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CAR SHUTS OFF WHEN UNLOCKED DURING REMOTE START

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9.9K views 36 replies 8 participants last post by  takemorepills  
#1 ·
I just bought a new 2020 Corolla and love that it has remote start but, I would love it if it stayed on when I unlock the car or go to open the door to get in. I think it's stupid that it shuts off just for you to have to immediately restart it. I want to just be able to get in and press the start button to keep the car on. Don't most other cars stay on when you get in and unlock the door when started remotely? Is this optional and can I change it?
 
#4 ·
Well, that’s certainly why it wouldn’t start, but what’s referred to here is remote starting it(which requires the car to be locked), walking up to the car to get in later, and as soon as the Smart Key unlocks the car, it turns off. You’re right there, with the key in your pocket, within the proximity detectors on the car.
 
#8 ·
Think of it this way. If you're warming up your car at your house or work, and someone decides to jump in(providing they know where the smart key lock is) then they can't drive off. Why? Because they don't have the key fob.

This is likely due to people who leave the fob in the cup holder when they first thought of it. It likely didn't turn off the engine and thieves would drive away.
 
#11 ·
I think it's stupid that it shuts off just for you to have to immediately restart it.
Remote starters are mainly to heat or cool the car before use. None would allow someone to simply enter the car and engage the transmission without checking if the person has the key (or keyfob) by requiring turning the key in the ignition switch or pressing the start button (while holding the brake pedal, always a requirement anyway). Anything else would be an invitation to robbers as entering a locked car is not that hard, even if it might involve vandalism and they don't care.

Once the engine in started, a push-button start car will drive indefinitely, whether the driver has the keyfob (legitimate owner) or not (robber). This is why Toyota and other manufacturers have opted for the engine off feature. Could they find a different way? Maybe. Can it be annoying? Maybe. But a big deal, really? The job of cooling or heating is done the same and the system doesn’t require the driver to do anything else than a regular system would: confirm the start up is legitimate.
 
#12 · (Edited)
Once the engine in started, a push-button start car will drive indefinitely, whether the driver has the keyfob (legitimate owner) or not (robber). This is why Toyota and other manufacturers have opted for the engine off feature.
Correct.
So, if the car is running, locked and the owner has the fob, how in the world could someone just drive off with the car?
If the robber has the fob then the point is moot.
It's overkill on Toyota's part.
Is it a big deal? It's a major annoyance when you know a better system will work.

Thinking about this, if someone were to break a window to gain entry to a running car I suppose they could drive off.
But, other manufacturers do not have the engine off system.
 
#19 ·
Back in the day, I had a viper alarm with remote start. The way it worked, it had a clutch bypass and I could idle the car. The issue is, that unless the key was in the ignition, you couldn't go anywhere.

The idea is identical to this old system from 20 years ago. Only difference is that it's more electronic than mechanical.
 
#32 ·
On our other car, which has remote start, it will stay running if you open the door.
However, the display in the dash has a "NO KEY!" alert, and if you sit in the car without the fob in your pocket, pushing the brake pedal will kill the car.

The fob security on that car is done with 4 transceivers, one next to cupholders for the PTS (Push To Start), one in each front door, and one at the trunk. Infiniti chose this way because these 4 transceivers have extremely (intentionally) short range. The PTS transceiver near the cupholders basically covers your pockets or a purse/bag that may be set in pass. seat or floor board. The moment my butt rolls out of the driver seat with my fob in my right pocket, the "NO KEY!" alert comes on and the car begins making a chirp before I even get out of the door way.
The fob must be very near any of it's 4 areas before any of those areas are able to be opened. I have tried standing at my driver door and ask my son to unlock the pass door, thinking the presence of my fob would allow it, nope.

So, it can be done. However, in 2020, does it surprise anyone that the remote start is cancelled when a door is opened? Manufacturers now feel compelled to have reminders to "check the back seat" because apparently people are unable to remember their kids are back there on a hot day.
 
#34 ·
On our other car, which has remote start, it will stay running if you open the door. However, the display in the dash has a "NO KEY!" alert, and if you sit in the car without the fob in your pocket, pushing the brake pedal will kill the car. [...] The fob security on that car is done with 4 transceivers [...] So, it can be done. However, in 2020, does it surprise anyone that the remote start is cancelled when a door is opened?
Yes. Pretty standard configuration (see Corolla below). To work that way means the manufacturer opted for an “open” exchange of codes between remote and regular start, theoretically a less secure way. As you, I’m sure it has to do with the tendency to sue about anything plus Toyota has always been very (or too…) keen on its own security, not opening its electronics… Consider how demanding they were before allowing CarPlay then Android Auto, or how their ECU poses challenge to tuning. o_O

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