Can the key fob alone (without the paid plan) remote start the 4Runner?

[Nodak]

you can run it 10 mins per remote start not to exceed 2 remote starts via either the fob or app combined. once you hit that 2 remote starts, you must unlock and open a door to reset the lockout max of 2 remote starts.

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[ChasingTrail]

you can run it 10 mins per remote start not to exceed 2 remote starts via either the fob or app combined. once you hit that 2 remote starts, you must unlock and open a door to reset the lockout max of 2 remote starts.

Thank you for the detailed reply!

 

[bkw777]

You do NOT need Connected Services for the keyfob remote start. Not ever, not even once to register or activate or accept terms or anything like that.

https://www.4runner6g.com/forum/thr...rims-of-2025-4runner-6th-gen.2288/#post-75396

I never registered anything, never installed the app, never made any account, rejected everything etc... and even physically disconnected the module that provides all the telematics & internmet (cell) connection, and the keyfob remote start works fine.

But at 2 different dealers, one for my wife's '25 prius and the other for my '25 runner,the sales droidsimply thinks it's required simply because 2 reasons: 1: Toyota *really wants* you to register so they can eventually sell you subscription services and so they can collect data and sell thateven if you never pay for any services. So they just tell the dealers and sales people to to say it's needed. 2: most people don't care and don't argue and just do whatever the dealer says, so the salesdroid probably has never once even tried to do anything without doing it the normal fully connected way.

For my 4runner the guy started arguing and went off to consult with someone else. He was totally baffled and flummuxxed that I was saying "no I'm not doing that". But in the end, everything worked just fine. (Everything I cared about like android auto and the keyfob etc) He really thought it was required to install the app and create an account and accept all the terms and stuff on the infotainment screen. It is not. At all. Even once. No "for 10 years after first registering" or any crap like that.

 

[MikeUtah]

The press lock, lock, and hold 3rd lock works on my 2025 4Runner (no subscription to anything).
Question - Can the 10 minutes be extended by a program change? Yes, I understand you can do 10 minutes and 10 minutes again but that is a pain in the a**.

 

[Tarekith]

I don;t see that option in Carista if that's what you're asking.

 

[MikeUtah]

Yes, that's what I was asking. Thanks!

 

[JayTech]

You do NOT need Connected Services for the keyfob remote start. Not ever, not even once to register or activate or accept terms or anything like that.

https://www.4runner6g.com/forum/thr...rims-of-2025-4runner-6th-gen.2288/#post-75396

I never registered anything, never installed the app, never made any account, rejected everything etc... and even physically disconnected the module that provides all the telematics & internmet (cell) connection, and the keyfob remote start works fine.

But at 2 different dealers, one for my wife's '25 prius and the other for my '25 runner,the sales droidsimply thinks it's required simply because 2 reasons: 1: Toyota *really wants* you to register so they can eventually sell you subscription services and so they can collect data and sell thateven if you never pay for any services. So they just tell the dealers and sales people to to say it's needed. 2: most people don't care and don't argue and just do whatever the dealer says, so the salesdroid probably has never once even tried to do anything without doing it the normal fully connected way.

For my 4runner the guy started arguing and went off to consult with someone else. He was totally baffled and flummuxxed that I was saying "no I'm not doing that". But in the end, everything worked just fine. (Everything I cared about like android auto and the keyfob etc) He really thought it was required to install the app and create an account and accept all the terms and stuff on the infotainment screen. It is not. At all. Even once. No "for 10 years after first registering" or any crap like that.

You unfortunately DO need it. As per Toyota themselves, "We appreciate your inquiry, as we would like to take this opportunity to explain the short range key fob remote start, requires an active DCM(Data Communication Module). The DCM is active during the Connected Services trial periods, including Service and Safety Connect trials, or with a paid subscription. Should you choose to let your Remote Connect service expire, the short range key fob remote start should continue to work until the expiry of your 10 year Connected Services trials, barring any service interruptions to service or functionality. Please note, waiving your Connected Services will deactivate the DCM. This will disable your Connected Services and disallow the use of the short range key fob remote start."

So you can decline or waive remote connect and service connect but still have the 10 year Connected services trial active which will let you remote start your vehicle with the fob for at least 10 years. This makes sense to me because the average vehicle owner these days does not keep a vehicle longer than 10 years so, as long as you have the vehicle and don't waive them completely you should always have remote start.

 

[MikeUtah]

This is my understanding of Toyota’s Connected Services for 2025 vehicles. Please correct as needed!

2025 Toyota Connected Services**:
 Safety Connect (free 'Trial' up to 10 years)
• Emergency Assistance Button
• Enhanced Roadside Assistance
• Automatic Collision Notification
• Stolen Vehicle Locator
 Service Connect
 Drive Connect
 Remote Connect

Subscription Bundles:
 Go Anywhere (Remote Connect + Drive Connect): $15/month
 Music Lover (Remote Connect + Integrated Streaming): $15/month
 Premium (Remote Connect + Drive Connect + Integrated Streaming): $25/month
 Wi-Fi add-0n Connect ($25/month)

**Activation:
You need to set up your Toyota Owners Account and activate the service through the Toyota app to begin your free trial.

