Chill Out: Chevrolet Remote Start Makes Winter Weather Tolerable

GM Media
Chevrolet Releases Cold Weather Feature’s Popularity Figures

With winter weather coming to much of the country, the scrunch, scrunch, scrunch sound of scraping ice from the windshield leaves most people cold – literally and figuratively.  So it makes sense that more and more customers are making remote start a popular feature on Chevrolet vehicles.

Chevrolet announced Thursday that for the 2010 model year, 80 percent of the Tahoes and Suburbans have the factory-installed feature that lets customers start their vehicles with the touch of a button.

The remote start feature, available since the 2004 model year, is also popular on other Chevrolet cars and trucks:

• Traverse – 72 percent
• Impala – 70 percent
• Malibu – 40 percent

The feature costs $300 or less, depending on the model.

“Chevrolet customers tell us they love this feature, because it makes their lives a little easier,” said Chuck Bongiorno, GM’s engineering group manager for vehicle access, starting and security.    “On a cold winter morning, a customer’s Malibu or Equinox can be toasty inside and the windows defrosted before they get in their car to head off to work.” 

Remote start also can reduce overall emissions versus a cold-start drive-away because as the idling engine warms, it activates the catalyst that traps unburned hydrocarbons.

And no need to worry about a car thief jumping in and driving off.  The vehicle doors are locked while remote start is running.  Remote start runs for 10 minutes and then shuts off, unless the driver extends the time up to 20 minutes.

The Chevrolet remote start system makes sure the vehicle is operating properly every time it is started.     The system checks to be sure the hood is closed, via a hood switch and conducts a host of vehicle diagnostics.

Using the remote start system is easy.  First, the driver presses the “LOCK” button on their key fob, locking the doors.  Then the driver presses and holds the remote start button on the fob for one and a half seconds.  This two-step process helps prevent inadvertent activation and assures the vehicle is locked.   To signify the remote start system received the signal, the vehicle’s signal lamps flash once. When the engine begins running, the parking lamps illuminate.   

“The system in the Chevrolet lineup is superior to any on the market because it is integrated into the vehicle’s electrical, theft and safety systems,” said Scott McCullough, the GM lead subsystem engineer on the system.   “A fully integrated system enhances vehicle quality and reliability while offering customers a more price competitive option.”

Ford currently offers a dealer-installed, after market system that costs nearly $400.  Toyota’s remote start system costs more than $500. 

Introduced in 2003, the Chevrolet remote start system is offered on the 2010 Silverado, Avalanche, Tahoe, Suburban, Traverse, Impala, Malibu, Cobalt, HHR, Camaro, Equinox and Express models.