[aldo90731]

My last four JKs had the factory remote start: it is a great feature. I like the convenience of having it integrated into the key, with no need to carry an additional fob.

Yes, they work from an effective range of 100 feet or less. When you are at ground level, sometimes you have to lift the fob high up with your arm to aim well at the Jeep for it to work. When I am on the road, I can start the Jeep from a farther distance through my hotel room window provided I am on a higher floor and have a clear shot of the Jeep.

It is a handy feature in extreme weather: it allows you to warm up the engine and cozy up the interior ahead of time. It only needs 15 mins to hit a comfortable temperature. If your Jeep has auto AC, it will maintain a nice, comfortable temperature. Unfortunately, the seat heaters don’t come on automatically on JKs as they do in newer FCA vehicles; and a steering wheel heater was not offered on JK.

Yes, it works as you describe: you turn on the engine remotely, when you get to the Jeep you unlock the doors —for security, the factory remote start always locks the doors first; you then insert the key, turn it into ON position and you are good to go. The transmission will remain locked until you insert and turn the key. Other features, like radio and navigation, will not work either until the key is inserted.

Note: with the factory system, if the low fuel or check engine lights are on, once remote start turns on the the engine, as a precaution it will shut off the engine automatically after only 15 seconds. It will keep doing this until you put gas or address the CEL. If a door is ajar, remote start will purposely not crank the motor.

Another safety precaution: remote start is not available on vehicles with manual transmission; the transmission has to be properly on “Park” for it to work.

Good luck.