Remote Car Starter

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Remote Car Starter - 12/25/2007 6:41:02 PM    JennP   Posts: 5 Joined: 12/18/2007 Status: offline Does anyone out there have a Avenger R/T with the factory Remote Starter and Climate control? If so, when you start the car using it, do the blowers come on for the front window defrosters? I just bought my Avenger in late Sept 07 and for the first month or so, they always came on when I started the car using the remote starter. But a few weeks ago, I noticed that they randomly stopped coming on, and yes they were left in the on positition when the car was last stopped. I took it back to the dealer and after 3 hours of checking things and eventually calling their Detriot office I was told that that model of car with the climate control was not designed to turn the front defrosters on when you use the remote starter. Something about how they didn't want them running with no one in the car, or the engine needing to be at optimal temperature. Even though they turned on when I left my house to go there and after a half hour drive to get there, they didn't work at the dealership. Has anyone else had this problem? It seems to me that the Remote Starter is a pretty pointless feature if it only starts the engine, but doesn't turn on the front window defrosters. Especially since I live in western NY!  Post #: 1

RE: Remote Car Starter - 12/26/2007 1:12:10 PM    fenderman   Posts: 36 Joined: 6/4/2007 Status: offline thats a load of crap, the remote start does not know what position the heater is in. It should blow based on how you left it before you got out of your car. When I have a chance i will try to double check that for u. (in reply to JennP) Post #: 2

RE: Remote Car Starter - 12/27/2007 6:21:45 AM    futil   Posts: 332 Joined: 9/11/2007 Status: offline The blower definitely comes on when the car is remotely started.. As far as I am aware the heater controls default to the auto setting for the blower and vent output settings, and the car will heat or cool based on your temperature settings when the car is remotely started. I have noticed several times that the blower was on high (Or higher than my set blower setting) when the car was remotely started then when I turned the key the blower returned to my regular blower settings. Basically if there is a large temperature difference in the car than what you have set, then the blower will turn itself up higher to quickly bring the car to your set temperature then lower the blower speeds as the temperature range closes in. The blower waits till the car is up to the proper temperature then kicks in, it should not blow if your car is already within the set temperature, or when the engine is not warm enough to produce usable heat. I can't say off the top of my head if the defroster vents are used during remote starts or how the car would know to auto change to use them though.. But the car should definately warm or cool the interior of your car when you start it remotely. < Message edited by futil -- 12/27/2007 6:28:46 AM > (in reply to fenderman) Post #: 3

RE: Remote Car Starter - 12/29/2007 7:14:21 PM    needforsleep   Posts: 75 Joined: 5/13/2007 Status: offline For those of you with Manual Climate control the blowers would only turn on to the setting your control is set to. If you have Automatic Climate Control with the words "Auto" on the blower and Mode knobs then the system is "smart" like futil said. It determines if the interior is cold and moves the mode door and the blower to the appropriate positions and then when the key is put into the ignition they go back to what the knobs state they should be in. If the car is cold in the mornings and you have Auto Climate Control then a remote start would force the mode door to move to Defrost and the blowers to high.  If you do the same remote start on a different day with the interior of the car being "not so cold" then you would see the system start up in "auto" which depending on the interior temp, outside temp, coolant temp, and eveporator temp, the system can behave however it needs to to achieve comfort at a reasonable pace. So, JennP, the issue you're seeing is that by the time you get to the dealership the car is already warm inside thus when you do a remote start the system does not go to high blower defrost mode.  By the way, it's not a problem, it's a feature so the dealership won't be able to do anything about it.  I guess I don't fully understand your complaint about the system. < Message edited by needforsleep -- 12/29/2007 7:19:49 PM > _____________________________ 2008.5 Dodge Avenger SXT - 2.4L Steel Grey - All Options Including REN MyGig + Rear Seat Video (in reply to futil) Post #: 4

