Remote Starter Started on it's own? Awesome

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SwampSurvivor

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So I woke up at 630 to get ready for work. Walked out and started to make breakfast and I heard a Jeep running. Didn't think anything of it - I have a few neighbors with 4.0 jeeps that leave all times of the day.

Did the morning shower, shave routine and came back out to the living room to check the news. Still heard the jeep running. Maybe it was one of the other neighbors.

Anyway, when I went out the door to work, I saw that it was *MY* Jeep running. The parking lights were on.

At some point over night, the remote start system started the Jeep up. It managed to burn through 1/4 tank of gas (it was literally just filled).

I only have one one remote for it and it was hanging on the refrigerator ... out of reach of myself (I was in the bedroom) and the cat (she can't jump that high).

So ...

How long did it run to burn 1/4 tank of gas?
Will any place disable this thing?
 
Probably ran for 4-5hrs-ish


There should be a switch somewhere that turns off the system when it is in for service. Most of the times it is under the steering column.
 
Does your remote start have a "winter" mode? My GFs Mazda5 has an aftermarket remote start that has a winter mode when the start button is pressed longer than normal. When engaged, this feature starts the vehicle every couple of hours to maintain warm coolant. Feature is there for extremely cold nights. She had it on one night and it used some gas but not 1/4 tank.
 
Another reason I don't like the remote starter thing, if you had your car in your garage you and your family would have been killed. I'm glad your ok. To me, this is much more serious than a quarter tank of fuel burned, hope you get it figured out or disabled.
 
I've never been a huge fan of remote start systems. It came with the Jeep and I never had it taken off. There's no "winter" mode on the module that I can see.

There are also no marking on the module and any lettering wore off of the remote a LONG time ago.

It's a 14 year old system. I imagine there wasn't a timer or anything else back then.

Generally, the jeep itself disabled when parked in the parking lot where I live. I probably would have came out to a completely drained batter. I live in a ... not so good neighborhood and figure disabling it will deter thieves a bit.; they won't bother diagnosing why it will not start. More than once I've meant to drive it somewhere and it would not start because I forgot that it was disabled.
 
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This thing could kill somebody if its in an attached garage! My contrarian thoughts: take it off and throw it away. Take 10 extra seconds every winter morning and put on a fleece or a liner under your coat before going outside in the morning.

Multiple highway patrol incident reports list desperate winter rescues of underdressed people from otherwise minor highway mishaps. Even minor off road excursions will trip the impact sensors and disable the fuel delivery system or cause other engine stoppage. Flat tires, stuck, walking for help....and car starters waste a lot of fuel.

We live up north, wear a better coat!
 
I really don't like them. I have been afraid that if someone removes it, I'll have other problems with the vehicle caused by removing it.

I'm well prepared in the winter, trust me. Both vehicles have extra socks, jackets, sweatshirts and food in them all winter long.
 
I'm not sure how much your Jeep burns, but my past two Subarus indicated ~ 1/3 gph at warm idle. Maybe 0.35-0.5 gph for you, to give a range?
 
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I am surprised these systems do not have a mode to shut themselves off after 15 minutes by default.
 
Having spent my entire adult life working at dealerships I will say I have seen enough malfunctions and issues to draw the conclusion that any modification to a vehicles electrical system is best avoided. It sounds preachy but I have seen everything from fires to runaway cars caused by someone’s attempt to “upgrade” their vehicle. If it came with it I would remove it before it causes you further inconvenience or worse…
 
Originally Posted By: Miller88
So I woke up at 630 to get ready for work. Walked out and started to make breakfast and I heard a Jeep running. Didn't think anything of it - I have a few neighbors with 4.0 jeeps that leave all times of the day.

Did the morning shower, shave routine and came back out to the living room to check the news. Still heard the jeep running. Maybe it was one of the other neighbors.

Anyway, when I went out the door to work, I saw that it was *MY* Jeep running. The parking lights were on.

At some point over night, the remote start system started the Jeep up. It managed to burn through 1/4 tank of gas (it was literally just filled).

I only have one one remote for it and it was hanging on the refrigerator ... out of reach of myself (I was in the bedroom) and the cat (she can't jump that high).

So ...

How long did it run to burn 1/4 tank of gas?
Will any place disable this thing?


What brand of remote starter. Why did it not shut down the engine after about 20 min?

I had my remote do it twice.

On one occasion, the electric fan for the engine was not working and I would make it a point to not get caught in traffic. Also my reman engine had about 1000 miles on it and it has an overheat bar that melts if the engine overheats to void the warranty. So the Jeep started, ran for 20 minutes got the engine almost to overheat. I get in the Jeep not knowing, the engine temp is in the red in 20 seconds, I get out to see if there even is a fan belt, the car locks itself with me out of it and the engine running.
 
Those things work by RADIO, there are only so many codes, and creeps have laptop programs to try successive codes to open the car. Not surprised that someone finds evidence of an attempted hack once in a while. Car companies, BTW reuse the same standard lock codes over again in as few as every 10 thousand cars.
 
My son had an aftermarket remote installed and last winter he couldn't make it up our driveway one night and was parked at the edge of our property. We have a remote contain system for our dogs (radio signal wire around the perimeter of the property) and it started up his car. Took a few starts for us to figure it out. Not good.
 
Originally Posted By: schuylkill
My son had an aftermarket remote installed and last winter he couldn't make it up our driveway one night and was parked at the edge of our property. We have a remote contain system for our dogs (radio signal wire around the perimeter of the property) and it started up his car. Took a few starts for us to figure it out. Not good.
Before the local power company moved their vehicle radios off of 40 MHZ, the lineman's trucks would make my mother's garage doors go up and down when they were working nearby.
 
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The remote starter I installed "piggybacked" on the vehicle electrics, using "scotchlock" connectors that just crimped around existing wire, and bit into their insulation.

If it's like mine, removal should be a relative cinch: Chop wires, cap off. Tape so the caps don't fall off.
 
Originally Posted By: Donald
Originally Posted By: Miller88
So I woke up at 630 to get ready for work. Walked out and started to make breakfast and I heard a Jeep running. Didn't think anything of it - I have a few neighbors with 4.0 jeeps that leave all times of the day.

Did the morning shower, shave routine and came back out to the living room to check the news. Still heard the jeep running. Maybe it was one of the other neighbors.

Anyway, when I went out the door to work, I saw that it was *MY* Jeep running. The parking lights were on.

At some point over night, the remote start system started the Jeep up. It managed to burn through 1/4 tank of gas (it was literally just filled).

I only have one one remote for it and it was hanging on the refrigerator ... out of reach of myself (I was in the bedroom) and the cat (she can't jump that high).

So ...

How long did it run to burn 1/4 tank of gas?
Will any place disable this thing?


What brand of remote starter. Why did it not shut down the engine after about 20 min?

I had my remote do it twice.

On one occasion, the electric fan for the engine was not working and I would make it a point to not get caught in traffic. Also my reman engine had about 1000 miles on it and it has an overheat bar that melts if the engine overheats to void the warranty. So the Jeep started, ran for 20 minutes got the engine almost to overheat. I get in the Jeep not knowing, the engine temp is in the red in 20 seconds, I get out to see if there even is a fan belt, the car locks itself with me out of it and the engine running.


I can't seem to find that information on the device itself. There are some FCC numbers - maybe I can search those?

The markings have long since worn off.

In addition to my usual disabling, I may have to pull the starter relay out.
 
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