Mobile Edge in Lehighton installs a lot of remote starters, and we have been doing them since our inception in 1994, so you could say we know a thing or two about the category. As the years passed, the number of remote starters we installed changed from hundreds to thousands. As you can imagine, we have seen and heard just about every scenario related to a vehicle and a remote start system.
“MY CAR WON’T START WITH THE KEY”
One conversation that comes up every year starts like this: A client calls in a panic and says, “I remote started my vehicle and when I went out to it, the engine shut off and now it won’t start with the key.” They proceed to tell us that not only will the vehicle not start, but they can’t even get the key out of the ignition. We admit that the first time we heard this, we were perplexed, and it took as a little while to understand what was going on.
Then the light bulb went on for us. Chances are, if this ever happens to you, this is how it got caused and how to solve it:
When you went out to your vehicle, you unlocked the doors and got in. You inserted the key in the ignition and thought you turned it to the “on” position, but you did not. You then put your foot on the brake and took the vehicle out of park. The remote starter shut off because you pressed the brake pedal. You instinctively turned the key to start, and nothing happened. Then, after you tried it a few more times, you decided to remove the key, and that didn’t work either.
The vehicle is not starting because you forgot to put it back into park. That is the same reason why you can’t remove the key. Simply put the vehicle back into park and it will start. You are all good.
Whenever you are in the market for a remote starter, we invite you to stop by our facility in Lehighton, Pennsylvania. Our team of experts will work with you to design and install the remote starter that best fits your needs. Let us show you why Mobile Electronics magazine consistently names us one of the Top Retailers in the Nation year after year.
You can also CLICK HERE and fill out our remote starter estimate form.
I have Python remote starter and alarm and it too will not start my vehicle and one of two fobs will not unlock the vehicle. I stopped into the company who installed the system and he stated that they can’t reprogram the fob. I would need to purchase a new one. Any comments to a solution?
Not in my case. I never took the car out of park, and had no issue getting the key out of the ignition. My car will now ONLY start with the remote starter… it will NOT start with the key. This is a very difficult thing to *google* because all of the words bring up results related to car not starting with remote starter, and/or the assumption that it’s in valet mode. I seem to have the opposite of valet mode going on here, and can’t find any way to address it, or to even confirm that anyone has experienced this problem. It had been working just fine – with both the key and the remote starter working to start the car. Then yesterday, I put the key in the ignition, and nothing happened (except dash lights and maybe some dinging). After a few unsuccessful attempts, I took the key out and tried the remote starter… it worked fine, and I put the key in the ignition, turning it as appropriate, and drove away without further incident. Now, it will ONLY start with the remote starter. They key won’t start it, but WILL engage as necessary to get the car to work (which, remote starting without then using the key will result in the car shutting off when depressing the brake – so the key still serves it’s purpose when used in conjunction with the remote start fob). The title of your article really had me hopeful, as it sounds like the problem I’m having. Sigh.
I am having the same problem. I just put my car in the driveway, turned it off and got out. When back a few minutes later and turned the key and nothing happened. All the lights come on and everything else works. I put the car into different gears to ensure that it isn’t locked. Again it would not work.
I then tried the remote start and the car started and I could drive it.
I turned of the car, put the key in and it wont start. I now only starts with the remote starter.
Any new ideas?
Did you find a solution I am having the same problem….
I had this and the only way to start mine manually without issue is to take battery out of remote start fob then it starts fine. No idea why and I will be putting new battery in and also try to reprogram fob to car.
The fact remote works fine means no starter, air or spark issues. It’s some weird electrical or interference issue in my case as it starts instantly once battery is removed.
Check your ignition fuse
I’m having the same issue!! It’s very frustrating anyone know what’s going on yet?
I wondered if it had something to do with an anti theft feature. What I did find out is that if I leave the vehicle alone for about 10 minutes and put the key in and turn it it starts. This has happened to me on at least 3 occasions.
Check your ignition fuse
Same here key wont shut it off either
I have the exact problem key will not start car but will shut car off after using the remote start button. did you find out why your car would not start?
