Remote starter for fx's

So this is the first day that I got to play around with the SmartStart and I've found that I can just use my phone, without my actual infiniti keyfob, to start the car and drive off.

This is unnerving to me.

Can someone who has the SmartStart system try this and let me know if you experience the same thing?

Step One: Leave your actual key away from the vehicle. (Not in your pocket or anything)
Step Two: Lock the car using the SmartStart APP.
Step Three: Start the car using the APP.
Step Four: Unlock the car using the APP.
Step Five: Get in, step on the brake, and drive off.

Is this normal for cars with push button starts? Is it just an Infiniti thing? Or is my install messed up somehow?

Thanks!!!
 
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Mine is set so that the engine cuts off when the brake is pressed. Not sure how the push button set up gets around this safety feature though.
 
That is not right at all. When the fx is remote started your supposed to tap your push start before even taking off. If you dont and step on the brake, the fx is supposed to shut off.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 2
 
I have the latest viper. If I don't have the key with me, as soon as I press the brake it shuts off. Otherwise anyone can drive off with your car man!
 
jdTrader said:
I have the latest viper. If I don't have the key with me, as soon as I press the brake it shuts off. Otherwise anyone can drive off with your car man!
Click to expand...

when you do have the key with you, normally do you have to press the push button, or can you just get in, hit the brake and go?

if I remote start the car with the car already unlocked, 2 seconds after I open the door the car shuts off so thats good.
 
Here is how it works every time for me....

I remote start it.

I get to the car and press the handle to unlock the car (if I don't have the key fob, I can't unlock the car) - you don't want it unlocked EVER!
I get into the car, press the brake, and go. I NEVER press or do anything else. Really easy. But if I don't have the key fob then when i press the brake it shuts off.

But the car has to be locked and you must have the keyfob on your. Those are security measures so that someone doesn't take something from inside your car while its warming up or drive away with it.

by the way, if I remote start the car and approach the car, it's always locked even if the car is unlocked. The remote start makes sure it's locked when you remote start it (unless you specifically unlock it AFTER remote starting it) If your car is unlocked, that's good it stopped the car, but it shouldn't let you get in the car!?

---------- Post added at 09:20 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:12 PM ----------

Another thing I noticed that I forgot to mention.....after a certain amount of time if you unlock the car but don't do anything or open the cargo or whatever and then maybe a few minutes later then open the driver door, it will shut it off. I guess that is also a security feature where too much time has passed since the car became unlocked and when the remote driver door opened. - confirmed it through viper since I thought that was kind of too much.
 
This "trick" or whatever you want to call it also works with my remote start keyfob, so it's not SmartStart specific.

If my car is unlocked and I remote start it, it stays unlocked. Then when I get into the car, the car shuts off after a couple seconds without me touching the brake.

The "trick" comes into play if I start my car when the car is locked. I can then press the unlock on the keyfob, set it on a table outside the vehicle, get in, hit the brake, and drive.

This is stressing me out lol.

I'll call the installer tomorrow and see if he can fix this issue. Hopefully he won't charge me more labor hours!!!

I'll keep everyone updated, THANKS FOR ALL THE INPUT!!!

---------- Post added at 08:27 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:23 PM ----------

JD I just noticed your updated post. My Remote start system is actually an AstroStart, with a Directed SmartStart system. They are all the same company as Viper, and I use the Viper APP just like you guys do. So our remote starts arent EXACTLY the same... but should be very similar.
 
A few things to address here.

1. Depending on how new the Viper system is that they installed in your car, you may or may not have to press the start button upon entry. On my FX I unlock the doors, get in, press the start button twice (to engage ignition ON), then I step on the brake to disengage the remote start. I've had mine for about two/three years now (older model Viper). My wife's is like JD's she does not have to press the start button twice but she needs to have the factory key fob on her and press the brake to disengage the remote start (newer model Viper).

2. If my doors are unlocked when I remote start start the car from my phone they lock right before the car starts (I tried it). I've had Viper remote starts on numerous vehicles and they all locked the doors if they were unlocked upon receiving the Smart Start command.

3. Your Viper should be set to arm on it's own after a minute or so anyway, so there should never be an instance when the car is remote started and the alarm is not armed. Mine is set to arm but not lock the doors after a minute or so. I had it purposely set not to lock the doors so I never have the accident of locking the keys in but out of the box it should be set to arm and lock doors after a minute or so on it's own if it doesn't receive the lock command from you.

All that being said if you can step on the brake and drive off without the key fob on you then there is a problem with the installation. Sounds like the bypass they installed isn't doing it's job. If the Viper isn't locking the doors when they aren't locked upon receiving a Smart Start command and you can drive off without the key fob, it sounds like your bypass is not programmed correctly. A screwy bypass can give you all those problems and then some. The bypass is what tells the Viper how to work with your car, it's just as important as the actual Viper system that the bypass is functioning properly.
 
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Haha yea mine locks automatically and not going to lie scares me sometimes. Mainly getting gas. Sometimes I just throw my keys in the cup holder and close my door. As I am pumping gas it locks. Luckily my app has saved me there. I want to get rid of the viper alarm because I don't like it much other than it sends me text alerts instantly when it goes off. Just seems like it has gone off too many times and I am not sure why.

I do love the viper though it is really nice. My small non led remote shattered though when I dropped my keys once. So that didn't make me feel great about the casing of that remote but all in all great product.
 
neva4self said:
A few things to address here.

