Hi. We are able to start the engine once for 10 minutes. The "extend" feature does not work. It is below 20 outside so this isn't warming the car much.

If we try to extend or start after it cuts off, we get this message. What does it mean?

"Maximum start requests reached. Please reset by turning the car on then off. Remote engine start not executed."

 

You have to execute the extend command before the 10 minutes runs out and given how slow the app is to communicate with the car you need to take that into account. I usually wait until I have more than 3 minutes left and then execute the extend command. The remaining time gets added to the extra 10 minutes.

 

You didn't say if you are using the FOB to start the engine, or the AcuraLink App.

I don't know about the app, but the FOB can can only be used to extend the time once, for a total run time of 20 minutes. I expect the app would have the same limitation.

Are you saying you get that message on the very first time you request an extension, or is it perhaps after the 2nd extension is requested?

BTW, using the FOB you can send the 2nd request immediately after the engine starts, no need to wait until the time is about to expire.

 

The message he’s getting only comes from the app. The app will allow up to 30 minutes of total run time.
Also with the app you don’t have to wait until the time is about to expire, you can also extend the time at any moment after the first start.

 

Yes we just used the app. In our case, trying the extend command at various times gave the same message. Extend did not work once. Total run time was 10 minutes. Any idea?

 

Hmm. can't edit.

2nd reply. Our FOB only has lock, unlock and trunk hold buttons.

 

The only other idea I have is to delete the app and re-install the app or you could try their customer service number on Tue since Mon is a federal holiday.

 

I don’t get this message but I will say pre-starting the car does little to warm it anyway. The engine temp doesn’t seem to get high enough after idling for 20 minutes to actually warm the cabin. And my seat warmers don’t kick in until I actually start the car.

 

That’s strange, when I remote start from the app or fob my seats are always on and warm no matter what setting they were when I turned the car off and the cabin is usually comfortable when I get in. On one or two occasions it wasn’t but it was butt monkey cold outside on those days and after 5 minutes of driving the cabin warmed up quickly.

 

I only tried extending it beyond 10 minutes once and got the same result. Either way, the car doesn't really get that warm idling in place. The engine gets warm and the exhaust actually overheats but everything else is stone cold. Transmission fluid, brakes, tires, etc., are all still cold. The car warms up faster if you just get in and drive slowly at first.

Seat heaters really only get warm when there's an ass on the seat.

 

Next day and the app won't let it start, just returning the same "maximum start requests..." error. Offloading the app and reinstalling did not correct this.

Will have to brave the 8 degrees and start it manually.

 

Are you using an iPhone or Android? Are you on your free trial of the app service or paying annually? You need to call their customer care number. Something is wrong on their end.

 

If your subscription is valid and in effect, that shouldn't be happening. Call customer support from the app.

 

I called support, which answered quickly and was helpful. She said I need to go out and start it once and then turn it off. For some reason this one time manual start was needed. I did it and it seems okay now. Thanks much for help here!

 

I agree. My wife now starts it and sets an 8 minute timer on the stove. When it goes off, she sends the extend command for 18 minutes total. Definitely better than 10 minutes

 

Glad to see you got some resolution. Simple fix.

 

If you're using the app for remote start it's also very easy to set a timer on the phone to remind you to extend after 8 or so minutes. Siri on an iPhone will do it. I'm sure there's something on Androids that will do the same.

 

I use iPhone with the latest firmware, so I can't necessarily speak on the Android app quality.

You don't necessarily need to extend before the first 10 minutes is up like many are suggesting, but I recommend not trying to extend if there's ~30 seconds left on the timer. That's when I've encountered issues most frequently. You're better off letting it turn off, waiting a moment, and starting it again. I also learned during a call with customer service complaining about that app that if you issue commands too quickly after the app loads, car turns off, or a failed action, it will continue to fail. It's best to give it a rest for 5-10 seconds before issuing the next command.

 

Try setting the seat warmers to auto. Next time you start the car via the app/fob they should be on.


Regards ----------

 

You shouldn't have to leave the seats on AUTO.

I always leave the heated seats off, not auto. If I start the car with the remote app and it's cold, the front seat heaters come on, usually at level 1 or 2.

