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m4a1mustang · 08-17-2010, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hootie

But the emergency brake was on. Shouldn't it have popped the clutch? I'm just trying to figure it out. The clutch wasn't depressed so doesn't that mean something was disconnected? I'm just upset and have never, ever, had a remote start on any vehicle. I know it was my fault that I accidentally hit the remote but, they didn't tell me it could be fatal if I did.

For a remote start to be installed on a manual the installer has to disengage the switch on the clutch that requires the clutch to be pressed to the floor in order to start the engine. That means when you're in gear, regardless of whether you have the emergency brake on or not, the car WILL lunge forwards if you start it.

If the engine was not fully warmed up and the ECU was still in cold start mode, that's going to increase the likelihood of the car actually taking off and driving somewhere since the ECU is going to hold a higher idle (1,000 to 1,500 rpm) which is enough to keep the car moving instead of stalling out.

Not a funny situation indeed. You're right that someone could have been hurt or killed, but the truth of the matter is you simply CAN'T leave a MT car in gear if it's equipped with remote start. I know it was a mistake, but it still boils down to user error.

When you get the car fixed have the remote start system uninstalled. It's not worth the trouble.