my viking has a start stop button that i can use or i can use the foot pedal---perhaps this button is stuck? did you get a manual with it? if not you may want to get one- then trouble shoot and see if you can (unstuck) the button. maybe it was jambed during shipping...or call a viking dealer and ask- the ones in my neck of the woods are pretty good about trouble shooting over the phone- even talked me through changing light bulbs.