How to eliminate the 'Keep Engine Running While Parked' warning?
2 Answers
Prompt indicates insufficient battery power or failure to detect battery charge. First, check if the battery terminals are loose and try tightening them. If the vehicle can still start, you may drive for half an hour. Alternatively, idling for one hour is also acceptable if you prefer not to drive, then observe whether the warning disappears. This indicates the battery previously had insufficient charge storage capacity, which could be due to battery degradation requiring replacement.
If you don't want the engine auto start-stop function to keep bothering you when parking, it's actually quite simple since many cars now come with this feature. I drive to and from work every day and often encounter situations where the engine stops and restarts at red lights, which I find quite annoying. The usual method is to look for a button near the steering wheel or on the center console, which might have a letter 'A' or the word 'Auto' on it—just press it to turn it off. Turning it off once only lasts for the current trip, and it might automatically turn back on the next time you start the vehicle, but pressing it a few more times does the trick. Some newer models even allow you to completely disable it in the system settings, which requires navigating through the menu on the screen. After turning it off, I feel it's much quieter, the startup is smoother, and the air conditioning runs more steadily, with no noticeable impact on battery life. However, keep in mind that disabling this function will slightly increase fuel consumption, which isn't great for saving money on long trips and might be less efficient in city traffic jams. If you can't find the button, check the owner's manual or ask the dealership—they know it well. Safety-wise, it doesn’t affect driving, but you’ll need to get used to the operation. In short, dealing with it daily is quick and easy—don’t overthink it.
