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does remote start kill battery

by Emmett Murazik Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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The other knock on remote car starters is that they can damage a vehicle’s battery. This seems to be based on urban myths and bad science. Starting a car is starting a car, and the process of engine ignition doesn’t change when you do it remotely. There is one instance, however, where a remote starter could needlessly tax your battery.

Yes, this convenience has its drawbacks: it's been shown that when you use a remote starter, your battery will drain more quickly than if you had started the engine manually by turning the key in the ignition.

Full Answer

Can a remote car starter kill my battery?

However, it is still possible for a remote car starter to consume too much power from your battery. In this case, we highly recommend visiting your Compustar or Arctic Start installer if your vehicle's battery repeatedly dies after you've installed a remote start system.

What should I do if my battery dies after remote start?

In this case, we highly recommend visiting your Compustar or Arctic Start installer if your vehicle's battery repeatedly dies after you've installed a remote start system.

Do remote start systems use battery power?

Remote starters are no different. All remote starters, whether from Compustar, Arctic Start, or another brand, draw power from your battery. Even while your engine is off, a remote start system still draws current while it waits to receive a command from your remote fob.

Why won’t my car remote start?

The most common cause of remote start problems is a dead battery. Most major brands will have the type of battery engraved on the fob, and you can purchase a replacement battery from an auto parts or big box store. If you have a smart key, you can try removing the fob and then reinstalling it. Otherwise, you can try using a second remote.

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Can a remote start drain your battery?

Compustar and Arctic Start systems are made of high quality components that reduce the occurrence of parasitic current draw. However, it is still possible for a remote car starter to consume too much power from your battery.

Can a car remote drain a car battery?

“A key fob will constantly try to communicate with the car. And that does cause a slight drain on the battery, but generally that won't completely drain a healthy car battery,” says Mike Monticello, Consumer Reports' road test manager.

Does remote start charge the battery?

Remote Start Your Engine While remote starting won't recharge your battery, it will help with some of the other issues that lead to battery failure. Remote starting and letting your engine idle for just a few minutes will warm up the fluids that may have thickened in the cold.

Can remote start cause problems?

Remote starters increase engine wear and tear. This is a common misconception about remote starters. It's unclear why people are lead to believe this is the case, but it's untrue. The consensus among mechanics is that remote starters are good for your engine, especially for people with turbos or diesel engines.

Why does my remote keep draining my battery?

The most obvious way that your remote control batteries can drain quickly is by tossing the remote on a coffee table where it gets buried under a layer of magazines, books and other heavy objects. These objects can press down on the power button continuously, causing the batteries to drain.

What can drain a car battery when the car is off?

What may drain a car battery when it's off are things such as interior lights, door lights, or even bad relays. While your engine runs, the alternator recharges the battery — which is why you typically don't have to worry about the battery dying while you're blasting the radio on your drive to work!

Can remote start damage alternator?

Remote start will not damage the alternator of your car. So long as it is properly fixed by an experienced technician it has no negative effect on your car. It is also good for car engine especially cars with turbo or diesel engines.

How long does a remote start last?

The remote vehicle start feature allows you to turn on your car from outside of the vehicle, using the remote keyless entry (RKE) transmitter. When you use the remote vehicle start, your engine will run for 10 minutes, or until you start driving.

How do I start driving my car when it is in remote start mode?

Once in the vehicle, insert your key fob into the wireless ignition node (WINR), and turn to the ON/RUN setting (you don't need to turn all the way to START, since your vehicle is already started). Your car will now operate as it normally would.

Why are remote starters bad for your car?

“Your engine works its hardest when the weather is cold, and nothing will warm it up more efficiently than driving it. When you remote-start your vehicle while you're still getting ready for work, you greatly prolong the warm-up period. And over time, all of this unnecessary strain on your engine can be damaging.”

What are the pros and cons of a remote car starter?

Pros and Cons of Remote StartersYou Get the Ideal Temperature Before Reaching Your Car. That's the one (but not only) big advantage of remote starters. ... You Get Extra Security. ... Wasted Fuel. ... Large CO2 Emissions. ... Excessive Wear of the Engine. ... You Increase Your Chances of Getting Listed as a High Risk Driver.

Is a remote start worth it?

By far the greatest advantage of having a remote start system is the convenience and comfort it affords. Whatever the weather, you can start your car and have it warmed up or cooled off and ready to drive as soon as you get in. And you can do all of this without having to leave the comfort of your home or office.

Can a low battery in key fob cause car not to start?

Yes, a low battery key fob can cause your car not to start.

