it in Drive, or keep it in L?

    Reply
    1. Leanne

      I would really like to know this answer to, especially driving on the highways and freeways.

      Reply
      1. Barb

        Can I leave it in L6 while on the highway too

        Reply
    2. Jon D.

      If you move the gear selector (shift handle) back into “D”, the transmission will revert back to a full automatic, selecting what gear is appropriate for speed and load.

      Reply
    3. Jon D.

      If you keep it in L6 and slow down or even stop, the transmission’s going to want to stay in L6 (or whatever gear you selected). The engine will bog down. It’s like if you had a old-fashioned manual transmission and forgot to downshift.

      Reply
    4. Matt

      You have to shift it back in drive.

      Reply
    5. Eric

      Leave it in L. (Manual setting). If you return it to DRIVE, it will reactivate the Auto-Stop feature again.

      Reply
  8. Jim

    You have to repeat this each time you use the car…this is not a fix, it’s temporary workaround.

    I try to just let the car creep a tiny bit each time I stop and that works.

    There are times when I forget and only stop for a second or so…and it shuts off then restarts, total nonsense!

    Reply
  9. Janice Tirner

    This is a absolute annoyance. I really doubt it saves that much gas. Not the best thought out idea.I sure don’t care for it.

    Reply
    1. Jared

      It actually saves close to 18%. Anytime you are stopped for more then ~7 seconds you save more gas by shutting the car off. There has been plenty of tests done, and results can be found all over the internet.

      18% in my book adds up very very quickly.

      Reply
      1. Noneya

        Yeah but it keeps doing it RIGHT WHEN I STOP AND PUT INTO PARK

        CAUSING A JARRING ACTION OF STOP START REAL FAST

        I AM AFRAID IT IS GOING TO CAUSE PERMANENT DMG, BOUGHT USED! 100K MILES ALREADY 2018 1.5L

        Reply
    2. Andy

      I agree but if you do save some some money you can put it toward a new starter.

      Reply
      1. Bryan

        Yeah, that makes sense…NOT! Save some money so you can replace parts stemming from the way you saved the money in the first place…yeah nah, flawed reasoning… 🙄

        Reply
  10. Tito

    If I have known this issue, I will have never bought this car.

    Reply
    1. mike

      I believe its something all manufacturers are doing now. My son just bought a 2021 Ford Ranger pickup truck and it does it as well. I’ve rented Jeeps in the past 2 years and they did it as well. This has government mandates written all over it. I agree it’s a pain.

      Reply
      1. T

        Correct. EPA let’s the auto manufacturers go with the lower MPG fleet wide with auto stop always turning back on when you stop/start the engine next time you drive.

        Don’t like many state? Be a little more careful when you vote.

        Reply
        1. Noneya

          Yeah you just might LOSE YOUR JOB even though you are a GREAT WORKER meanwhile those who you voted for will then push a 4.5 TRILLION dollar package to give MORE TRILLIONS to 1% of the population, BILLIONAIRES.

          Reply
    2. Douglas James Ewing

      Yes,thats what i said,starter will go out first,then one day it wont start!!!

      Reply
  11. Jim

    What is a permanent fix?

    Reply
  12. Felix

    I have been shifting to neutral when coming to a stop an then back to drive it works for each stop I love the car hate this feature

    Reply
    1. Rita buchanan

      Good idea ! I hate this feature as well !

      Reply
    2. just me

      If you’re going to shift to Neutral, this wears out the clutches much faster. If you shift into “L”, The trans will stay in gear and NOT put Any further wear on the clutches. The torque convertor does its job while the trans stays in gear. The only unavoidable problem is that the shifter is getting worn MUCH faster than it was designed for. Any way you look at it, it’s a stupid system and ANYONE who says it’s great knows NOTHING about cars, how they operate or the wear and expense surrounding this stupid design. For people wanting to “save the planet” and praise this, I have a better idea, WALK or RIDE A BIKE.

      Reply
      1. Noneya

        For those that want to vote for CONVICTED FELONS that give TRILLIONS to 1% of the population, BILLIONAIRES while cutting WORKING CLASS AMERICANS WITH ACTUAL JOBS and threatening everyone else, I have a better idea, MOVE TO RUSSIA.

        Reply
  13. Deborah Pompura

    Absolutely the worse thing they ever put on this car. Bought a new 2020 and can’t wait to get rid of it. Thanks for all the lies Dan Cummins Chevrolet. You told me I could auto start my car through the app. too. Another lie.

    Reply
    1. Cade

      There is a fix to this, it’s a product you plug into the obd 2 port. It’s called a range start/stop disabler they don’t void warranty’s and you just unplug it to return back to factory settings of the auto start/stop.

