Just a couple of questions regarding the Factory Remote Start System. To activate it, do you simply hit the remote start button on the key fob. How about to shut off the engine after a remote start. I thought you would hit the remote start button again, but the manual has a 3 step procedure, something about turning on the Hazzard Warning Lights, etc. What exactly is the procedure?

Also, if you want to drive the car after a remote start, do you simply put the key in the ignition while the engine is running and turn it to the run position, or do you have to deactivate remote start and restart the engine?

You hit the lock button once, then quickly press and hold the remote button for like 2 seconds. Car starts (running lights will come on and stay on) and runs for up to 10 minutes IIRC. And you may restart it a second time for another 10 minutes after by following the same procedure.

Once you get in you turn the key to run and gooooooooooooo..........LOL. That easy, no need to do anything else.

Yep. Press Lock, then hold the Start for ~4 seconds. Car starts, parking lights come on, runs 10 minutes. While the car is running, if you press Lock and Start again you'll extend the run to 20 minutes, but not more than once.

To turn car off remotely, press Start.

To drive away, get in car, insert key, turn to On. Nice feature: If you turn it to the Start position it won't grind the starter!

When the remote start is in use the rear defrost will also operate, and I believe that it's on a temp sensor so it doesn't energize in the summer time at higher temps, but I'm not sure of that. If you have the LTZ with heated mirrors they will energize with the rear defrost.

Heated seats do not warm up during remote start operation. I'm considering figuring out a mod for that! I'd like mine to be on Low during remote start just to take the chill off.

Last but not least, you can only do a remote start twice in succession. After that you have to turn the car on and then off to get remote start to work again.

I have the LT2, so if I wanted the car to cool off on a hot day, I would have to leave the fan on so the air conditioning would start up when I hit the remote start. It's not like the LTZ where the air conditioning starts up automatically? Is that correct?

I have the LT2, so if I wanted the car to cool off on a hot day, I would have to leave the fan on so the air conditioning would start up when I hit the remote start. It's not like the LTZ where the air conditioning starts up automatically? Is that correct?

Yup, you would have to have the HVAC set where you want it with the manual controls. My LTZ will automaticaly attempt to either cool or heat with the fan on high while it is in auto start. Once you turn the key on it tones down the fan. Sure would be nice to have the seat heat come one with auto start. Glad mine is usually in the garage.:D

Hey, guys! I'm still working on getting the time to do a How-To on my remote window roll up/down. On hot days it's faster and more effective to roll the windows down than it is to expect the AC to cool off an interior that reaches 150 degrees. And it's cheaper, too, 'cuz I don't burn any gas.

I hope to have it done soon. Please forgive my tarrying!

On cold days I just have to remember to set my controls to where I want them the next time I get in the car, like heat/vent or heat/defrost. I'm also working on a new mod where it'll run the bun warmers (heated seats ;)) when in autostart and it decides to run the rear defrost as well. Still an open project, though, so stay tuned sometime later this year for that.

Hey, guys! I'm still working on getting the time to do a How-To on my remote window roll up/down.

This is something I surely will do!

Yep. Press Lock, then hold the Start for ~4 seconds. Car starts, parking lights come on, runs 10 minutes. While the car is running, if you press Lock and Start again you'll extend the run to 20 minutes, but not more than once.

To turn car off remotely, press Start.

To drive away, get in car, insert key, turn to On. Nice feature: If you turn it to the Start position it won't grind the starter!

When the remote start is in use the rear defrost will also operate, and I believe that it's on a temp sensor so it doesn't energize in the summer time at higher temps, but I'm not sure of that. If you have the LTZ with heated mirrors they will energize with the rear defrost.

Heated seats do not warm up during remote start operation. I'm considering figuring out a mod for that! I'd like mine to be on Low during remote start just to take the chill off.


Just to confirm, do you have to lock the doors remotely before hitting the remote start button? Also, once the remote start is going, to get into the car, just hit the unlock button? This won't effect the remote start i guess.

I used this for the first time today. It was very hot outside and the car was in the bright sunshine. I have the LT2, so I left the Air Conditioning Fan on Medium. I started the car remotely and by the time I got in, it was nice and cool. But I cancelled the remote start before I got in.

Just to confirm, do you have to lock the doors remotely before hitting the remote start button? Also, once the remote start is going, to get into the car, just hit the unlock button? This won't effect the remote start i guess.



Yes. Just like that. Don't cancel it before you get in, why start it twice?

Hey, guys! I'm still working on getting the time to do a How-To on my remote window roll up/down. On hot days it's faster and more effective to roll the windows down than it is to expect the AC to cool off an interior that reaches 150 degrees. And it's cheaper, too, 'cuz I don't burn any gas.




I had an '04 Maxima with the Auto Windows down feature. You held the un-lock button on the key fob for a couple of seconds and the 2 front windows went down automatically.