Is it OK to leave key fob in car?

A battery typically weakens after a year or two. Also, where you store your key fob matters. Leaving it in your car overnight or even on a hook near the car isn't a smart idea. If the fob is too close to your car, it can continue to communicate with it, which could drain the battery.

Can remote start damage alternator?

Remote start will not damage the alternator of your car. So long as it is properly fixed by an experienced technician it has no negative effect on your car. It is also good for car engine especially cars with turbo or diesel engines.

Does the car battery affect the key fob?

Yes, a dead car battery can affect your key fob's ability to function. When the battery dies, the key fob will no longer be able to send or receive a signal to unlock your car. A key fob is a small, handheld device that is used to unlock and start a car.

What happens if your remote starter shuts off?

If your remote starter were to completely shut off and not use ANY battery power, then it would be impossible for the system to receive and execute a lock or remote start command sent from your remote.

Why do car makers use batteries?

When vehicle makers like Ford or Subaru manufacture their vehicles, they outfit their vehicles with batteries intended to support the electronics installed off the production line. Often times, vehicle makers will use a battery with as low operating capacity as possible so as to reduce cost, weight, etc.

How fast does an alternator need to be to recharge?

In order to truly recharge your battery, you must exceed speeds where your RPM is above 2000 rotations per minute.

What to do if you are planning on keeping your car in long term storage?

If you are planning on keeping your vehicle in long-term storage, please consider a trickle charger, or battery maintainer, to keep your battery charged enough to start your engine.

What does every electrical system in a car draw power from?

Whether your vehicle is loaded with aftermarket tech or runs bone-stock, every electrical system in your vehicle draws power from your battery. Some electrical systems will fluctuate in amperage draw depending on the vehicle's state.

Can a remote start car battery consume too much power?

However, it is still possible for a remote car starter to consume too much power from your battery. In this case, we highly recommend visiting your Compustar or Arctic Start installer if your vehicle's battery repeatedly dies after you've installed a remote start system.

When should you consider your vehicle battery health?

Whenever you add any electronics to your vehicle, you should consider your vehicle's current battery health. Jan 28, 2020.

How much current does a remote starter draw?

His remote starter is rated to have a maximum parasitic current draw of 75 mA.

How long does it take for a car battery to discharge?

Even without a remote starter, the cars will discharge their batteries after about 3 weeks ( Appendix A ).

Does CCA decrease with battery capacity?

Figure 3 shows that a battery's available Cold Cranking Amperage (CCA) decreases with reduced battery capacity. For the analysis of this post, I will assume that a battery's available CCA reduces proportionately with its capacity. Figure 3 originally came from a Yuasa technical specification.

Can a remote starter tax a battery?

There is one instance, however, where a remote starter could needlessly tax your battery. If your car did not come with a remote starter and you want to install an aftermarket model, improper installation could lead to issues with your battery and electrical systems.

Are Remote Starters Bad for a Vehicle’s Engine?

There are two schools of thought on whether remote starting can damage an engine. The main difference boils down to whether you believe you should run your car for a short period before driving it in the winter.

Are remote starters a harmless convenience, or are they an unnecessary gimmick doing real damage to your vehicle?

Are remote starters a harmless convenience, or are they an unnecessary gimmick doing real damage to your vehicle?

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Introduction

Background

  • Definitions
    Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) 1. Cold cranking amperes (CCA) is the amount of current a battery can provide at 0 F (−18 C). (Source) Parasitic Current Drain (iP) 1. Parasitic current drain can be defined as any electrical device that draws electric current when the ignition key is turned off. In …
  • Battery Capacity Versus Temperature
    Figure 2 shows the impact of temperature on the capacity of a lead-acid traction battery.
See more on mathscinotes.com

Analysis

  • Figure 5 shows my analysis of the battery capacity. What I calculated is that the battery’s capacity has reduced by ~75%. This results in a large decrease in the cranking amps available (justification in a later post) and results in slow or no cranking when attempting to start the car.
See more on mathscinotes.com

Conclusion

  • I am afraid that an additional parasitic battery load of 70 mA is enough to drain the battery sufficiently after five days to make starting difficult or impossible. This reminds me of a battery problem I had in my youth where a glove compartment light did not turn off and would slowly drain my battery. I could fix the light problem, but the remote starter must draw current to detec…
See more on mathscinotes.com

Appendix A: Computer Parasitic Leakage Example

  • Figure 6 shows a manual excerpt that illustrates how modern cars have computers that constantly drain charge from their batteries.
See more on mathscinotes.com

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