FIXED: honda remote start not working

The Direct Answer

If your Honda remote start is not working, it is almost certainly because the car's computer senses a safety risk. Honda designed their remote start system (on the Accord, Civic, CR-V, Pilot, and Odyssey) to strictly refuse to start if any of the following conditions are met: the Check Engine Light is on, a door is unlocked/open, the hood is unlatched, or the key fob battery is low. To fix it immediately, walk around the car to ensure everything is shut tight, check your dash for warning lights, and swap out the battery in your remote.

That is the short answer. But if you've already checked the doors and the remote battery and you are still standing in the cold, we need to dig a little deeper. Let's figure this out.

1. The "Check Engine Light" Rule

Honestly, this catches so many people off guard. You might drive your car every day and ignore that little orange engine icon on the dashboard because the car drives fine. But your remote start computer doesn't ignore it.

According to the Honda owner's manual, the system is programmed to disable remote start if there are any active DTCs (Diagnostic Trouble Codes). The logic is pretty smart if you think about it. If the engine has a problem, starting it up and letting it idle for 10 minutes without a driver present to watch the gauges could lead to overheating or catastrophic damage.

The Loose Gas Cap Scenario

Here is a funny thing about Hondas. A loose gas cap will trigger a Check Engine Light (usually an EVAP system code). If you filled up gas recently and didn't click the cap tight enough, your remote start is going to fail.

The Fix: Go tighten your gas cap until it clicks three times. You might need to drive the car for a few cycles (driving it for 10-15 minutes) for the computer to clear the code. Once the light on the dash turns off, your remote start should work again.

2. The Key Fob Battery (Even if it Unlocks Doors)

I know what you're thinking. "My key fob works fine to unlock the doors, so the battery must be good." Not necessarily.

Sending a remote start signal requires a sustained, strong burst of radio frequency. Unlocking a door takes a tiny blip of energy. As your key fob battery (usually a CR2032) gets older, its voltage drops. It might have enough juice to pop the trunk or unlock the door from five feet away, but not enough to execute the "Lock, Lock, Hold" command required for remote start.

How to check: Look at the little LED light on your Honda key fob. When you press the button, does it flash brightly? If it looks dim or flickers, its time for a swap. These batteries are cheap, like five bucks at the grocery store.

3. The Safety Interlocks (Doors, Hood, Trunk)

Honda takes safety really seriously. The car will absolutely refuse to start remotely if the physical integrity of the car is compromised. This is to prevent exhaust fumes from entering the car if a trunk is open, or to prevent a mechanic from getting injured if they are working under the hood.

Check these specific things:

• The Hood Latch: This is a common failure point. There is a tiny switch in the hood latch mechanism. If it gets greasy or bent, the car thinks the hood is open even when it's closed. If the car thinks the hood is up, remote start is dead.
• The Trunk/Tailgate: Ensure it's slammed shut.
• The Doors: All doors must be closed and locked. Usually, the remote start sequence (pressing Lock twice) handles the locking part, but if a door lock actuator is broken and one door remains unlocked, the engine wont start.

4. The Car Battery and Voltage Protection

Modern Hondas (especially the newer Civics and CR-Vs) have very sensitive battery management systems. If your 12-volt car battery is getting old or it's super cold outside, the voltage might drop slightly below optimal levels.

The car's computer prioritizes. It thinks, "I only have enough power for one good start. I am not going to waste it on a remote start just to warm up the seats. I'm saving this power for when the human is actually in the driver's seat."

If your car cranks slowly when you turn the key manually, your battery is likely on its way out. That is why the remote start is failing.

5. You Might Be Doing the Button Sequence Wrong

I’ve done this myself. Sometimes we just get the timing wrong. The standard Honda sequence isn't just "push the button." It is specific.

The Correct Sequence:

1. Press the LOCK button.
2. Press the LOCK button again (listen for the beep/horn).
3. Immediately press and HOLD the Remote Start button (the one that looks like a circle arrow) for about 3 to 5 seconds.

The lights on the car should flash. If you just press the start button without locking it first, nothing happens. If you wait too long between locking and holding the start button, nothing happens.

6. The Gear Selector Switch

This one is a bit more technical, but it happens on older Accords and Pilots. The car must be in PARK to remote start. Obviously, you left it in Park, but does the car know that?

There is a sensor called the Neutral Safety Switch (or Transmission Range Switch). If you have noticed that sometimes your dashboard "P" light flickers, or you have to wiggle the gear shift to get the key out, this switch might be dirty or failing. If the computer doesn't see a solid "Park" signal, it disables the start function to prevent the car from lurching forward.