Regarding the Malibu, if the interior is that hot, I still feel using the remote start with the a/c on high will cool the interior much faster. Opening the windows won't do much at all. Just remember to keep the fan on high before you leave the car. Do you have the Ebony interior? I did notice that the interior gets very warm when it's in the sun. Not the seats so much, but the dashboard. The other day, it was a bright sunny day around 80 degrees. I opened the sunroof and the front windows and it was still warm. I finally turned on the A/C.

If the temp inside is pushing 150 and it's "only" 85 outside then putting the windows down will result in a much quicker cooling than can be accomplished by any AC. That's a 65 degree reduction in just a minute. Now, if you combine that with putting them back up and running the AC so that you can get into a more comfortable car, then you might have something. But it's a well-known fact that (for those without remote roll-down) getting into a superheated car and driving with the windows up with the AC on isn't near as fast as driving away with the windows down for a minute or two.

Plus you have to take into consideration that the engine is merely idling, even if on fast idle at cold startup, and R134a is less effecient at heat transfer than the old R12. It prefers the compressor to be spinning at higher RPMs with a lot more air going over the radiator (heat exchanger) to cool the fluid. With only two fans and an engine at idle, the AC is decidedly less capable at cooling an interior that has reached 150 in the sun.

I added remote rolldown on my previous car ('97 Grand Prix) and believe me, rolling the windows down 5 minutes before I walked out of work was MUCH more effective than running the AC, and it didn't cost me a penny.

Putting the windows down will result in a much faster temp reduction than wasting gas to run the AC. It's just common sense. Try it once on your car and you'll see. Plus you'll save money!

Holy old thread dig-up but figured I'd use search like I'm supposed to...

So this morning I remote started my 2LT since it snowed a bit last night and heavy frost. I forgot to leave the heat on full and on defroster last night. It was about 50/50 hot cold and on feet. Couple things.

1. When I got in I was angry at myself cause I hadn't left it on full heat and defroster. Car had been running about 8 mins already. I turned it to full hot and only got partially warm air... even after 8 mins of running. I would have figured that with the 4cyl it'd heat up fast. My V6 in the old truck got hotter faster just sitting there. Then, after I left, it got pretty hot quick. Does the ecotec engine have such a low idle and "green-ness" that even had I left it on full hot defrost it may not ever get hot enough until I start driving?

2. A guy here at work as a high end Pontiac sedan. When he does his remote start, it automatically switches the air to defrost and full hot. We're not sure if it goes to face vent and full cold A/C in the summer. Can my car do this? Mainly the heat, don't care as much about the A/C in summer. It kind of sounds like that's how the LTZ operates, but not the 2LT?

3. Would love to find out if anyone ever got a good way to get the seats to turn on with remote starting. As I understand, the power window down was accomplished, but haven't seen anything on the seats. Is it true that the rear defroster turns on when remotely started in cold temps? That would probably be the best "tap" for the seats.

Hopefully I can get this straightened out. Forgetting to turn heat on full blast on the windshield is hard to remember!

Appreciate the reference to Bat Man! ;)

I didn't get the seat mod done yet, but here's where I am so far.

Last weekend I did some exploring and testing on the heated seats and electrical in general. I discovered that with or without the switch plugged in, and with or without the switch engaged, all I need to do is send about 10.5VDC on the Lt Blu/Blk wire and the seat will be on High Heat. So I went inside and drew up my schematic and planned where to relocate the switches as well. I'm going to put them in the overhead console, since mine doesn't have the garage opener. I wouldn't have been able to put them in the '09 'cuz it had the opener, but I never used it.

My plan is to use the difference between Acc and Run to detect when it is in RS. In RS Acc circuits are not hot but Run circuits are. I will use a diode with a simple switch (I'll call it Master or System) to turn the RS Seat Heater option on or off, and that will power a DPDT relay that interrupts the signal from the stock switches to send 10.5VDC to each module. There will be a second switch to option out the passenger seat. The 12VDC (actually 13.5VDC at idle on my meter) voltage to the relay's contacts will come from the rear defog grid and each output from the relay will be stepped down to 10.5VDC by putting 6 silicon diodes in series. Each one has a voltage drop of ~ 0.6V and the amperage is minimal since it's only a signal. Trying to figure out which resistor to use was getting to be too much work, but I might try again this weekend. If I can simplify it to one component (1 resistor) instead of 6 diodes that'll make it easier to assemble and tuck up in the cubby.

Your friend's Pontiac probably has ACC (auto climate control) since it blows on defrost on RS when it's cold. The doors on the 'Bu are controlled electrically (as far as I know) so you'd have to devise a control circuit that interrupts the standard signal and replaces it with one that opens or closes your door fully. It could be as simple as sending a certain voltage to the control head, or it could be more difficult.

Your car will only slightly warm in 8 minutes when it's really cold out. Regardless of the temp setting on the knob the water is still being heated, but at idle and on a very cold (nearly freezing?) engine it takes awhile. When you get in and drive you're making it work harder, and work=heat on engines. (Actually it creates heat on a LOT of things, living or mechanical.) But look on the bright side: quite a bit of the warming process has already been done so it gets you warmer sooner, but it still takes longer from the time the engine was started. And it's running the rear defog so that'll help, too.