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Your 2019 Toyota RAV4 and Other Models May Have Remote Engine Start, and You Might Not Know It

The 2019 Toyota RAV4, as well as Camry and Avalon models, are filled with an abundance of safety features and new technologies. But, did you know your new Toyota may already have remote engine start and you did not even know it? Here is what you should know.
2019 Toyota RAV4 and Jeff Teague with Remote Start Key

Toyota has taken great measures in the past few years to ensure its customers have the latest safety features and technological wonders in their new rides. This is especially true with the Camry, which was redesigned in 2018, and the all-new 2019 Avalon and all-new 2019 RAV4.

One of these features allows drivers to start their cars remotely using either their phone or their key fob. Some might already know about the phone feature, but very few people realize they can start their Toyota’s using their key fob as well.

Toyota RAV4 Remote Connect starts your car… and so much more

The first way you can start your new Toyota is on your phone through a new application called Remote Connect. With Remote Connect, you can perform many useful functions such as starting and turning off your car, seeing how many miles until you run out of gas, and locking and unlocking your car doors. This is all with the touch of a few buttons on your phone. Did I mention starting and turning off your car? Oh yes, that’s right I did.

It works quite well, as I tested it out while I was on vacation last fall. I was successfully able to start my 2018 Toyota Camry that was parked in my driveway in North Carolina – all the way from my hotel room in Las Vegas. Not bad at all Toyota. Not bad at all.

In order to successfully use this Remote Connect engine start/stop feature, you must have an active Remote Connect service tied to your new Camry or Avalon or RAV4. Remote Connect is available on many 2019 Toyota vehicles with a multimedia system of Audio Plus or higher. Toyota gives customers a 6-month free trial at purchase, and then it costs $80 per year for the service once the free trial expires.

Watch the benefits of Toyota Remote Connect and click to subscribe to Torque News for daily automotive news reports.

I strongly recommend that anyone looking for a new Toyota should consider purchasing one utilizing Remote Connect services. This is something I use every day, starting my car from my office at the end of the day so it will not be 95 degrees in the car when I get to it. I also can check vehicle status from my phone any time during the day to see if I need to fill my gas tank on the way home or not. Thanks Remote Connect.

I’ll take “How to remote engine start using my key fob” for $400 please Alex

Not only are some new Toyota models equipped with the Remote Connect phone app, but you can also start and stop your car using your key fob too. This is a life hack that some people already know, but many people have no idea this feature exists. Until now.

If your 2019 Avalon or 2019 RAV4 or 2019 Camry comes with an Audio Plus or higher multimedia system, you should have the ability to start and stop your car using your key. Here is how it works:

1) Stand near your vehicle (within about 80 feet) with key fob in hand
2) Press LOCK quickly
3) Press LOCK quickly again
4) Hold LOCK for about 3 seconds

2020 Toyota RAV4 Change Remote Lock

If your Toyota is going to remotely start, you will see your lights flashing, which indicates your car will start within about 5 seconds.

You can stop your remote start by pushing UNLOCK on your key fob.

See my demo of how Remote Engine Starts using your key fob and click to subscribe to Torque News Youtube Channel for daily Toyota

What advice do I have for Toyota owners next?

My friends, the time has come to test out this theory. If you have a new 2018 or 2019 Camry, or if you own a 2019 RAV4 or RAV4 Hybrid, or a 2019 Avalon, you should check this out to see if it works. Go out to your vehicles and try my system.

If your car starts while using your fob, this is exciting news. Almost as exciting as getting a Christmas gift in July without expecting one. For anyone looking for ideas, I would like a new video camera for making more awesome Toyota videos for my Toyotajeff YouTube channel.

Watch What Makes 2019 RAV4 Hybrid The Top Selling Green Car in USA and Click To Subscribe To Torque News Youtube Channel for Daily Toyota and Automotive News Analysis.

I would love your feedback. Did this remote engine start work on your Toyota? If so, what do you currently drive? Is this feature available on other Toyota models or previous years I did not mention? What is your feedback on Toyota Remote Connect?

Thanks for reading everyone. I work hard to be your complete Toyota news and reviews resource. See you next story titled: "One Toyota Dealer’s Rugged Off-Road Course Puts Toyota Tacoma, Tundra and 4Runner to the Test."

Jeff Teague is a Toyota news reporter at Torque News. You can reach Jeff on Facebook and Instagram. Twitter @toyotajeff1 and tweet him tips for new stories. Jeff also shares Toyota news videos on his Youtube Channel at ToyotaJeff1.

Automotive News
Toyota

Comments

Lynn (not verified)    November 20, 2019 - 12:48PM

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Just purchased a 2019 Camry SE. It has Entune 3.0. Can this be upgraded in order to be able to use Remote Connect? If so, how? Thank you!

