Sponsored

Remote Start Not Working?

JonnyintheRVA

New Member
First Name
Jonathan
Joined
Nov 26, 2025
Threads
1
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
Location
Richmond, VA
Vehicle(s)
2020 Ford Ranger Lariat
Occupation
Ford Dealership Part Sales
Hello all, first post but long time lurker. Has anybody ever had an issue with remote start that just stopped working? I have a 2020 Lariat. I did some Forscan mods to the truck a few years ago. Bambi mode, changed tire size for my 285's, removed the double honk with the engine running, changed the splash screen, and I think that's about it. However I had the dreaded transmission TSB work done a few weeks ago (under warranty thankfully!) and after the new parts were installed the dealership tech updated the computer that the transmission was repaired with new parts. However my check engine light was on due to the Forscan mods. They did an As-Built update to the truck but it did not supersede the Forscan modifications and the CEL remained. I was able to get back on Forscan and changed the tire size back to stock and that made the CEL disappear. However I am having an issue now where the remote start will not work.

My battery was original from 2020 and I have 55k miles on the truck so I just replaced the battery and got a state inspection and had the shop do a BMS battery reset. However the remote start is still not working. My only thought is to go back on Forscan and set all of the modifications I made back to stock. However I was curious if anyone else has ever come across this issue. I never had any issues with the Forscan mods I made before the transmission work. I also work at a Ford dealership in parts sales (unrelated, but I have a direct line of communication with the techs) they couldn't tell me why the remote start wasn't working. Any help is much appreciated!
Sponsored

 

airline tech

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 24, 2022
Threads
28
Messages
4,447
Reaction score
8,498
Location
Midwest - KS
Vehicle(s)
2022 Ranger Lariat-Super Crew, Cactus Gray
Occupation
Aircraft Tech
What happens when you try - Remote Start?
Key (Requirements) are - Doors (Locked) and Hood (Closed)
I am looking for (is a door lock) signal being sent - they should click when remote start is requested. and lights will flash from that (signal) as well.

Have you tried both - FOB & Ford APP?

Plus- Go into the IPC Menu screen - Is Remote Start (SELECTED)?
Try unselecting and reselecting if it is selected.

You may also need to perform a BCM - System Test (Reset) as it may be holding the Tire Size mismatch from the (PCM) they crosstalk.

There are various PIDs - related to-- Remote Start (Disabled - Due To "Input parameter" - This may give a direction for it not working. - If I recall these are (True / False) PIDs
 

RangerBill

Well-Known Member
First Name
Bob
Joined
Jun 8, 2022
Threads
3
Messages
1,600
Reaction score
2,121
Location
PA
Vehicle(s)
2019 Ford Ranger Lariat Super Crew FX4
Occupation
retired
Hello all, first post but long time lurker. Has anybody ever had an issue with remote start that just stopped working? I have a 2020 Lariat. I did some Forscan mods to the truck a few years ago. Bambi mode, changed tire size for my 285's, removed the double honk with the engine running, changed the splash screen, and I think that's about it. However I had the dreaded transmission TSB work done a few weeks ago (under warranty thankfully!) and after the new parts were installed the dealership tech updated the computer that the transmission was repaired with new parts. However my check engine light was on due to the Forscan mods. They did an As-Built update to the truck but it did not supersede the Forscan modifications and the CEL remained. I was able to get back on Forscan and changed the tire size back to stock and that made the CEL disappear. However I am having an issue now where the remote start will not work.

My battery was original from 2020 and I have 55k miles on the truck so I just replaced the battery and got a state inspection and had the shop do a BMS battery reset. However the remote start is still not working. My only thought is to go back on Forscan and set all of the modifications I made back to stock. However I was curious if anyone else has ever come across this issue. I never had any issues with the Forscan mods I made before the transmission work. I also work at a Ford dealership in parts sales (unrelated, but I have a direct line of communication with the techs) they couldn't tell me why the remote start wasn't working. Any help is much appreciated!
Using Forscan, have you checked for any DTC codes? If so, what are they?
 
OP
OP
JonnyintheRVA

JonnyintheRVA

New Member
First Name
Jonathan
Joined
Nov 26, 2025
Threads
1
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
Location
Richmond, VA
Vehicle(s)
2020 Ford Ranger Lariat
Occupation
Ford Dealership Part Sales
What happens when you try - Remote Start?
Key (Requirements) are - Doors (Locked) and Hood (Closed)
I am looking for (is a door lock) signal being sent - they should click when remote start is requested. and lights will flash from that (signal) as well.

Have you tried both - FOB & Ford APP?

Plus- Go into the IPC Menu screen - Is Remote Start (SELECTED)?
Try unselecting and reselecting if it is selected.

You may also need to perform a BCM - System Test (Reset) as it may be holding the Tire Size mismatch from the (PCM) they crosstalk.

