Hopefully the solution to this remote start issue
:boxer: So to start from the beggining, i spent like 4.5 hours today figuring out this problem. I have a 98 Toyota 4-Runner SR5. My vehicle came equipt with an after market security and remote start system. My keyfob for the system is a "Kindney" shaped transmitter with 3 buttons on it. A big red button on top, a small black button underneath, and on the bottom a small green button. There is also a small red LED push button(This is your reset button you will need to press in order to get into program mode) on the left side of the steering wheel next to the light control wheel. There is also a small toggle switch, which is called a vallet switch, located underneath the dashboard on the driverside kick plate. When the vallet switch is on, then the remote start does not work.
Now the problem was that i didnt know i even had a remote start until about a 9 months after i bought my SUV. I knew the green button had to do something, and i wasnt sure what it was untill i noticed a neon green sticker under the hood on the driverside firewall that said "This vehicle is equiped with a remote engine starter......Blah blah blah" The remote start would never work though. To make a long story short, i found that my vallet switch was turned on the whole time so my remote starter would not work. So when i turned the vallet switch off and hit the green button a few times i heard my car make 2 ticking sounds which i believe is the headlights flashing, then my car engine started. Your remote transmitter would have to be programmed to the remote starter and most important of all, you have to have a remote start in your car. I actually searched for it and found it finally. Im not to sure if everybody with this set-up will have the same system that i have. My remote and system is actually made by audiovox.
When i lost my keyfob, i had to get another from the Toyota dealership. It was the same "kidney" shaped transmitter i had before and had the letters TDS on it. The people at the Toyota dealership got the lock and unlock buttons to work, but i guess they never got the remote start to work. So i pretty much research all day today and found out how to program the remote start to the new transmitter. What i recommend is to not waste the time and call audiovox tech support.
Audiovox technical support- 1 (800) 876-5581
Just listen to the options and once you get to a tech support operator, explain to them what you problem is and they will walk you through the reprogram process. The reprogramming was very simple and it works like a charm now.
I hope this helps and if you have anymore question about any details you would like me to ellaborate on just let me know.
