The other knock on remote car starters is that they can damage a vehicle’s battery. This seems to be based on urban myths and bad science. Starting a car is starting a car, and the process of engine ignition doesn’t change when you do it remotely. There is one instance, however, where a remote starter could needlessly tax your battery.
Can a remote car starter kill my battery?
However, it is still possible for a remote car starter to consume too much power from your battery. In this case, we highly recommend visiting your Compustar or Arctic Start installer if your vehicle's battery repeatedly dies after you've installed a remote start system.
Do remote start systems use battery power?
Remote starters are no different. All remote starters, whether from Compustar, Arctic Start, or another brand, draw power from your battery. Even while your engine is off, a remote start system still draws current while it waits to receive a command from your remote fob.
Why won’t my remote start work when the battery is off?
If your remote starter were to completely shut off and not use ANY battery power, then it would be impossible for the system to receive and execute a lock or remote start command sent from your remote. Compustar and Arctic Start systems are made of high quality components that reduce the occurrence of parasitic current draw.
What should I do if my battery dies after remote start?
In this case, we highly recommend visiting your Compustar or Arctic Start installer if your vehicle's battery repeatedly dies after you've installed a remote start system.
How fast can you recharge a car battery?
Why do car makers use batteries?
What does every electrical system in a car draw power from?
Do remote starters draw power?
Does remote starting charge a car battery?
Can a remote start car battery consume too much power?
See more
Does battery charge while on remote start?
Remote Start Your Engine While remote starting won't recharge your battery, it will help with some of the other issues that lead to battery failure. Remote starting and letting your engine idle for just a few minutes will warm up the fluids that may have thickened in the cold.
Can my remote start cause problems?
Remote starters increase engine wear and tear. This is a common misconception about remote starters. It's unclear why people are lead to believe this is the case, but it's untrue. The consensus among mechanics is that remote starters are good for your engine, especially for people with turbos or diesel engines.
Can a car remote drain a car battery?
“A key fob will constantly try to communicate with the car. And that does cause a slight drain on the battery, but generally that won't completely drain a healthy car battery,” says Mike Monticello, Consumer Reports' road test manager.
Can a remote start mess up your alternator?
I have heard from several different mechanics that remote starts eventually ruin the battery, alternator and starter, due to the way it draws power. Thats what they said, and in my last car which was a 4th gen, I had the remote start and all of these things did end up failing.
How many times can you remote start your car?
Any vehicle started with the remote engine starter can idle for a total of 20 minutes. Automatic engine shutdown occurs after 10 minutes, but the vehicle may be remotely started as many times as you wish for an additional 10 minutes.
Does remote start use more gas?
There is a myth going around that remote start functionality will increase your gas consumption. This is not entirely true. Yes, you'll burn up more fuel if you turn your car on and let it run for a half hour or more while you get ready in the morning.
Does remote start Turn on heat?
Remote starters can turn on your heated seats Your remote starter can turn on your heated seats. For many vehicles, our team of highly skilled installers can build you a circuit to engage your seat heaters. We can even set some of our systems to turn on automatically at a certain temperature when you remote-start it.
How do you warm up your car with remote start?
Simply pre-set your heating knobs before exiting your vehicle, and then press a button on your key fob to start your car. Your heater will begin raising the temperature inside your vehicle. Just wait a few minutes in the warmth of your home or office before sitting in the driver's seat.
Does remote start add value to car?
In any event that you decide to sell your car, a remote start system can increase its value, because many people know the convenience and comfort that a remote starter system can provide.
What happens if your remote starter shuts off?
If your remote starter were to completely shut off and not use ANY battery power, then it would be impossible for the system to receive and execute a lock or remote start command sent from your remote.
Why do car makers use batteries?
When vehicle makers like Ford or Subaru manufacture their vehicles, they outfit their vehicles with batteries intended to support the electronics installed off the production line. Often times, vehicle makers will use a battery with as low operating capacity as possible so as to reduce cost, weight, etc.
How fast does an alternator need to be to recharge?
In order to truly recharge your battery, you must exceed speeds where your RPM is above 2000 rotations per minute.
What does every electrical system in a car draw power from?
Whether your vehicle is loaded with aftermarket tech or runs bone-stock, every electrical system in your vehicle draws power from your battery. Some electrical systems will fluctuate in amperage draw depending on the vehicle's state.
