Cadillac Escalade Remote Start Not Working (Causes & Fixes)
Are you having a problem with your Cadillac Escalade remote start system not working? Have you tried everything to try to fix this issue but nothing works? If yes, this guide will offer you helpful advice on the potential causes of this issue and how you can troubleshoot your car and restore your remote start system.
Cadillac escalade remote start not working can be tied to different potential culprits. These include drained remote battery, car not in park gear, check engine light on, issues with the anti-theft deterrent system, being out of range, too many start attempts, using your remote start incorrectly, hood or doors not closed properly, and valet mode.
Our article below digs deeper into each of these culprits and how they cause your remote start feature to malfunction. Moreover, we’ll guide you through the troubleshooting tips to help you fix these issues and other helpful advice for reviving your Escalade remote start system.
Cadillac Escalade Remote Start Not Working Causes:
When your Cadillac Escalade remote start feature malfunctions, the most likely causes to consider include:
Weak or dead key fob battery
A weak or dead remote battery is the most common culprit behind your Cadillac Escalade remote start failing to work.
Your key fob draws power from the battery installed in it to enable it to send signals to your vehicle to engage the remote start feature.
If the battery is nearing depletion or is already dead, it won’t be able to power your remote, and consequently, it won’t be able to communicate and turn on your car.
Solution: The best fix here is to replace the key fob battery with a new one to see if it helps. Be sure to confirm you used the correct replacement battery and that you install it correctly in your remote.
If this doesn’t solve the issue, then you may want to check if the battery contacts in your remote are clean and not loose as they may affect the remote functionality.
If your key fob is damaged, be sure to replace it with a new one.
Drained vehicle battery
If your remote battery is fine, you should next check your vehicle battery. If it’s weak or dead, it’s also unable to power on various electric systems in your car, including the remote start feature and other vehicle starting components.
Your battery may become drained due to various issues such as leaving the lights or accessories like the radio on, defective charging system, old age, etc.
Solution: Make sure your car battery is in good working condition and is fully charged. Consider testing it with a multimeter to check if its voltage is at the recommended level. If below 12V, simply recharge it. Or if the battery is defective, replace it with a new one.
If your battery is in good working condition, check if its connections are loose and whether the terminals are corroded.
These could be restricting proper current flow, so you should fix them to see if the problem goes away.
The key fob is out of range
Another reason why your remote start may malfunction is trying to operate it when you’re out of range.
You may not know this but your remote start usually has an operating range of not more than 100ft.
Issues like your location, obstructions, electronic devices, or even your remote start device can affect this range.
Solution: Make sure you’re within the recommended operating range for your remote start.
We advise you to be around 10 to 50ft. for effective communication between your key fob and the car.
Additionally, ensure there are no obstructions or even electronic devices that might interfere with the signal range.
The hood is open
Your Cadillac remote system is also configured not to engage if the hood is open. This safety precaution helps prevent your car from running if the mechanic is checking the engine.
It also helps prevent the possibility of the hood spreading over your windshield when you’re driving your car.
The hood pin sensor is usually installed in the hood to detect if it is properly closed and alert your auto start not to engage.
If this sensor is missing or malfunctioning, it may also make the remote start not function.
Solution: Check whether your vehicle hood is properly closed. Try opening and closing it again.
If this doesn’t work, check if the hood sensor (usually located near the hood latch) is properly connected or whether it’s broken or missing.
If damaged or missing, then you’ll need to replace it with a new one.
Check if all the conditions for the remote start are met
A set of conditions must be met for your Cadillac remote start function to engage. We have already touched on some of these conditions including your car being in park mode and hood closed. However, there are several other requirements that you should check.
Solution: Check your user manual for all the requirements necessary for a successful remote start of your car. Usually, your car may fail to start if any of these conditions are present:
- The doors are not properly closed
- The fuel door isn’t properly closed
- The brake pedal is engaged
- Your car is in valet mode
- Hazard lights are on
- Oil pressure is too low
- Excessive coolant temperature detected
- Your car anti-theft system detects an alarm trigger
- Your vehicle power mode is incorrect
- The ECM has detected the vehicle speed sensor signal
- The remote start feature is disabled
Etc.
Your vehicle is not in park mode
One of the conditions necessary for a successful remote start is that your vehicle must be in park mode. Therefore, if you leave your car in another transmission, e.g. forward, reverse, etc., then any attempts to remote start will be futile.
