Remote Start Troubleshooting

Hello all,

My remote start is not working. I've gone through the usual and obvious items that one can find on generic and GM sites. I have two remotes, both work normally except neither does remote start. No CEL. I've done diagnostics with my Tech 2 and I have just three codes: 1) radio not communicating (I have an aftermarket, and I'm pretty sure remote start still worked AFTER install) 2 and 3) B2555 - Passenger Compartment Lamp Control, Circuit Short to Battery (one for both front doors). There's a TSB about B2555 that indicates this code is normal for my LT that does not have courtesy lights in the doors. And this code has been present since I've had the Tahoe and remote start only recently stopped working.

Another important item for the diagnostic: I can tell the sequence is starting and then gets interrupted by something. Parking lights come as they should when remote starting, in the engine bay I can hear a relay or two click and an actuator or servo operating, and then nothing. If this was something like a faulty door lock, I don't believe that sequence would even start. It doesn't if you don't hit the lock button on the remote before trying.

What are my next steps? I have a Tech 2, but I'm inexperienced with it's use and don't know much other than checking codes so far. I know remote start needs to see 0% on TPS - check that?

I would go into the remote control door lock receiver module and see if you can look at the remote functions and see if it will register the press of all buttons. I would also clear the codes and see if that makes a difference.

Chevymec said:

I would go into the remote control door lock receiver module and see if you can look at the remote functions and see if it will register the press of all buttons. I would also clear the codes and see if that makes a difference.

Click to expand...

Thanks, I will do those things. I’m pretty sure I have tried clearing the codes, but will try again. It is registering the push of the remote start - the parking lights come on and relays click in the engine bay.

2013 Tahoe LT. The tech2 will let you know why the remote start won’t work.

Mine was stolen so I don’t have the path to verify if it will also trigger the remote start and diagnose it. Ensure all the DTC are cleared or the R/S won’t work.

petethepug said:

2013 Tahoe LT. The tech2 will let you know why the remote start won’t work.

Mine was stolen so I don’t have the path to verify if it will also trigger the remote start and diagnose it. Ensure all the DTC are cleared or the R/S won’t work.

Click to expand...

Thanks, I'm just not seeing where the Tech2 will diagnose the remote start. It's not showing up in the list when I do diagnostics on BCM, chassis, or drivetrain. And I'm not seeing it in the list of modules in that menu.

I have cleared all DTCs and it still won't remote start.

Anyone have any ideas?

DaveO9 said:

Thanks, I'm just not seeing where the Tech2 will diagnose the remote start. It's not showing up in the list when I do diagnostics on BCM, chassis, or drivetrain. And I'm not seeing it in the list of modules in that menu.

I have cleared all DTCs and it still won't remote start.

Anyone have any ideas?

Click to expand...

I would try a little more hands on with the tech2, practice using it for various functions just to get a better handle on how it functions.
one thing you might look at is once you have attempted a auto-start, doing it properly, 2 quick lock button presses and then press and hold autostart.
at that point when it has "tried" to autostart look at the security function with the tech2 and see if it shows security enabled or not. If so that is what is causing it to not work.
other things to check are the brakes i.e. brake lights, brake switch, cruise control, hood open switch, door open/closed switches. any of those could cause the auto start to not operate
doesn't have to just be a cel
if you have installed led brake lights, take them out and try regular bulbs.
also look behind the kick panel under the steering wheel, you can either get upside down and look up in there with a flashlight or take the kick panel off (easY) and see if there is any kind of 3rd party alarm or any modules wired up there that are not stock, if you are not sure take some pictures of that area and post them up here.

The tech 2 will remote start the vehicle. If it won’t start then step back and google some questions for a while.

Odd things like the back lift gate glass not registering as closed or that aftermarket radio is causing a problem when it initially wasn’t.

DaveO9 said:

Thanks, I'm just not seeing where the Tech2 will diagnose the remote start. It's not showing up in the list when I do diagnostics on BCM, chassis, or drivetrain. And I'm not seeing it in the list of modules in that menu.

I have cleared all DTCs and it still won't remote start.

Anyone have any ideas?

Click to expand...

In the main Body Control Module you want to go to the Remote Control Door Lock Receiver section.

Any pending trouble codes? Do the lights flash when you try remote start?

