Remote start failure

[KBJ-Woodworks]

I recently bought a used Ram 1500 Laramie with just about everything on it...more bells and whistles than I know what to do with. One of those features is RAM app for my iPhone. It is supposed to start the truck, but only works about 5% of the time. It is my understanding that I should be able to start the truck, even though it's on a different side of the country than me. Does anyone know why it won't work, when I'm reasonably close by?

 

[vincentw56]

I recently bought a used Ram 1500 Laramie with just about everything on it...more bells and whistles than I know what to do with. One of those features is RAM app for my iPhone. It is supposed to start the truck, but only works about 5% of the time. It is my understanding that I should be able to start the truck, even though it's on a different side of the country than me. Does anyone know why it won't work, when I'm reasonably close by?

It works over a cellular connection. It won't get the commands with a weak cellular connection. Plus, it's got to go from your phone to their system to your truck, so if there's any interruption in any of those, it won't work.

 

[KBJ-Woodworks]

It works over a cellular connection. It won't get the commands with a weak cellular connection. Plus, it's got to go from your phone to their system to your truck, so if there's any interruption in any of those, it won't work.

Just seems like a really neat idea. My key fob works so much better. Thanks for explaining the lengthy time frame.

 

[dajogejr]

I believe U connect for remote commands such as start, lock, beep horn, etc., uses AT&T for cellular.
The truck itself will need a decent connection to AT&T network to receive the command.
Your mobile can use whomever, your wireless carrier, WiFi, whomever. It is a cloud based service.
As Vincent mentioned… phone to cloud based system, down to your truck. Most of the time I use my fob.
But it’s been nice catching a shuttle ride to my truck at the airport to have it either warmed up OR cooled down when I get to it…or if I’ve been parked far enough away like a mall, dinner, shopping, etc.

It will work other side of the country.
I’ve had to unlock my truck while on Vacation so someone could get something out of my truck, typically tools in my Ramboxes or to open the tailgate for the bed.

 

[John Kloehr]

Also need to have enough gas in the tank, and all doors need to be closed. A couple other items (see the owners manual) but these are the two most common reasons for any remote start "failure."

I got bit by the low gas reason a couple days ago, wanted to remote start as the truck had been out in the sun on a 98 degree day for hours.

 

[KBJ-Woodworks]

I believe U connect for remote commands such as start, lock, beep horn, etc., uses AT&T for cellular.
The truck itself will need a decent connection to AT&T network to receive the command.
Your mobile can use whomever, your wireless carrier, WiFi, whomever. It is a cloud based service.
As Vincent mentioned… phone to cloud based system, down to your truck. Most of the time I use my fob.
But it’s been nice catching a shuttle ride to my truck at the airport to have it either warmed up OR cooled down when I get to it…or if I’ve been parked far enough away like a mall, dinner, shopping, etc.

It will work other side of the country.
I’ve had to unlock my truck while on Vacation so someone could get something out of my truck, typically tools in my Ramboxes or to open the tailgate for the bed.

 

[KBJ-Woodworks]

I had asked about this a couple of months ago. My success was far too infrequent to believe it an AT&T problem or a low fuel problem. I took my truck to a dealership and said that it would work if it was a blue moon and at least three planets were in alignment. They understood. They loaded new software on my truck and when returned to me, it worked every time I tried it.
When working, it is a really wonderful feature. I don't have to remove the key fob from my pocket, which is harder to access than my phone.