crappy Auto Start

IMRAM · Jan 16, 2018

I recently bought a 2017 limited. The autostart has never been reliable, so today I went and put new batteries in both FOBs. I do exactly as I was told to do it from the dealer, it works about 50% of the time. I like this vehicle, but my GM product I had prior for five years had excellent range and was virtually 100% reliable. So tonight when it wouldn’t work I walked out to my driveway and displayed on the dash it read “auto start disabled please start vehicle to reset”. What good is a autostart when you have to start your vehicle to reset it? I really like this truck, but extremely disappointed in this, and I won’t be satisfied until it’s fixed because I paid way too much for this vehicle. Before I go to the dealer, wondering if anybody has any ideas? Very disappointing.

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bmg97 · Jan 16, 2018

How much gas was in your tank ? It wont start if the gas is low.

noupf · Jan 16, 2018

funny, i hated the range and reliability of the auto start on my 2010 Silverado. My 2015 Ram has been great.

Do you have any odd circumstances, like deep inside your home or work or anything like that?

Does it only work 50/50 even if you are right next to it?

Wonder if the antenna is not plugged in properly or something

Docpaulo · Jan 16, 2018

My autostart works great...

It is disabled if fuel tank is low or if doors are open

IMRAM · Jan 16, 2018

Interesting about the low fuel. It’s not empty but it’s probably less than a quarter of tank. Plus keep in mind I have a 32 gallon tank that shows empty one they’re still 6-7 gallons left.. LOL
Maybe that’s it, because I could not get it to start standing next to it, I thought I did something to disable by mistake.

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IMRAM · Jan 16, 2018

noupf said:
funny, i hated the range and reliability of the auto start on my 2010 Silverado. My 2015 Ram has been great.

Do you have any odd circumstances, like deep inside your home or work or anything like that?

Does it only work 50/50 even if you are right next to it?

Wonder if the antenna is not plugged in properly or something

It’s been hit and miss since I bought it, I’ve just always thought it was because I was doing something incorrectly. Normally if I’m outside in a parking lot and I can see it it’s worked pretty well. There’s no unusual circumstances from my house to where my pick up is parked. From the house, Sometimes it starts perfectly, sometimes not so much. This time I actually walked outside to see if it will start and it wouldn’t, and when I got close I could see on the display it said autostart disabled, telling me I had to start it with the FOB to enable it again. Tomorrow I will have a full tank a gas and I will see if that helps. Thanks for all the replies. Overall I love this truck.

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Philip · Jan 17, 2018

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the autostart when it's hot around these parts. I can turn mine on from my apartment about 15-20 yards away, BUT I have to consciously press the button twice, and each time make it a long press. So I literally press it and say, 1 Mississippi, 2 Mississippi etc. Stupid I know lol.

JB1 · Jan 17, 2018

Mine works flawlessly, saved me yesterday when my truck was covered in ice

Moab_Rockstar · Jan 17, 2018

Mine can be finicky. Sometimes it seems like the RF module just isn't waking up. I'll hit the start button and there's no response. I'll hit it again, no response. If I hit the lock button, it will wake up the module and then the start button works.

As said, too low on fuel, and it won't start. I don't know what the threshold is though.

Sandbox · Jan 17, 2018

Mine works great! I find that it works better if I have line of sight to the front of the truck. You can only start it twice with the remote and then you have to start it with the key/button. Also, it will only run for 15 minutes on a remote start before cutting off. So, if you remote start it and let it run until it cuts off and do it again, you then have to start it the traditional way to reset the remote start.

mohemipar · Jan 17, 2018

Dealer should be trouble shooting this for you. There is probably a bad connection/harness somewhere or even a bad ground. Who knows.

My 2500 always sits outside and I’ve been remote starting it every single week day morning since late November and have never had an issue with it not working. It also works from outside the parking garage I use at work.

ColdCase · Jan 17, 2018

IMRAM said:
The autostart has never been reliable,

Try waiting a second or two between button pushes. Mine always remote starts when I'm patient, sometimes not when I'm in a hurry. Then again, it will sometimes start on its own (something in the pocket squeezing the FOB

)

adrianp89 · Jan 17, 2018

If gas light is on, it will turn off. That is probably the issue. A bad wire or loose connection are both extremely unlikely. Oh and the range is horrible, I have accepted that.

Jstmahoney · Jan 17, 2018

Mine works petty well, I’ve used it frequently. I don’t like that you can’t set the time it runs like you can in our Journey. Also check your fuel, also there’s a sensor on the hood, if it’s open it will also disable the remote start. Also, maybe someone else can chime in, doesn’t the instrument panel tell you remote has been disabled for whatever reason? Has anyone tried the Uconnect app? I can lock unlock remote start and locate my truck with it. Pretty cool.

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TerraNewf · Jan 17, 2018

Working as should here, never had a problem with either the 2015 or my present truck

IRSmart · Jan 17, 2018

The message you were seeing means that the truck has already gone through two successful remote start sequences and you were trying to do it a third time. Your remote start system may be working more than you realize, or it may be a situation if you do not know how to use it properly. It works differently than in GM vehicles. If you’re pressing the button while it’s trying to start, it will shut down and register that as 1 successful attempt, and will only allow one more attempt. On the third try, it won’t allow the truck to remote start and you’ll get the message you see.

mohemipar · Jan 17, 2018

^Good point. You don't hold the button down like on GMs. Just tap it twice and let go. If you hold it down it will screw up the process.

IMRAM · Jan 17, 2018

IRSmart said:
The message you were seeing means that the truck has already gone through two successful remote start sequences and you were trying to do it a third time. Your remote start system may be working more than you realize, or it may be a situation if you do not know how to use it properly. It works differently than in GM vehicles. If you’re pressing the button while it’s trying to start, it will shut down and register that as 1 successful attempt, and will only allow one more attempt. On the third try, it won’t allow the truck to remote start and you’ll get the message you see.

This is probably what has been happening. Maybe I have not been patient enough. I will try to pay more attention to its reactions. The low fuel light is not on and the hood is closed properly. Thx for all the replies.

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tma777 · Jan 17, 2018

This sounds crazy but I read somewhere to extend the distance of a remote fob to hold under your chin against your skin and hit the buttons, thought it was crazy but one day walking out of work I tried it as soon as I walked out of the building. My truck was across the parking lot on the 2nd level of a parking garage and it started. It had never worked that far away in the past so now I do it all the time. Looks strange but it works, something about your body being a natural antenna.

TorRedRam · Jan 17, 2018

I've noticed that if mine wouldn't work I'd press the lock button 2-3 times first to establish a connection between the remote and the truck and then mine will work every time. The lock feature seems to work at a longer distance and then my remote start will work every time with two good pushes of the remote start button. Not sure if it helps establish a connection first but has definitely helped with range and consistency.

Seems strange but works for me...

crappy Auto Start

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