When should you consider your vehicle battery health?
Whenever you add any electronics to your vehicle, you should consider your vehicle's current battery health. Jan 28, 2020.
Does an alternator keep the battery alive?
At these speeds, your vehicle's alternator is doing enough to not only keep the battery alive, but it's also recharging the battery for future use. If you are planning on keeping your vehicle in long-term storage, please consider a trickle charger, or battery maintainer, to keep your battery charged enough to start your engine. Properties.
Do remote starters draw power?
Remote starters are no different. All remote starters, whether from Compustar, Arctic Start, or another brand, draw power from your battery. Even while your engine is off, a remote start system still draws current while it waits to receive a command from your remote fob. If your remote starter were to completely shut off ...
Introduction
My Montana-based son mentioned that his wife's 2016 Honda CR-V (Figure 1) will not turn-over after sitting in the garage for five days. To be honest, there was a part of me that wasn't surprised in the slightest that the car wouldn't start.
Background
Cold cranking amperes (CCA) is the amount of current a battery can provide at 0 F (−18 C). ( Source)
Analysis
Figure 5 shows my analysis of the battery capacity. What I calculated is that the battery's capacity has reduced by ~75%. This results in a large decrease in the cranking amps available (justification in a later post) and results in slow or no cranking when attempting to start the car.
Conclusion
I am afraid that an additional parasitic battery load of 70 mA is enough to drain the battery sufficiently after five days to make starting difficult or impossible. This reminds me of a battery problem I had in my youth where a glove compartment light did not turn off and would slowly drain my battery.
Appendix A: Computer Parasitic Leakage Example
Figure 6 shows a manual excerpt that illustrates how modern cars have computers that constantly drain charge from their batteries.
How fast can you recharge a car battery?
In order to truly recharge your battery, you must exceed speeds where your RPM is above 2000 rotations per minute. At these speeds, your vehicle's alternator is doing enough to not only keep the battery alive, but it's also recharging the battery for future use.
Why do car makers use batteries?
When vehicle makers like Ford or Subaru manufacture their vehicles, they outfit their vehicles with batteries intended to support the electronics installed off the production line. Often times, vehicle makers will use a battery with as low operating capacity as possible so as to reduce cost, weight, etc.
What does every electrical system in a car draw power from?
Whether your vehicle is loaded with aftermarket tech or runs bone-stock, every electrical system in your vehicle draws power from your battery. Some electrical systems will fluctuate in amperage draw depending on the vehicle's state.
Do remote starters draw power?
Remote starters are no different. All remote starters, whether from Compustar, Arctic Start, or another brand, draw power from your battery. Even while your engine is off, a remote start system still draws current while it waits to receive a command from your remote fob. If your remote starter were to completely shut off ...
Does remote starting charge a car battery?
It is a common misconception that remote starting your vehicle will charge your car battery. The idea that some drivers have is that if the engine is running, so is the alternator which charges the battery.
Can a remote start car battery consume too much power?
However, it is still possible for a remote car starter to consume too much power from your battery. In this case, we highly recommend visiting your Compustar or Arctic Start installer if your vehicle's battery repeatedly dies after you've installed a remote start system.

Introduction
Background
- Definitions
Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) 1. Cold cranking amperes (CCA) is the amount of current a battery can provide at 0 F (−18 C). (Source) Parasitic Current Drain (iP) 1. Parasitic current drain can be defined as any electrical device that draws electric current when the ignition key is turned off. In … - Battery Capacity Versus Temperature
Figure 2 shows the impact of temperature on the capacity of a lead-acid traction battery.
Analysis
- Figure 5 shows my analysis of the battery capacity. What I calculated is that the battery’s capacity has reduced by ~75%. This results in a large decrease in the cranking amps available (justification in a later post) and results in slow or no cranking when attempting to start the car.
Conclusion
- I am afraid that an additional parasitic battery load of 70 mA is enough to drain the battery sufficiently after five days to make starting difficult or impossible. This reminds me of a battery problem I had in my youth where a glove compartment light did not turn off and would slowly drain my battery. I could fix the light problem, but the remote starter must draw current to detec…
Appendix A: Computer Parasitic Leakage Example
- Figure 6 shows a manual excerpt that illustrates how modern cars have computers that constantly drain charge from their batteries.