7. Did You Recently Disconnect the Battery?

If you recently changed your car battery or had it disconnected for repairs, the car's electronics might have reset. Sometimes, the remote starter logic loses its "handshake" with the key fob.

Usually, driving the car for a few days fixes this as the systems relearn their parameters. However, in some cases, you might need to visit the dealer to have the immobilizer system reset. It's annoying but modern cars are basically rolling computers.

8. A Second Key Fob Inside the Vehicle

This is a feature on newer models with "Smart Entry" (push-to-start buttons). The car is smart enough to know if a key is inside the cabin.

If you dropped your spare key under the seat three months ago and forgot about it, the car detects it. Many Hondas will disable remote start if they detect a fob inside the car because they assume someone is in there and doesn't need to be remotely started. They also do this to prevent you from locking your keys inside.

Search under the seats and in the glove box for a spare fob.

9. Coolant and Oil Pressure Sensors

Just like the Check Engine Light, the car monitors vital fluids. If the oil pressure sensor is giving a weird reading, or the coolant temperature sensor is acting up, the system aborts the start.

If your car starts, runs for 2 or 3 seconds, and then immediately shuts off, this is usually the culprit. The remote starter successfully fired the engine, the computer checked the oil pressure, didn't like what it saw, and killed the engine to save it.

10. Aftermarket vs. OEM

Everything I've written above applies to the Factory (OEM) Honda remote start. If you have an aftermarket system (like a Viper, Compustar, or a dealer-installed add-on that has a separate little remote), the rules are different.

With aftermarket systems, the most common failure is Valet Mode. This is a mode designed to disable the system so a parking attendant doesn't accidentally start your car. Usually, you enter/exit Valet mode by pressing a specific combination of buttons (like pressing the trunk and lock buttons together). Check the manual for your specific alarm brand if it's not a Honda factory key.

How to Reset the System (The "IT Crowd" Fix)

If you have checked the engine light, the doors, and the battery, and it still wont work, try a hard reset. This is the car version of "turn it off and on again."

1. Open the hood.
2. Disconnect the Negative (-) terminal on your car battery. It’s usually the black one.
3. Wait about 10 to 15 minutes. This drains the capacitors in the computer modules.
4. Reconnect the battery and tighten it well.

Note: You might lose your radio presets and you'll have to reset your clock. But this often clears temporary glitches in the BCM (Body Control Module) that handles the remote start.

When to See a Mechanic

If you have gone through this whole list and you're still stuck, it might be a hardware failure. Specifically, the Keyless Access Unit or the Immobilizer Control Unit.

According to various Honda mechanic forums, the hood latch switch is the most common mechanical failure. It’s a cheap part (around $40-$60) and easy to replace. If you want to test this theory, you can unplug the connector at the hood latch and use a paperclip to jump the connector (tricking the car into thinking the loop is closed). If the remote start works with the paperclip, you know you need a new latch.

Summary of the Troubleshooting Steps

So, here is your game plan, friend. Don't panic, it's usually simple.

1. Walk around: Close all doors, hood, and trunk.
2. Check the Dash: Is the Check Engine Light on? If yes, fix that first.
3. Swap the Battery: Change the CR2032 in the fob.
4. Listen: When you press Lock-Lock-Start, does the car honk? Does it flash lights? If it flashes but doesn't start, count the flashes. The number of flashes is actually a code that tells the dealer exactly why it failed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Honda shut off when I open the door?

This is actually a feature, not a bug! Many older Hondas and Acuras are designed to shut the engine off as soon as you unlock or open the door after a remote start. It is an anti-theft measure. You have to get in and restart the car with the button or key to drive away. It is annoying, I know, but it prevents someone from jumping in your car and driving off while you are walking out of the house.

How long will the remote start run?

Typically, a Honda remote start runs for 10 minutes. If you don't get to the car by then, it shuts off to save gas.

Can I extend the run time?

Yes! If it's been running for 5 minutes and you know you need more time, you can repeat the remote start sequence on the fob. This will extend the timer for another 10 minutes from that moment. Most models cap this at 20 minutes total before you have to manually start the car.

The remote start works, but the AC/Heater isn't on. Why?

On automatic climate control models, the car tries to get the cabin to 72 degrees. If it's cold outside, it blasts heat/defrost. If it's hot, it blasts AC. However, on models with manual climate knobs, the car usually just does whatever you left the knobs set to when you last drove. So, before you get out of the car at night, crank the heat up so it's ready for the morning.

Why does my remote flash red?

On the fancy two-way remotes (the ones that beep back at you), a red flash usually means the car did not receive the signal or the command failed (like if the doors were open). Move closer to the vehicle and try again.