Remote start doesnt work in cold

So I had a remote start installed as part of my deal when I bought my Tacoma. It works great until it hits below 30 degrees. Well today it was about 11 degrees outside (perfect time to warm the coma up) and it sends the signal to the car no problem, however, the truck just cranks over once or twice then stops. The system just keeps repeating this until (inevitably) it floods the engine. But after it being cold and cranking a few times you would think that the battery would lose some of its cranking Amps, but when I put the key in to start it; it starts like if it were the middle of summer with no hesitation. I'm curious what went wrong, I'm probably not going to bother fixing it because the dealer is 2.5 hours away and I'm pretty sure a grease monkey at the dealer will make more of a mess than fix anything.(or "we couldn't replicate the issue") It kinda agitates me because these are the type of days that I was hoping to use the remote start for. Also, I want to justify twisting the salesmans wrist to include in the deal.
Model is Clifford 4205x 2 way remote start.
Does anyone know of a possible troubleshoot or mend to my situation?

 

SAME exact thing happened to me today with my Viper 5706V - my remote even said my truck started but when I went outside it was off with ignition on. Truck started right up with key...

 

Nothing to add unfortunately, but what a shitty time to not work, on the coldest day of year ( well at least around my parts)!

 

Mine does it too. I contacted Viper and they said it is an issue with the 'tach wire'.

"Unfortunately you will have to take that vehicle back into the dealer where you got the installation done. They will need to check the “TACH WIRE” and make sure that is installed and correctly programmed."


edit: I haven't brought it back...

 

Yeah, it was hovering right around single digits this morning in the north east where I am this morning :-(

 

It needs to be set up for the tach.. All remote starters have this feature

 

What does this "tach" thing control that would prevent the truck from doing its thing?

 

It doesn't stop trying till the tach reaches certain rpm

 

You seem to be a knowledgable person, do you have any idea what is actually preventing the the full cranking when the battery is still full of juice? Could it be a sticky relay or some sort of thermal expansion issue in the unit?

 

There should be a setting to run the starter longer if you're using a tachless system. Mine is hooked into the tach signal so it cranks until it senses RPM.

If it's not hooked into the tach signal it will either crank a preset amount(should be programmable) or crank until it senses an increase in voltage(engine running/alternator).

 

I know zero really

 

If it's not the tach problem, then it might be the bypass module. Easy test is when it doesn't start, put the key into the ignition and then try to remote start. If it fires up, the bypass module is the problem.

 

I'll try that when I get out of work, if it turns out to be the module is there really anything I can do?

 

Maybe the amount of crank time pulsed through the system wasn't set long enough. In the cold, these trucks take just a little more time on the starter to fire.

Hopefully its that simple.

My remote start has always worked fine for me. 100 degrees to -20 with no issues

 

Is there any way to change the crank duration without going to a shop? If not I'm just going to leave it and deal with it, get on with my life and freeze my ass off running to the truck in the morning to turn it on.

This is why I hate aftermarket crap.

 

One other item that it could be, these trucks have a 2nd starter wire that needs to be activate during remote start cranking especially in cold weather.

Installer may have skipped hooking up this wire.

 

Have it replaced by the installer. It would be good to know the brand they used. It was 17F this morning and my truck started right up. I installed an iDatalink bypass module.

 

I never knew a problem like this existed. I just installed a Compu-Star remote start and it started my truck in -17 degree weather when I was in Nevada this past weekend

 

I hate it too man, I know my cheapo model will fail eventually. Hopefully it doesn't take the starter and flywheel with it when it does fail.

I'm not certain, i'd try contacting the aftermarket manufacture first, then the dealer.

 

Toyotas inherently do not agree with remote starts because of how the engine immobilizer is set up. None of them work perfectly forever.