Key fob remote start stopped working

I paid cash (actually a certified check from my bank) for my Sport 3 years ago.
Remote starter worked until subscription to the app ran out and I revoked consent to information sharing.

 

It's safe to assume that Toyota disabled it on vehicles without the Service Connect subscription, since that's obviously required to enable it. The weird things are that it appears to have been a staggered/partial rollout to some extent and that some without the subscription were, at least so far, exempt. I wonder what criteria they used for the rollout and why everyone hasn't been affected. I can only narrow down the window to the disabling on mine to roughly some time between Nov 3 and Dec 2.

 

Good evening,

So I’ve had my 2021 trd pro Tacoma for just over a year maybe 14 months and recently in the past 40 days I brought it into the dealership for tire repair and an oil change. Prior to this my fob automatic start worked like clockwork. When I got it back it stopped working and I figured it was my key fob so tonight I replaced the batter in the key fob. And nothing my next guess was my slow release clip on my tailgate broke and bent the corner of my tailgate so it shuts a little funny now, so I was thinking maybe because my tailgate not shutting the auto start won’t work. my girlfriend’s been bugging me to pay for the fee just to get the phone auto start. It’s only eight dollars a month 80 a year. It’s not too bad. so I said let me pay for this and see if it will work and sure enough it did work from my phone so I tried it with the fob too, and it also worked. Now I am only to believe that Toyota purposely disabled the auto start so I would pay for the feature that should come standard or I thought came standard on TRD pros. But either way my girlfriend will be happy now that I can start the car from the restaurant and it won’t be cold. Hopefully this helps somebody.

 

The length of the “trial” seems to be tied to the audio package. I don’t know first hand as I just put a remote start in my truck and never messed with Toyotas version. But maybe it’s a rabbit hole someone could go down if they were so inclined….
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/is-remote-start-worth-80-year.747707/

 

I had N2 Designs remote kit in my cart for the BF sales. They did not reply to my question about what 2-way remote works with the Toyota kit, so I missed the sale.
I am not paying Toyota $80 a year for a starter that turns off the moment you open the door.

 

Yeah, that is a definite benefit to an aftermarket set-up. I have the option to use a cellular service if I want to unlock or start the vehicle from another state or whatever, but it still works without that from the fob. Also, with the fob, I get about 4 city blocks of range (even farther if I’m on a roof), so I can start it when I leave a building and hike to my truck. It’s nice that way since I work in hospitals and parking is literally a good 1/4 mile away at most of them. Plus I have the added benefit of 2-way communication, so it will verify the truck has been started as well as notify me that the alarm has been triggered. Granted, I could have paid for 10 years of Toyotas service for the price of the alarm… but come year 11 it’s all paid for

 

This is just for folks that think that they have to pay. All that I had to do to enable the fob remote start was opt for the trial for the subscription, which is "up to 10-years". That obviously doesn't necessarily mean 10 years, but either way, I haven't paid a dime for the subscription, and I doubt that I ever will. So it's free in exchange for vehicle data for Toyota's nefarious purposes (not including distributing to outside parties). It does seem pretty stupid that it turns off with a door opening, but as far as I'm concerned, it's a free service (that shouldn't require any enabling, but that's another conversation). I think that my old WJ2 GC also turned off when I opened the door, but I can't recall for sure.

 

Mine also quit working. I thought this had been settled some time back when Toyota took a lot of backlash when the paid subscription issue came up.

Mines a 2022 and had worked up to a couple months back.

When I looked into the 10 year trial option it reminded me due to the agreement to let Toyota use data and share, what probably happened.

About 3 months back I come across a video on how to turn off all the “spy” features (as much as possible). I disabled all the data collection agreements etc…

Not long after the next time trying to remote start nothing, nada, zero

It’s all about data tracking and the selling of that information to the buyers. In my case sharing with “Insurance” companies is not something I want or should be subjected to.
So for me an after market option may be in future.

It’s a shame to have the equipment already installed but have to “sell your soul” to use it (hyperbole? Maybe?)

 

I feel like I'm advocating for Toyota on this, but I am definitely not. But, to be fair, they ask for permission to share the data when you enable the trial subscription. You can decline and the remote start will still work.

editing for clarity - Toyota asks for two different permissions - first, to gather data and second, to share the data with 3rd parties. It is two different requests when you enable the Service Connect trial.

 

Did not work for me. I declined data collection, and app stopped the sign up process for the trial. Tried it twice, same result.

 

But, does your key FOB remote start now work as expected?
My (Mindless) understanding is that if you decline data collection, you can not use the phone app to remote start, but your key FOB should still remote start.?

 

Good question. My app doesn't have the option to remote start from the app. Maybe that's a consequence of not opting to share the data collected with 3rd parties. I'm 100% certain that I declined that, but did choose to allow Toyota to gather data. And both of my fobs will remote start.

 

Just tested this theory and sign up for 10 year trial and precise declined data use and confirmed as required.

Key fob remote start does not work.

Edit:

Went back a third time and read closer.
There’s actually 3 consents being asked for.
One for permission to use precise data for the service (remote start).
Two for dealer to use information from data to schedule appointments and track monitor health of vehicle.
And Three permissions to share with insurers.

I elected to consent to first two and decline to share.

Said it may take 48 hours to activate so we’ll see….

 

My understanding from years ago when first purchasing the vehicle is that after the initial trial anything activated within the app you had to pay for.

 

Nope, the app stopped the sign up proccess. As soon as I declined data collection. Tried twice. Fob stopped working in October and still not working. Truck was bought in December of 2021.

 

Ok, follow up.

Before signing up for 10 year trial option I tried multiple times and different configuration of Fob button sequences (one to lock and two in quick succession holding third for several seconds, one to lock and then 3 holding last one, 3 quick pushes and hold, one and hold) nothing worked.

After agreeing for precise location and sharing data only with dealer and not sharing with insurers, I have been able to remote start.

But it’s hit or miss on button push sequences?

push once to lock and then 3 quick pushes holding on last seems to be more consistent but not ever time.

What’s the correct sequence?

 

For me 3 quick pushes of lock button on fob. Hold 3rd push at least 10 seconds. Also have to be close to truck like within 20 yards. Have never had app.

 

My 22 recently quit working as well.

Had to sign up & agree to the 10 year trials & magically it began working about 2 hours later.

 

Yup, my mistake. You're absolutely right about the 3 separate consents. I also did the first 2 and it worked immediately after.

 

I have the Premium Package in mine and should have 10 years of remote start for free. I never signed nothing, enroll in any kind of subscription or downloaded their apps. Truck will be 4 in June so I wait and see what happensif it true about the 10 year.