auto starter
- Thread starter BostonAmy
- Start date
No, it auto starts the car AND LOCKS the doors.
Ok, it makes sense that something isn't installed correctly because not only does my request button not work after I use the automatic starter BUT when I turn my car on and step on the brake to disable my automatic starter, the RED Key light indicator stays illuminated. In the manual it says to ( I haven't memorized the exact phrasing) Do not drive the vehicle if the light is continuously lit up..... and there could be a problem with the advanced key. I know there is not a problem with the key because when I get in the car without starting it beforehand and start it normally, the Key light is NOT lit up
This is odd.
This is odd.
In the mornings (cold mornings here in Boston) my automatic starter won't start my car. I can hear my car try to turn over but it seems like it doesn't have enough power getting to the ignition. When I start it at work it starts right up. I'm not sure if it's something related to the cold or if my starter wasn't installed correctly. Does anyone know if it's something they can re-program in order to send more power to the ignition? The mornings are really the only time that I need the automatic starter.
Other than this, I have had no problems what so ever with my 7, I love it!
Other than this, I have had no problems what so ever with my 7, I love it!
BostonAmy said:
I'm assuming since it sounds like you make it to work that you can start your car manually (or non-remotely). Does it protest or sound bad when you start it with your key?
My car started with the remote fine this morning with single digit temps. But it has been pretty warm, for us, lately before today. Our forecast is for a couple weeks of lows in the single digits or sub-zero so I'm hoping the car does alright. I had an oil pan & inline coolant hose heater installed just to try to be kinder to the car (& reduce emissions) during this kind of weather. I'm plugging in starting today. I'll let you know if the new weather pattern messes up my remote.
Glad you love the car.
Last edited:
BostonAmy said:
Hmmm. Between this & the other problem you had with the remote, I'd at least call the dealer. They've been pretty good about explaining things to me. Of course by tomorrow morning, you may have a bunch of posts giving you more ideas for questions to ask.
I have an update to my remote starter situation and boy am I mad! Come to find out, my Mazda dealer installed an aftermarket remote starter and not the factory one. They failed to mention that to me and this whole time I thought there was a problem with either the starter or my advanced key. Every time I called to complain, they seemed to "beat around the bush" until I flat out asked them "is this the Mazda recommended remote starter?" He said they don't actually install the starters there, they have a company come in and do them. I told him that i'm sure this is the root to my problems (the request button on the door not working once I remote start the car, they RED key light staying illuminated once I remote start the car, not to mention that the remote starter doesn't even start the car in the mornings they told me it's because it's too cold out!! Well I said maybe thats the reason I wanted a remote start in the first place!!! He said the remote starter wasn't programmed with enough power to the ignition....i'm supposed to be okay with that answer?) so i'm dropping my car off tonight and they will give me a loaner car and they are having the company come in to remove the starter tomorrow and will reimburse me. I am then going to go to my local Mazda dealer and have them install the correct one. Maybe i'm over reacting but I would of expected them to tell me that they don't install the startes there when I first requested one. The dealership is way out of my way and it's frustrating to me that I have to go through this after the fact when I feel like I should of known before hand.
Am I over reacting? LOL
Am I over reacting? LOL
Cheesy at the least. I don't think you are overreacting one bit. It seems to me that one of the selling points of doing anything at the dealer is that you are supposedly getting the genuine mazda parts. From what I've read (I think based on CX Rabbit's experience), non-mazda remote starts do not work with the smart key. You need the mazda remote start if you have a GT. The bozos at your dealership should have know that.
On the bright side, at least they are removng the offending article, but that doesn't give you back all the time you wasted and the frustration they caused by being less than upfront. That kind of behavior should be brought to Mazda HQs attention. It hurts their brand and they are in the best position to try to fix it. HQ may not do anything else for you, but it may help others if the outfit you dealt with gets a slap or two.
Also, my mazda remote start works just fine in the cold. It has been well below zero for several days now and the car has not protested starting. Plenty of power goes to the ignition.
On the bright side, at least they are removng the offending article, but that doesn't give you back all the time you wasted and the frustration they caused by being less than upfront. That kind of behavior should be brought to Mazda HQs attention. It hurts their brand and they are in the best position to try to fix it. HQ may not do anything else for you, but it may help others if the outfit you dealt with gets a slap or two.
Also, my mazda remote start works just fine in the cold. It has been well below zero for several days now and the car has not protested starting. Plenty of power goes to the ignition.
