Honda remote start not working after battery replacement

The remote start is a really neat feature on modern cars. However, just like all issues related to a coded key fob, they can be a nightmare if they act up. One of the more common problems is the remote start not working after a battery change. And if that’s the issue you are facing, here is what you can do. 

Unfortunately, the remote start reset procedure isn’t universal for all vehicles. It consists of a different sequence of locking, starting, and unlocking your car. Further down, you can check how to reset your remote start on an F-150, F-250, Silverado, and Ram. You will also learn where to find the reset procedure for your vehicle. 

Before we go into the different reset procedures, it doesn’t hurt to ensure that a reset is what you need and learn how the remote start works. 

How Does a Remote Start Work

The remote start is essentially a separate system from the remote locking. It uses a standalone signal receiver that is encrypted to prevent theft. The signal receiver then taps into your vehicle’s tachometer, ignition switch, battery power and ground, starter motor, and brakes. 

Other safety systems include locking the doors before starting the car and preventing you from engaging “Drive” before inserting the key into the ignition. Besides that, the remote start system also employs a hood switch, which doesn’t allow the vehicle to remote start if the hood is open. 

So, the system by itself isn’t that complicated. It’s only a matter of tapping into the proper wires and adding a simple signal receiver. However, all the safety and anti-theft features make it extremely sensitive to any outside tampering, including a battery change. 

There is also a constant debate about whether or not it can damage the engine. The argument is that letting your engine doesn’t get sufficient lubrication while idling to warm up or cool down the vehicle. That’s true to a certain extent, but anything up to a few minutes won’t hurt. And while that might not be enough to, for example, warm up the cabin, it’s enough for the car to start blowing hot air through the vents. 

Diagnosing the Remote Start System

Before we go into the reset sequence, we must address other causes of a nonfunctioning remote start. The first thing to check is whether or not all of your doors are closed. If they don’t latch properly, the remote start can’t lock them and consequently won’t start the vehicle. 

The second thing you should check is if the hood is closed. As mentioned earlier, the remote start feature has a non-tampering safety system switch. It doesn’t allow the vehicle to remote start if the hood has not latched correctly. 

It also doesn’t hurt to check if you installed the key battery correctly. Most key fobs use a coin battery, and installing them the wrong way up is easy. That’s easy to check if your key has a signal light. 

Lastly, remote start won’t work if the transmission is in “drive” or “neutral,” so make sure “park” is engaged. 

If all these are good and only one key isn’t working, look at the following reset/programming procedures. However, if none of the keys work, it can indicate other more complicated issues. Either the keys are in valet mode, for which you need your vehicle’s manual to turn off, or some safety systems are faulty, like the hood switch. 

Now, if everything checks out, the only thing left is to reset your car key. 

How to Reset a Remote Start System

Resetting your key and the remote start system is somewhat intricate, especially considering each vehicle has a unique sequence. It’s also important to note that aftermarket remote start systems have their own reset procedure. Hence, the only thing you can do is check to see if it came with a manual. 

Besides the resetting procedures, we will list them here; you can visit “programyourremote.com” to find the right one for your vehicle if none of the following ones match. 

The following might also work with other models of the same manufacturer and the same production year.

How to Reset Remote Start Ford F-150 and F-250 2004-2010

Before you start, you should have all your remote start keys in the vehicle.

1. Sit inside the car with all the keys
2. Do not press the brake pedal
3. Unlock all doors using the interior door lock button
4. Insert the key and turn it to RUN and back to OFF continuously for eight times, the 8th time ending in RUN. To explain better how that should look: KEY IN-1, RUN-2, OFF-3, RUN-4, OFF-5, RUN-6, OFF-7, RUN-8. That needs to be done within 10 seconds; after that, the door locks will cycle, confirming you have done it right. 
5. Press any button on the first key within 20 seconds after the door lock cycle
6. Press any button on the second key also within 20 seconds
7. Turn the ignition to OFF, then the door locks should cycle one more time, and the key is reset

How to Reset Remote Start Ford F-150 and F-250 2011-2014

For this process to work, you need two working keys. 

1. Insert a working key into the ignition
2. Turn the key to ON and after 3-10 seconds, turn it off
3. Remove the key and insert the second working one after 3-10 seconds after removing the previous one
4. Turn the key on and again, leave it for 3-10 seconds, then ten seconds before turning it off
5. Remove the key and insert the third one that’s not working in 3-10 seconds 
6. Turn the key on and leave it for at least six seconds
7. After six seconds, remove it, and if it’s not working, repeat the same process

How to Reset Remote Start Ford F-150 and F-250 2015-2021

There are two different sequences for these model years, one for models with a Flip-Key and another for Smart-Key trucks. 

For F-150s With a Flip-Key:

1. You need two working keys together with the one that’s not working
2. Insert the first working key, turn it on, and leave it on for 1-10 seconds before removing 
3. After 3-10 seconds, insert the second working key 
4. Turn the key on and leave it for 1-10 seconds before removing 
5. After 3-10 seconds, insert the faulty key and, turn it on, leave it on for 1-10 seconds before removing
6. After all these steps, your faulty key should be working

For F150s With a Smart-Key:

First, you need two working keys with you and ensure all the doors are closed throughout the process. Next, read through the instructions before starting because you need to do all steps in less than 30 seconds. 