      Reply
      1. William Stoll

        Where can this plug in be purchased, and is there an actual name for it?
        Thanks. Bill

        Reply
        1. bill

          https://www.amazon.com/Eliminator-Chevrolet-2019-2021-Cadillac-2018-2021/dp/B0952ZBHYT?th=1

          works from what i can tell

          Reply
      2. Eric

        Where is this available??

        Reply
  14. Dezirai jones

    My auto stop isnt working anymore. Why ? and how do i turn it back on ? its only been 2 days..

    Reply
    1. Steve Bouressa

      Consider yourself fortunate.

      Reply
  15. Terry Berberich

    I want to permanently disable start stop feature in 2019 Equinox, is it possible?

    Reply
  16. Nancy Busto

    I just bought a 2021 Equinox LS which is a base model…there’s no disable stop/start button next to the hazards button. Isn’t this feature going to be hard on the starter and have to keep replacing it?

    Reply
    1. Jared

      The manufacturers use different starters then a typical vehicle. They are built to last. They are not the same starters you would find in a Normal Honda

      Reply
    2. Steve Bouressa

      Supposedly, GM has built in extra heavy duty features to all components used to make this stupid feature work without wearing out starter/other parts. I have been working multi-meters and pulling wrenches for 60 some years and can’t see how and don’t put much stock in that idea. Plus, it’s stupid.

      Reply
  17. Lola

    I want to stop this permanently, I hate this feature

    Reply
    1. Steve Bouressa

      Set the car afire.

      Reply
  18. Justin R Pierce

    I have found by shifting to neutral at stoplights works, also when stopping not pressing all the way down on brake works, but takes a little practice. But the best advice is not to own an equinox unless you love changing transmissions.

    Reply
    1. T

      Huh? “Unless you love changing tranmissions”
      This means what exactly?
      It is not the transmission that is effected.

      Reply
  19. Austin

    wouldn’t removing the smart startstop module and using a direct connection work too? asking for a friend, it annoys both of us, and i offered to help him, in city traffic its a POS and a Pain in his head, and my ass.

    Reply
    1. Austin

      hi back in the comments again
      i feel i forgot something
      the equinox is a 2020, awd 2.0L
      i had a feature like this in my used civic type r from ’16, this kinda feature is a pain,

      Reply
  20. Gonzalo

    1. Go to the front (hood) of your car
    2. Open the hood and where you move the lever to open the hood, locate a connector (sensor) that is on the back or below that lever to open the hood
    3. Disconnect that connector. That connector is a switch that makes the car turn off and on when braking to save gas, but it is very annoying, just disconnect it and that’s it, it will never turn off again
    I did it on my Chevrolet Equinox 2018, good luck

    Reply
    1. dick mccullough

      i did this and now my check engine light stays on. i reconnected the plug and tried to clear the code but light stays on.

      Reply
  21. Joshua

    You only have to put it in the highest number. Yours may be 6. That will also work. Doesn’t have to be 9. That’s just based on which engine you have and it’s corresponding transmission and the number of gears in which it has. So…6 speed or 9 speed transmission. Therfore you either put it in L6 for a 6 speed or L9 for a 9 speed. It works the same.

    Reply
  22. Ray

    I really don’t care if it turns off and on, but I had a more serious problem where it started to turn on intermittently. I knew my battery was good, just replaced it two months ago. It clicked as if the battery was failing but once I pressed the brake or the power button a couple of times, it started fine. However, you can see how this was a problem when my wife got to a light and it turned off. I disconnected the connector as Gonzalo suggested and it’s fixed now. Thank you very much Gonzalo.

    Reply
  23. Colin LISTER

    turning on the front demister will negate the Auto Off feature but only if the air con is turned off also.

    2018 Equinox LTZV

    Reply
  24. Ava

    Sorry, Matt, but you do not have to revert to drive. L6 or L9, works the same way a regular, non-stop start vehicle would. It shifts appropriately …AS LONG AS YOU MAKE SURE TO PUT IT IN L6 OR L9 (DEPENDING ON YOUR AUTO) each time you turn the vehicle off.
    Mine functions perfectly when shifting on start up to L9 and shifts seamlessly through the gears both up and down whole driving…. Until I turn off the engine. Then, you have to pull down to L hit plus sign to your highest gear…(mine is a 9 speed).

    Reply
  25. Noneya

    ENOUGH OF THE CENSORSHIP, IF YOU ARE GOING TO ALLOW SUBTLE HATE! TOWARDS DEMOCRATS THEN I EXPECT TO DO THE VERY SAME! BACK!

    THIS IS A SATANIST REPUBLICAN WEBSITE!

    Reply

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