Long gone are the days of manually starting your Ford Explorer in extreme weather. You don’t have to sit in a freezing car to wait for the vehicle to heat up or the AC to start blasting you in the height of summer. Say hello to remote start – an innovation that brings a new level of ease and sophistication to your daily drives.
With the Ford Explorer, the remote start feature is available in cars made in 2011 and later, but you might get an aftermarket remote start kit. Here are the details on how to enable this feature and use it.
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Ford Explorer How to Turn On Remote Start
By default, the remote start feature in Ford vehicles doesn’t activate the car’s climate control system. It still starts the engine and allows the car to get to a good working temperature, but it won’t turn on the AC or heating separately. If you want to use remote start to put your car’s interior to a comfortable temperature, you’ll need to use the car’s infotainment system to enable that setting. Here’s how:
- Go to “Settings” or use the settings button on your steering wheel.
- Select “Vehicle.”
- Navigate to the “Remote Start” option.
- Choose the “System” option, and you may need to confirm your choice.
- Select “Climate control.”
- Enable the option “Last settings.”
This will ensure that remote start turns on the climate control to the last known settings.
Ford Explorer Remote Start via Key Fob
The simplest way to use remote start on your Ford Explorer is through the key fob. It starts up the car and turns on the AC system (if you enabled it in the settings above). However, the range is similar to traditional locking and unlocking, so you’ll need to be close to the car when you do this.
Also, you need to have the key fob with the “Remote Start” button on it. This is provided by default with all models that support remote start from the factory, but this may depend on your car’s specifications. The remote start button looks like a circular arrow with “2x” etched inside it, usually sitting below the lock button.
Using the key fob is straightforward:
- Lock the car with the lock button.
- Double-tap the remote start button.
- Your car’s lights should flash, and the key fob indicator should glow to let you know that the signal has been received.
- The car’s engine will turn on.
- The remote start lasts between five and 15 minutes depending on your car’s system settings.
You can shut off your car remotely if you’ve used remote start by pressing the remote start button again.
Ford Explorer Remote Start via App
For more remote monitoring and control options, you can download and use the FordPass app on your smartphone or tablet (iOS and Android). It requires an active FordPass subscription, but it gives you real-time feedback about your vehicle’s status, including location and current internal and external temperature.
Set up the app by following these steps:
- Use your mobile device’s official app store (Google Play Store or App Store) to download FordPass.
- Open the app and log in with your account credentials. If you don’t have a FordPass account, you can create one through the app and set up a subscription.
- Pair your Ford Explorer with the app. You can follow the in-app instructions, and you’ll need physical access to the car to scan the VIN inside the driver’s side door and finish the authentication in the car’s infotainment system.
With the car paired with your device, you can use it in lieu of the key fob for remote control:
- Open the app.
- Select your Ford Explorer from the vehicle list.
- Hit the “START ENGINE” button.
- Your car receives the signal over the internet, so it might take a bit longer to register.
- You should receive a notification through the app letting you know whether remote start was successful.
- You can now use the app to set the duration of the remote start and the climate control system.
Note that while you can use the app to remotely start the car, the key fob still needs to be inside the car to activate the driving mechanism.
Remote Start Limitations and Considerations
One of the most common issues you may face is that remote start won’t work for seemingly no reason. This is because remote start has a set of strict conditions that must be met for it to work:
- The transmission needs to be set to park.
- All the windows, the hood, and the trunk need to be closed.
- The doors need to be locked.
- The car needs to have enough fuel and battery.
- The service light can’t be on.
- The alarm needs to be on, but not triggered.
For example, if one of your door sensors doesn’t work properly, the car system may think it has open doors and will prevent remote start from activating. If you encounter persistent issues, get the car checked with a mechanic.
Also, avoid turning on the car remotely if it’s an enclosed, poorly ventilated space or close to flammable items.
FAQs
How do I know if my Ford Explorer has remote start?
The easiest way to tell is by the key fob you received with the car. If you see the “2x” icon in a circular arrow, then your car comes with remote start pre-installed. You still may need to enable remote start climate control in the settings.
Can I install remote start in an older car?
Older cars might be able to allow an aftermarket remote start system to be installed and utilize the appropriate key fob. However, it’ll be best to contact a registered mechanic or electrician to check whether this applies to your specific vehicle. You might not be able to use the app for remote start this way.