Remote start question - 2020 Limited Crewmax

I have searched the forum here (and others), and have found quite a bit of conflicting information about the remote start feature in my truck. To start off, I bought this truck around a year ago. I used the remote start feature from the key fob quite a bit last winter; but do not really have a need for it in the summer - as such, I am unsure when it stopped working. Recent cold weather had me trying it to no avail. It has just stopped working. I submit the following, and would appreciate any feedback:

• I already had the toyota app, and registered the truck when purchased. However, I did not pay attention to any of the connected services, as I felt they would not be needed.
• After researching on the forums, it appears that some trucks require a 'remote connect' feature subscription even for the fob to work.
• After ensuring I had the latest updates on the app, I went to the toyota website support and tried to follow the directions to enable this feature. Problem is that this service is not available under subscriptions in the app - there is only service connect and wifi connect.
  • Being a software engineer; I would assume this to mean the service is not available for my model.
• I have tried changing the pace of the lock clicks on the fob, as suggested in another thread here.
• I have changed the batteries in the fobs, and have tried both with the same results.
  
• before I contact my local dealership (they are horrible, by the way) I thought I would see what kind of feedback I could get from the gurus here. Has anyone had the feature just stop working, or should I go down the road of checking with the dealership? Is it possible that the purchasing dealership simply kicked in a trial for the feature and it has now expired?

Thank you all in advance for providing feedback - this seems to be a very supportive community.

 

I would imagine the trial had ran out. Dont know how long your trial is/was. Only way to get it back is to pay the monthly subscription to toyota or go aftermarket.

 

I have a 21 limited and never joined the monthly Toyota App services. My remote start works without the app subscription.

 

Same here but i opted to go aftermarket on mine. It’s strange how some folks doesn’t have the connect app and the remote starter works fine while other doesnt. My buddy with a 2016 sr5 bought his truck new off the lot, his remote starter works fine and still works. He never subscribe to the app either.

 

The remote start is still working on my 2020, I haven't signed up for anything that I know of. It could stop working tomorrow for all I know.

 

That’s the thing. How does it just quit working out if no where? Is toyota getting data from our trucks and then pulling the plug on their ends?

 

Yeah mine is very particular, I have to be close enough which means basically right up to it, and the 3 clicks have to be done just perfect. Makes me want to go aftermarket as well.

 

Plus with aftermarket the truck won’t shut off if you open the door and you get much longer range with their antenna. The factory antenna is too short of range. You gotta be in a line of sight, as it seems, for the remote to work.

 

I was going to try the subscription, but it is not available in my app - guess i'll have to call the dealership. I don't think i use it enough to invest money on a good aftermarket unit.

 

You should have the sos button on your map light. Press it and talk to them. They should be able to activate it from there.

 

My advice is don't try the dealership. The likelihood that they know the nuances of this feature on a 2020 is very, very low. You will be better off trying Toyota corporate at 1-800-331-4331. They can still be frustrating, but nowhere near as frustrating as you dealership is going to be, especially if it is a bad one.

I have a 2020 1794 that I bought new and had some issues with the remote start at first. It was due to a software bug at corporate and it took a few days to get it sorted out. I'm not saying that is the problem your having, but it could be IF you have the Premium Audio System.

Your remote start has to do with the the trim level of audio system you have. If you have what was known as the "Audio Plus" audio system, your key FOB remote start would function for 3 years. After 3 years, you would have to purchase the Remote Connect subscription for it to work again. If you have the "Premium Audio" audio system, it works for 10 years then you have to purchase the Remote Connect subscription for it to work.

I'm betting you have the Audio Plus audio system and it quit working at the 3 year mark and you just didn't realize it because your were not using it at that time of year because it wasn't cold.

I still have my truck paperwork and I saved PDF's of this info. I have attached it for you so you can have it as well.

 

I bought my 20 in Dec of 2019, production date is 11/19. After the first year mine quit working because supposedly it was free for a year but then I believe Toyota extended it to 5 for everyone? Keep in mind 20 was the first year of factory remote start so some of us early model 20s are about to find out. Mine worked today but we'll see if it's still working after December.

 

according to the app, my truck was ordered in July of 2019 and put on the street the end of august. That would align with the timeline @Rngr188 has proposed. I think I'll call toyota on monday to find out.

 

I'm know I'm in the minority, but I go ahead and pay for the remote connect service even though I still have remote start for 5 more years (I have the premium audio system). The reason is that it has saved my bacon a few times. For example, when I first got the truck it came with a remote connect trial. During that trial my wife and I took a trip to New Orleans. We parked down in the quarter and when we got 2-3 blocks away I got a message on my phone that I had forgot to lock my truck. Instead of having to walk back, I just locked it with the app. That has happened more than once; sat down to a dinner, sat down at a movie, etc. Just nice to not have to walk back out and lock it or just to be able to check it if you forgot if you locked it. It also tells you little things like if you have a low key fob battery, etc. So, for me, I'm satisfied with it.

 

I also have a 2020 1794, in my previous post I recalled Toyota extending the remote start feature to 5 years but I'm not 100% certain on that. Are you saying that you paid for 5 more years, or was it extended to 10 years for free regardless of the app? I'm too lazy to go back to 2021 posts when our RS stopped but Toyota started it back up and extended the time.

 

Go up to my fist post and open the pdf and read the first page. It was a flyer direct from Toyota when I bought the truck. If your truck came with premium audio, you would have gotten 10 years of remote start. After 10 years, in order to have remote start, you would have to purchase remote connect. I pointed that out to them when I first had mine shut down and they turned it back on. Remote start wasn't even working even though I had purchased remote connect. I purchase remote connect each year. I didn't buy it for 5 years at a time if that's what you mean. Remote connect and remote start are two different things, but they are connected in some way by remote connect services.

 

Thank you for this info. My 2021 SR5 remote start quit some time this fall as well and I couldn't for the life of me figure out why, as I had zero issues with it to that point and used it regularly in winter and summer

Def gna go aftermarket, as the range and door opening drove me nuts anyway