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At Volkswagen of Streetsboro, we’ve found that many of our customers have questions about the new remote start system for most of our new cars. So, we thought we’d take a little time to go over just how the system works and what’s normal and abnormal.
Your Volkswagen’s remote start function enables you to start your vehicle without being inside it and using a key or the push-button starter. Instead, remote start works by having your key fob send a signal to the onboard computer in your Volkswagen, instructing it to start the engine. Many drivers find this feature useful and appreciate being able to warm up their Volkswagen in the cold Ohio winters or cool down their vehicle in the hot Ohio summers before they get in and drive.
As with any signal broadcast through the airwaves, obstructions can impede the signal. These types of signals can actually bounce off of surfaces which is similar to pointing a television remote at the opposite wall. The signal bounces off the wall and reaches the television. Now, imagine building a wall between your couch and your television and then trying to change the channels. It doesn’t work so well. The signal will bounce off the wall, not travel through it.
The same holds with Volkswagen’s remote start capability. With a clear line of sight to the vehicle, customers have reported the remote start works up to 125 feet or more. Others who try to get their remote start to work in a congested area report distances as little as 20 feet.
We recommend you find a clear line of sight to your vehicle before trying the remote start function of your Volkswagen. You can point the key fob through your house windows at your car parked in your driveway and have success. As you exit a store, you can point your key fob at your car parked across the lot, and it should start. Again, if you happen to be parked on the far side of a van or truck that blocks the signal, you may need to get closer or choose a different angle with a clearer path.
You don’t have to be a computer genius to operate your Volkswagen’s remote start function. If you follow these simple steps, your car will start right up.
To get started, it’s very simple. The first thing you always have to do is press the LOCK button on your key fob. Pressing the LOCK button wakes up the car, telling it to pay attention and that you’re going to tell it to do something.
Then you’ll press the X2 button twice. Your Volkswagen should start up. You want to be sure that when you press the buttons, you see the blinkers flashing. That’s what lets you know the signal has reached the car, and the car should start. It’s really just that simple. Pressing the button twice prevents you from accidentally starting your vehicle.
The most common reason why your Volkswagen won’t start is you’re out of range. That’s why it’s important to see the blinkers flashing when you press the buttons on your key fob. Another common reason is a door, trunk lid, or hood is not shut all the way, so the vehicle can’t lock completely.
Another reason for your Volkswagen not starting may be that your low fuel light is on, and it doesn’t want to strand you without fuel. If your malfunction indicator light is on, also known as your check engine light, it also won’t start because it doesn’t want to cause issues to the vehicle. Finally, if the battery power is really low, the car won’t start.
Now, you have two cycles of remote start to let the car warm up. When the vehicle starts, it will run for about ten minutes. Then, the engine will shut off, and you can reactivate it for another ten minutes before shutting off again. After that, you’ll have to get into the car to start the engine physically.
When you do remote start, whether in summer or winter, the vehicle will always heat or cool to 72 degrees Fahrenheit because 72 degrees is nice and warm in the winter and nice and cool in the summer. You can’t adjust the temperature.
Previous generations of remote start (what you’ll find on the Volkswagen Passat) has one other quirk that may confuse some customers. When you open the door, the vehicle will shut off after it’s been running. That is completely expected, and all you have to do is hop in the car and start it.
Most Volkswagen models from 2020 and newer can sync with your cellphone for remote operations. After downloading the app, you open up a world of possibilities. Now you can remote start your car from anywhere you have a cellular signal. And, because you’re communicating with your cellphone, you have a stronger signal coming from above which has a much lower chance of becoming obstructed.
In addition to remote start, you can access vehicle health reports, lock or unlock your Volkswagen, locate your car in huge parking lots, and contact emergency services from anywhere in the event of a breakdown or accident. You can also set driving limits for speed and distance, which helps you keep an eye on teen drivers and others borrowing your car.
Volkswagen also offers Drive View with the VW Car-Net app. Enabling Drive View might make you eligible to receive discounts on automobile insurance from some of the top insurance companies in the country.
Thanks for taking the time to learn more about operating the remote start on your Volkswagen. Obviously, if you have any questions or need assistance, don’t hesitate to call us or go to our website to ask your question.