1. Depending on how new the Viper system is that they installed in your car, you may or may not have to press the start button upon entry. On my FX I unlock the doors, get in, press the start button twice (to engage ignition ON), then I step on the brake to disengage the remote start. I've had mine for about two/three years now (older model Viper). My wife's is like JD's she does not have to press the start button twice but she needs to have the factory key fob on her and press the brake to disengage the remote start (newer model Viper).

2. If my doors are unlocked when I remote start start the car from my phone they lock right before the car starts (I tried it). I've had Viper remote starts on numerous vehicles and they all locked the doors if they were unlocked upon receiving the Smart Start command.

3. Your Viper should be set to arm on it's own after a minute or so anyway, so there should never be an instance when the car is remote started and the alarm is not armed. Mine is set to arm but not lock the doors after a minute or so. I had it purposely set not to lock the doors so I never have the accident of locking the keys in but out of the box it should be set to arm and lock doors after a minute or so on it's own if it doesn't receive the lock command from you.

All that being said if you can step on the brake and drive off without the key fob on you then there is a problem with the installation. Sounds like the bypass they installed isn't doing it's job. If the Viper isn't locking the doors when they aren't locked upon receiving a Smart Start command and you can drive off without the key fob, it sounds like your bypass is not programmed correctly. A screwy bypass can give you all those problems and then some. The bypass is what tells the Viper how to work with your car, it's just as important as the actual Viper system that the bypass is functioning properly.
Click to expand...

I just called and the owner said that my system seems correct because since I am unlocking the vehicle, the system assumes that I have the key and allows me to drive off. He said he would call to confirm this with the company and see if their are any programming updates to amend this situation.

Just to be clear, my system is not Viper, it is AstroStart which is owned by Viper. The SmartStart module is a brand called Directed, which is the parent company of Viper. So maybe it really is how this system works? I'm very confused at this point. Maybe I can try and call the company myself to ask about it if the car shop doesn't amend it.

One thing that I want and that the owner said he will do for me is to have the car lock everytime the remote start is activated. At least that will give me some peace of mind, although having a key in the vehicle to make it drive would be better security since a crook can either break a window and drive off or steal the vehicle if I remote start the car and accidentally hit "unlock" in my pocket somehow.

Thanks for listening.
 
^ I would call the company and talk about any concerns you have. I've called viper before. They have good customer service and will tell you exactly what their system should do for your car.

I would assume since viper is the parent company that you would get the same customer experience.
 
So I called technical support and they said that there's no way they can configure the car to where THERE HAS TO BE A KEY in the vehicle before it'll let me drive off with it. I guess that's what I get for letting the shop talk me into a system that isn't a Viper.
 
superwario said:
So I called technical support and they said that there's no way they can configure the car to where THERE HAS TO BE A KEY in the vehicle before it'll let me drive off with it. I guess that's what I get for letting the shop talk me into a system that isn't a Viper.
Click to expand...

Idk but this sounds kind of suspect. I mean even the $99 remote starters kill the ignition when you step on the brake with no key in the car. Sounds like an installer/configuration issue to me.

Sent from my SPH-L720 2
 
Okay so I just went out to my car to do some thorough testing, these are my results:

No factory key in vicinity, only using remote start fob while standing outside the vehicle
Test 1: Windows down, car locked. Start the car with the remote and then poked the brake with a long stick. Car shuts off! (GREAT - Since noone can break the window, crawl in, and drive off)
Test 2: Windows down, car locked. Manually reach in and and unlock the door (Either using the interior unlock button or pulling the lock mechanism above the door handle). Open the door, hit the brake. Car shuts off! (So far so good)

Sitting in vehicle with factory key as well as remote fob
Test 2: Car unlocked. Start the car with the remote and hit the brake. Car shuts off! Even though factory key is in the vehicle. (Meh)
Test 3:Car unlocked. Start the car with the remote and hit the brake. Car shuts off! Even though factory key is in the vehicle.(Meh)
Test 4: Car unlocked. Start the car with remote. Hit unlock button on factory or remote fob (doesn't matter which). Hit the brake and I'm allowed to drive.

Conclusion
So now I think the only way someone can still drive off with my car without the key being in the vehicle is if I remote start the car and somehow accidentally press the "Unlock" button (Doesn't matter if it's using the factory fob, the remote fob, the APP, or the door button) which, odds are, is not going to happen. But that chance still exists.
 
blueduck1105 said:
Haha yea mine locks automatically and not going to lie scares me sometimes. Mainly getting gas. Sometimes I just throw my keys in the cup holder and close my door. As I am pumping gas it locks. Luckily my app has saved me there. I want to get rid of the viper alarm because I don't like it much other than it sends me text alerts instantly when it goes off. Just seems like it has gone off too many times and I am not sure why.

I do love the viper though it is really nice. My small non led remote shattered though when I dropped my keys once. So that didn't make me feel great about the casing of that remote but all in all great product.
Click to expand...

Mine does not lock if the key is in the vehicle. It knows when it's there. And the only thing I don't like about the system is the led remote. It's too Damn sensitive! It's always doing stuff on its own and there's no way to lock it. So i just use the phone app to remote start or my factory key fob. Works like a charm from anywhere. I also have another non led remote that came with it that I really don't use at all. But it's really nice looking.

Sent from my SPH-L720 2
 
Does anyone know how I can change my status screen on the SmartStart from all this useless information:

1rJOEEr.png

To this:

6513809-1344650829350.jpg


This was a big feature that sold me, to be able to know everything about the car and such. ANy help would be great!

Thanks!!!
 
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