Remote Start Not - Montana Owners Club

jwedell · 12-18-2012, 05:51 AM

Bought a 2012 GMC D/A with remote start. Set up the defroster last night to use this morning. Started the truck remotely. Truck started fine but nothing inside worked. Took it to the GMC dealer and they said it was normal. To get the heat or defrosters to work you have to go outside and insert the key and turn it to on to get the heat or defrosters to work. I don't understand why and what good is the remote start. Anyone else notice this or does yours work or did you get it to work. I tested another truck on the dealers lot and it worked the same. It's not the end of the world but I am discusted. It gets cold on Long Island and I really wanted to pre-heat the truck and defrost the windshield.

bncinwv · 12-18-2012, 06:10 AM

I assume it is just the diesels that are set up that way? DW's Suburban with the remote start warms or cools with the remote start. My Ford F-150 does the same, so I assume there is some reasoning for the diesels being different (Glow plug or something?). I am also curious if all diesel makes are like that or just the GM's??
Bingo

bncinwv · 12-18-2012, 06:19 AM

You got me curious so I did a little internet checking. This forum post may be of interest to you:
Remote Start
It appears to be coolant temp related??
Bingo

H. John Kohl · 12-18-2012, 06:20 AM

When it is cold not only does the heater come on once the truck is warm the steering wheel and seat warmers automatically come on. I agree an over site by the engineers on that year. Bet it is changed in a year.

jwedell · 12-18-2012, 06:32 AM

Thanks bncinwv that may be the answer, i'll check it in the morning. You would think the mechanics at GMC would know this.

Irlpguy · 12-18-2012, 06:58 AM

Never had one of those fancy gadgets before, but my new Dodge 3500 that I just got 3 days ago works great. When I hit the remote start it locks the doors first, then turns on the "glow plugs" for about 30 seconds and then starts up. When I unlocked and checked the seat heaters were on, the steering wheel heater was on and the fan was blowing air to defrost the windshield. Outside temp here at the time was 38 degrees.

Not sure how the GM works but it does not seem to be diesel related.

Might be just a user setting that needs to be re-set.

Good luck with it and Merry Christmas

bethandkevin · 12-18-2012, 07:26 AM

John, my 08'Silverado is the same way and Bingo is correct-it is coolant related. I suspect you have automatic climate control as well. My truck sets in the barn at night, however for when it sets outside occasionally, I re-installed the heated washer solvent module. That clears the window in just a minute or two.

**DQDick** · 12-18-2012, 12:03 PM

[quote]Originally posted by Irlpguy

Never had one of those fancy gadgets before, but my new Dodge 3500 that I just got 3 days ago works great. When I hit the remote start it locks the doors first, then turns on the "glow plugs" for about 30 seconds and then starts up. When I unlocked and checked the seat heaters were on, the steering wheel heater was on and the fan was blowing air to defrost the windshield. Outside temp here at the time was 38 degrees.

Not sure how the GM works but it does not seem to be diesel related.

Might be just a user setting that needs to be re-set.

Good luck with it and Merry Christmas

X2 with my Dodge. I love that truck on a cold morning. It also won't start blowing air until it can blow warm air.

mhs4771 · 12-19-2012, 05:45 AM

Don't know about defroster/heater, but our 2011 will start and run the AC to cool the inside with the remote start.

Bill-N-Donna · 12-19-2012, 01:39 PM

Does it have the heated tailgate?
That’s so that when it breaks down you can at least warm your hands while you’re pushing it off the road.
Oh, I’m just kidding!
I do hope you get the issue resolved though. I would think that it should work as expected; I would also be disappointed if I made a purchase like that and it didn’t work. Keep us posted and let us know how it turns out!

jwedell · 12-19-2012, 02:07 PM

Actually thanks to bingo I figured it out. It turns out the system is fully automatic. When you start the truck remotely and the outdoor temperature is cold AND the engine coolant reaches 180 degrees, the defrosters, heater, heated mirrors, rear window defroster and heated seats turn on even if the automatic controls are left off. I called several dealers in my area and no one knew what I was talking about. Yesterday morning I let the truck run for 15 minutes and when I got in it was nice and toasty. Again thank you bingo.

Bill-N-Donna · 12-19-2012, 02:29 PM

I actually thought about having one put on our truck but with as many miles as I have on it I wasn’t sure that I wanted to invest that much in having it put on. However, with the cold mornings and still in the going to work group I’m having second thoughts.

I bought one for the D/W last year for Christmas & she really likes it. Maybe I could buy her another one this year for the truck as a second Christmas present. HMMM!!

Glad you got it figured out!

jwedell · 12-19-2012, 02:37 PM

Great ideal Bill, hope you have a soft couch. If I bought that for my wife every time I sat down the truck would start. Merry Christmas.

RJI47 · 12-23-2012, 11:31 AM

I have an aftermarket remote and the heater comes on once the engine has warmed up. The seat warmers do not work however until the key is turned on. Since the new diesel engines don't require a "wait" time to start anymore, I doubt it's specific just to diesels.

PackerFan · 12-23-2012, 02:03 PM

My Dodge has the remote start and it blows warm air when it heats up, which is only a few minutes, and the A/C right away if it's hot out. Works great!

On a side note: The Dodge Cummins Diesel doesn't have glow plugs. It has a grid in the air intake that warms up during that prestart heating cycle when it's below approx. 40 degrees. That way warm air is taken into the engine helping it start easier. Only Ford & GM diesels have the glow plugs to heat the cylinders.

You may also like: