after installed remote car starter, car won't start. what could be the cause?

Asked by everythingaboutcar Dec 18, 2014 at 08:19 AM about the 2012 Toyota RAV4 Base 4WD

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

I took my 2012 rav4 to the installer place to get a remote car starter. The guy installed
it and said it worked, then when he went to do it again, the car starts then the engine
just shuts down. what could be some cause of this? or could he have mis-wire? Would
this happen in the future for me?
my car now is in the toyota dealership getting checked. they used the crimestopper
remote car starter kit.

5 Answers

30,385

The VAT (Vehicle Anti-theft Device ) is shutting you down. If the transponder does not see the key in the ignition ... that's what it does (start then shuts off) ... Tell the mechanic to look for that circuit

2 people found this helpful.
101,335

Remote starters have to bypass the vehicle's anti-theft device. Your installer did not install it properly. You should double-check your car's warranty and insurance about the installation of a remote starter.

1 people found this helpful.

the dealership is looking at it. said the ECU isn't communicating with the engine. From legal stand point, the installation place should be paying for all of the fees that the dealership is charging for checking the car/repair and towing? i just want to defend myself if anything. My car came in to the place fine and working...

44,755

The guy who installed it is the one to ask- make him responsible and if he can't make it work have him remove it- see how much trouble you can cause when you start tryin' to get fancy?!

1 people found this helpful.
3,735

This could turn out to be a long drawn out affair. Installer vs dealer with you in the middle. Did the installer try to fix it? did the installer refer you to the dealer? was the dealer asked to inspect and report the cause, for "somebody" to fix at a different time? was the deaker given the go ahead before the installer had a "chance" to make it right or accept responsibility and the ensuing charges (from the dealer)? Depends on alot of "who knew what/when and who accepts final responsibility for the moneys already spent. If you can not get some agreement from the installer that they will take financial responsibility for the dealers work, then it will be up to you to pay the dealer and recover your money from the installer. Hopefully with a negotiated settlement, some sort of arbitration or small claims court. Keep records of all the activities from the first estimates, work orders, bills paid or not. Write down in a log the dates and times of any phone calls; to who, about what and what was the result. all these documents will keep a faulty remembering from clouding an stressful event.

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