Push To Start Button is crap

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physman

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Don't have my push button to start RAM anymore - went to a 2012 - but I thought there was a key in the remote you could remove and if you popped off the button you could insert the key and start the truck. Pretty sure my 2013 challenger is that way. Do they not do that anymore with the Rams?
 

horace33

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My '18 Laramie w/ coming on 80,000 zero trouble, my 12 R/T had a little but I think that was operator error
 

GeometryFletch

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Regcabguy

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My 2019 Laramie had to be towed in because the push button start switch broke. Left me stranded in the boondocks. I figured it was just a freak thing. Now our 2019 Bighorn is stranded 3 states away with same problem. The dealer told me that there is a cheap plastic ring that breaks. You would think Ram would make sure to make this a quality part being it is so important. Both Rams have failed and had to be towed because of this. The only other truck with a problem this year was a 2018 GMC that had a injector fail at 70k.. The RAMS had 33k and 35k on them.
They need to have a trained monkey or something pressing on that part for thousands of times before using it on a truck.
 

Doug Ram

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While mine hasn't broken, after 20,000 miles we've decided we want our keys back.

I hate the push (or in your case - smash) to start system. Mostly we hate the big fat fob, which has to be carried on your person, usually in my pocket (and not comfortably). I had a 2011 Nissan Murano, which at least had a slot in the dash for the small thin fob. It didn't have to be in there, but it was a convenient spot so you didn't lose track of the g.d. thing. On my Ram I have to stick it somewhere where the truck still can sense it if I don't want it in my pocket on long trips. The wife doesn't know what to do with the fob, as she often carries no purse and has no pockets. Regarding the button itself, I find myself pushing the button repeatedly if I want just the accessory position, or if turning the truck off from accessory. Then there are the times I start the truck instead of turning it off from accessory, because my foot is resting on the brake.

So to sum up: it's easy to lose, inconvenient to use, and more expensive to replace. I hate the system. Give me back my key.
 

Elkman

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Frankly if that is all that is troubling you then you lead a very charmed life.
 

Dodge 1500 4X4

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If you hate the push start, go back to the other 2 I'm sure they have a model just right for you, I've had a key all my life and welcome the change.
 

mikeru

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Don't have my push button to start RAM anymore - went to a 2012 - but I thought there was a key in the remote you could remove and if you popped off the button you could insert the key and start the truck. Pretty sure my 2013 challenger is that way. Do they not do that anymore with the Rams?
No, the pushbuttons on these trucks are not designed that way. The removable key in the fob is for unlocking the door if the remote doesn't unlock it because of a dead fob battery. You then push the button with the fob to start the truck. The key is also for locking/unlocking the bed divider that comes with the BUG if you also have the rambox option.
 

GonnaBuyaDually

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While mine hasn't broken, after 20,000 miles we've decided we want our keys back.

I hate the push (or in your case - smash) to start system. Mostly we hate the big fat fob, which has to be carried on your person, usually in my pocket (and not comfortably). I had a 2011 Nissan Murano, which at least had a slot in the dash for the small thin fob. It didn't have to be in there, but it was a convenient spot so you didn't lose track of the g.d. thing. On my Ram I have to stick it somewhere where the truck still can sense it if I don't want it in my pocket on long trips. The wife doesn't know what to do with the fob, as she often carries no purse and has no pockets. Regarding the button itself, I find myself pushing the button repeatedly if I want just the accessory position, or if turning the truck off from accessory. Then there are the times I start the truck instead of turning it off from accessory, because my foot is resting on the brake.

So to sum up: it's easy to lose, inconvenient to use, and more expensive to replace. I hate the system. Give me back my key.
It will NEVER start without your foot on the brake. Take a minute to practice if you need to. I find it absolutely superior to key start.

And if you are having key placement issues, do what I do; hook it to a loop, or your pocket.
20211030_202500.jpg
 

Doug Ram

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It will NEVER start without your foot on the brake. Take a minute to practice if you need to. I find it absolutely superior to key start.