There are various PIDs - related to-- Remote Start (Disabled - Due To "Input parameter" - This may give a direction for it not working. - If I recall these are (True / False) PIDs
Nothing happens when I try the remote start, either with the fob or on the Ford app. The system is on in the menu, I've toggled it on and off. Hood closed, doors locked and lights flash.

The tech did a BCM reset after the transmission reinstall to try and get rid of the check engine light but it didn't take it away. The tire size mismatch is why the CEL was on. I got into ForScan and reset the tire size back to stock in the PCM and that took the CEL away. But that's all I modified when I was in ForScan the other day. I have access to PTS through work and there are no DTC codes since I changed the tire size back to stock
 


alcohenusa

Well-Known Member
First Name
Alan
Joined
Jul 22, 2020
Threads
12
Messages
478
Reaction score
727
Location
CO
Vehicle(s)
2020 Ranger Lariat 4x4
Occupation
Retired
Nothing happens when I try the remote start, either with the fob or on the Ford app. The system is on in the menu, I've toggled it on and off. Hood closed, doors locked and lights flash.

The tech did a BCM reset after the transmission reinstall to try and get rid of the check engine light but it didn't take it away. The tire size mismatch is why the CEL was on. I got into ForScan and reset the tire size back to stock in the PCM and that took the CEL away. But that's all I modified when I was in ForScan the other day. I have access to PTS through work and there are no DTC codes since I changed the tire size back to stock
Does anything work from the app such as lock/unlock?
 

airline tech

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 24, 2022
Threads
28
Messages
4,447
Reaction score
8,498
Location
Midwest - KS
Vehicle(s)
2022 Ranger Lariat-Super Crew, Cactus Gray
Occupation
Aircraft Tech
But, with remote start (request)
Are the Door Locks - Triggering to LOCK and are ALL 4 - Door Lock (Button Lights) ON

I have proven that the doors can be (OPEN) but the hood must be (CLOSED)
Example: From (FOB)

Press - Lock
Quickly - Open Driver or Passenger Door (From Inside) this will unlock the specific door
Press - Start (x2) - Remote Start Fails
Reason: BCM is not seeing the Lock Status (LOCKED)

The BCM - needs to see all doors (LOCKED) and that's it as I can have the doors opened and hit the (FOB-Lock) + Start (X2) and it will remote start.
The Hood must be closed - or it will fail to start (Safety Issue) mainly for Techs

If you Ref: The WSM and find the Door Locks - Testing (look for Test R)
This is the (ONLY) ref to remote start (INOP) I can locate in any manual

So, it boils down to finding the related PID's and look for something that's out of range.
and it's going to be a (Com) error most likely between the PCM & BCM
It does not have to be coded.



Remote Start Post.webp



Here are some EXAMPLES of the BCM & PCM PIDs that need checked
There is a long list of these in the PIDs, but these are an example of what needs checked.
You are looking for something that's (Out Of Range)

So, pull up all the (Remote Start - Failed) PIDS
Note: FYI the PID - Remote Start (Not Drivable) is the Engine Started via Remote Start but the Ignition Switch is not (ON) - The transition when you get in - has not been completed and hitting the PB Switch

BCM

Remote Start BCM 2.webp


PCM

Remote Start PCM.webp


PCM - Tire Size

Tire Size PCM.webp


Hopefully, this will help pinpoint it down
 
Last edited:

airline tech

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 24, 2022
Threads
28
Messages
4,447
Reaction score
8,498
Location
Midwest - KS
Vehicle(s)
2022 Ranger Lariat-Super Crew, Cactus Gray
Occupation
Aircraft Tech
Another thought that comes to mind - Ref: Tire Size
You changed the size back with Forscan and the (Fault) CEL cleared.
But somewhere is a (TAB) in the FDRS to - Relearn Vehicle Data
My hunch is that since the PCM was possibly (Re-Flashed) in addition to the (Solenoid ID Update)
The updated data transmission that the PCM is (HAPPY :)) with the new updated data for Tire Size.
I am thinking the BCM is still (THINKING) the PCM is not happy, and this is preventing the start process.

Again - The key factor is - Are the Door Locks (Triggering) for at least 1/2 of the T-Shoot.
I am not sure or can find the exact:
Stepped Process of the Request (In Sequence)
Does it look at Door Locks (BCM) -First or (PCM) -First as well as all other parameters in the required modules.
We know that the BCM & PCM are involved
But the FCIM is also included for the Climate Control (Operation) & Heated Seats
and the IPC - That's where the custom settings are located.

However, if we look at the Data Transmission (Vehicle Configuration Data) along the network, it is shared by all modules. The Tire Size - is sent in this data. Now which specific modules actually read that data (?) or ignore it(?)

I can tell you every module that sees the (Door Lock - Status) or (Door Lock - Request) but Remote Start Request is not listed on the Data Transmission Tables which leaves it in a guessing game for what modules actually see the request for (approval and allow) the request.
Sponsored

 
 








Top