Help please- remote start works then truck won’t start with regular push button

Yes, I’m the 50 year old mom. My son drives a 22 Toyota Tacoma. He went snowboarding last night. Drove 1 hour to take his girlfriend home. He left the truck running since it was so cold outside. Came back out and it wouldn’t go into gear. He turned it off and it wouldn’t restart. He tried the remote start and it worked. However it would turn off when he opened the door. Again it wouldn’t start. Kept getting the check system charge message. Thus I had to drive 45 minutes in bad weather conditions to go pick him up. Got there after 1 am. I took jumper cables. We tried for a while with the jumper cables outside in the sleet and then gave up. if the battery was bad the remote start wouldn’t work, right? I hope it is just the battery, but I’m going to have it towed. Any helpful advice? Thanks in advance

 

How long was the truck "left running".
Check the battery as the system check suggests. Is it in a place where a trickle type battery charger can be hooked up?
Or just buy a new battery and go and install it.
Towing is expensive.

 

Left running no more than 20 minutes. But if the battery was dead then why will it start with the remote start? This is so frustrating.

 

I'm guessing the remote start is dealer installed or aftermarket.

99% of the time, your electric gremlins are from it. Remove the remote start.

 

Someone just mentioned that it may be a security issue. I don’t know how to reset it

 

I wouldn't worry about remote start or "security issue" to start off with or right now. Leaving a vehicle running on idle will usually drain the battery since the alternator is not working as normal or full capacity to charge battery. Sometimes if you try to boost it gives battery enough voltage and the waiting a few minutes that the remote started. I would just get a new battery at Costco or Canadian Tire. Have son or yourself install if you know how. Just get regular battery, a standard lead free not an AGM or anything costly or with a fancy case, colors or pricey name. I'll bet a bad battery is the only problem.

 

The check charging warning is always on when the ignition is on, and the engine isn't running. It seems to alarm people and I tend to think they only notice it when something else is wrong.
I agree, if the remote start works, that tells me the battery probably is good.

EDIT: just ran across this unrelated thread, but it shows the charging warning at startup.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/check-engine-light-question.849985/

 

Key fob battery maybe bad. Did he leave fob in truck whole running, or was it in pocket in her house? Try battery in fob, if that's not it. Hold fob next to push to start button for reprogram.

 

Check key fob battery!

 

Did you figure out what the problem was?

 

This happened to me. The 2032 battery in my Toyota factory key fob took a dive in charge. It would unlock the door, but the push-to-start button would not respond with the fob in my pocket. I held it next to the PTS button and it started when I pushed the button. Arriving at home, I replaced the fob's battery. OEM Fob batteries go bad abruptly.

From all the above threads, I can't tell if the remote start is OEM or aftermarket. I'm guessing aftermarket.

 

I have an issue with that charging message sometimes with my aftermarket N2 remote start. Not sure but I have a feeling it happens when I remote start it, unlock the driver door with the door handle sensor, BUT open another door first. Truck turns off and when I push the start button I get that charging message and it won't start.

The way I've had it start is to get out, lock it (button, not keyhole), then remote start it. Then open the driver door by putting hand under handle.

I've searched and never found an answer but this works for my aftermarket N2 remote start. Good luck.