 

Did anyone try Amazon Alexa to link with Acura link? "Alexa, start my car!" I was wondering if it's even worth to link my account.

 

I haven't found an answer for this anywhere, and it was only this morning that I discovered my 2017 ILX had remote engine start factory installed (dealership never even gave me a proper run through of all the options, including "Oh by the way, this car doesn't have a spare tire. You'll find out the hard way... eventually.") through a lucky Youtube video find.

The question: Why can't I remote start the car more than once? Example, it's only -40C here right now (no big deal). Block heater is plugged in, so it WILL start in the morning though it isn't happy about it. Anyway, now that I know I can do it remotely, in this weather it's helpful to start it and let it warm up for 10-20 mins every few hours. Like tonight, it'll fire up like it was warm outside - but I've already remote started it this afternoon so I'll have to go out to the car and do it myself. But why can't I remote start it again after a few hours? The key fob just gives me a red light, which is typically reserved for "out of range" (I am not out of range).

In short: I can start my car once with the key fob, and extend the run time an extra 10 mins, but four hours later, if I want to start the car, I have to go out to the car, get in, and push the start button. Then shut off the car, and that resets the remote starter. How is that convenient? Is there no work-around?

 

Pretty much all modern cars with remote start limit the total remote start run time before requiring a normal start cycle. It seems to be about 20 minutes or 2 remote start cycles.

 

It is likely because they only expect you to start it before you are leaving. 10 minutes for a normal day and 20 minutes for a freezing day. For those of us that want the car to be ready "just in case" (i.e. volunteer emergency personnel), it isn't as useful. On a day like today with freezing temps, I start it once in the AM, extend it once, then will need to go out to start it manually. But I don't fault the system for that. I hear electric cars (maybe only when plugged in) can keep the car at a certain temp all the time? Even in a garage!

 

Thanks for the info.

I feel like a lot of these engineers who make these decisions don't do a lot of real world driving in real world conditions (or they live where the weather barely changes in any notable sense). I just talked to a friend who has 2010 and 2014 (American) vehicles. His don't do this. His start whenever he commands them to start. I'm not a fan of most North American cars, but they get some things right. This car is now too old to get an after market unit installed (waste of money at this point, but at least they'd do as they're told), but it adds to the list of things I don't like about this car. I wish I could have kept my 2013 V6 Accord coupe 6MT.. It came with a spare tire.

 

I agree with that (bolded) statement. Of course, that makes it clear to me that Acura engineers don't really think about where these cars might be going, and how some of us require them to operate. The side mirror blindspot sensors also malfunction when it gets cold out, and I don't mean they stop working. I mean they start sensing things that aren't there. I really only use them for initial lane change decisions, but I still shoulder check as one should (never rely solely on such tech while driving!) before changing lanes.

I also tested the 10+10 feature, as I noticed other owners saying you can't just start the car, then add another 10 mins and it'll take that into account and run for 20. It does in fact ignore the previous start and reset to 10 minutes, which to me is another engineering fail. They should have allowed a person to tack on the extra 10 minutes without anxiously waiting 9 minutes before doing so. Attention to detail is important in my life. It seems American cars, which I don't drive, will let you remote start whenever you want, as many times as needed.

Fortunately it's warming up here now (this is the last truly ugly day for extreme cold). Temperature jumps about 20C (in the right direction) starting today... lol. I will still want to warm up the car when it's -19C, but that's where 10 mins will be fine and I won't need to start it between starts (trust me, it helped when it was -40C). And finally I'll be able to get into a nice cooled down car in the summer months! So there's that..

I want to thank the two responses to my question, as it was super helpful in knowing what I have with this car. Acura of Red Deer had a poorly trained sales team and didn't even tell me my car HAD a remote start feature, or a spare tire for that matter. Their explanation, AFTER a situation where I needed a spare tire, was that "other car companies have gone in this direction" and my first thought was, "Well, hopefully none of them start driving off bridges."

 

They updated the app a while ago. It's a lot faster now. I get responses in less than 15 seconds or so. Does anyone know how to get rid of the $#%&@ myQ offer? "Dismiss" doesn't work.