Expert: Ray Hawk - 11/25/2009

Question
QUESTION: I recently had to disconnect my battery on my car (2007 Chevy Impala) that has a factory remote start. Ever since this, my remote start does not work. What do I have to do to have the remote start work?
Thanks,
Randolph Targos

ANSWER: Hello Randolph,

First, I will briefly go over the steps to remote-start your car:

1. Make sure your car doors are LOCKED.
2. Make sure you are in range of the car's antennae.
3. Make sure the battery in your remote is not dead. If dead, replace.
4. Press and hold the "Start" button on your remote for 3-5 seconds.

If you have completed all the above steps, and your car still doesn't work, then you may have a blown fuse. Check your fuse box for blown fuses.
If there are no blown fuses, your car battery is charged, and your remote is fine, then you may have to re-program your remote to your car. Here's what I'm thinking:
-You unplug the car battery.
-Electricity flow to the computer unit is stopped.
-Temporary data is lost, such as radio auto-sets and your remote antennae code.
-You re-connect the battery, and all defaults are reset.
-You try to start the car from the remote, but the remote is no longer programed to the car.
-You get fustrated.
-You come to me for help.
Before I tell you how to re-program the remote, though, try the steps above, and if the remote still doesn't work, shoot me a follow-up and I'll walk you through the process to re-program the remote to your car.
-Ray A. Hawk

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: could you please send info on re-programing the remote?

Answer
Open up your remote, and there should be a little button. Go into your car, and there should be a button under the dash on the driver or passenger side. Don't quote me on that; the car's button location varies by model. Press the car's button and the remote's button at the same time. The remote is now programed to the car. If that doesn't work, then I'm sorry, I can't help you.