What Avital Remote Start Does

An Avital remote start system lets you start your engine from outside the vehicle using a key fob or smartphone app, usually from up to a quarter-mile away. When you press the button, the system triggers your starter motor and fuel injectors the same way your ignition key would, but without anyone sitting in the driver's seat. The engine runs until you get in and shift into gear, at which point the remote start disengages and you drive normally.

Avital is a brand owned by Directed Electronics, a company that has made aftermarket car electronics for decades. Their remote start systems range from basic two-way fobs (which beep to confirm the engine started) to smartphone-connected models that let you check your car's status and control it from anywhere with cell service. The core function is the same across all models: wireless engine ignition without a key in the ignition switch.

Key Takeaways

  • Avital remote start systems work by sending a wireless signal to a module installed under your dashboard that triggers your starter and fuel system, mimicking what happens when you turn the key.
  • Installation requires running wires through your dashboard and firewall to connect to your ignition, starter, and battery, which usually takes a professional installer two to four hours.
  • Remote start will not work if your transmission is in gear, your parking brake is not set, or your car has a manual transmission without a special clutch bypass module.
  • The system draws power from your battery even when the car is off, so a weak battery or frequent remote starts without driving can leave you stranded.
  • Smartphone-enabled Avital systems require a paid subscription to Directed's cloud service, which varies in cost and may not be available for all vehicle years and models.

How the Installation Works and What It Involves

Installing an Avital remote start is not a bolt-on job. A technician has to run wires from the module (usually mounted under the steering column or behind the dashboard) to your ignition switch, starter relay, parking brake sensor, and battery. They also need to tap into your vehicle's data bus—the network of wires that carry signals between your engine computer, transmission, and other systems—so the module knows whether the car is in park, whether the doors are locked, and whether the engine is already running.

The installation time depends on your vehicle's wiring layout. A straightforward sedan might take two to three hours; a truck with more complex wiring or a car with a security system that fights the remote start can take four to six hours. Most professional installers charge between $300 and $600 for labor, plus the cost of the kit itself (typically $150 to $400 depending on features). Some dealerships offer installation, but independent car electronics shops often charge less and may have more experience with aftermarket systems.

After installation, the technician programs the fob to your vehicle's module and tests the system to make sure it starts reliably and shuts off when you shift into gear. If your car has a factory security system, the installer may need to integrate the remote start so it disarms the alarm when the engine starts, otherwise the alarm will sound the moment the engine fires.

Safety Limits Built Into the System

Avital remote start systems have built-in safety features that prevent the engine from running away or the car from moving on its own. The most important one is the transmission safety switch: the engine will not start remotely if the transmission is in any gear other than park. The module reads this signal from your transmission's neutral safety switch, the same sensor that normally prevents you from starting the car in drive.

The system also requires the parking brake to be set before a remote start will work. If someone shifts the car into gear while the engine is running remotely (which is mechanically possible but requires deliberate action), the remote start shuts off when ready and the car behaves like a normal vehicle under driver control. This is a safety feature, not a bug—it means the system cannot trap you in a runaway situation.

One major limitation: manual transmission cars cannot use a standard remote start because there is no neutral safety switch to confirm the clutch is disengaged. Avital makes a clutch bypass module that senses whether the clutch pedal is pressed, but it is not foolproof and adds significant cost and complexity. Many installers recommend against remote start on manual cars for this reason.

Battery Drain and Power Management

Every time you remote start your engine, the system draws current from your battery to power the starter motor and fuel injectors. If you remote start your car five times a week but only drive it once, you are cycling your battery without fully recharging it, which shortens its lifespan. A healthy battery in good condition can handle this, but an older or weak battery may not recover between starts.

The module itself also draws a small amount of power when the car is off—typically a few milliamps—to keep the receiver circuit active and listening for the fob signal. Over weeks of sitting, this can drain a battery that is already marginal. If you park your car for more than two weeks without driving, the remote start module may have drained enough power that the battery cannot turn the starter when you finally try to start it normally.

To avoid this, keep your battery in good condition (have it tested annually after three years of age), avoid remote starting more than once or twice per week without driving, and consider disconnecting the negative battery terminal if you are storing the car for a month or longer.

