Hopefully someone with more knowledge than me has a better feel for the different starting requirements of a cold engine vs. a warm one. Different fuel amounts? Longer cranking time? These are just guesses by me.
My old 2002 had a remote starter and it worked when temps were in single digits after sitting 8-10 hours. When I used it, after pressing the button there'd be a momentary pause, the door would unlock, a click or two heard from inside the engine compartment, and then it would crank. I'm guessing the remote start somehow activated the solenoid switch for the starter motor. The same darn thing that I believe your key does when you turn it in the ignition cylinder.
If the remote start needs to do more than engage the starter motor (activate the fuel pump?), your installer should be able to provide details. Otherwise, if a cold engine will start with your key but not with your remote, I'm thinking the remote start isn't allowing the car to crank long enough? Maybe you can do a test to see how many seconds the car cranks each time with the remote on a cold engine and then how many seconds it has to crank with the key before starting.
I've learned a lot on these forums but far from being an expert. With starting issues, people talk about CRANK, SPARK, and FUEL. If one of these things isn't adequate, no start. Well, in your case, SPARK is the same for both the remote and your key. So for your cold starting with the remote, either car's not getting enough CRANK or the amount of FUEL is off?
I think it's your right to ask your installer all kinds of questions. When you press the button on the remote, what electrical signals are being sent to the various modules of your car? Let's face it, if the remote start won't work when the engine's cold, what good is it? YOUR ENGINE STARTS FINE WITH NO PROBLEMS WHEN YOU USE THE KEY. Why won't it start with the remote? If your installer has no ideas, answers or explanations, maybe he should give you your money back!
Last edited by Xfingers; 09-15-2019 at 05:58 AM.
2007 XC70, 206,000 miles
2002 V70XC, 130,000 miles, parts car
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