Hello,

Yesterday I picked up a 2015 SR5 and had the dealer install remote start. It works, but with an annoying "feature."

As the sticker indicates, press the lock button twice and then hold it down for about 3 seconds, release, starter cranks, engine starts.

To get in the car without breaking a window requires unlocking the door (I tend to leave windows up when it is unattended all day).

Unlocking the doors causes the engine to start.

To me, remote start use useful for two things.
1) Winter time - warm up the engine and potentially defrost windows if iced over
2) To save 3 seconds by starting the engine before you get to the vehicle...then open the door, put the key in, and go.


I've never had remote start before but I've seen vehicles in which pressing the brake pedal to remove from park kills it, but you could still unlock and open the doors and put the key in so you don't have to stop the engine just to start it again 5 seconds later.

The owner's manual didn't mention remote start for SR5 (just the version in the Limited which works differently). Am I dumb and missed something here or is this just the way it is? That was a pricey option to be funcitoning that way.

Sorry for the novel.

Thanks!

Nic

did you ever figure it out?

I just bought a 2016 TRDPro and it's the exact same way. Maybe someone will have an answer. I find it to be stupid to have to restart the 4Runner after I get into it. Having to crank it twice is putting more wear and stress on the starter. Whoever designed this wasn't thinking clearly. Lol

I have been looking for a work-around for this problem. So far, no luck. It is very annoying and so is the sequence to get the remote start to work. If the timing isn't just right, you're screwed. My closest window is just within operating range of the transmitter. That along with the timing for the remote start activation is very aggravating. I installed mobile electronics for 14 years, including remote starts, and this is the worst setup I've seen. I have been strongly considering an aftermarket system.

I also have the factory remote start. It was installed for free due to a 2 month delivery delay. Worst remote start I have ever owned. I am searching for an aftermarket remote starter as we speak.

i was at the dealership looking at 4runners this weekend. Came across a used 15 Sr5 premium with remote start, the thing was a total pain in the ass to remote start, the dealer and I were holding down the buttons and took many tries just to get it to remote start once. Worst remote start I've ever seen.

There was a vendor that sold a bypass that only took a few minutes to install that kept the vehicle running when you unlocked the key. My googleFU is failing me and I can't find the vendor now. Hence this bump of an old thread hoping to find the work around.

PSA: Another aftermarket Remote starter/Alarm start thread. This one has videos

I have the remote starter on my limited---
Yes when you open the door it shuts off.
Stupid and over engineered to prevent liability to Toyota - run away 4runners?
But it's living in NE - it is something I use when it cold. I can start the car in the alley behind my building to allow it to defrost

Almost as bad as not being able to put an address into the NAV while underway. Ok another stupid overhang..... the voce recognition is unusable. They should at least allow you to upload addresses in advance from a desktop or laptop and then have them populate as options once you are in the car.

I have a team of developers that I would love to unleash on the entune SW- its slow and the user interface is weak.... coupled with lock outs when you are underway. We need open source for car automation and telematics
Sorry for the rant - I know other are looking for solutions not outbursts

I completely agree. I drive my wife's car or my daily driver and can operate navigation or phone while driving but then get back into my 4Runner and it frustrates the hell out of me.

I assume nobody found a workaround on this? Couldn't agree more it's the worst remote starter ever.

This is strange. I don't have answers for you, but I'm glad now that we didn't opt to get remote start from toyota.