Key Takeaways
- Check Engine Light: If your dashboard has a check engine light on, remote start is automatically disabled. This is the #1 cause.
- Key Fob Battery: A weak CR2032 battery in your remote is the easiest fix.
- Hood Latch: If the car thinks the hood is open (even if it looks closed), it won't start.
- Settings Menu: Sometimes the setting gets toggled off in the infotainment screen after a battery change.
- Safety Mode: Hazard lights on, doors unlocked, or low fuel can all prevent the engine from cranking.
If your Buick Encore remote start isn't working, the most likely reason is that you have a Check Engine Light (CEL) on, your key fob battery is dead, or the hood latch sensor is broken. The car's computer disables the remote start feature anytime it detects a safety issue or engine trouble to prevent damaging the vehicle while you aren't inside it.
I know, its super frustrating. You wake up, it's freezing outside, and you just want the car to be warm when you get in. You press the lock button and hold the start button, but... nothing happens. Maybe the lights flash, but the engine stays silent. I've been there with my own car, and I helped a buddy with his Encore just last week who had the exact same issue.
Let's walk through exactly why this happens and how you can fix it yourself without paying the dealership a diagnostic fee.
The #1 Culprit: The Check Engine Light
Before you go ripping apart your key fob or checking fuses, go outside and start your car manually with the key or the push-button start. Look at the dashboard. Is there an orange engine icon glowing?
If the answer is yes, that is your problem.
General Motors (who makes Buick) programmed the Encore to disable remote start if any emission-related trouble code is stored in the computer. It does this for a couple of reasons:
- Engine Safety: If something is wrong with the engine, the car doesn't want to run without a driver present to monitor oil pressure or temperature.
- Eco Reasons: If the emissions system is acting up, idling the car remotely wastes gas and pollutes more than usual.
Sometimes you might not even see the light on yet, but there is a "pending code" in the system. You can swing by an auto parts store like AutoZone or O'Reillys, and they will usually scan your car for free. Once you fix whatever is causing that code and clear it, your remote start should work again immediately.
Key Fob Issues: Battery and Range
If your dashboard is clear of warning lights, the next place to look is in your hand. The key fob.
I feel like these batteries always die at the worst times. Even if the fob still unlocks the doors, the battery might be too weak to send the continuous signal needed for the remote start sequence. The remote start signal actually requires a bit more "juice" than just popping the trunk.
How to test this:
Do you have a second key fob? Dig it out of the junk drawer and try that one. If the second fob works, you know the problem is just the battery in your main key.
The Buick Encore usually takes a CR2032 battery. They are cheap. You can buy a pack of them at the grocery store for like five bucks. To swap it, you just pop the back cover off the fob (use a small flathead screwdriver or a butter knife), swap the coin battery, and snap it back together. You don't need to reprogram anything afterwards.
Also, keep in mind that the range on these things isn't infinite. If you are trying to start it from inside a concrete building or from really far away, the signal might just be getting blocked. Try walking up to the window or getting a little closer.
The Hood Latch Sensor (The Sneaky One)
This is the one that tricks a lot of people. There is a safety switch under the hood of your Encore. It tells the computer if the hood is closed.
Why does this matter? Well, imagine a mechanic is working on your engine with his hands inside the belts. If you accidentally remote started the car from the kitchen, he could get seriously hurt. So, GM made it impossible to remote start if the hood is up.
The problem is that these switches get dirty or corroded over time. Even if your hood is slammed shut, the sensor might think it's open.
How to check:
- Get in the car and turn it on manually.
- Look at the driver information center (the screen between your gauges).
- Does it say "Hood Open"?
If it says the hood is open but it's physically closed, your latch switch is bad or the connector is loose. You can try cleaning it with some electrical contact cleaner, or you might just need to buy a new hood latch assembly. It's actually not that hard to replace yourself if you have a socket set.
Vehicle Settings in the Infotainment System
Sometimes, technology just glitches out. Or maybe your battery died recently and the car reset its factory settings. There is an actual on/off toggle for remote start inside your radio menu.
If this gets turned off, the car ignores the key fob command completely.
How to fix it:
This varies slightly depending on what year your Encore is (2015, 2018, 2021, etc.), but generally, the path looks like this:
- Press the Home button on your touchscreen.
- Go to Settings.
- Select Vehicle.
- Scroll down to Remote Lock, Unlock, Start.
- Look for Remote Start and make sure it is set to "On".
While you are in there, you might also see options for "Remote Start Heated Seats". You can turn that on too if you want your bum to be warm in the winter.
