Vehicle-related Christmas present for wife?

[Mazda616]

I think I’m going to have the place that did the remote start on my 6 install one on the Highlander, too. Only difference will be the Highlander (and other Toyotas) make “secure takeover” (being able to open the door and get in the car without the engine stopping) impossible.

It has been a year and I still love the remote start on my 6. I have a DroneMobile unit so it can be started from my phone. Probably won’t do that with the Highlander since it won’t be as necessary. When I got it done to the 6, I was working in an office and parking 1/2 mile away which was out of the range of my key fob.

[Alfalfa]

That's the one thing my wife wants for Christmas, remote start on the Fit.

[Tripper]

@mazda616 related. My python 990 first installed by me in 2005 has been hacked in and out of 4 vehicles. It’s still working in the ranger I sold to my fil. I pulled the jumper on the clutch switch before I sold it so he doesn’t make a mistake!

[beefchips]

@mazda616 So with remote start can you also turn on the climate control and heated seats? If so that sounds like a pretty tremendous gift!

[Chariotoflove]

@Mazda616
Our Sedona has the same problem. As soon as i open the door, the car turns off. But I remote started the car so I could cool it down and then drive it. Why would I want it to turn off?

[Mazda616]

@beefchips You can leave them on when you shut the car off and they’ll start up when the car starts, but there’s no way (aftermarket-wise) to control them from outside of the vehicle. I usually just leave the climate control on “auto” and it won’t crank the heat until there is sufficient engine heat. That way, it isn’t unnecessarily blowing cold air around.

I think the 2020 and up Toyotas have the newer version of the Entune app suite where you can control stuff via a phone app, but our ‘19 is old school.

[Mazda616]

@chariotoflove It is supposedly an “anti-theft” feature that can’t be overridden. But...Mazdas used to have the same problem and the aftermarket figured out how to bypass it. Not so with the Toyotas...at least for now.

I can remote start my 6 and then get in it without the engine shutting off. I just put my foot on the brake and press the start button again. A few relays click and then the radio boots up. That means I’m good to go.

However, if I get in the 6 and put my foot on the brake to shift out of park without the key fob or without pushing the start button, it shuts off. So, that’s good.