Major fail: keyfob remote start then the truck won't start at all!

So, the weirdest thing happened. I went to remote start my truck with the fob and it didn't work. Then I tried it a few more times and it did. Then, with the truck running, I went to try to open the rear window from the buttons on the hatch. No go. I prob pushed both the lock/up and unlock/down buttons a couple times.

Then I opened the driver door -- and the truck kept running! I then tried to open the rear window from the switch on the center console. Wouldn't work. Then I shut down the truck.

Then..... even after multiple attempts I could not restart the truck normally! Or by using the fob! Dead!

Walked away and waited a min, came back and tried again. Would not start! Sometimes I was able to get the AC on, but later nothing at all would happen when I pressed the Start button on the dash. Dead! (Note that the fob still worked to lock and unlock the doors no problem).

Sooooo, then I went inside, pulled the battery from the fob, counted to five, reinstalled it and then the truck started up normally. Drove aways, shut down, came back ten minutes later and it started normally again. Whew.

Any clue what happened?? I'm wondering if I stumbled on some weird button-pushing combo that shut down the system. Or that caused the fob to continually try to communicate with the ignition? Weird and unsettling! Needless to say I'm gonna be more careful in the future with remote start via the fob LOL. I'm not sure it's worth the convenience!

 

Is it an aftermarket remote start system?

I've read horror stories about aftermarket systems.

 

My compustar has been flawless for 3 years.

 

No it’s the regular Toyota fob and system. I’m guessing I confused it somehow and it freaked. Was interested if anyone knows what happened.

Also thought people should know in case it happens to them. I’m glad it occurred to me to pull the battery on the fob. I can’t know for sure, but nothing else I tried worked until I did that.

 

Gremlins

Better you than me

Hope it never happens again

 

That's good to hear. Even if you figure it out, I would mention it to your dealership. That way if it acts up after your 3/36 warranty expires, they may make it right since it was a documented issue while within the warranty period.

 

I had a similar event this morning. Started it remotely and went out to get in hit the unlock button and it did not turn off. Opened the door still did not turn off. I pushed the brake and pushed the start button that turned it off. But would not start after. All lights and accessory system worked but would not start the vehicle. Had to walk away. I am go to try again. I will update a little later. I have a factory remote start as well.

 

Yikes. I thought mine might have had to do with pressing on the door lock/unlock buttons on the hatch, after remote starting but before I went to open the driver's door. As if I'd confused the system. Your experience suggests there's definitely a bug in this factory remote start software -- my experience wasn't some bizarre one-off.

What model and year do you have?

Pls do let us know how you fixed it.

As mentioned in my earlier post, I pulled the battery out of my keyfob and counted to 5 before reinstalling it. Then things worked normally. Whether that was coincidence or not who knows. But my theory was that the fob was still communicating with the truck and maybe I needed to stop that.

I've had no problems since. I've done remote starts prob a half dozen times or so. What I haven't done is push any other buttons after the remote start. Just walked up to the driver's door, grabbed the handle and opened it. Whereupon the engine shut off as designed.

But definitely reason to be cautious about this system!

 

Whoa!! Two instances in the same day?

Question…Is this remote start system on the truck itself, or is it a “remote” remote start through the app that runs through the internet? The reason I ask is that I thought I remember reading that toyota offered remote start through the entune app if you are connected.

If it is a remote remote start, then maybe there was some sort of glitch at Toyota internet HQ that caused two similar incidents on the same day…

 

To clarify, my one experience with this happening was back in July. Yoda said it happened to him this morning. These two cases are the only ones I know of.

As noted in the thread, we both used our Toyota keyfobs to do the remote starts. We were using the method where you click the lock button on the fob three times, holding it down a few seconds on the third press.

I have also used the "Remote Connect" system to remote start via the Toyota smartphone app. I used it several times before my Remote Connect subscription expired. It worked well each time. But this thread is not about that system. It's about remote starting via the keyfob -- not via the smartphone app.

 

Ah got it. Hope this is figured out for you guys. Sucks to have this as a possibility hanging over your head.

Side note: I kinda hoped it was remote remote, mostly because I want to pick a fight with toyota over our internet tethers. But today is not that day Toyota, today is not that day…

carry on…

 

LOL Nice. As most y'all know, I'm very much against the ol' internet connected vehicle thing!

 

My guess is the fob button got stuck and the fob kept transmitting.

 

Update, I went back about an hour later and the 4 Runner started right up. Not sure if needed time to reset itself. Any thoughts?

 

Glad to hear. I really don't know what to think. But my gut feeling is that the fob is communicating with the truck even when it's not supposed to be, and this is "confusing" the computer. So when you allow enough time to pass, or you pull the battery from the fob as I did, the communication stops.

