My remote start is weird. I have the smart key as well. If I autostart the car, let it warm up, go sit in it, I have to push the brake as usual then press the start button and the car turns off. Then I have do it again and the car starts. Is this normal?

 

Got my 2013 with factory starter too. Sales told me it is by design that whenever you unlock (using the remote) or open door via handle, engine will shut off.
I think kinda Toyota safety feature (to aviod recall or lawsuit or something...??)

As dranyel said, the range is really terrible; and it is 1-way with no feedback.
Anyway, will suck it up as I have heated seat now...:clap:

 

blizzardpearl613, is yours Toyota factory starter?
I was told 3rd party won't work well with smart key system, that's why I have the factory one installed even though it is a 1-way.

 

I have a 3rd party unit that was installed by my dealer when I bought my Venza, new in 2011. I had seen the negative feedback on the factory system but wanted remote start. My dealership confirmed there were issues with it and offered me the 3rd party option.

It works fine with my smart key and still kills the engine when I touch the door handle. The range is much better, more like 80-100 feet, thru walls even.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using AutoGuide App

 

The range on those factory remote starters has and always will be terrible. You can "mod" your car by soldering a small wire extension on the control module's antenna. Then you will need to open up your key fob and do the same to it but you are only talking about getting maybe 20more feet out of it.
How much did you spend on getting it installed?

Sent from my DROID RAZR using AutoGuide App

 

Try a search in this forum for Viper 5101 (1way), people said it will not kill the engine when opeing the door to get in. Plus when you push start twice, press brake and shift will get you going without restart.

New model 5704 (2way) should do the same...will explore this option down the road when it really bugs me.

 

I made sure my Venza DIDN'T have the factory remote start.

After reading how awful it was on here I knew I wanted to go with something else. Now that I have some free time on my hands it'll be the first thing I get done as temps are starting to drop here in New England.

The two that I read about on here were the VIPER 5901 (remote start and alarm) and the VIPER 5101.

 

If you have the smart key the car will always shut off when you open the door. Otherwise anyone could just jump in the car and drive off in it. It's a safety feature. With regular keys they have to bury a key with the remote start module in the car as keys now have RFID chips and the engine wont turnover without the chip. There is no option to do this with the smart key system which is why it will just shut off and need to be restarted. As far as I know there is no factory or after market remote start for the smart key that wont shut off when you open or unlock the door.