And if you are having key placement issues, do what I do; hook it to a loop, or your pocket.
View attachment 475807
Yep. Sure. Now thats quite a picture of awkward. I love the truck otherwise, but the push button start and fob is a solution to a problem.... well.... nobody had.

All i'm saying is that the Ram fob is a pig. My 11 Murano's (keyless, remote start) was half its size. My 94 optioned out Cherokee Country had keyless entry, anti theft, a small fob, and key, that together was more compact than the fob on my 21 Ram. Why is it getting bigger?

And maybe a fob makes it easier to build in the remote start... but I still gotta press the dash button even when i have the fob on me. Why so big?
 

ramffml

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Yep. Sure. Now thats quite a picture of awkward. I love the truck otherwise, but the push button start and fob is a solution to a problem.... well.... nobody had.

Actually it's a great system, the problem with it is that on lower trims you're only getting half of the feature. The complete feature is "no need to pull your keys out of your pocket". On my old Jeep, you walk up to your jeep, put your hands behind the door handle at which point it detects the fob and unlocks your car. Then you hop in and push the start button. All without touching your keys.

That is very nice, and like remote start, not a critical feature but one that is welcome to many like myself who wear gloves outside for 4 months out of the year.

The problem though, is that on my bighorn trim they don't give you the auto unlock with your hand behind the door handle thingy, so now yeah your left with a useless feature because you still need to grab your keys. Still, it's better than having my keys stuck in an ignition jangling around as I go over bumps etc.
 

Atcer2018

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Actually it's a great system, the problem with it is that on lower trims you're only getting half of the feature. The complete feature is "no need to pull your keys out of your pocket". On my old Jeep, you walk up to your jeep, put your hands behind the door handle at which point it detects the fob and unlocks your car. Then you hop in and push the start button. All without touching your keys.

That is very nice, and like remote start, not a critical feature but one that is welcome to many like myself who wear gloves outside for 4 months out of the year.

The problem though, is that on my bighorn trim they don't give you the auto unlock with your hand behind the door handle thingy, so now yeah your left with a useless feature because you still need to grab your keys. Still, it's better than having my keys stuck in an ignition jangling around as I go over bumps etc.
You can add it yourself. It’s a PITA but the proximity handles are a nice upgrade when the work is done. It requires two new door handles, two door antenna, some custom made wiring harness and a days worth of tearing apart trim to install. Oh yeah $500 for the parts and someone with AlfaOBD to program it for you!
 

Ram Night

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Don't these have the option to pull the button out and use the key in the slot? My challenger has this option in cast the push button fails. And it is the recommended way to start and stop the engine when installing a tune.
 

Lee955i

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Don't these have the option to pull the button out and use the key in the slot? My challenger has this option in cast the push button fails. And it is the recommended way to start and stop the engine when installing a tune.
Nope, different system than the older Challys. (I have one). The new buttons don't pop out exposing a slot for the end of the older style fobs. The new ones you just push the button in with the end of the fob, so the button has to be intact.
 
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KC5TGQ

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Good grief, hard are you mashing the button? Mine triggers the starting process before bottoming out against the detent. Try a little more finesse and less force.
Not pushing hard at all. I do not drive the Bighorn, only the Laramie. It starts with having to push the button 4 or 5 times to kill it. Then it just fails to crank.
 
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KC5TGQ

KC5TGQ

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Thats crap! What did they charge you to fix that? Sounds like it might be a good idea to have an extra one on hand just in case it happens again. I hate to be stranded away from the house.
both fixed under warranty. Towing also.
 
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KC5TGQ

KC5TGQ

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Maybe the FOB remote start would have been useful here... I know not every truck has that feature and frankly, I would NEVER have gotten remote start but in order to get certain things that I DID want I had to get a bunch of other stuff I didn't necessarily want...

(Edit) Actually, I think you have to press the start button once you get in the truck even after the remote start so never mind.
I have the remote start. It starts the truck but you must press start button before you can turn gear knob. When u touch break engine dies.
 
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