 

[MikeUtah]

I might add to the above post that you can do the following things via the Toyota App:

• Remote lock, start and unlock
• Check status of vehicle (tire pressure, doors, windows)
• Health of vehicle (safety recalls, vehicle alerts etc.)
• Vehicle location

Again, correct me as needed but you can do all the above without a subscription.

 

[JayTech]

I might add to the above post that you can do the following things via the Toyota App:

• Remote lock, start and unlock
• Check status of vehicle (tire pressure, doors, windows)
• Health of vehicle (safety recalls, vehicle alerts etc.)
• Vehicle location

Again, correct me as needed but you can do all the above without a subscription.

You can do all those things as long as there is some form of active subscription or that 10 year trial is still active. Without any kind of trial or subscription, the DCM will disable and the app will not be able to communicate with the vehicle(This will not affect Car play or Android Auto).

 

[MikeUtah]

Totally agree that you need an active subscription or the 10 year trial. Interesting that a "Trial" is up to 10 years!

 

[bkw777]

You unfortunately DO need it. As per Toyota themselves, "We appreciate your inquiry, as we would like to take this opportunity to explain the short range key fob remote start, requires an active DCM(Data Communication Module). The DCM is active during the Connected Services trial periods, including Service and Safety Connect trials, or with a paid subscription. Should you choose to let your Remote Connect service expire, the short range key fob remote start should continue to work until the expiry of your 10 year Connected Services trials, barring any service interruptions to service or functionality. Please note, waiving your Connected Services will deactivate the DCM. This will disable your Connected Services and disallow the use of the short range key fob remote start."

So you can decline or waive remote connect and service connect but still have the 10 year Connected services trial active which will let you remote start your vehicle with the fob for at least 10 years. This makes sense to me because the average vehicle owner these days does not keep a vehicle longer than 10 years so, as long as you have the vehicle and don't waive them completely you should always have remote start.

I never even started any free trial in the first place. I never installed the app once.

I have factory reset the data in the infotainment like when you sell the car (removed the preloaded dealer info as well as any owner/driver info). The truck was only at the dealer for about a day and I already "owned" it (deposit) before that, and then I paid cash that day. So there is nothing from the dealer or any other driver in there. No one else ever registered it.

The DCM is physically disconnected. It does not receive power.

My fob remote start works.

There is no way for the dcm to keep track of any start and stop dates, or allow or disallow anything, when it is a dead brick.

 

[MaximumBob]

My garage is about 100 feet from my house and I usually have to open the front door and reach out with the FOB to start it.

Weird but true - if you hold a fob against your head, you greatly increase the transmission range. This also works with a jug of water.

 

[JayTech]

I never even started any free trial in the first place. I never installed the app once.

I have factory reset the data in the infotainment like when you sell the car (removed the preloaded dealer info as well as any owner/driver info). The truck was only at the dealer for about a day and I already "owned" it (deposit) before that, and then I paid cash that day. So there is nothing from the dealer or any other driver in there. No one else ever registered it.

The DCM is physically disconnected. It does not receive power.

My fob remote start works.

There is no way for the dcm to keep track of any start and stop dates, or allow or disallow anything, when it is a dead brick.

This information is directly from Toyota. I opened a case to get the information as I work at a Toyota dealer. Whatever you unplugged, it is highly likely that it was NOT the DCM. The DCM is what the key fob communicates with to remote start the vehicle so if it is unplugged it is physically impossible to remote start the vehicle. You can go into the menus and decline any option and that will NOT affect anything to do with the fob remote start(Just phone remote start) but disconnecting the module will break remote start completely. We have had issues with DCM updates causing remote start to stop working and had to go through a whole process of reconfiguring everything just to get the fobs to work again(Even had to replace some of them).

 

[bkw777]

This information is directly from Toyota. I opened a case to get the information as I work at a Toyota dealer. Whatever you unplugged, it is highly likely that it was NOT the DCM. The DCM is what the key fob communicates with to remote start the vehicle so if it is unplugged it is physically impossible to remote start the vehicle. You can go into the menus and decline any option and that will NOT affect anything to do with the fob remote start(Just phone remote start) but disconnecting the module will break remote start completely. We have had issues with DCM updates causing remote start to stop working and had to go through a whole process of reconfiguring everything just to get the fobs to work again(Even had to replace some of them).

The location and function of the DCM is a known thing.
(behind the phone charger wall in front of the gear shift, same as tacoma)

But hey let's say I am the moron you presume I am.
Well the next problem is the bypass kit plugs can't fit any other plugs in the vehicle even if you tried.

Dang, what now? Will you claim that box is not the DCM?

I mean it has coaxial antenna connections for some reason, and taps the microphones for some reason, and the mics in fact stop working without either that module or the bypass kit connected, exactly as expected for the DCM, and nothing else in the truck broke or stopped working except the cell connection, but don't be deceived by silly coincidental things like that that prove nothing.

I'm sure it still can't be the DCM. It must be for crawl control. Since I don't have crawl control, you could disconnect a module for crawl control and nothing would break. It's unclear why that would need either antennas or mics, but still that must be it.

One thing is absolutely certain, no customer service phone drone, especially from Toyota, has ever said anything either incomplete or in error.

https://www.autoharnesshouse.com/store/AHH-DCM77

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