Just had the Lexus Remote Starter installed in my ES 350 yesterday (yes, I did enjoy my free breakfast for those of you who have been following my Enform vs Entune thread). However, I'm really disappointed in the range. I literally have to be standing outside my front door for the thing to work. You have to press the lock button three times to make it work, holding it down for several seconds the third time. The "lock" feature works from inside the house (I can see the lights flash), but the remote starter doesn't work until I'm very close to the car (within 20 feet) and outside the front door. The whole purpose of the remote starter is so I wouldn't have to go outside to start the car on a cold day. Kind of defeats the purpose, eh?

Anyone else have a similar experience with a Lexus remote starter (even on a different model)? Is there any way to increase the range?

 

Hi Jetman, how much did you pay for the starter at your lexus dealer? I see you're from NY, mind sharing the dealer's name?

Also, did you install it on the '13 es?

 

I believe it was a little over $500 installed at Northtown Lexus in Amherst, NY (near Buffalo). I had the cost of the starter built into the purchase price. They had to order the remote starter. I had installed about a week and a half after I took delivery of the car.

 

My dealer in NJ is offering the OEM remote starter for the '13 ES 350 for $340 + tax installed. My wife and I are interested but I'm a bit skeptical at the short range. Knowing what you know now, would you do it?

 

On other Toyota part remote installs,the car shuts down when stepping on the brake which is annoying.
Does that happen with the Smart Start too?

 

I read that the ES shuts down when any of the doors are open. I can live with that but if the range is very short, it's practically useless. Hoping other remote starter owners can chime in....

 

Ok,this may sound silly but I've read if you place the remote under your chin and press the button,your body helps extend the range.
I don't know if this is a myth but I've read it a few times.

 

i've had after market remote starters on 2 previous ES vehicles both 2011. it was from the Lexus catalog,,, loved it,,, it had very good range and didn't shut off until i got in the car and touched something. i have a factory remote starter in my 2013 GS350 F Sport that was already in the car (port installed) and the range sucks. i can start the car from in the house,,, i can even unlock it from pretty far but 85/90% of the time it won't start from a far distance. so yeah,,, the factory remote sucks.

 

You're getting a great deal but, knowing what I know now, I probably would've gone with an aftermarket starter. I liked the idea of not having to put a second remote on my key ring (the Lexus remote start works with the factory key fob), but the short range is a killer, IMHO. I naively thought the OEM starter would be very good, but I was wrong. I've had remote starters on my vehicles for a good number of years (both OEM and aftermarket) and the Lexus OEM starter has the worst range of any of them.

 

The engine does shut down as soon as you open any door. First time I've ever seen that in any vehicle I've had with a remote starter. Not a deal-breaker, but the short range probably is.

 

Just tried it from my kitchen window. Car is about 20 feet away. Didn't work for me...

 

Jetman, when you clicked on the lock (or unlock button - not sure which activates the starter after 3 clicks) from kitchen window, 20 feet away, did the car at least acknowledge the lock (or unlock) command upon first click or second click?

 

Yes. Upon pressing the lock button the first two times, the lights flash each time, showing that the vehicle received the command and has locked the door. On the third press (which you have to hold for several seconds to engage the remote starter), I only get a single light flash, showing that the car received the lock command. However, I do not get the multi-flash, showing that the command to start the car was received. I need to get much closer to the car for that command to work. I actually have to get outside my front door to be close enough for the remote starter to engage. Kind of defeats the purpose of even having a remote starter...

 

I can deal with the range of the remote. However, my dealer wants $700.00 to install a remote starter on my 13 ES350. I would like to know the name of the dealer for $340.00. I'm across the Delaware in PA. Please let me know.

 

Ray Catena Lexus of Freehold (Freehold, NJ)