I’m having the same issue, but when I used the remote starter it started now the car won’t turn on with either the key or remote starter. HELP
I installed a remote starter and after I completed the installation. I try to start my car and now all it does is acting as if it’s shorting out and will not start with the keys or the remote start process. Can some one send me some information on how to get my car back to starting with the keys. I have removed the remote starter. and the car does the same thing. Like it shorting out.
Hi I have a 2013 mustang and when I auto start my car I unlock my doors sit down in my car out the key into ignition and then the car shuts off I don’t touch the brake nothing I just put the key in and it shuts off am I doing something wrong ?
I’m thinking this post is just a scammy way to collect names and emails. I had this issue this morning. My car started with the remote as always. Mine has to be shut off and then started with the key. I did that as always but now it won’t start. This response is ludicrous. I’m not saying it never happens. But to think it will help solve most issues to post an answer like “did you forget to put it in park?” is dumber than the act of doing it. If this is a legit post, why has no one responded to the repeated requests for additional solutions? Use caution before giving these people a primary email.
I’m sorry you found our post to be dumb. This is not a spammy attempt to collect emails or names. We are a family owned small business in rural Pennsylvania that has been in business in the same location since 1994. If you look around our site, you will see that we invest a great deal of resources educating both our clients and consumers in general about all of the cool things that you can add to your vehicle. If you take a look at our remote starter archive alone, you will se that we have over 170 articles about that topic alone. The facts in this post have come up many many times and if you ask any shop who installs any quantity of remote starters, they will report similar stories. It was simply a topic that came up on our editorial calendar and we felt it might help some folks out. What is very true with Rick’s comment is that we have not been diligent in responding to comments on our site. It has simply turned into a monster that is impossible for a small business like ours to manage. We often see several dozen comments a day. It is something that we need to try to be better at. I’ll address the questions others have commented in a follow-up comment.
DUDE YOUR A D-BAG, WHY WOULD YOU START A CONVERSATION TALKING SH*T AND THEN ASK FOR HELP? HOPE YOUR CAR NEVER STARTS!
I’m sorry for the delay in answering these questions. We have not been able to actively police or manage our comments and it is something we will try to improve upon. If any of the commenters are still having issues, please take a look at some of the other issues that we see on a regular basis and cover in this post: https://www.mobileedgeonline.com/my-remote-car-starter-stopped-working-dont-panic/ .
Thank you so much for taking the time to address this issue. I am grateful for the help and information.
Sincerely,
Carrie Ryan
My car will always start with the remote. Will only start with key when outside temperature is under 70 degrees.
My wife read this post and said something about reprogramming. I thought no way! I’d long ago thrown out the paperwork for my Viper remote starter. I went online and downloaded the manual and saw something about out of sync.
Yep, the instructions say pressing the remote out of reach of the vehicle may cause the device to be out of sync. Several presses (3) of the lock button and viola! Car now starts every time without having to start it up with the remote first!
Many thanks to this website operator and all the people who posted something that caught my wife’s eye and made me look at it! You’ve saved me at least $150 just having a mechanic look at my car to begin with. Keep your manuals. No matter how old!
Thank you so much. We were having the same problem and after I read your post out loud, my son ran outside and pushed the lock button several times and then got in the truck and it started with the key!! We are laughing and I have to cancel the garage from coming to get my truck. Good thing you listened to your wife.
Was having the same issue where the remote start was in a mode where it was stopping the physical key from starting the car and only the remote start would work. Just went out and pushed the lock button 3 times in a row on the remote start remote and now the physical key works again and will start the car. Saved a lot of time and money so thanks for the suggestion!
This saved my butt as well, thank you!!!
This tip of hittin’ the “lock” button 3 times (And then un-lock on mine..) just saved me from chasing down an electrical rabbit hole. Nice. By the way, mine is a Motorcycle with an OEM Alarm. Note: I had just found and fixed a Broken Ground prior. Hope this helps someone else. Ciao’
Just read this and going to try it. I thought i was the only one that had remote start works but key wont. turn key to on position and step on brake to put into drive and truck shuts off. I hope this fixes it. thank you for the idea.