Spontaneous starting
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Joined: Jul 2007
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Spontaneous starting
Just got woke up by the wife at 4:00 am. The truck started in the driveway (2003 f-150). This has happened just this one time. Bought the truck used about 9 months ago and it does have a remote starter on it - although the one remote we have is defective and does not work.
Has anyone heard of something like that before? If so, any idea what the cause could be?
Cheers,
Paul.
Has anyone heard of something like that before? If so, any idea what the cause could be?
Cheers,
Paul.
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 592
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I've heard of it quite a bit.
First make sure that nothing could have hit the start button on your remotes. I had one in my work pants and they were on the floor and the dog walked across them and it started the van. Being that it happened just once in 9 months (as far as you know) it really seems coincidental. Does yours shut off after 15 minutes automatically? If so, maybe I wouldn't worry about it unless either it does it all the time, or it's in an enclosed attached garage.
Otherwise, it either received someone else's start command, (unlikely but possible) or the module is bad. I certainly wouldn't trust it anymore.
Is this an aftermarket remote start? I don't know if Ford puts them in their vehicles as I've never had a factory one. I've installed Bulldog's on all of mine.
First make sure that nothing could have hit the start button on your remotes. I had one in my work pants and they were on the floor and the dog walked across them and it started the van. Being that it happened just once in 9 months (as far as you know) it really seems coincidental. Does yours shut off after 15 minutes automatically? If so, maybe I wouldn't worry about it unless either it does it all the time, or it's in an enclosed attached garage.
Otherwise, it either received someone else's start command, (unlikely but possible) or the module is bad. I certainly wouldn't trust it anymore.
Is this an aftermarket remote start? I don't know if Ford puts them in their vehicles as I've never had a factory one. I've installed Bulldog's on all of mine.
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Thanks for the reply. The remote was hanging from the key hook in the front hall. No chance that it was pressed by accident.
I do believe it shuts of automatically, but I'm not 100% sure of that (it is an aftermarket installation that was on the truck when I got it - no manual on the remote starter).
there is a fellow just a few houses down from me that also has an F150 - but this was at 4:00 in the morning and seems a bit early for him to be up. I'll check with him and maybe try his remote to see if it does anything.
One concern I did have was if the original unit had more than 1 remote - where are the others...?
It's a bit comforting to hear that the problem is not unheard of and could be caused by a faulty part.
Cheers,
-Paul.
I do believe it shuts of automatically, but I'm not 100% sure of that (it is an aftermarket installation that was on the truck when I got it - no manual on the remote starter).
there is a fellow just a few houses down from me that also has an F150 - but this was at 4:00 in the morning and seems a bit early for him to be up. I'll check with him and maybe try his remote to see if it does anything.
One concern I did have was if the original unit had more than 1 remote - where are the others...?
It's a bit comforting to hear that the problem is not unheard of and could be caused by a faulty part.
Cheers,
-Paul.
MSEE
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Austin, TX
What a story! Usually people post here because their truck won't start. Yours starts even when you don't want it to, ironic huh? Do you think it's possible someone was trying to steal it, got it started up, and maybe a cop drove by, or something scared the thief off enough that they didn't want to be seen driving off? Who knows. Best of luck pinpointing the problem.
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lol - never thought about the irony. Add to the picture me running out into the rain in my skivvies, bare feet and armed for the batter's box.
Theft is my main concern - but the vehicle was not forced in anyway and the dogs didn't react at all. The truck does have an anti-theft system and will also shutdown if the brake is pressed without the key being put in.
I think I will assume it is a faulty module for now and see how I can deal with that.
Cheers,
-Paul.
Theft is my main concern - but the vehicle was not forced in anyway and the dogs didn't react at all. The truck does have an anti-theft system and will also shutdown if the brake is pressed without the key being put in.
I think I will assume it is a faulty module for now and see how I can deal with that.
Cheers,
-Paul.
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Joined: Feb 2006
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I've never been able to start anyone's vehicle with my remotes, but with one of my Bulldog remote lock/start remotes, I have been able to unlock another Ford that had OEM remote locks. Happened to notice it in a mall parking lot when I locked my vehicle once. The owner of the vehicle was there and I had them try and unlock mine and they couldn't. After installing the remote start/locks in my 2000, I disable the OEM remote locks because of that. Mine won't unlock by the OEM remotes if the van is running so the OEM remote is useless to me because I always use the remote start as I'm walking to the vehicle anyway.
