Chevy Cruze Remote Start Not Working (14 Reasons & Solved)

In this post, I will take you through all the possible causes of Chevy Cruze’s failures to start remotely and the steps to rectify those failures. 

For completeness, we will also touch upon other fob-related issues that have been reported. So join me as I look at another common issue reported for Chevy Cruze.

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14 Common Issues with Remote Start Not Working On a Chevy Cruze And Their Fixes

Luckily, the failure of your Chevy Cruze to start remotely has, more often than not, a trivial cause that can be easily remedied. Let us take a look at each of these.

Check If Key Fob Battery is Empty

As a first step, ensure that the battery inside the fob is still alive. If only the remote start is not working and the rest of the operations can be carried out, the battery is still good — which means that we need to follow the steps below to determine the root cause.

In case the battery needs to be changed. The battery type used is CR2032.

Take caution not to touch the transmitter circuitry, as static charge can damage it — how to replace the battery can be found at the end of this post.

Not Following Correct Starting Procedure

Each car manufacturer may have its own steps for remotely starting its vehicle. The procedure for Chevy Cruze is outlined below.

  • On the key fob of your Chevy Cruze, press the lock button.
  • For at least 4 seconds, press and hold the remote start button.
  • The turn signals flash, followed by engine ignition.
  • Once the engine starts, it is preset to continue running for 15 minutes, after which it will automatically shut down.
  • To remotely stop the car, press the remote start button for 3 seconds to automatically shut it down.

Valet Mode is Activated

Valet mode is a safety feature that disables all remote functionalities except for the locking/unlocking of doors.

While in valet mode, the remote start will not work. So if that is the case and then check if the remote is in valet mode. 

To deactivate the valet mode simultaneously, press the Lock and Trunk button. If everything else is ok, the remote start should work now.

The valet mode can also be entered via the infotainment system. Tap Settings and then tap Valet Mode.

To activate the valet mode enter a 4-digit password and then validate it.

To deactivate, follow the same steps and enter the code for deactivation.

Fob Malfunction

If none of the remote functions are working and you have changed the battery, the fob has developed a fault.

The Remote Operation Device is too far From the Vehicle

The remote operation device has a transmitter designed to operate optimally from a distance of no more than 200 ft or 60 m. With a weak fob battery, this distance may further decrease.

Interference with Transmitter Signal

The signal transmitted by your Cruze’s remote operation device can interfere with other radio frequency devices, such as RFID tags which use barcodes to identify items.

Keep RFID items away from the key when starting the car.

Chevy Cruze is not in ‘PARK’

Ensure that your car’s transmission is in ‘PARK’ mode. If it is not, then Cruze will not start remotely.

As a precaution, disengage from PARK, engage ‘PARK’ and try to start remotely. 

The Hood is not Latched

Your Chevy Cruze will only start remotely if the hood is not fully latched. If the hood latch malfunctions, you won’t be able to perform the remote start procedure. 

One or More Doors Might be Open

Ensure that all doors are securely closed; otherwise, your car will not start remotely. And also, make sure that the windows are all the way up. 

Two Remote Starts or Start Attempts

If you have remotely started your Cruze twice, it will start the third time remotely only once it is manually started using the procedure outlined above.

The key fob is in the Vehicle

If the car’s regular key fob is in the car, then the remote operation will not work. Take out the key and try the remote start procedure. 

Hazard Lights are Flashing

If the hazard lights are flashing on your vehicle, then as a precaution, the remote start system is fully disabled.

Ensure that there is no real hazard and that it is safe to turn off the hazard lights. 

These lights can also flash if the fob is in the car. If that is the case, remove it, turn off the hazard, and initiate the remote start procedure.

Engine Temperature High

The remote start will be disabled if your car’s engine temperature is too high, resulting in a high coolant temperature or low engine oil pressure (low oil level).

It prevents the engine from further heating up, which could lead to engine damage. 

Let the engine cool down for about half an hour is advised. Before attempting remote start check coolant and oil levels and compensate for any deficiency.

Check Engine Light

Remote start will not function if there is an issue with your car and the check engine light has been activated. Before doing anything, check that the fuel cap is firmly in place and not loose.

As a precaution, loosen the fuel cap and tighten it once again before attempting a restart. 

If the check engine light persists, there could be too many issues preventing your car from starting remotely.

Best to start the car normally and take it to a qualified technician for a complete diagnostic scan to determine probable fault.

Conclusion

In this post, we have covered almost all the possible scenarios that could fail the remote start operation in the Chevrolet Cruze. These are summarised below.

  • Depleted battery on fob
  • Incorrect remote start procedure
  • Remote operation attempted from further than 200 ft.
  • Check Engine Light
  • Cruze is in valet mode 
  • Loose gas cap
  • Cruze is not in ‘PARK.’
  • Abnormal engine temperature.
  • Fob malfunction.
  • Flashing Hazard Lights
  • Fob inside the car
  • Two remote attempts have already been made before a manual start.
  • The hood is not latched properly
  • One or more doors open.
  • The windows are not closed all the way up.

Most precautions are set to avoid mishaps while using the remote start feature. I know they can be annoying, but it’s for your safety. 

Imagine you started your car while it’s in the parking lot with its windows down, and the neighborhood is one of those sketchy ones where vehicle theft is common; it wouldn’t end well. So these features require some prerequisites. 

You might also be interested in:

Sources

https://manual-directory.com/view-manual-pdf/?mid=4778 (Chevy Cruze Owner’s Manual)

https://www.batteriesplus.com/blog/tech/remote-start-troubleshooting

https://www.camcode.com/blog/what-are-rfid-tags/

https://www.paulsauto.com/blog/what-does-it-mean-if-my-check-engine-or-service-engine-soon-light-comes-on

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRRUmm9LblQ (Activate Valet Mode With Remote Device)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3b1wn6J5mU (Activate/Deactivate Valet Mode via Infotainment System)