That's been the Toyota formula for years on multiple models with stock or aftermarket installations.

 

My first Toyota.

 

I suspect that Toyota does not want us to use the remote start that way. They would rather we pay for a subscription to their app/connected services for remote start. Granted, the range is better through the app.

 

Remote start via app has its benefits... when I'm at work, my fob is too far from the car, so I app start it and by the time I get to the car (within 10 minute limit), the car is nice and cooled down.

 

I'm surprised it still works on 2023 models. It seems Toyota has bent over backwards to avoid telling people that feature is there.

They created a lot of confusion around it in the last couple of years. The remote start function, even when using the fob and not the phone app, is managed by the data communication module (DCM, or Internet/cellular modem). That means that the remote start from the fob can stop working at some point in the future. Toyota has said in the past that remote start from the fob would keep working for free as long as the longest trial period for Connected Services was active on the car. Depending on the trim level, that was anywhere from three to ten years. If they still plan to follow that logic with 2023, it would be ten years for all trim levels on Highlander, as that's how long the Safety Connect and Service Connect trials will last.

 

AND THIS IS WHY I LOVE THIS FORUM 😀

i just tried it on my 2022 XSE that I have had over a year ad it worked, Learn something new everyday?

Question, I noticed when you open the drivers side door the engine shuts off. So my real question is there an option to keep the engine running. Not sure I understand why there would be a remote "start" function which then cuts off the engine and has to be restarted again??? I had a 2016 Hellcat Challenger with remote start and it stays on when you open the door and you have to press the start button so it recognizes the drivers key.

Unless this is only designed to "warm up the car" in Winter, not quite understanding this feature unless there is a way to have the car stay running???

Thanks for any info you can provide???

 

I'm interested in this too. I have a 2024 xse. And the A/C does not run remote start.

 

@New2xse
Some will tell you it's a safety feature but that's not true. It's just poor design.
My VW did the same thing but my Dodge and my Subaru both remain started.
The vehicle CANNOT be driven without the fob in proximity so there is no possibility of theft.
It's just crazy that you must actually re-start your car....

 

The door open shutoff feature might be able to be hacked by a computer somewhere. If they weren't equipped with the feature from the factory, I guarantee you your insurance would be through the roof (even more) IF an insurance company would even insure it. It's just a sign of the times.

 

...I guarantee you your insurance would be through the roof (even more) IF an insurance company would even insure it.

Not true. I have/had multiple vehicles with remote start, they are all fully insured, premiums roughly the same and the Toyota is the only one that shuts the engine off when opening the door the rest just keep on running - but you can't drive them without the fob.

 

Me again 😀

So if the OEM from Toyota is designed to shut off when you open the door, what is the purpose of remote start???

I can certainly understand in the Winter to warm up your car so the heat works as soon as you get in the car. In the summertime, are you supposed to leave the AC in the ON position so it comes on when you do the remote start to cool your car?

I am a little "Old School" but I always heard your AC should NOT be left in the ON position when starting your car and the long term effects associated with that being done continuously??? I don't think there is a way for your AC to be turned on "AFTER" the remote start as you do when you use the push button START and then push the AC controls.

I agree with the "theft thread" above as you should still need a KEY FOB to put the car into Drive which is the theft deterrent feature on most other cars.

So again, what is the purpose of the Remote Start, Am I missing something LOL

I appreciate the insight

 

So again, what is the purpose of the Remote Start, Am I missing something LOL

Everything you read about why it is that way will be conjecture, as no one will come up with a reasonable explanation.
The only true answer would come from someone at Toyota.
They would "probably" make liability statements but we all know there is no liability.
You will never get your answer, as this has been discussed multiple times in the past.
Like I did with my VW, you just have to live with it.

 

@moymurfs
Yeah, not true as mentioned above.
Plenty of manufacturers have this feature and zero have inflated insurance premiums.

 

I'd bet that Toyota's engineers wanted to reset the car to a basic state - off - before authenticating again with the usual foot on brake, press start button with fob in proximity in the drivers seat.

No idea why they chose to do that. As has been mentioned, other manufacturers handle it with no problem. Toyota's engineers must have thought that there was a potential problem in that process somewhere if they did it with the engine running after starting it through the DCM.

 

HI, I had the same question, I bought a 2021 RAV4 LIMITED HYBRID and i wondered the same thing, I asked the service department at the dealer and a Technician said it works that way also only with certain models, that is why it is not in the manual.

 

You can Remote Start the Highlander by pushing the lock button 3 times. On the 3rd click, wait for the lights to flash and let up quickly. Give it a few seconds and it will start.

