Remote Start

[st381183]

My 2018 Expedition XLT has remote start. It’s neat when it works but it can be hit or miss to actually start the vehicle remotely. Lock doors, double tap remote start button and sometime it turns over but doesn’t start, second or third attempt it starts up. I usually have to be line of sight which sort of defeats the purpose of remote start. Ive never had a vehicle with remote start before so is this normal? Is remote start actually that finicky or do I need some warranty work done.

 

[dlcorbett]

From what ive seen on other vehicles it can be quite finnicky. I think it works well enough, but i actually rather use the fordpass app to start it than the phone. With that it starts from greater distances(which is probably why the distance for function is kinda short)

 

[Randy Schmidt]

Agree with dicorbett... Remote start from the key fob only works from a certain distance. Outside it's range and it won't work or work well. The FordPass application for a phone is the best way to overcome that distance problem. Not sure if all the Expedition models come with FordPass though...

 

[edizzle]

I find the fob to be perfectly acceptable. How far are guys trying to use them? I’ll say that I don’t know how far ours works, but it definitely has worked every time we have tried. I will say the ford pass app is awesome. I have used it a bunch for locking the doors.

To the OP, having it fail to start 2 or 3 times is worrisome to me. No matter how I have tried to remote start it, it has always fires up first try.

 

[osteodoc08]

I find the fob to be perfectly acceptable. How far are guys trying to use them? I’ll say that I don’t know how far ours works, but it definitely has worked every time we have tried. I will say the ford pass app is awesome. I have used it a bunch for locking the doors.

To the OP, having it fail to start 2 or 3 times is worrisome to me. No matter how I have tried to remote start it, it has always fires up first try.

I think he's referring to tries with the fob, not the motor actually not starting.

I've had remote start on several vehicles and it is no better or worse than those from GM, Nissan and other Fords

 

[st381183]

I think he's referring to tries with the fob, not the motor actually not starting.

^^this. Never had an issue with engine start up using the ignition button. When remote starting the engine will turn over but not stay running. Do I need to hold down the fob button on the second press for it to receive the full signal? I usually double press and release the fob button. I’ll try holding down.

 

[aggiegrad05]

^^this. Never had an issue with engine start up using the ignition button. When remote starting the engine will turn over but not stay running. Do I need to hold down the fob button on the second press for it to receive the full signal? I usually double press and release the fob button. I’ll try holding down.

If your engine is turning over but not continuing to run on remote start, that is a problem...I thought you meant the vehicle was simply not acknowledging the command from the fob. If it is acknowledging the command by attempting to start, but not actually being able to do so...you have an issue that needs to be addressed by the dealer.

Related: at the very top of the fob there is a little LED light. When you "request" a remote start, it will flash green when the engine starts and red if there was some failure or if it was too far away for the vehicle to receive the command...I wonder what color your led flashes when you have this issue. (This feedback is also why the fob is so big.)

But in direct response to your question: no, you should not have to hold the remote start button down, a quick press should do it.

 

[Artie]

Yeah sounds like an issue to me. I’ve done mine at substantial distance (couple hundred feet at least) and haven’t had an issue. Idk about the ford Fob but the lincoln has a little LED light that will blink red if the remote start was unsuccessful or green if it was. I’ve been within earshot many times and have never heard it turnover and not start.

 

[st381183]

Follow up: Well I took in my Expy for an oil change and to catch up on some warranty work. They needed to repair/replace some small trim items, fix a USB port, and look at the remote start via key fob. It wasn’t my imagination and the remote start was indeed having issues. I took it to my local dealer as I purchased out of town. They were a little befuddled and are trying to figure out if the remote start was installed by the dealership I purchased it from or if it was factory. Sure seems like factory to me, but they are looking into it. The remote start through the app works consistently well so I think this was a factory install. They say they replaced the ECM but that didn’t resolve the issue. They are speaking with a dealership that reports the same issue from an 2018 F150 and have a call in with the ford engineers. I’ll update later on final fix.

 

[JH NYC MAX]

Follow up: Well I took in my Expy for an oil change and to catch up on some warranty work. They needed to repair/replace some small trim items, fix a USB port, and look at the remote start via key fob. It wasn’t my imagination and the remote start was indeed having issues. I took it to my local dealer as I purchased out of town. They were a little befuddled and are trying to figure out if the remote start was installed by the dealership I purchased it from or if it was factory. Sure seems like factory to me, but they are looking into it. The remote start through the app works consistently well so I think this was a factory install. They say they replaced the ECM but that didn’t resolve the issue. They are speaking with a dealership that reports the same issue from an 2018 F150 and have a call in with the ford engineers. I’ll update later on final fix.

