I bet Toyota did this on purpose because of the terrible fuel economy. The LC drinks gas and letting it run for more than 5-10 mins unattended is a hazard to the environment. Not to mention people would claim worse MPG numbers. Probably, also the reason why the car annoyingly beeps at you if you step outside and leave it running.
Toyota Remote Start -- WTF???
- Thread starter JBHorne
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just wanted to quickly vent that it is frustrating that the LC shuts off when you open the door after remote start... i never hear the end of it where everyone's Ford & GMs stay on...
Markuson
SILVER Star
Maybe you can gin up a door button presser that keeps the rubber-covered button down when you open the door...
I think pretty much all the plug in aftermarket ones are compustar. We had one in my wife’s Mercedes and it never worked well. We had them take it out after one winter. Seriously even in Alaska they are pointless, unless you are plugged into a block heater. The only “remote start” l’ve ever seen that really works and makes sense is the one on our Tesla.
I have a CompuStar in mine, it was installed when I bought it (used), but rarely used. It's a very nice unit, all kinds of cool features, I have the remote with the display that tells you if the engine is running, doors are locked, etc. LOTS of range, like half a mile. But, it does the same thing, shuts off when I open the doors.
We had an older version (got it like 8 years ago) of the same compustar. When it worked it was nice but by no means a nessessity of life, 2-way, long range but It was buggy. Sometimes driving the car would enter “remote start” mode and the gauge cluster would stop working as well as some other things like turn signals.
I will say the customer service at compustar was top notch. There was a programming mode they walked me through over the phone and many settings could be changed. I don’t remember the process but the phone Number I called was in Canada.
Perfectionist Auto ((907) 563-8112) in Anchorage is/was a RnD location for Compustar and they may be able to answer the question if it is possible to program out.
A word of caution many ice covered windshields are cracked up here when remote starts are used and the ice is not pre scraped.
I will say the customer service at compustar was top notch. There was a programming mode they walked me through over the phone and many settings could be changed. I don’t remember the process but the phone Number I called was in Canada.
Perfectionist Auto ((907) 563-8112) in Anchorage is/was a RnD location for Compustar and they may be able to answer the question if it is possible to program out.
A word of caution many ice covered windshields are cracked up here when remote starts are used and the ice is not pre scraped.
I can't speak for Compustar or what is/isn't available for the LC since mine came with the (crappy) Toyota RES, but in my '08 Acura MDX I had a 2-way Python remote start that was awesome. 1/2 mile+ range and opening the doors did not shut it off - if you entered the vehicle and inserted the key and turned it to "ON" the engine kept running. The Python/Clifford/Viper system was great.
Edit: According to their website, the Clifford 4706X works with the 2013 LC. I assume there's a comparable Python or Viper model since they are identical systems just rebranded
Edit: According to their website, the Clifford 4706X works with the 2013 LC. I assume there's a comparable Python or Viper model since they are identical systems just rebranded
I second this. My wife had it on her previous vehicle and it was great. Long range, two way feedback, car stays on during onlock, etc. Wish our LCs had something like this.
The 2016+ 570s have an OEM option for a better remote start with using your phone, but it’s a subscription service. I’m sure it probably turns off during unlock too, though. Maybe someone with a 2016+ 570 can chime in.
Lexus Enform
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What are the long term effects of idling, particularly in colder climates? Carbon build up? Cat converter failing?
I personally don’t like letting any of my trucks idle to warm up. I deal with a cold car for 5 minutes, even in Alaska.
I personally don’t like letting any of my trucks idle to warm up. I deal with a cold car for 5 minutes, even in Alaska.
Markuson
SILVER Star
I think it’s all about Toyota’s fear of people squeezing into a seat whose position automatically assumes you are seated already...(wheel extended and lower, etc)...and their fear that you might accidentally hit the gas, etc. and then SUE Toyota for inadequate safety precautions.
The threat of lawsuits are effectively killing a lot of cool stuff in the world, and I suspect this is all about liability protection ONLY.
