Does My Car Have a Remote Start by VIN Number?
If you want to start your car without having to walk to it, remote starters are a good choice.
Do you like the convenience of being able to start your car from a distance, without having to step outside in the cold?
If so, you may be wondering how to tell if your car has a remote start. Read on further.
How to Tell If a Car Has Remote Start?
Check Owner’s Manual
If you have a remote start feature, you can start your engine without using an ignition key.
In cold climates, it may be difficult to step outside of your heating area and start the car on your own.
If you don’t know whether or not your vehicle has a remote starter, you can look in the owner’s manual. In the index of the manual, the location of this information is listed.
The following companies include a remote start:
You can check the owner’s manual to see if the remote start feature is listed. I had the owner’s manual of the Escape. I found the remote start feature by checking its index.
My friend has a 2020 Chevy Malibu owner’s manual. He asked him to check the index and find the remote start feature.
I was unable to find the remote start feature in the index for Toyota. Don’t worry at all. We can identify it using Key Fob, as I have explained in the next section.
Check the Key Fob
You can find out if your vehicle has a remote start system by looking at the key. There is a button for the remote starter in the keys.
On Chevys with a remote start feature, there is a button that shows an arrow in a partial circle.
Pressing the lock setting and the remote start/stop button at the same time will allow you to start Chevy. Your vehicle will start.
The Ford vehicles with remote start feature have the same rounded arrow in a partial circle, but with a 2x.
If you want to test the remote start on Ford, you have to press the lock button. The lock button can be used to lock your car for safety and security reasons.
The remote start button needs to be pressed within 3 seconds. Within three seconds, press the same button a second time.
When the vehicle is running, the turn signal lamps will flash twice, and parking lamps will turn on if the remote start of Ford is successful.
The horn will make a noise if the vehicle does not start.
It is a bit different for Honda automobiles. Honda vehicles have a keyless entry-integrated key with a Keyless Access mode. You can find the same button with the rounded arrow.
On some Honda vehicles with a remote start system, you can find a button with the word ‘Engine’ on it.
If the engine button isn’t working, it’s a good idea to check that the remote start system is on by going to the keyless access setup.
Toyota cars up to the 2021 model can be remotely started with a fob, so if you want to know about this, you should. In the year 2021, Toyota introduced the Remote Connect App to remote start their vehicles.
For a 3-year trial period, Toyota vehicles from the year 2018 to 2020 can use the remote feature. The key fob remote start will be free if you have a pre-2018 Toyota vehicle.
Chevys, Fords, and Hondas have remote start buttons on their vehicles, but Toyota does not.
If you want to remote start the Toyota Camry, hold the lock button for at least 3 seconds the first two times, and then press the lock button again.
Lexus vehicles also do not have any special buttons for the key fob for remote start. If you want to keep pressing the lock button you have to push it twice in a row.
Then you have to press the lock button for 4 seconds on a third step if you want to push the lock button.
On vehicles with automatic climate control, the remote engine starter can operate the air conditioner or heating wire based on the cold temperature.
When a vehicle is remote started, the climate control system will begin to operate at the last operating mode and temperature you would have chosen.
Whatever the temperature setting was in your vehicle when you left, it will start running. Up to 60 m (197 ft) away from the vehicle is where the remote start for any vehicle can work.
Application for Remote Start
Toyota introduced an application called Remote connect that will allow users to start their vehicle from their smartwatches or phones.
They don’t have to use a key fob every time they want to start their vehicle.
If you use the remote application to access the car functions, the range will be increased compared to starting the car with a key.
The Toyota vehicles that have a remote start feature are Camry, Corolla, RAV4, Tacoma, 4Runner, and Highlander.
FordPass is an application that will allow for a remote start of vehicles.
Some people complain that they can’t find the remote start button on the key, but have a remote start sticker under the hood.
The FordPass application can be used to start such vehicles. You’ll have to change the module of the Ford to work with the remote start.
Using VIN
The vehicle identification number of a Chevy Malibu was found on one of the Chevy forums. I found out that it had a remote starter system when I used an online tool.
If your vehicle has a factory remote start system, then this method will only work. It will not work for an aftermarket remote starter.
Aftermarket Remote Starter
The factory remote starter can only be verified by the above methods.
You can see a control module underneath the driver dash or a passenger dash to identify an aftermarket remote starter.
If you can not do this, you can take your car to a stereo and alarm shop to get an aftermarket remote starter.
Truck driver by profession, automotive lover by heart. Ricky is the main publisher and editor at Truckile.com sharing his life-long knowledge and experience in the auto industry and truck driving!
