What is remote start and how it works

By Martin Pretorius 

You won't see many cars with remote start on their specification sheet on the South African market, but that's mainly because we don't actually need it here. In regions with more extreme climate conditions, remote start brings a vast improvement in convenience, and makes life a little easier for the engine and gearbox.

What is remote start?

Quite simply, it's a feature which enables a driver to start a car's engine without actually being in the car, and without even unlocking a door (just in case some criminal wants to make off with the running car). In very cold conditions (as in -25 degrees Celsius or so), starting the engine long before the driver actually gets into the car will allow the engine to generate some heat, which can be fed into the cabin, thus ensuring a snug environment inside in spite of the bitter cold outside. 

There's an added convenience aspect as well: when a car's engine is running, it enables other powered accessories to work. This way, the heated seats and heated steering wheel will also be warmed up in advance, and demisters can start clearing the frozen-over windows. The same applies in very hot climates, where remote start will allow the air conditioner to pull down cabin temperatures, and seat coolers can create a chilled place to relax your backside... 

In addition, letting the engine build up some heat will ease the flow of oil (which basically turns into sludge at such low temperatures) in the engine and gearbox, helping critical parts to receive adequate lubrication while still working under light load conditions. This can prolong their service life by quite a margin.

How does it work?

Remote start is usually activated by a button on the central locking system's remote control. To avoid accidental activation, this button either needs to be held down for a while, or it has to be pressed two or three times, to make sure that the driver really wants to use the function.

The latest versions of this system can also operate via a smart phone app, if the car is internet-enabled and there's an app available for that vehicle. Jeep and many European manufacturers use key-remote buttons to activate their remote start function, while Jaguar Land Rover (amongst others) are busy phasing in smartphone apps to facilitate this convenience.

Remote start in South Africa – it's illegal on public roads.

As mentioned in the beginning of this article, South African conditions don't really justify having remote start abilities in a car, apart perhaps from getting into the car on a hot, humid Durban day or in the middle of the Kalahari. In both these cases, it's more a matter of convenience than necessity, however. It's also not advisable to leave an engine at idle in our climate, as we don't face the same lubrication concerns as one would in near-Arctic conditions.

But most importantly, it's illegal to leave an unattended vehicle on a South African public road with its engine running. This means that it's fine to use remote start in your own driveway, but if it's parked in a public area or on a public road, and you're not behind the wheel, the engine has to be turned off. Good thing it's not really necessary in South Africa, then...