It is not difficult to imagine problems.
For example... You warm up the car before taking kids to school. They tromp out to the car before mom or dad...and they are now alone in a RUNNING VEHICLE...UNATTENDED.
I think Toyota lawyers see big giant red dollar signs.
A running vehicle that could shut off if the brake pedal was touched without the key inside, and you can't shift it out of park without putting your foot on the brake.
Markuson
SILVER Star
Oh I can come up with legitimate arguments too. I think it’s silly.
But I also thought it was silly when lawsuit fears took away every swing-set from every school playground where I work a number a years ago....
Plenty of arguments why that’s overkill...yet BOOM.
-No more swing sets.
-No more playing “tag...”
-No more playing dodge-ball...
Cuz...
Gee! Someone MIGHT get an owie!!! Can’t have owies as kids any more...
-Might cost a million bucks...
Ugh.
Lawsuits are changing common sense acceptable risk into massive threats to corporate legal departments.
It sucks.
What does that have to do with my technical question?
Screw the kids, natural selection on the parents part.
Markuson
SILVER Star
The original post asked the question “What’s the point of having to start again,” etc. so I posted a possible answer to what may be “the point” from Toyota’s end...
But anyway...back to your technical journey through the trials and tribulations of first world problems...
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Your original post asked the question “What’s the point of having to start again,” etc. so I posted a possible answer to what may be “the point” from Toyota’s end...
But anyway...back to your technical journey through the trials and tribulations of first world problems...
Never asked that....
Markuson
SILVER Star
The OP did.
I don’t get it.
Oh... I see. Your post got inadvertently quoted. On phones, it’s easy to accidentally hit the quote button.
My post wasn’t intended for you.
Sorry for confusion.
Yep that's how the Python/Clifford/Viper system works. At least the brake pedal part. I'm not sure about shifting... you normally can't shift out of park without pressing the brake, though I did once consider using a screwdriver on the park-lock to put it into Reverse and see if it kept running. In theory if it did a thief could use this to get moving and then the e-brake to stop the truck.
I suspect the Toyota system works the way it does because shutting the car off acts like a failsafe. There's no way to trigger the remote start and steal the car without a key, because you need the key inside the vehicle to (re)start it. So if the engineers somehow missed a backdoor into the system (like my "pop the park-lockout and use the e-brake, not the brake pedal", or someone trying to clone and replay the vehicle start signal) it's OK because you *have* to restart the vehicle with the key inside.
FWIW the way around the restart problem is to walk out to your vehicle, start it, then walk away but take your key with you. The system will detect that the key is missing and it will shut the truck off if someone gets in and applies the brake to shift out of park. (I don't know if the park-lockout/e-brake trick would still allow a thief to snag your truck though.) However if you get back in with the key you can drive off like normal. Yes you lose the "remote" part of the remote start, but you can still let it warm up, and it's safer than keyed ignitions where you'd leave your keys in the vehicle
Thats exactly what Ive heard so "yes" and "yes" would be my answers to your questions. Crank it up, let the oil pressure build to normal and everything stabilize, then go. But keep the RPMs low and just dont run it hard until it warms up. Like BMW's M cars have a tach with lights that extend the redline down when the car is cold, then as it warms up the lights go out and the redline increases. Driving the car is the quickest and "healthiest" way to warm up an engine.
reddog90
SILVER Star
Not to beat a dead horse, but has anyone found a solution to this?
My current DD is a '16 King Ranch F150 FX4. It is a loaded luxury truck but just about the only feature I feel I can't live without is my remote start. My fob has excellent range. I can start it in my office's basement garage from the lobby or from anywhere inside my house with my truck on the driveway. It will idle up to 10 minutes before shutting off. Engine stays on when I open the door, but the truck is not "on" and I can't shift into gear or do anything until I hit the keyless start button. Then the truck comes alive, seat and steering wheel move into my saved position, etc. and I can drive it. I want to trade this truck for a '13-'14 200 but hadn't considered my dream vehicle could have such a s***ty remote start feature.
