The starting system consists of
- Starter relay
- Starter motor (including an integral starter solenoid)
Other components to be considered as part of starting system are
- Battery
- Battery cables
- Ignition switch and key lock cylinder
- Clutch pedal position switch (manual transmission)
- Park/neutral position switch (automatic transmission)
- Wire harnesses and connections.
The Battery, Starting, and Charging systems operate in conjunction with one another, and must be tested as a complete system. For correct operation of starting/charging systems, all components used in these 3 systems must perform within specifications. When attempting to diagnose any of these systems, it is important that you keep their interdependency in mind.
The diagnostic procedures used in each of these groups include the most basic conventional diagnostic methods, to the more sophisticated On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) built into the Powertrain Control Module (PCM). Use of an induction-type milliampere ammeter, volt/ohmmeter, battery charger, carbon pile rheostat (load tester), and 12-volt test lamp may be required.
Certain starting system components are monitored by the PCM and may produce a Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC).
DESCRIPTION
The Remote Starting System allows the vehicle to be started up to 300 feet (91 meters) away from the vehicle using the remote keyless entry key fob which is part of your ignition key. In order to remote start your vehicle, the hood, liftgate, and all of the doors must be closed. To remotely start your vehicle, press the "Lock" button on the key fob once, then within three seconds press the "Remote Start" button twice. To indicate that the vehicle is about to start, the parking lights will flash and the horn will sound briefly. Once the vehicle has started, the engine will run for 15 minutes. To cancel remote start, press the "Remote Start" button twice within two seconds. To enter the vehicle while the engine is running during a remote start, you must first unlock the vehicle using the "Unlock" button on the key fob. After the vehicle is unlocked, you have 60 seconds to enter the vehicle, insert the key into the ignition, and move it to the RUN position. Otherwise, the engine will cancel remote start and automatically turn off. Remote start will also cancel if any of the following occur
- If the engine stalls or RPM exceeds 2500.
- Any engine warning lamps come on.
- The hood is opened.
- The hazard switch is pressed.
- The transmission is moved out of P (Park).
The vehicle can be started remotely up to a maximum of two times. The vehicle is also allowed a maximum of one failed start, where the remote start sequence was initiated but cancelled before the engine begins to crank. After either of these conditions, or if the Vehicle Theft Alarm is alarming, or if the PANIC button was pressed, the vehicle must be reset by inserting a valid key into the ignition and moving it to the RUN position, then back to LOCK.
The starting system components form two separate circuits. A high-amperage feed circuit that feeds the starter motor between 150 and 350 amperes, and a low-amperage control circuit that operates on less than 20 amperes. The high-amperage feed circuit components include the battery, the battery cables, the contact disc portion of the starter solenoid, and the starter motor. The low-amperage control circuit components include the ignition switch, the park/neutral position switch, the starter relay, the electromagnetic windings of the starter solenoid, and the connecting wire harness components.
Battery voltage is supplied through the low-amperage control circuit to the coil battery terminal of the starter relay when the ignition switch is turned to the Start position. The park/neutral position switch is installed in series between the starter relay coil ground terminal and ground. This normally open switch prevents the starter relay from being energized and the starter motor from operating unless the automatic transmission gear selector is in the Neutral or Park positions.
When the starter relay coil is energized, the normally open relay contacts close. The relay contacts connect the relay common feed terminal to the relay normally open terminal. The closed relay contacts energize the starter solenoid coil windings.
The energized solenoid pull-in coil pulls in the solenoid plunger. The solenoid plunger pulls the shift lever in the starter motor. This engages the starter overrunning clutch and pinion gear with the starter ring gear.
As the solenoid plunger reaches the end of its travel, the solenoid contact disc completes the high-amperage starter feed circuit and energizes the solenoid plunger hold-in coil. Current now flows between the solenoid battery terminal and the starter motor, energizing the starter.
Once the engine starts, the overrunning clutch protects the starter motor from damage by allowing the starter pinion gear to spin faster than the pinion shaft. When the ignition switch is released to the On position, the starter relay coil is de-energized. This causes the relay contacts to open. When the relay contacts open, the starter solenoid plunger hold-in coil is de-energized.
When the solenoid plunger hold-in coil is de-energized, the solenoid plunger return spring returns the plunger to its relaxed position. This causes the contact disc to open the starter feed circuit, and the shift lever to disengage the overrunning clutch and pinion gear from the starter ring gear.
OPERATION - REMOTE STARTING SYSTEM
The remote starting system will allow the vehicle to be started from distances of up to approximately 300 feet away from the vehicle. It operates using the remote keyless entry key fob which is part of your ignition key.
In order to remote start your vehicle, the hood and all the doors must be closed.
To remote start your vehicle, press the REMOTE START button on the key fob twice within three seconds. To indicate that the vehicle is about to start, the parking lights will flash and the horn will sound briefly.
Once the vehicle has started, the engine will run for 15 minutes. To cancel remote start, press the REMOTE START button once.
The parking lamps will remain illuminated to indicate that the vehicle has remote started and the engine is running. The lamps will turn off when the ignition is turned to RUN or the remote start is cancelled.
To enter the vehicle while the engine is running during a remote start, you must first unlock the vehicle using the UNLOCK button on the key fob. After the vehicle is unlocked, you have 60 seconds to enter the vehicle, insert the key in the Ignition and move it to the RUN position, otherwise the engine will cancel remote start and automatically turn off.
Remote start will also cancel if any of the following occur
- If the engine stalls or RPM exceeds 2500
- Any engine warning lamps come on
- The hood is opened
- The hazard switch is pressed
- The transmission is moved out of park
- The brake pedal is pressed.
The vehicle can be started remotely up to a maximum of two times. The vehicle is also allowed a maximum of one failed start. This is where the remote start sequence was initiated but the engine stopped cranking without starting. After either of these conditions, or if the Vehicle Theft Alarm is alarming, or if the PANIC button was pressed, the vehicle must be reset by inserting a valid key into the ignition and moving it to the RUN position, then back to LOCK.