Catherine (not verified)    November 30, 2019 - 7:04PM

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Just bought a new 2019 RAV4 XLE-premium yesterday. Tried the remote auto start and it worked. A bit perplexed why Toyota thought it was a good idea to have the engine stop as soon as you unlock the door. I also really dislike the large screen in the middle of the dashboard, I’d rather it was recessed but my almost 16 year old really likes it.

krista (not verified)    December 1, 2019 - 12:34PM

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I am the sucker who purchased this vehicle and asked for a remote starter to be installed. I had no idea this option was available without the Remote Start app. So now that it is winter, and I have purchased the app so I can start my car from inside the office or the middle of a store, all the features work except the engine start. I have read that the after market car starter has interfered with the program. What a dope. Now I have to bring the car back to the dealer and have them fix it. So I have 2 systems installed, but only one can be used.

Saandra (not verified)    December 5, 2019 - 8:15AM

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Hi, I am from Croatia and I have Rav4 2019 Hybrid "Premium Plus". Do you know does I have it? I tried but unfortunately didnt work.Or you have some "trick" for him? :)
Thank you a lots :)

C Jack (not verified)    December 11, 2019 - 2:23PM

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Bob Murray - XLE should have it. Have your kid press the SOS button for Toyota Service. They should be able to enable it. The dealer should have enabled it when your daughter bought the car, but some dealers forget

Karen Taylor (not verified)    December 18, 2019 - 9:34AM

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How close to the vehicle do you need to be for the key fob to start the car?
I have 2019 Rav4 XLE Premium and it won't work from my work window. The car is only about 50 ft away.

Mike (not verified)    December 22, 2019 - 3:35PM

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I have a 2019 Raav4 XLE. It appeared to work, lights flashed as expected, and when I look inside all display panels are on as they would be when the car is started, But the engine does not start. I do have the correct Radio. Any ideas, maybe another setting somewhere. We did ask for remote start and are very very disappointed with the phone method.

Raz (not verified)    January 9, 2020 - 1:33PM

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I bought RAV4 2019 XLE but I don't have remote starter. I talked several times with dealer but they told me that remote starter doesn't come with the model. I am using Entune 3.0.
I tried to follow your steps:
Stand near your vehicle (within about 80 feet) with key fob in hand
2) Press LOCK quickly
3) Press LOCK quickly again
4) Hold LOCK for about 3 seconds

It doesn't work. What should I do? Or I missing something from Entune? Please advise.

Elizabeth (not verified)    January 31, 2020 - 12:26AM

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Raz, on the 3rd Lock press please continue to hold the button, do not release it until the car starts.
This is what I did: Stood close to my car about 50 feet I pressed the Lock button on and released the button then I pressed it again and released it then I paused for 2 seconds and in the 3rd try I pressed the lock button and held it pressed the lights came on and then after 3 seconds the car started. I hope this works for you

TM (not verified)    January 17, 2020 - 11:04AM

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I was at the dealer asking to add a factory remote start for a new Rav4 I just purchased for my father. When they quoted me $400, I was In the service center and started looking online just to see what the price might be elsewhere where I came Upon this. Amazing find and unbelievable that they were basically going to charge me $400 to "install" something already equiped.

Bill (not verified)    February 22, 2020 - 3:59PM

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I have had a new 2019 RAV4 XLE since Nov. the fob worked at the time I bought it. I may have declined the Toyota connect afterward. Tried then to use the fob and nothing. Reactivated the Toyota Service Connect, and now it works. Phone App also works. So... I am wondering if after the 6 month trial of the phone app starter is not renewed, will the fob still work. Or after the 3 hr. Service Connect ends, will the fob still work. Time will tell. I know I won’t pay for it. PS do you all know about the engine recall coming in April? You may get a new engine.

Rashila Pandey (not verified)    June 30, 2020 - 7:27PM

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I have a RAV4 XLE 2019. I live in NYC and it doesn't have remote start but my brother living in Boston, MA has a similar model and it has remote start with smart phone apps. How can I add Entune 3.0 remote service to my car ?

Mike (not verified)    December 26, 2020 - 5:37PM

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Have a 2019 xle rav4. Tried the remote start hack and doesnt work. Did it make difference in when car was made.

Fortino (not verified)    January 11, 2021 - 2:01AM

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Hello guys, I have a 2019 RAV4 with Entune audio. It is not Entune audio plus or premium.car won’t remote start when pressing the key fog 3 times and also downloaded and signed up Toyota Entune app but the remote start doesn’t show on the screen.does that means my RAV4 is not remote start ready?

Heather (not verified)    February 17, 2021 - 7:42AM

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When I bought my RAV4 the dealership told me the onlybway to remote start my car was the app. The app only works about 50% of the time in the winter. I came on to search if there was a way to make the vehicle stay on for longer than 10 minutes (it's in the negative temps before windchill here this week) and stumbled across this instead. THANK YOU!!!

JOSE ANGEL URIBE (not verified)    February 18, 2021 - 2:26PM

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do i have to activate entune or anything before i can use my key fob to start my 2019 Camry SE with my key fob? i tried it and nothing happened so i want to know how to go about getting it set up