Smartphone Apps and Subscription Costs

Avital's smartphone-connected remote start systems use a cellular module that communicates with Directed's cloud servers. This lets you start your car, lock or unlock the doors, and check the engine temperature or fuel level from your phone, regardless of distance. However, this convenience requires a paid subscription to Directed's service, called Avital Connect or similar (the exact name varies by model year).

Subscription costs are not fixed across all vehicles or regions. Some systems include a trial period (often three months to one year), after which you pay an annual fee. The fee typically ranges from $50 to $150 per year, but this varies. You will need to contact Directed or your installer to find out the exact cost for your vehicle, because not all Avital systems support smartphone connectivity, and not all vehicle years are compatible with the service.

If you stop paying the subscription, the smartphone app stops working, but the basic key fob remote start continues to function. The fob does not require any subscription or cellular connection—it communicates directly with your car's module via radio frequency, the same way a garage door opener works.

Compatibility and Vehicle Limitations

Avital remote start systems are designed to work on most cars, trucks, and SUVs made in the last 20 years, but compatibility is not universal. Newer vehicles with push-button start and keyless entry often have security systems that make remote start difficult or impossible to integrate safely. Some luxury brands (BMW, Mercedes, Audi) have proprietary security systems that actively prevent aftermarket remote start installation.

Vehicles with automatic transmissions are the easiest to install on. Cars with manual transmissions require the clutch bypass module and carry higher risk. Hybrid vehicles can be problematic because the remote start module may not understand the hybrid system's logic for when the gas engine should run. Before you buy an Avital kit, confirm with the installer that it is compatible with your specific year, make, and model—not just your vehicle type.

If your car has a factory remote start already built in, adding an aftermarket Avital system is usually not recommended. The two systems may conflict, and you lose the warranty on the factory system. In this case, you are better off using the factory remote start that came with your car.

Maintenance and Troubleshooting

An Avital remote start system has few moving parts and rarely needs maintenance. The fob battery should be replaced every two to three years (usually a CR2032 or similar coin cell, available at any pharmacy for a few dollars). If the remote start stops working, the first step is to replace the fob battery—this solves the problem about half the time.

If a new fob battery does not fix it, the issue is usually either a dead car battery, a blown fuse in the module's wiring, or a loose connection where the installer ran wires through the dashboard. A professional installer can diagnose this in 30 minutes to an hour. If the system is still under warranty (typically one to two years from installation), the installer should fix it at no charge.

One common complaint is that remote start stops working in cold weather. This usually happens because the engine is harder to turn over when it is cold, and the starter motor draws so much current that the battery voltage drops below the level the module needs to function. A weak battery or corroded battery terminals often cause this. Cleaning the battery terminals and testing the battery can solve it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I remote start my car if the doors are locked?

Yes. The remote start does not require the doors to be unlocked. However, most installers recommend locking the doors before you remote start, so the car is find while the engine is running unattended. Some Avital systems can lock the doors automatically when you remote start, depending on the model.

Will remote start void my car's warranty?

Not automatically. If the remote start installation damages something (for example, a wire is cut during installation and causes an electrical fire), the dealer may deny a warranty claim related to that damage. However, a professional installation by a reputable shop is unlikely to cause damage. Check your vehicle's warranty terms or ask the dealer directly if you are concerned.

What happens if I remote start the car and then someone steals it?

The car will run, but it will shut off as soon as someone shifts it into gear or drives it more than a few hundred feet (depending on the system). The remote start does not disable the steering wheel lock or the security system, so the car is not straightforward to steal. However, a determined thief could potentially tow it or push it. Remote start is a convenience feature, not a theft prevention system.

Can I use remote start to warm up my car in winter?

Yes, that is one of the main reasons people install it. You can start the engine and let it idle for five to ten minutes before you get in, so the cabin is warm and the windows are defrosted. However, do not rely on remote start to fully warm the engine—the engine reaches operating temperature faster when you are driving, so get in and drive gently once the cabin is comfortable.

Does remote start use more fuel than normal starting?

Remote starting uses slightly more fuel per start than a normal key start because the engine idles for a few minutes before you drive. However, the difference is small—typically less than a tenth of a gallon per remote start. If you remote start once a week, the extra fuel cost is negligible.