Hi, did your dealer ever got back to you with the remote start issue?

Just bought mines this month, tried both remotes literally standing infront of the truck and it wouldn't start. Checked the in-car system setting and everything was set properly.

Let me know,

Thanks


Sent from my SM-N960U1 using Tapatalk

 

[JS2295]

Follow up: Well I took in my Expy for an oil change and to catch up on some warranty work. They needed to repair/replace some small trim items, fix a USB port, and look at the remote start via key fob. It wasn’t my imagination and the remote start was indeed having issues. I took it to my local dealer as I purchased out of town. They were a little befuddled and are trying to figure out if the remote start was installed by the dealership I purchased it from or if it was factory. Sure seems like factory to me, but they are looking into it. The remote start through the app works consistently well so I think this was a factory install. They say they replaced the ECM but that didn’t resolve the issue. They are speaking with a dealership that reports the same issue from an 2018 F150 and have a call in with the ford engineers. I’ll update later on final fix.

Did you ever find a fix for this remote start issue? My 2018 Expedition Max Limited is doing the same thing. Issue appears to only happen when the engine is cold. Really bizarre it trys to turn over. Remote start from the Fordpass app works everytime.

 

[st381183]

This is going to sound crazy but the dealership I purchased the XLT from had installed a second remote start module to the truck. The dealership that fixed the issue removed the hardware. They figured the dealership added the remote start system not knowing that it was a factory option and already installed. After removing the additional remote starter they reprogrammed the PCM.

My service advisor stated that he discovered the solution by looking into F150 issues and he said the F150s were getting secondary remote start modules installed at the docks after some of the trucks were imported from Mexico???

Hope that helps. I would ask them to check for a second remote start system. If one dealership installed a secondary module it’s possible many more did.

From my receipt:
“CHECKED FOR TSBS AND SSMS, NONE FOUND. USED IDS TO CHECK FOR DTCS AND NONE FOUND. PER WORKSHOP MANUAL, SEARCHED FOR ADD ON MODULES AND FOUND DEALER ADDED REMOTE START IGNITION MODULE. REMOVED ADD ON MODULE AND TESTED SYSTEM. SYSTEM IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED AT THIS TIME.”

Haven’t had any more problems with remote start.

 

[JS2295]

This is going to sound crazy but the dealership I purchased the XLT from had installed a second remote start module to the truck. The dealership that fixed the issue removed the hardware. They figured the dealership added the remote start system not knowing that it was a factory option and already installed. After removing the additional remote starter they reprogrammed the PCM.

My service advisor stated that he discovered the solution by looking into F150 issues and he said the F150s were getting secondary remote start modules installed at the docks after some of the trucks were imported from Mexico???

Hope that helps. I would ask them to check for a second remote start system. If one dealership installed a secondary module it’s possible many more did.

From my receipt:
“CHECKED FOR TSBS AND SSMS, NONE FOUND. USED IDS TO CHECK FOR DTCS AND NONE FOUND. PER WORKSHOP MANUAL, SEARCHED FOR ADD ON MODULES AND FOUND DEALER ADDED REMOTE START IGNITION MODULE. REMOVED ADD ON MODULE AND TESTED SYSTEM. SYSTEM IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED AT THIS TIME.”

Haven’t had any more problems with remote start.

That definitely sounds crazy... did you buy the truck from a Ford dealer?

Also, I think I solved the remote start issue I have been having. Holding down the remote start button on the second click seems to fix my issue.

 

[st381183]

Truck was purchased from a ford dealer brand new. Remote start is from the fob locks the doors and double click the remote start button

 

[Wayne Decker]

My remote start from the key fob doesn't work with either fob. Fob shows a blinking red light which the manual says indicates "request failed or status not received". Remote start works fine with the phone app. I'll get it checked at my next oil change.

 

[Wayne Decker]

I'm a dope. I thought the vehicle just had to locked for remote start to work. Nope, you need to press lock on the fob, then 2x on remote start- even if the vehicle is already locked.