Last edited:
BostonAmy said:
Maybe a bit
I had the SAME issue. Dealership's aftermarket company first put in a non-Mazda remote-start. Now, to their defense, they do that with a lot of their cars and probably didn't realize that the Smart-Key system doesn't "play nice" with the aftermarket remote-start... because really, that's what it boils down to... and this is a BRAND NEW car they've yet to see a lot of.
The people who do their installs, I went straight to THEIR shop instead, with parts in hand, after Mazda ordered me the Mazda Remote-Start (at no cost to me obviously). The pro installers did a great job taking out the aftermarket one (that they had put in) and putting the RIGHT one in... and there were happy to do it. It was an education for them too because NOW THEY KNOW that CX-7s with the Smart-Key really should have the Madza Remote-Start.
When they were done, all worked perfect.
AND, I got to meet a bunch of nice and GOOD aftermarket installers. Since then they've done my husband car stereo and remote-start (non-Mazda), a navigation system for my mother's Mazda 3 hatchback, and a remote-start for my father-in-law (birthday gift from us). They will be doing some more work for me shortly
CXRabbit said:Maybe a bit
I had the SAME issue. Dealership's aftermarket company first put in a non-Mazda remote-start. Now, to their defense, they do that with a lot of their cars and probably didn't realize that the Smart-Key system doesn't "play nice" with the aftermarket remote-start... because really, that's what it boils down to... and this is a BRAND NEW car they've yet to see a lot of.
I wouldn't let the dealer off the hook so quickly. I wouldn't expect the aftermarket folks to know how the smart key interacts with other remote starters, but if your business is to sell Mazdas and accessories for them, you should know what you are doing and what you are selling. That's their job. They should show a little interest in their products and a little initiative.
It looks like things worked out well for CX-Rabbit and that's great, but not everyone is that lucky. For most people, it's a headache to resolve this kind of thing. I come back to ask who was in the best position to avoid the problem.
LOTS of dealers sub-out their tint, remote-starts, alarms and satellite radios.
It's the dealer's responsibility to make it right. In my case, they purchased the Mazda Remote-Start for me and I asked to go to the installation shop directly. Mazda's mechanics were NOT going to be the ones installing it either way.
Mazda was excellent and so was the audio shop. It is not at all surprising that they didn't realize how the smart-key system effecting things. There's no way every sales person and every mechanic can study every aspect of every car. As long as they resolve the problem, that's what matters.
It's the dealer's responsibility to make it right. In my case, they purchased the Mazda Remote-Start for me and I asked to go to the installation shop directly. Mazda's mechanics were NOT going to be the ones installing it either way.
Mazda was excellent and so was the audio shop. It is not at all surprising that they didn't realize how the smart-key system effecting things. There's no way every sales person and every mechanic can study every aspect of every car. As long as they resolve the problem, that's what matters.
Yeah, thanks to CXRabbit's suggestion. In exchange, I figured out how to properly "Quick Stop" feature for her. I opted for the OEM Mazda Remote Start and love it. I had a professional install mine and encountered a glitch during the install. Somehow, the engine immobilizer failed to work properly thus locking up the car. Mazda took the grunt in fixing the problem.
Everything is great. The advanced keyless works great, autolock works great and most of all, the operating range is great.
Go with the OEM and you'll be happy.
Everything is great. The advanced keyless works great, autolock works great and most of all, the operating range is great.
Go with the OEM and you'll be happy.
Last edited:
Thanks for the replies. I just felt that they were in the wrong for not even mentioning anything to me about the remote start install, thats the biggest problem I had. Also, the answer they gave me in response to why my remote starter doesn't work in the morning didn't quite cut it especially since they didn't install it! Sorry for venting, thanks for listening.....
I hear ya Amy - but some of the dealers just don't realize there's a problem with the smart-key. A LOT of them have been doing remote-starts with aftermarket installers and companies for YEARS and there's never been a problem.
When you have a car with such new functionality like keyless ignition, be prepared to BE the learning experience. In my case both the dealership and the audio shop learned something new. They were quite capable of doing the job right, but they had to know how... and if you haven't done it before, how would you know?
When you have a car with such new functionality like keyless ignition, be prepared to BE the learning experience. In my case both the dealership and the audio shop learned something new. They were quite capable of doing the job right, but they had to know how... and if you haven't done it before, how would you know?
