Remote start
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 9,300
Likes: 1,524
From: Manassas Va
Won't even crank. Lights are on, windows work, fob works to lock/unlock the doors, etc. But the truck will not attempt to start. After I installed the modules and antenna last night I started the truck and it ran fine. Perimeter alarm worked. Everything seemed OK. This morning...it randomly won't start. 
It's funny because I had ordered the Fortin kit and cancelled my order because I didn't want to have THESE kinds of problems. I figured the Ford OE stuff would be flawless. Wrong! I have left a message for Beau. Hopefully he'll call back with advice. My local dealer has no advice except to "have it towed here and for $105 we'll look at it". Sigh....
It's funny because I had ordered the Fortin kit and cancelled my order because I didn't want to have THESE kinds of problems. I figured the Ford OE stuff would be flawless. Wrong! I have left a message for Beau. Hopefully he'll call back with advice. My local dealer has no advice except to "have it towed here and for $105 we'll look at it". Sigh....The install isn't as bad as you make it sound and it's all plug and play.
The two antennas are one for the close range one way and then the one on windshield is two way extended range. I believe if you had the basic auto start you could have bought and added the two way. Hence two antennas.
As suggested, make sure the anti theft isn't causing the issue.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 1,505
Likes: 313
From: Kentucky
Also forgot to mention, did you program the security module?
Here are the steps from the instructions:
Learn VSS to Vehicle (Key Start Vehicles Only)
NOTE:
Make sure the brake pedal is not depressed during this sequence.
15. Press the vehicle's unlock button located on the driver's door. Make sure all doors are unlocked.
16. Put the key in the ignition.
17. Cycle eight times rapidly (within 10 seconds) between the 1 (OFF/LOCK) position and 3 (ON)
position.
• The eighth turn must end in the 3 (ON) position. The doors will lock, then unlock, to confirm
that the programming mode has been activated.
18. Wait for 10 seconds and the remote start module will program itself to the system.
• After 20 seconds, you will automatically exit the programming mode. The doors will lock, then
unlock, to confirm that the programming mode has been exited.
Here are the steps from the instructions:
Learn VSS to Vehicle (Key Start Vehicles Only)
NOTE:
Make sure the brake pedal is not depressed during this sequence.
15. Press the vehicle's unlock button located on the driver's door. Make sure all doors are unlocked.
16. Put the key in the ignition.
17. Cycle eight times rapidly (within 10 seconds) between the 1 (OFF/LOCK) position and 3 (ON)
position.
• The eighth turn must end in the 3 (ON) position. The doors will lock, then unlock, to confirm
that the programming mode has been activated.
18. Wait for 10 seconds and the remote start module will program itself to the system.
• After 20 seconds, you will automatically exit the programming mode. The doors will lock, then
unlock, to confirm that the programming mode has been exited.
Yep I did all that. I got the lock/unlock as expected. It all worked fine. Beau called me back and said he hasn't heard of this issue. Before I load this thing onto the trailer and haul it to the dealership I'm going to try doing the "learn" procedure again just to make sure it didn't lose memory or something.
I've done everything from engine swaps and full suspension installs and gear installs to installing audio systems and amateur radio equipment for the past 20 years or so...but these new CAN-BUS architecture systems are super finnicky. It's very annoying that the truck ran fine and eight hours later it won't start.
And yes, it's all plug and play...but it wasn't easy and it certainly was not a 3 minute job. Hard to get to the connections and difficult to zip-tie modules where they go per instructions unless you're flexible and have small hands. Mostly, it's just time consuming.
I'll try a few things and see if I can get the truck to let me start it.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 1,505
Likes: 313
From: Kentucky
When I got home I unlocked the truck with the key fob, hopped in, turned the key and it started right up like normal. That's ODD. I have no idea what that was all about. Hopefully it won't happen again.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 1,505
Likes: 313
From: Kentucky
So this morning the no-start condition came back. Ended up having the truck towed to the dealership for $85. Then paid $105 for them to look at it. My friend who is a technician at the dealership spent almost 4 hours trying to get the BCM to talk to the PCM so the truck would start. Apparently the perimeter alarm/remote start totally freaked the BCM out and it shut everything else down. And, the antenna on the passenger side that plugs into the TPMS module caused the 4x4 system to go inoperable also.
In short, the perimeter alarm/remote start system made my truck go HAYWIRE.
After 4 hours of labor and removing all the plug-n-play system components, the truck appears to be back to normal and driveable again.
Beau down at Rogel Ford has been super helpful through the process and I appreciate him staying in touch with me. I guess I'll have to do without remote start this winter. I might try a different system next year. Maybe. This experience has me pretty paranoid.
In short, the perimeter alarm/remote start system made my truck go HAYWIRE.
After 4 hours of labor and removing all the plug-n-play system components, the truck appears to be back to normal and driveable again.
Beau down at Rogel Ford has been super helpful through the process and I appreciate him staying in touch with me. I guess I'll have to do without remote start this winter. I might try a different system next year. Maybe. This experience has me pretty paranoid.