 

Do you think that Toyota has the shut off when door open feature because of the possibility of a thief seeing the car running breaks window opens door jumps in and drives away

 

Every car I have/had with remote start requires the fob to be in the vehicle to drive away. Can't shift out of park or utilize any other vehicle functions without it. Remote start starts the engine and nothing else. It could be that Toyotas are different in that respect but can't say for sure, and don't see any reason why they would be.

 

So...I start my 2020 HIghlander XLE and put the fob out of range of the car. I walk back to the car and it does go into reverse and drive. When it's in either one of those gears I get a message on the dash display that the key is not detected and that it needs to be located. But it CAN be driven. Therefore, if you remote start the car while it's sitting in your driveway it's possible someone could steal it. Good reason to have it shut down when the door is opened after a remote start.

 

I had a 2012 Ford Fusion that could be remote started and remain running after door opening. However, to put it in gear you had to first press the brake pedal which would immediately kill the engine. Car theft problem solved! Good idea but only a fair car.

 

^ That's not with remote start, though. For the car to start remotely, the doors must be locked. You'll need the fob to get into the car if it has been started remotely.

But yes, if you start the car the normal way (from inside), it's possible to walk away with the key fob after it's started and the car is still able to drive. That's probably done so that you can still drive the car with a weak battery in the fob. If you have ever started the car and then walked away from the car while it's running, you hear it beep three times. That's supposed to be the reminder that tells you that you have walked away with the key fob.

 

@macE734
True, if you start you car the normal way and then walk away, leave you fob and return, you could probably drive away.
HOWEVER, when you REMOTE start the car, that is not the case. You will have to press the brake and the start button in order to drive.
If yours does not do this, something is wrong and you need to have it repaired.

 

@macE734
True, if you start you car the normal way and then walk away, leave you fob and return, you could probably drive away.
HOWEVER, when you REMOTE start the car, that is not the case. You will have to press the brake and the start button in order to drive.
If yours does not do this, something is wrong and you need to have it repaired.

I think we all know this already. I'm responding to the people who are saying you need the fob to drive the car. You don't, if it was started normally.

 

@macE734
I must have misunderstood your comment.
You said :
"Therefore, if you remote start the car while it's sitting in your driveway it's possible someone could steal it. Good reason to have it shut down when the door is opened after a remote start."
Are you stating that if you remote start your car with the fob that you can then get in without the fob and drive away? I'm confused.

 

I mean the car can be driven by anyone who gets in it if it's sitting somewhere idling. Except if it was remote started, in which case it will shut down when the door is opened. That's a good reason to have the opening of the door kill the engine. Some people were saying the car could not be driven without the fob present, period, but that is not true.

 

@macE734
I follow you now.
However, it's still a poor design to have the car shut off when you open the door, it's unnecessary.

 

@macE734
I follow you now.
However, it's still a poor design to have the car shut off when you open the door, it's unnecessary.

I can envision the owner remotely starting their car parked that's parked on the street or in a parking lot so the A/C can cool the car off for a few minutes before the owner is ready to get into it. Any passer-by could get in and drive away. A long shot, I know, but possible.

 

My typing skills are at an ebb, it seems!

 

This has been a helpful thread. Now, I will add heat/ac settings upon remote start into the discussion. I understood there was a setting for this be be either auto (dictated by ambient tem) or to return to last setting. I have tried and tried and cannot find this setting. I asked Toyota dealer about it and they don’t think there is such a setting (at least on Hybrid Platinum) but front/rear window defrost will come on with low ambient temp. Any insights will be appreciated!

 

At least for 2020-2022, there is no choice. It's supposed to be the last HVAC settings you had when the car was turned off. And yes, I've noticed it will add more things such as the defroster and I believe the mirror heaters in cold temperatures.

Don't know if that changed for 2023.

And this is another thing other brands handle differently. Some other brands let you control the HVAC from the app when you use remote start.

 

The 2020 XLE is selectable; either return to last setting or OFF. See owner's manual.

 

If Toyota had thought it thru they would have the remote start stay on until someone tries to drive off without the key fob. I don’t use that feature very often because of the extra wear on the engine and starter having to start multiple times.

 

When you remote start with key fob the doors are locked, you can't open door without key fob.

 

I've searched both the Owners Manual and the Navigation/Multimedia Manual. Neither even remote start. Please share where you found that in the manual.

 

The question to which I was replying was about the A/C default condition. For clarity, I included the question in my post.