1. Place the first working key in the center console slot and push the start button without pressing the brake pedal
2. Insert the second key into the ignition, and after five seconds, press the start button
3. Turn the key on and leave it for 3-10 seconds
4. Remove the key from the center console slot and turn the second key off and remove it
5. No more than ten seconds later, insert the second key into the center console (the one that was in the ignition previously) 
6. Push the start button and after 3-10 seconds, insert the first key into the ignition (the one that was in the center console previously)
7. After five seconds, push the start button and turn the ignition on for 3-10 seconds
8. Remove the second key from the center console, turn the ignition off and remove the first key
9. Within 3-10 seconds, place the nonfunctioning key in the center console and press the start button, remove it from the center console and insert it into the ignition switch
10. The programming is complete 

How to Reset Remote Start Dodge Ram 2004-2008

You need two working keys with the faulty one.

1. Insert the first key into the ignition and leave it on for five seconds before removing
2. Not more than five seconds later, insert the second key into the ignition and turn it on. 
3. Wait for the security light to start flashing; after it stops flashing, turn it off and remove the key
4. Within five seconds, insert the faulty key and turn it on
5. The security light will start flashing, and once it stops, the key is ready

How to Reset Remote Start Chevy Silverado 2004-2006

1. Close all the doors
2. Insert the key into the ignition switch
3. Press and hold the lock button on the driver’s door
4. While holding the lock button turn the key on and off two times
5. Release the lock button and the car should lock and unlock the doors on its own
6. Press and hold the lock and unlock buttons on the key until the doors lock and unlock
7. Turn the key on, and the key is ready

How to Reset Remote Start Silverado 2007-2010

1. There are two different procedures for these model years—one for trucks with a Driver Information Center and the other for vehicles without it. 
2. For Silverados with a Driver Information Center
3. Insert the key and turn it on 
4. Press and hold the vehicle information button until the screen displays “press to relearn remote key”
5. Press the set/reset button until you see “remote key learning active”
6. Press and hold both the lock and unlock buttons on the key fob until you hear a chime
7. Turn the key off and remove it
8. For Silversdos without a Driver Information Center
9. Put the transmission in Park, insert the key and turn it on
10. Press and hold the trip button in the tachometer until you read “relearn remote key”
11. Press and hold the trip button again for about three seconds until you read “remote key learning active”
12. Press and hold the lock and unlock buttons on the key for about 15 seconds until you hear a chime
13. Turn the key off

FAQs

Why Do You Need Two Keys for a Remote Start?

You only need to work keys to program or reset the remote start function. Once the key is functioning, you no longer need two keys to remote start your vehicle. 

Do You Still Need a Key With Remote Start?

You don’t need a key in the ignition to remote start your vehicle. You need the remote or a key fob with remote start functions. After the car is on you, there is no need to insert it into the ignition switch to drive or stop the car. However, in some cars, you might need to push the start button to be able to drive. 

How Many Times in a Row Can You Use Remote Start?

Most vehicles allow you to start it remotely only two times in a row. After that, you need to start the car with the ignition switch to enable the remote start function again. Car manufacturers mainly do that for security reasons. 

How Long Does the Car Run With Remote Start?

How long a car will stay on after a remote start depends on the model. The time it runs varies between 5-15 minutes. Remote start shuts the car down for security reasons and the vehicle’s longevity since idling for a prolonged time can be bad for the engine. There are ways you can extend the running time, but that’s not something we would recommend.

Can Someone Else Remote Start Your Car?

Nobody can start your car using a different remote other than yours. Also, the signal used for remote starting is encrypted, so people scanning for key fob signals will also have a hard time stealing your car. That said, automotive technology and car theft technology evolve together, so it’s always good to be careful. 

Does Remote Start Unlock Doors?

If the car’s doors are unlocked before starting, the remote start system will lock them. That’s to prevent anyone from jumping in the car and driving off while you’re not looking. Once you’re near the vehicle, you can either unlock it using the remote lock buttons on the key or via the keyless entry.

Does the AC Turn on With Remote Start?

The AC would turn on with the vehicle if you left it on after turning it off. The same goes for heating. Whatever settings you selected before turning the vehicle off will remain. You can only change the AC settings remotely with newer and more expensive cars with a key display. 

Conclusion

Remote start can be very helpful in extreme weather conditions. That’s why it’s such a pain if they quit working. Unfortunately, there is no simple answer to reset the remote start function after changing the battery. 

More often than not, the hood switch could be acting up in which there is nothing you can do besides fixing it. We also mentioned several other causes you must address before switching to a remote start reset. 

However, if you went over all the checks before resetting the key fob and all of them are ok, the best thing you can do is get a manual for your vehicle. 

Alternatively, you can check the website we left earlier in the article to find your vehicle’s reset sequence. That’s if you don’t own any of the trucks we included. It’s also important to note that for many newer cars, it’s not possible to reset the key without special equipment. But, to confirm that, you can check your owner’s manual.

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