Regardless, this is clearly a bug in the system. The fob should not communicate anything more than its proximity unless a button is depressed. And the truck's computer should not allow a blabbering fob to cause this kind of problem. It's a big fail. Hopefully Toyota knows and will fix it with a software update -- and recall the fobs if there's also a mechanical problem there (eg buttons are getting stuck).

 

Seems to be a common issue, same thing happened to my Limited 21’ this morning. Didn’t think to pull battery from the fob, disconnected the neg terminal

 

I think it’s pretty clear that Toyota puts incredibly reliable and durable engines, transmissions and suspensions in these things, but has struggled with some of the electronic tech. This plus the fact that my 4R also had a dead battery after sitting unused for a few days, plus the rampant problem of dead batteries in the Rav 4, says to me that they’ve got a problem with the programming of their Remote Services system. They seem to have an ongoing issue with the software that controls things like their new active safety systems and the services that allow remote control of the vehicle. Yet another reason to find a way to turn off a lot of that stuff.

 

I literally bought the extended warranty just because it covers the electronics…I have to replace my wife’s battery every 2 years in her rav4. That and I don’t trust the radar and camera for the collision and lane departure to last as long as the engine and drive train.

 

Are these fobs waterproof?
Have fell through a beaver pond in 6 degree weather before up here deer hunting in the UP.Made it back to the truck and with a key no problem.Am I screwed if this fob gets wet?Start building a fire?

 

You might consider putting the fob in a ziplock bag before jumping into a beaver pond.

 

Got a soccer moms starting system on my off road exploring station wagon.
Just stick the fob in a zip lock with the TP.

 

I had this same thing happen this morning. 2020 Tacoma.

Started it remotely and went out to get in hit the unlock button and it did not turn off. Opened the door still did not turn off. I put it in drive and it turned off. But would not start after. All lights and accessory system worked but would not start the vehicle. I tried the remote start again, multiple times. Tried starting normal, multiple times. I walked back in the house and back to the truck and it started with the button. I guessing I went out of FOB range?

Anyone else has a fix for this?

 

Wow. Given the number of people this has obviously happened to it’s clearly not an aberration. Hopefully Toyota knows and will push out a software fix. I have no fix of my own other than to make sure to interrupt the communication between the fob and the truck. That seems to be consistent in these stories. The truck won’t start until then. In my case I pulled the battery from the fob. In your case you seem to have taken the fob out of range.

 

I had the same issue last week with my 2020 TRD OR. Started remotely with fob in the morning. Opened the door, engine did not stop, engine stopped when putting into gear. All lights and accessories, door locks, etc worked but 4R would not start. Went to work in my wife's car. When I returned at end of the day, the 4R started normally again.

EDIT: HAPPENED AGAIN THIS MORNING. 2ND TIME IN TWO WEEKS. TOOK MY WIFES CAR TO WORK AGAIN. MY WIFE STARTED MY 4R WITH NO PROBLEMS BY MID MORNING.

 

I created an account just now solely to reply that this tactic of removing the battery definitely works. My 2021 TRD Pro auto start cutoff failed when I opened the door and pressed the brakes. It was only shifting into Neutral that did the trick, and the second that switch was hit, the car shut down. Removing the battery of the fob was an immediate fix and we are back to normal. Thanks for suggesting to tell service, as I am bringing mine in for 11k already!

 

Update (2020 Tacoma)
So I got ahold of Toyota. They say that the DCM (which is the cell / wifi receiver) needs replacing. Apparently the key fob uses that module as well. They even called my local dealer and they are going to replace it at my next service. Fingers crossed

 

Hey new to this forum as well. We have a 2020 limited and this problem has happened twice. Once in the fall (August) I remote started with the fob and then went and opened the door, I got in and thought weird why didn’t it shut off like it normally does. I put in gear and it shut off, no matter what I tried it would not re start. I called Toyota and they said they would send a tow. I went back out and tried again and it started (did not remove fob battery or anything) cancelled tow and called it a fluke. Dec 29, remote started with fob and went to load kids up, not paying attention I didn’t realize it stayed running when I opened doors. Got in and put in gear and it shut off. Would not re start, so I loaded kids into our trusty 2010 rav with 330k and a regular key and off we went. Next day went to start the 4 runner as I figured it was another fluke and would not start at all, battery was completely dead. Not sure if the weird fluke caused the computer to stay running or something, but after boosting it and checking everything nothing was accidentally left on. This isn’t giving me a good feeling and will be contacting the dealer again. As others know dead batteries freeze and damage fast, it was -8 that night so I’m hoping no damage was done.

 

Same thing happened to me with my 2020 toyota 4runner. Started it from the key fob. When I went in the vehicle it didn't shut off but then when I did. It wouldnt start but all accessories were on. This happened a few times in the last 4 months. Had it checked out and they couldn't find anything wrong. It happened again tonight

 

Out of curiosity, what do you guys use the remote start for?

 

I live where it's winter and below zero. I start my vehicle before I leave work from the building.