Nissan Altima Remote Start Not Working (Troubleshooting Guide)

Your Nissan Altima remote engine start malfunctioning isn’t something uncommon. If this just happened to you, you must be feeling quite frustrated. But at the same time, you may be up and down looking for ways to fix it. Our guide below will shed more light on why your remote start has failed and how to revive it.

Nissan Altima remote start not working can be caused by many different issues such as dead key fob batteries, wrong procedure, being out of range, ignition switch not in the off position, car not in Park, hazard lights on, leaving the key fob inside the vehicle, security system interference, disabled remote start function, and not properly closing the hood, trunk, or doors.

The following article discusses each of these potential causes of your vehicle remote start malfunction and how to fix each of them. By following the troubleshooting tips in this article, you’ll be able to fix the underlying issue and get your remote engine start back up and running again.

Nissan Altima remote start not working causes:

The potential culprits to consider if your Nissan Altima remote start stops working are discussed below:

Key fob batteries are low or dead

The number one culprit to consider when your Altima remote engine starts malfunctioning is low or dead key fob batteries.

For your key fob to send a signal to the vehicle to turn the engine, its batteries must be in healthy working condition to power it.

However, if they get depleted, the fob won’t be able to communicate with your vehicle and remote start won’t work.

Solution: The best fix is to replace your key fob battery with a new one to see if it helps fix the problem.

Be sure to get the correct replacement battery and install it correctly so that your key fob communicates smoothly with your vehicle.

You’re out of range

Another likely reason your Altima remote start isn’t working is that you’re too far from your vehicle. These remote functions usually have a limited range over which they effectively operate.

If you move out of this range, the communication between your remote and your vehicle may be affected.

Also, the presence of any obstacles or electronic devices that interfere with the signal may affect the remote start function.

Solution: Make sure you’re within the recommended operation range for your Altima remote engine start (usually around 197ft or 60m).

Moreover, ensure there are no obstacles between you and your vehicle and eliminate any electronic devices that might affect signal transfer to your vehicle.

Ignition switch is in the ON position

The Altima remote starter is also configured to stop working if it detects the ignition switch is in the ON position. This helps prevent your engine from accidentally starting.

Solution: Ensure the ignition switch is in the OFF position. If not, simply adjust it to this position and then try to remote-start your vehicle.

The hood isn’t closed securely

The hood also needs to be properly closed and securely latched for the remote starter to work.

This is important as starting your car in this state could cause damage to your engine components or even injure anyone who could be in the engine compartment.

Driving with an improperly closed hood is also unsafe. Your vehicle usually has a hood switch sensor that detects if the hood isn’t properly closed and alerts the remote start to disable.

Solution: Confirm whether your hood is properly closed before you attempt to start your vehicle. Consider opening and closing it again to see if it helps.

If the problem persists, inspect the hood switch sensor for damages and replace it as necessary. If it is dirty or rusty, simply clean it to restore its proper functioning.

The trunk or doors are open

Just like the hood, your Altima doors and trunk should also be properly closed for your remote engine starter to work as expected.

This is also a safety feature that helps prevent unauthorized access to your vehicle. Moreover, it ensures the safety of the occupants inside the car.

Not to forget, an open trunk can also lead to unsafe driving conditions.

Solution: Ensure your trunk and doors are properly closed before you attempt to remote start your vehicle again.

Incorrect start procedure

You may also be operating your remote start function incorrectly, whether it’s not following the wrong procedure or not pressing the required buttons on time.

This will lead to your engine failing to activate remotely until you start using the correct procedure.

Solution: Consult your owner’s manual on the correct Altima remote start sequence. The process usually involves the steps outlined below:

Step 1. Aim your key fob toward your vehicle while standing within the operation range

Step 2. Press and release the Lock button to lock all your vehicle doors (Don’t ignore this step even if your doors are already locked).

Step 3. Now press the remote start button within 5 seconds of pressing the lock button. Press and hold this button for at least 2 seconds and you should be able to see the turn signals come on. The engine will start shortly.

Step 4. Once started, the engine will run for approx. 10 minutes and then shut off automatically.

After this, you can extend the run time one more time for another 10 minutes by following the steps above.

You left your key fob inside the vehicle

If a key fob registered to your vehicle remote start is detected inside your car system, your remote start will also fail to start.

In this scenario, the system assumes that you’re already inside your car and you can start your vehicle manually using the key.