Doubeleive said:

I would try a little more hands on with the tech2, practice using it for various functions just to get a better handle on how it functions.
one thing you might look at is once you have attempted a auto-start, doing it properly, 2 quick lock button presses and then press and hold autostart.
at that point when it has "tried" to autostart look at the security function with the tech2 and see if it shows security enabled or not. If so that is what is causing it to not work.
other things to check are the brakes i.e. brake lights, brake switch, cruise control, hood open switch, door open/closed switches. any of those could cause the auto start to not operate
doesn't have to just be a cel
if you have installed led brake lights, take them out and try regular bulbs.
also look behind the kick panel under the steering wheel, you can either get upside down and look up in there with a flashlight or take the kick panel off (easY) and see if there is any kind of 3rd party alarm or any modules wired up there that are not stock, if you are not sure take some pictures of that area and post them up here.

Click to expand...

Good input - I did play around with the Tech 2 quite a bit more in the last few days and found some of the menus and commands you guys mention. I tried the test you mentioned, after trying the remote start, I checked the Theft menu and everything looked good there, no triggers. I could post the data screen if useful.

I did notice tonight I am getting an "ECM - Crank Abort: True" message on the remote start screen. There's also a screen for RVS Disable History with seven different failure logs posted. All of them have the ECM crank abort message as true. I am not seeing any information anywhere about WHY the ECM is aborting cranking, however.
No aftermarket alarms or modules, no LED brake lights or anything like that.

petethepug said:

The tech 2 will remote start the vehicle. If it won’t start then step back and google some questions for a while.

Odd things like the back lift gate glass not registering as closed or that aftermarket radio is causing a problem when it initially wasn’t.

Click to expand...

I found where I can watch the button pushes from the fobs, and can attempt a remote start that way, but I still haven't found a way to directly do a remote start from the Tech 2. But I'm starting to wonder if it is the aftermarket radio.

swathdiver said:

In the main Body Control Module you want to go to the Remote Control Door Lock Receiver section.

Any pending trouble codes? Do the lights flash when you try remote start?

Click to expand...

Thanks - went there and found where I could test all buttons on both my fobs. They all registered with the correct function when pushed, including the remote start ones.
The only pending code is the "Lost Comm with Radio" one that is due to my aftermarket (Apple Car Play) radio. I guess it's possible that that is what is preventing remote start, but I'm almost sure (not 100%) I used RS after installing the new radio.

Thanks for everyone's help. If anyone has any ideas of other stuff to check, let me know, but I'm not pulling my hair out for this (not that there's a lot left to pull out anyway) It's definitely nice to have sometimes, but I won't die without it. I just like to have all my bells and whistles ringing and whistling.

DaveO9 said:

Good input - I did play around with the Tech 2 quite a bit more in the last few days and found some of the menus and commands you guys mention. I tried the test you mentioned, after trying the remote start, I checked the Theft menu and everything looked good there, no triggers. I could post the data screen if useful.

I did notice tonight I am getting an "ECM - Crank Abort: True" message on the remote start screen. There's also a screen for RVS Disable History with seven different failure logs posted. All of them have the ECM crank abort message as true. I am not seeing any information anywhere about WHY the ECM is aborting cranking, however.
No aftermarket alarms or modules, no LED brake lights or anything like that.

I found where I can watch the button pushes from the fobs, and can attempt a remote start that way, but I still haven't found a way to directly do a remote start from the Tech 2. But I'm starting to wonder if it is the aftermarket radio.

Thanks - went there and found where I could test all buttons on both my fobs. They all registered with the correct function when pushed, including the remote start ones.
The only pending code is the "Lost Comm with Radio" one that is due to my aftermarket (Apple Car Play) radio. I guess it's possible that that is what is preventing remote start, but I'm almost sure (not 100%) I used RS after installing the new radio.

Thanks for everyone's help. If anyone has any ideas of other stuff to check, let me know, but I'm not pulling my hair out for this (not that there's a lot left to pull out anyway) It's definitely nice to have sometimes, but I won't die without it. I just like to have all my bells and whistles ringing and whistling.

Click to expand...

It's not the radio or shouldn't be I have the same code and mine will autostart.
You should see a option in the tech2 to scan all modules, try that and see if anything rears it's head