Solution: Confirm that your gear selector is sitting in the park position before you attempt to remote start your vehicle. If not, simply put the shift lever in “Park” and the entry to remote start your Escalade.
Valet mode is on
Another common reason why many Cadillac Escalade owners have issues using their remote start feature is due to their cars being stuck in valet mode.
Valet mode usually disables a couple of features in your car, including the remote start.
Most car owners aren’t familiar with this mode, which makes it even harder to determine the cause of their remote start failure.
Solution: Check if your car is in valet mode and then consult your user manual on how to correctly disable this mode and restore your remote start functionality.
Check engine light is on
The check engine light illuminating will also make the remote start to stop working. This serves as a safety measure to keep your car from running due to issues with the engine or emissions control system (these cause the engine warning light to come on).
Solution: If the check engine light is on, have your car scanned for stored error codes. These codes will help you determine what problem your vehicle is experiencing.
You can then have it fixed to clear the engine warning light and make your remote start feature start working again.
You’re not using your remote start correctly
When was the last time you used your remote start? Can’t remember? You probably forgot the correct procedure to use this feature as well!
In this case, it will fail to turn on your car no matter how many times you try.
Solution: Make sure you are using the correct activation procedure for your Cadillac Escalade remote start feature. If necessary, check your remote start for the correct activation sequence.
Ideally, you should first press the LOCK button on your key fob and then press and hold the start button within seconds. You should hold this button until your car engine starts.
Many remote start attempts
Have you tried to remote start your car too many times? If yes, this could also make it stop functioning.
Most factory remote starts have this restriction where if you try to remote start your car consequently multiple times (usually more than 2 times), it gets temporarily disabled.
This is usually a security measure to prevent the possibility of someone getting unauthorized access to your vehicle.
Solution: In most cases, you will need to manually start your car to reset the remote start and restore its functionality.
Interference from your anti-theft deterrent system
Your car most likely has an alarm or anti-theft deterrent system installed in it. If this feature is activated or malfunctioning, it may also interfere with the remote start functionality.
The system simply prevents unauthorized access to your car. If it develops any issues or believes there has been an unauthorized entry attempt on your car, it may stop the remote start from working.
Solution: Check if the security light is flashing on your dash. If yes, this confirms the security light is armed and you’ll need to consult your user manual on how to properly disarm it.
You may also want to have your alarm system checked by your auto technician or dealership for any underlying issues that may cause it to malfunction.
Other issues that may affect your remote start system include:
- Environmental conditions such as extreme hot or cold weather
- Second car mode for key fobs configured to start multiple vehicles. Such key fobs usually default to a second-car mode for security purposes.
- If your remote start system feature is disabled on your car NAV system, it will also fail to work until you go to the vehicle personalization settings to enable it.
Why Cadillac Escalade Light Flash But Doesn’t Start When The Remote Started
If you try remote starting your vehicle and only the lights flash but the engine doesn’t turn on, there are several issues to consider.
These include the check engine light on, too many start attempts, low tire pressure, hood or doors not closed, or the remote start system being disabled in your car system settings.
Various other requirements not being met will also stop the system from engaging (refer to our earlier list of these requirements).
In this case, you’ll need to troubleshoot these potential causes until you find which one is causing the starting problems.
Fixing the underlying issue will then help you resolve the problem and make your vehicle start working again.
Exploring the challenges of the Cadillac Escalade’s remote start system reveals that various models, even within the broader General Motors family, face their own remote start complexities. For a closer look at Chevrolet’s unique offerings, consider delving into our article on the Chevy HHR remote start problems, which details the model’s nuances and troubleshooting techniques. Similarly, the Chevy Traverse, a family favorite, has had its share of remote start concerns. Our comprehensive guide on Chevy Traverse remote start issues provides insights and solutions for drivers facing such challenges.Conclusion
Your Cadillac Escalade remote starts malfunctioning can be attributed to many potential causes, including a drained remote battery, the car not in park gear, the check engine light on, issues with the anti-theft deterrent system, being out of range, valet mode activated, too many start attempts, using your remote start incorrectly, or hood and doors not closed properly.
To fix this issue, you’ll first need to know the exact cause for the remote system to stop working. We advise you to troubleshoot your car for all these potential causes and fix them as discussed in the above article. If you’re unable to fix this issue on your own, consult a professional mechanic or your Cadillac dealership for further assistance.
