07 Silverado Autostart Question..

waterbug1999 · December 5, 2007

Since I live up here in Minnesota and it gets bitter cold, is there a way to make the autostart stay on longer? It does not even stay on long enough to warm up, let alot melt any snow/ice on the glass.. And from what I have noticed, you can only do it twice before you have to actually turn the key..

Is there a way to make it stay on longer?

Can it be programmed thru a lap top? Thanks.

arzinet · December 5, 2007

Sorry, I don't have an answer to your question, but do have a couple of suggestions for you.

Does your truck have a block heater? If it doesn't, I'd highly recommend having one installed. Plugging it in for a few hours to warm up the engine first will make a big difference in how fast it starts to put out some heat.

IIRC, the auto start will let the truck idle for up to twenty minutes. That's way too long IMO, and shouldn't be necessary at all if the truck has been plugged in for a while first.

Also, you might want to check that your thermostat is working properly. Even if your truck hasn't been plugged in, it shouldn't take twenty minutes for it to warm up.

DanMan_S · December 5, 2007

Sorry, I don't have an answer to your question, but do have a couple of suggestions for you.

Does your truck have a block heater? If it doesn't, I'd highly recommend having one installed. Plugging it in for a few hours to warm up the engine first will make a big difference in how fast it starts to put out some heat.

IIRC, the auto start will let the truck idle for up to twenty minutes. That's way too long IMO, and shouldn't be necessary at all if the truck has been plugged in for a while first.

Also, you might want to check that your thermostat is working properly. Even if your truck hasn't been plugged in, it shouldn't take twenty minutes for it to warm up.

The remote start keeps the truck on for 10 minutes. In -20 degree celsius weather my Vmax can easily warm up in that time.

waterbug1999 · December 6, 2007

Sorry, I don't have an answer to your question, but do have a couple of suggestions for you.

Does your truck have a block heater? If it doesn't, I'd highly recommend having one installed. Plugging it in for a few hours to warm up the engine first will make a big difference in how fast it starts to put out some heat.

IIRC, the auto start will let the truck idle for up to twenty minutes. That's way too long IMO, and shouldn't be necessary at all if the truck has been plugged in for a while first.

Also, you might want to check that your thermostat is working properly. Even if your truck hasn't been plugged in, it shouldn't take twenty minutes for it to warm up.

The remote start keeps the truck on for 10 minutes. In -20 degree celsius weather my Vmax can easily warm up in that time.

Well, it does warm up a little.. But, you still get into the truck and it is still cold for the most part.. I would like it to warm up completely and let the ice and snow melt off the windows, so when I get done getting ready to go to work (or leave work for that matter), I can just hop in and go.

Now rather it takes 20 minutes or 40 minutes, I would like it to stay on until I get it and take off.

waterbug1999 · December 6, 2007

Sorry, I don't have an answer to your question, but do have a couple of suggestions for you.

Does your truck have a block heater? If it doesn't, I'd highly recommend having one installed. Plugging it in for a few hours to warm up the engine first will make a big difference in how fast it starts to put out some heat.

IIRC, the auto start will let the truck idle for up to twenty minutes. That's way too long IMO, and shouldn't be necessary at all if the truck has been plugged in for a while first.

Also, you might want to check that your thermostat is working properly. Even if your truck hasn't been plugged in, it shouldn't take twenty minutes for it to warm up.

Nope, no block heater... It only stay on for ~10 minutes and can only do it twice before I have to stick the key in.

Here is the truck in question..

cerbomark · December 6, 2007

the gmt900 s have something internal to the engine to speed up warm up time. No way it should take the amount of time you are suggesting to warm up. Either something is not working right or you are in the minority for how warm it s got to be. Like some one already said, 10 mins it s warm enough and the glass is clear to go. Don t forget, no matter how long it runs , total warm up will still take place after you move the truck a few miles. When you get in after 10 mins, there should be hot air coming from the vent.

waterbug1999 · December 6, 2007

Well, there is no hot air.. Maybe a tad warm (still cold in teh truck) and enough temp to register the temp guage a few bars above the 1st mark..

The pic I posted was the 2nd start and you can see, there is still a thin layer of snow, that IMO, should have melted by this time.

Also, the only thing that I can think of that is suppose to make these engines wram up faster is that it has an electic fan that does not turn on like in the old days, when they had the clutch fans which did not help for warming up.

waterbug1999 · December 9, 2007

Well... I went out this morning and turned the temp guage on (external one), it read -3 in the cab. So, I started the truck and let it run till it turned off. It only got to 10 above. SO, it is working to a certain extent. But, not nearly enogh to make a {expletive} difference when its cold.

So, this is why I want to change the run time. So, for GM to make this usefull, it really fails hardcore in the cold temps.

brian thomas · December 9, 2007

Well... I went out this morning and turned the temp guage on (external one), it read -3 in the cab. So, I started the truck and let it run till it turned off. It only got to 10 above. SO, it is working to a certain extent. But, not nearly enogh to make a {expletive} difference when its cold.

So, this is why I want to change the run time. So, for GM to make this usefull, it really fails hardcore in the cold temps.

I'm now on my fourth Tahoe with the 5.3 engine. I always garage it and the garage furnace is set at 45 degrees. On cold mornings it always takes atleast 10 miles at interstate speeds to get anywhere near normal operating temp. I took the first Tahoe in for this and they replaced the waterpump and the thermostat with no change. The other three have all been exactly the same. I have a feeling it is designed this way due to the different rates of expansion between the aluminum heads and the iron block. My neighbor has an old body style '07 Crew Cab that heats up in three miles. He said that truck has an aluminum block and heads.

So, in an iron block 5.3 get used to the VERY slow warm up.