Remote start not working

Ronald Kasten · December 10, 2018

I have a 2015 Chevy Duramax 2500hd LTZ/Z71. Remote start. Will only work in cold when engine has been ran and still warm. When left overnight it will try to just turn over a little .. like trying to bump engine over. Will keep doing this without starting until I put key in and start it. Any Solutions? Thanks Ron.

Cootr68 · December 24, 2018

On 2/25/2018 at 7:23 AM, TungstenSilverado said:

I'm having the same issue intermittently. In the morning while getting my lunch together I'll remote start the engine so it can warm up before heading off to work. Occasionally the remote start on the fob won't start the truck. I can lock and unlock the truck as evidenced by the horn and flashing lights but it won't start. Then I'll use the On-Star app and that will start it. I have the Edge Insight in my truck and that shows no codes. The truck just chooses to not start with the fob some mornings.

Mine does the same thing with my 15. And when I do start it with the key it delays kicking in the starter and the radio goes to 87.7 FM when it was on sat rad when it was shut off. Dealer is clueless.

Dnt · December 24, 2018

Has it ever failed to start using the key? I would suspect the the "bad battery cable issue" that has been posted on here before. If it has ever had an issue starting using the key I would replace the cable. I cannot remember the exact details but a search should turn it up it is here somewhere on this massive forum? To me if your radio settings are affected that means the truck has lost battery power completely for a few seconds.

JamnC · January 27, 2019

I have a 2015 Denali HD Duramax and I'm having the same issue. I didn't notice this being a problem until this year, but happens almost every time the temp drops below freezing if the truck sits overnight. If I try to remote start, it just bumps the engine multiple times but never cranks. However, I can walk out to the truck (15 sec later) and use the key without any trouble. For the rest of the day, the remote start works as its designed, it just happens on cold mornings at first start.

Just as an experiment this morning, I used my spare key, which I never use to remote start the truck. It's 25 degrees, so I expected the same result that I normally get from my regular key. However, and to my surprise the truck "bumped" twice, then started. I realize that the specific key FOB used should have ZERO impact on the truck starting, but it at least appears to have helped this morning. I'm gonna replace the batteries in both FOBS to see if that makes difference (I am skeptical this helps at all). Maybe some of you other guys can test this theory out too.

Any updates or help appreciated!

Update on battery replacement: 1/28/19

As suspected, I replaced the batteries in both key FOBS and it had no impact on the remote start.

Update 3/12/19

I continued to have this problem over the last few months and struggled to find an answer from people or on forums. However, I believe that I have fixed the issue by replacing both truck batteries. Previously, I checked the voltage on both batteries trying to diagnose this problem and they would read around 12.6v first thing in the morning. Since the truck would start with the key, just not with the remote, I assumed that the problem was with the remote start, not the batteries. I noticed over the last month or so that when I would get in the truck, start it with the key and begin driving that the voltage indicator would read low (9/10v), after a few miles it would get up to 14v. There was no other indication that I had any battery issues, it would start every time with the key and all electronics worked without any issues.

The "AhHa" moment came this past weekend, I went out first thing in the morning to do something in the truck (it sat all night in the driveway). Without starting it, I turned on the radio, after about 20 min, I tried to start it and got nothing but a few clicks... she was dead! I jumped it and it ran fine, batteries went to 14v when I was driving and it started multiple times that day with and without the remote. I checked the batteries again the next morning, they both read 12.6v, but the truck would only start with the key in the ignition. So as a test, I went and bought 2 new batteries from Costco (they will take them back if this test would have failed), installed them and have started my truck every time since only with the remote. Its only been 3 days, but the last two mornings have been below freezing and I've had no trouble.

My thought is that there wasn't enough cold cranking amps in the batteries after sitting all night to start the truck with the remote first thing in the morning. So using a key and driving would charge the batteries enough to use the remote start for the rest of the day. It still doesn't totally make since to me why it would start with the key and not with the remote, but my thought is when you turn the key, you're forcing the starter to engage for slightly longer period (1 sec) giving the truck the extra time it needs to start. This extra time was unnoticeable to me until new batteries were installed, I felt like the truck always started right up. However, when the new batteries went in, the truck start was almost instantaneous. I realized that the "bump" I was previously experiencing is actually all the truck is asked to do in the remote sequence to start. If it doesn't immediately start, it will try to start several times the same way until it times out.

Hope this helps!!!

KJS Sullivan · January 27, 2019

Last year I had the same issues on my 15 Duramax Diesel Sierra and when I read up on it I noticed that the engine light was on and found that the remote start wouldn't work when the engine light was on because it was a fault somewhere, I researched it more and I found that my heater one of my heaters for the DEF tank was not working and therefore the engine light came on which kept the key fob remote start from working properly. Not sure if that's what you're running into but check to see if your engine light is on. Also, my situation was when it was freezing outside as well during the day when it warmed up it was fine. One of my heaters in the DEF tank was bad. The dealer replaced it as they are covered to a hundred thousand miles or more. Good luck please post what you find out has that will definitely help other people in the same situation. The problem I had and my remedy might not be the same for you but at least it's an idea.

good luck

Fernando · January 27, 2019

Can anyone tell me if I have remote start?

KJS Sullivan · January 27, 2019

I don't know what the codes would be for a remote start but does your key fob have the button at the top with a circle?

SS502 · January 27, 2019

20 minutes ago, Fernando said:

Can anyone tell me if I have remote start?

Code is BTV I don’t see it on your picture

LARGEONE · August 16, 2019

Mine has this similar issue, and I'm wondering if it is the Coolant Level Sensor. So when it is cold outside, the coolant level would be at its lowest. Parking on an inclined driveway may exacerbate the issue. Then, when the truck is fully warm and the coolant has expanded and raised the level at the sensor, then the truck goes out of its "warning" mode and allows the remote start to work. Possible?

JimCost2014 · August 16, 2019

16 minutes ago, LARGEONE said:

Mine has this similar issue, and I'm wondering if it is the Coolant Level Sensor. So when it is cold outside, the coolant level would be at its lowest. Parking on an inclined driveway may exacerbate the issue. Then, when the truck is fully warm and the coolant has expanded and raised the level at the sensor, then the truck goes out of its "warning" mode and allows the remote start to work. Possible?

Welcome to the site.

Remote start will not work if there are type of issues, most times time you get a CEL when it does not work.

Maybe check for codes, to see if any have been stored.

Only working part time means there is a problem that will only get worse with time.

LARGEONE · August 19, 2019

I filled the reservoir, so I will monitor the level closely now. I purchased the truck only two weeks ago, so I don't have any history on it. If I continue to lose coolant, I will try to chase down the leaky hose/fitting.

Does the coolant system fall within the drivetrain warranty, or only the bumper to bumper?

My remote start seems to be functioning fine now.

Jessica DeRycke · November 18, 2019

I have a 2015 Silverado when I'm using my remote start only driver side lights are coming on when its running... Is this something to be concerned about .. Once I turn key over lights come on

JimCost2014 · November 19, 2019

On 11/17/2019 at 6:52 PM, Jessica DeRycke said:

I have a 2015 Silverado when I'm using my remote start only driver side lights are coming on when its running... Is this something to be concerned about .. Once I turn key over lights come on

Welcome to the site!

In one word, yes.

Are you still on your original battery? Have you had any CEL's that you know of?