RE: Remote Car Starter - 12/31/2007 5:36:34 PM    JennP   Posts: 5 Joined: 12/18/2007 Status: offline I apologize, I seemed to have forgotten to mention that I do not have the blowers set to "Auto", they are just set to high at the highest temperature level. Oddly enough, the blowers have been coming on randomly again since I was at the dealership. Since they come on sometimes, it seems to me that if they are not designed to work that way, then something isn't right either way. (in reply to JennP) Post #: 5

RE: Remote Car Starter - 1/1/2008 7:41:30 PM    futil   Posts: 332 Joined: 9/11/2007 Status: offline It is possible that there is something wrong with the system, but the point we were trying to make was that when the car is remotely started, The car does not pay attention to your blower settings or vent position settings.. It changes electronically to auto for blower and vent position settings. So it may appear to act erratically but it will be adjusting the blower speed and vent positions automatically based on internal cabin temperature. If the blowers are coming on randomly at the dealership and your car was not remotely started and the blowers were not set to auto then you are likely having a problem.. but if if the blower was set to auto or the car was remotely started then that is normal operation and the blower was adjusting itself based on internal temperature. (in reply to JennP) Post #: 6

RE: Remote Car Starter - 1/1/2008 8:05:09 PM    needforsleep   Posts: 75 Joined: 5/13/2007 Status: offline quote: ORIGINAL: JennP Oddly enough, the blowers have been coming on randomly again since I was at the dealership. Since they come on sometimes, it seems to me that if they are not designed to work that way, then something isn't right either way. Can you elaborate more about what you mean when the blower come on randomly?  When does this happen, when the keys is put into the ignition or when the doors are open or after you've been driving for a while? Are the blowers off before you enter the car and then they come on after you put the key in the ignition? Please try to be specific when describing the envirnment and the steps to repeat the issue. _____________________________ 2008.5 Dodge Avenger SXT - 2.4L Steel Grey - All Options Including REN MyGig + Rear Seat Video (in reply to JennP) Post #: 7

RE: Remote Car Starter - 1/2/2008 7:19:19 PM    JennP   Posts: 5 Joined: 12/18/2007 Status: offline Ok, here is my scenario. This morning, it was 15 degrees outside with roughly about an inch of snow and ice on my car. So about 5 minutes before I was leaving for work, I hit the remote starter so that I could start warming up the car and melting the ice on the windows. When I went outside approx 5 minutes later, I unlocked the doors to find that the engine was running and the radio was on, but no air (warm or cold) was coming out of the blowers. Basically, no warm car or melting windows. Once I put the key in the ingnition and "start" the car, the blowers kick on. Yet, 2 days prior, similar scenario, but 25 degrees outside and no snow or ice. Again, used the remote starter, but that time there was air coming out of the blowers when I unlocked and opened the door. So I guess what I mean by random is, sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't. Sadly, the days it mostly chooses not to work are the days when there is snow, ice, or frost on my windows. I hope that explains it better. (in reply to JennP) Post #: 8

RE: Remote Car Starter - 1/3/2008 4:33:12 AM    RobertR Posts: 18 Joined: 1/1/2008 Status: offline Normally I will run the car a little longer before getting in. JennP was 5 minutes long enough to warm the car up? The heater will not blow air until it is warm. Try to start the car earlier and see what happens. Just a thought?? (in reply to JennP) Post #: 9

RE: Remote Car Starter - 1/3/2008 2:34:00 PM    needforsleep   Posts: 75 Joined: 5/13/2007 Status: offline JennP, that is a great description. I would think the car would not be warm after 5 minutes but, I think the system should be coming on in high blower defrost.  What could be happening is that your car is actually engaging what is called "Cold Engine Lock Out" which prevents the blowers from turning on when the car's coolant is too cold to produce warm air.  In my experience this should not happen in remote start but it may be the case. Try this scenario, leave the system in manual blower high and the mode set to defrost, then remote start your car in that state and see if the blowers are on in the car when you get in the car. I assume you leave the system in Auto blower and Auto mode normally when you leave your car at night? _____________________________ 2008.5 Dodge Avenger SXT - 2.4L Steel Grey - All Options Including REN MyGig + Rear Seat Video (in reply to RobertR) Post #: 10