It, therefore, disables the remote starter as a safety precaution to prevent unauthorized access and accidental remote starts.

Solution: If you have any spare key fobs stashed somewhere inside your car, simply get them out and away from your remote starter operation range. Then, try to activate your car engine remotely.

Hazard lights are flashing

Attempting to remote start your Altima engine while the hazard lights are flashing may also lead to unsuccessful starts.

The system is configured to translate these lights to mean that there could be an emergency situation or your car is in an unsafe condition.

As such, the automatic starter is disabled to prevent your car from starting while it may need immediate action from you.

Solution: If your hazard lights are flashing, you’ll need to switch them off before you attempt to remote start your vehicle again.

Your vehicle is not in Park

The Nissan Altima remote start also requires your gear selector to be in P (Park) position for the engine to start.

This is another helpful safety measure that prevents your vehicle from moving unexpectedly, say when it’s in the Drive or Reverse positions.

Solution: Check the position of your gear selector and adjust it to Park if it’s in any other gear.

Also, note that the lever may seem to be P while it’s actually not, so you need to verify whether it’s indeed in P on your vehicle dash display.

Security system has been triggered

Nissan Altima’s security system may also interfere with the smooth operation of the remote starter. If this system is triggered due to unauthorized access or illegal entry into your vehicle, the remote start will temporarily be disabled.

This safety measure prevents the engine from starting when there’s a security breach. Sometimes, your vehicle security system may also malfunction and disable the remote starter as a result.

Solution: Check if the security system is armed and follow the correct procedure to disarm it. If there are no other issues, your remote starter should start smoothly afterward.

More than 2 remote starts

If you have attempted to remote start your vehicle more than 2 times, the feature may also have been temporarily disabled.

Most remote start systems, including those for Nissan vehicles, usually have a limitation on the maximum number of times you can start them consecutively.

Solution: Once you hit the maximum number of remote start attempts, usually two, then you’ll need to start your vehicle manually using the key.

This helps reset the remote engine start to enable it to resume normal functioning.

Remote start function has been turned off

You should also not overlook the possibility of the remote starter function being turned off in your vehicle settings. This may have been done accidentally by the car owner or by the mechanic during servicing of your car.

Solution: Navigate to your remote engine start in your vehicle info settings and check whether this function is on or off. If turned off, simply re-enable it and then try remote starting your vehicle again.

Brake pedal is depressed

The remote start in your Nissan Altima is programmed such that it doesn’t turn on your engine if it detects the brake pedal is depressed.

This safety measure prevents the possibility of your vehicle moving unexpectedly once you start your engine remotely.

Solution: Check the position of your brake pedal. If it’s stuck in a pressed position, simply release it and then try remote starting your vehicle engine.

I–Key Indicator light is on

According to the Nissan Altima user manual, one of the conditions that may cause your remote start to malfunction is the I-Key indicator light staying solid in your vehicle information display.

The auto start translates this to mean there’s an issue with the intelligent key (key fob, if you like). For instance, the key may not be recognized by your vehicle system. It, therefore, stops working until the existing issue is resolved.

Solution: Ensure your key fob is in good working condition. Assuming you have already checked the batteries, you’ll need to check if it’s damaged. Check if the battery terminals are loose or damaged as they could also cause it to malfunction.

Consult your owner’s manual on how to troubleshoot the i-Key indicator. If the problem persists, have the key checked by a qualified Nissan technician.

While troubleshooting remote start issues in your Nissan Altima, it’s important to recognize that challenges like these extend beyond a single make or model. For those experiencing starting woes in vehicles like the GMC Yukon, where the engine won’t start and there’s a clicking noise, our informative article on GMC Yukon won’t start with a clicking noise offers valuable insights. On a different note, if you’re a Honda Fit owner facing AC problems, our guide on Honda Fit AC not working could be a helpful resource.

Conclusion

Your Nissan Altima remote start suddenly stopping working can be frustrating but knowing what causes this problem can help you easily fix it. This article has just highlighted the most common causes, including low or dead key fob battery, being out of range, incorrect remote start procedure, not properly closing the hood, doors, or trunk, hazard lights turned on, or vehicle not in P(Park), and so on.

We advise you to diagnose each of these issues until you find the culprit. Be sure to start with basics like key fob batteries, hood, doors, and trunk closure, switching off hazard lights, gear selector position, correct operation range, etc. If you’re unable to fix this problem on your own, don’t hesitate to consult a qualified Nissan technician or your nearest dealership for expert help.