Other Weird Safety Lockouts
So, the Buick manual actually lists a whole bunch of specific conditions where remote start is forbidden. Its kind of like a pre-flight checklist the computer runs through in a millisecond.
If any of these are happening, the car will refuse to start:
- Hazard Lights: If your emergency flashers are on, remote start is disabled.
- Key Inside: If you left a spare key inside the car (maybe in a gym bag or the cup holder), the car won't remote start. It does this to prevent lockout issues or theft.
- Doors Not Locked: You must lock the car before remote starting. The sequence is usually: Lock, then hold Start. If the car isn't locked, it won't start.
- Low Fuel: If your gas light is on, the car won't remote start. It saves that last bit of gas so you don't get stranded in your driveway.
- Coolant/Oil Issues: If engine oil pressure is low or coolant temperature is too high, it protects the engine by not starting.
The "Two Starts" Rule
This is a rule a lot of people don't know about. According to Buick, you are only allowed two remote starts in between driving cycles.
Here is what I mean: Let's say you remote start the car. It runs for 10 minutes (or 15, depending on the model year) and then shuts off because you didn't get out there in time. You can remote start it one more time. That extends the time.
But, if you let it time out twice, or if you turn it off remotely twice, the system locks you out. You must go out to the car, insert the key (or push the start button), and turn the ignition on to reset the counter.
If you've been playing with the fob trying to get it to work, you might have hit this limit without realizing it.
Does the MyBuick App Work?
If you use the OnStar or MyBuick app on your phone and that isn't working, but the key fob works, the issue is likely the car's cellular connection or the app server. Sometimes the servers go down.
However, if the app gives you an error message like "Remote Start Failed," it is usually because of the Check Engine Light or one of the safety reasons I listed above. The app is usually pretty good at telling you why it failed, unlike the key fob which just leaves you guessing.
When to Disconnect the Battery (The Hard Reset)
If you have checked the engine light, changed the fob battery, and verified the settings, and it still won't work, you can try a "hard reset" of the car's computers.
Electronic modules can get stuck in a weird logic loop. It happens to laptops, phones, and yes, cars.
To do this:
- Pop the hood.
- Take a 10mm wrench and loosen the Negative (-) black battery terminal.
- Pull the cable off the post.
- Wait about 10 to 15 minutes. Go grab a coffee.
- Put the cable back on and tighten it up.
This forces all the modules to reboot. You might lose your radio presets, but it often clears up weird electrical gremlins involving the remote start system.
Aftermarket Remote Starters
I should mention this because not everyone has the factory system. Did you buy your Encore used? It might have an aftermarket starter installed (like Viper or Compustar).
If you have an extra little remote on your keychain that doesn't say Buick on it, you have an aftermarket system. These have their own toggle switches. Sometimes there is a small "valet switch" hidden under the dashboard near your knees. If that switch gets flipped, it disables the remote start so mechanics can work on the car safely.
If you have an aftermarket one and it's acting up, you usually have to take it to a car audio/alarm shop, not the Buick dealership. The dealer usually won't touch aftermarket wiring.
Summary of the Fix
Look, I know how annoying this is. But 9 times out of 10, it is the Check Engine Light. Even if you think the car is running fine, a small sensor could be throwing a code. Get that scanned first.
If the scan comes back clean, swap that CR2032 battery in your fob. Between those two things, you'll fix the majority of Buick Encore remote start problems. Good luck, and hope you get the heat running before the next snowstorm hits!
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my lights flash but the car won't start?
If the parking lights flash when you press the button, that means the car received the signal-so your key fob is fine! The car is rejecting the request. This confirms the issue is with the vehicle itself, usually a Check Engine Light, an open hood switch, or a door that isn't fully latched.
Can I reset the remote start system myself?
Yes, usually by disconnecting the car battery for 15 minutes. This resets the computer modules. Also, just starting the car manually and driving it for a short trip can reset the "Two Starts" limit counter.
How long does the Buick Encore run on remote start?
Typically, it runs for 10 minutes. You can extend it by performing the remote start sequence again while it is running, which adds another 10 minutes. After 20 minutes total, it will shut off and cannot be remote started again until you turn the ignition on manually.
Does a low car battery prevent remote start?
Yes. The car's computer monitors the voltage of the main 12V car battery. If the battery is getting old or weak, the system will disable remote start to ensure there is enough power left to start the car manually when you get in.
Is there a fuse for the remote start?
There isn't usually one single fuse just for "remote start." The feature is integrated into the Body Control Module (BCM). However, checking fuses related to the BCM or the door locks is a good idea if you are having other electrical issues too.