Please Help Me

-40 Fort Mac

My Ford Factory Remote start will work up to 15 feet away from the truck. Any Further away an the truck will not pick up the signal given on the Factory Key. The range used to be further (Or at least it seemed better when it wasn't so cold) The truck when command started will only run for 10 minutes. Not long enough to even budge the temp gauge. After 10 minutes, truck is still ice cold. I do another command start. Truck runs for another 10 minutes. Windows still frozen solid. Truck Temp gauge does not budge. When trying to command start a third time, truck will not follow command. The lights blink twice instead and it won't start up on command.

The details:

Truck has dual alternators
Truck has pre heater
Block Heater is plugged in
No winter front on truck
Pre Heater does work, as the air coming out of vents is not freezing cold, it is some what warm, Pre Heater does not seem to blow up onto wind shield to de ice wind shield
Heated seats are auto engaged in Command Start Mode. Seats are warm when I get in truck.

What I want to know is if there is a way to have the windshield defrost kick on auto with command start.

How can I increase the time that the truck runs on command start without auto shut down after 10 minutes?

Why will truck only command start for 2 consecutive starts before key starting?

Does anyone know if anyone is making a circulating heater like Webasto or Pro Heat for these trucks yet? I have heard that the generic ones throw CEL codes on these trucks because the sensor is reading coolant temp and there is also an oil temp and so on and so forth that if they are not reading the same it will throw a code. I am looking for a kit designed especially for this truck and engine.

Also, I am looking for a winter front for my truck. Has anyone installed one yet? What's your favorite winter front?

Thanks in advance

Nathan
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Lariat or xlt? With the lariat you can up the time to 15 minutes. Not sure for xlt.

 

Lariat. Sorry forgot to mention. 15 minutes? Even then. It's too short.

 

Hi Nathan
If I understand correctly you are Fort MacMurray and it is either -40 ambient or with wind chill. In either situation I am sure your truck can probably idle all day and never reach operating temperature. I believe the HVAC system defaults to the last position when it starts up so switch to defrost before you shut down. I had an espar heater on my 7.3 and it was a PITA. It would do a great job of warming the truck but it seemed to confuse the starting strategy if the engine temp did not come up to full, I always assumed this was because there was a mismatch between the oil temp and the water temp. Not to mention the frequent electronic errors, antifreeze leaks pump seizures and the fact that you will need to put a trickle charger on if you ever want to have a chance for your batteries to recover after you use. Save yourself a lot of grief and plug the block heater in, and put in a electric car warmer to clear your windshield. I have the remote start on my truck and I don't think the range is very great either. I have never been convinced of the utility of remote start for diesels in the cold for precisely what you are presently experiencing, plus I think it is bad for the engine to keep leaving it idling in the cold washing diesel down the cylinder walls and plugging up the dpf.

 

15 minutes per starting event is maxiumum. You can adjust this in the productivity screen.

The system should automatically set to defrost/floor during a remote start event based on the temps your are experiencing. It can not be set to defrost only.

Additional information on how climate control and remote start work together can be found in the following thread...

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...ml#post9493053

It is based on system design. You are only allowed 2 consecutive remote start evens with in a 1 hour period. After the 2 consecutive remote start events you would need to reset the system by putting the key in the ignition and turing it to the on position then back to off or waiting a hour for the system to automatically reset.

 

Would elevated idle (SEIC) setup, extend the 15 minute timer, or assist in the warmup cycle?

 

I would agree, plugging in would be the most effective. Last night I had to take the truck to pick something up on a job. It had been sitting for 24 hours and it was 10° out. I usually remote start and get in after about 5 minutes just to get the oil flowing. Anyway, at 10°, I went 12 miles and it wasn't up to operating temp until I was 5 miles on the way back.

 

the OP said he had his block heater plugged in.

I wish I could help but I've never seen -40 nor do I ever intend to . It sounds to me like that is REALLY FREAKIN COLD and there isn't a whole lot your truck can do to make it not cold. The fact that it starts easily at that temp I think would be a minor miracle.

My wife is from Skagway, AK... she tells me that it's not an uncommon practice to have a "windshield blanket" that you cover up with at night and remove in the morning to limit the amount of accumulated ice. Maybe something to think about... but again, I have no real experience with that level of cold. Good luck!

 

No, SEIC and remote start will not work together. There is no need anyway as the built in Cold Idle Kicker will take care of elevated idle (as needed) during remote start.

Now for just general idling in cold weather, not using remote start, I would recommend setting SEIC up for a 1,100 - 1,200ish RPM idle...

 

I would say try setting the ebrake so that it will kick up the idle after 3 minutes of idling at that temp..with the block heater (that ur already using) and the increased idle it should "help" plus increasing the run time to 15 minutes...unfortunately there cannot be any more coming from a factory vehicle because the epa has restricted it.

On a side not my last truck was a 06 6.0 psd and I had the viper smart start installed on it...you can use it with an Iphone android phones and I think blackberries...but you could start the truck from anywhere in the world no matter what your distance was from the truck as long as your cell had service and I had the run time set to 15 min max and it worked awesome..no restrictions besides the run time.

 

The Cold Idle Kicker strategy on the 11's is a little bit different in that there is no set time or specific RPM jump. The computer now determines all this on a as needed basis, so the amount of time before it kicks on and the RPM that it elevates to can vary. No ebrake is needed either...

 

Good to know..thank you

 

Thanks for the replies. Will be looking for a high quality 12 volt heater to hard wire in. Any suggestions?

 

12 volt heater? Does such a thing exist?

 

Here's a simple little one. Haven't used it myself but it's out there.

12 Volt Rubberized Heater with Fan