RE: Remote Car Starter - 1/3/2008 5:34:56 PM    JennP   Posts: 5 Joined: 12/18/2007 Status: offline Actually, I do leave the system in manual blower high and the mode set to defrost when I leave the car at night already. Of course this morning it was even colder, 7 degrees outside with roughly about a quarter inch of snow on my car. And again about 5 minutes before I was leaving for work, I hit the remote starter so that I could start warming up the car and when I got in the car, the blowers were on. It would be less frustrating if there were at least some rhyme or reason to when it works or doesn't work. (in reply to JennP) Post #: 11

RE: Remote Car Starter - 1/3/2008 5:42:17 PM    needforsleep   Posts: 75 Joined: 5/13/2007 Status: offline If this is the case then I do believe you have a software bug with your HVAC control. When you experience the blowers NOT coming on, do they come on when you put the key in the ignition or do they stay off the entire time you drive? Are you 100% certain that you are leaving the blower on HIGH and the Mode to Defrost when you experience the blowers not on during a remote start? I will try to recreate this with my car in the coming week and see if I can see the same thing.  What set temp do you leave your temperature set at?  I typically keep mine at 72F. _____________________________ 2008.5 Dodge Avenger SXT - 2.4L Steel Grey - All Options Including REN MyGig + Rear Seat Video (in reply to JennP) Post #: 12

RE: Remote Car Starter - 1/3/2008 6:00:19 PM    JennP   Posts: 5 Joined: 12/18/2007 Status: offline When the blowers don't come on with the remote start, they do come on when I put the key in the ignition and turn it to start. And yes, I am 100% certain that I am leaving the blower on HIGH and the Mode to Defrost when  the blowers do not turn on during a remote start. I've doubled checked this several times just to make sure. I know this can be a common mistake :) I usually leave the temperature set as high as it goes, since as I'm sure you've seen from my earlier posts, it been pretty cold around here lately. (in reply to needforsleep) Post #: 13

RE: Remote Car Starter - 1/3/2008 7:53:46 PM    needforsleep   Posts: 75 Joined: 5/13/2007 Status: offline It sounds like to me the system is going into "AUTO" during remote start regardless of your settings on the knob.  If this is the case then it's most likely going into Cold Engine Lock Out, which it absolutely should not do.  I'll see if I can recreate the issue in my own car and report back.  It was 6F this morning here!  See if you can notice a pattern with what temperature the car's readout is telling you each morning.  Also I'm assuming you do not park your car in a garage? The one comment you made in the original post about how you drove to the dealership and when you got there you did a remote start and the blowers didn't turn on again.  If this is true then the engine should have been warm enough to allow some amount of blower to turn on. < Message edited by needforsleep -- 1/3/2008 7:57:43 PM > _____________________________ 2008.5 Dodge Avenger SXT - 2.4L Steel Grey - All Options Including REN MyGig + Rear Seat Video (in reply to JennP) Post #: 14

RE: Remote Car Starter - 1/4/2008 4:13:56 AM    RobertR Posts: 18 Joined: 1/1/2008 Status: offline OK this morning I remote start the car, with control set as follows: fan set near the low position, temp set at 74 degrees and air direction set to blow at your feet. Also rear defrost is not on. Go inside vehicle to look at what the heater and fan are doing.......nothing, rear defrost is on. All this I beleive to be functioning as designed. Go to drive to work 15 minutes later, 17 degrees outside and when entering vehicle....fan is running full with air direction at defroster nice and warm with rear defroster off. When the key is inserted and ignition turned on heater settings go to position of controls. In September when the car was purchased the air conditioning (cool) would come on immediately after remote starting the car to cool the car before entering. From my reading and understanding I beleive my system is working correctly, and as was designed by Chrysler. My car is a 2008 Sebring. (in reply to needforsleep) Post #: 15

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