Drivers of new Toyota vehicles will have the option to sign up for a free trial of Toyota Connected Services. These services may offer Wi-Fi access, roadside assistance, and maintenance reminders in addition to remote starting. It’s interesting to note that the audio bundle you select affects the range of services you get.
For instance, only the Premium Audio package on higher trims of the Toyota 4Runner gives you access to remote start. On the Sequoia, however, both available audio packages will include remote start with any trim level. Your audio package will also have an impact on how long the trial lasts.
Only the Audio Plus or Premium Audio service bundles have remote start. The three-year free trial period for Audio Plus is followed by a monthly subscription price. Prior to having to start paying, a Premium audio trial is valid for ten years.
From 2018 through 2021, this is applicable to all Toyota automobiles. Toyota maintains that the remote start feature on cars made before these dates is “improved” and doesn’t need additional subscriptions.
In This Article...
Does a subscription to Toyota Remote Connect are necessary?
Remote Start: Toyota customers must pay However, remote start is mentioned under Remote Connect and costs $8/month or $80/year as part of Toyota’s Connected Service (i.e., a subscription). Therefore, even if you do a remote start using your key fob after the subscription expires, it will not function.
Toyota remote starting is it free?
Drivers must pay $8 per month or $80 annually to continue registered in Toyota Connected Services once the free trial has expired. You may already be a part of this initiative if you bought a new Toyota in 2018 without even realizing it. Even the moderators flagged a recent Reddit discussion touting the program as “possibly deceptive” when it was posted.
Drivers may no longer have access to remote starting after the Toyota Connected Services trial expires, a Reddit user said. The carmaker acknowledged to The Drive that remote start will cost extra for owners. The feedback on Newsbreak reveals that many drivers are not overly thrilled with the change.
The Verge also notes that some drivers unintentionally learned about connected services. Why some vehicles’ remote starts would still function while theirs did not was a common query among users in a Toyota forum. This implies that Toyota won’t even let you know when your free trial is up.
Additionally, the fact that Toyota Connected Services and the duration of the trials are not mentioned in the dealership videos doesn’t help. Dealers simply state that while you have the Audio Plus package, remote start is still an option. That doesn’t apply to all Toyota vehicles, as we’ve learnt.
Why must I pay for a Toyota remote start?
A. In October 2020, I bought a 2019 Toyota RAV 4. I occasionally used the factory-installed remote starter that it had last winter. This winter, when I tried to use it, it would not operate. I learned that I had a service agreement that was good for six months. I discovered that I had to pay $8 per month or $80 per year to use the remote starter after phoning Toyota’s service line. I nearly slid out of my chair. Such a thing has never crossed my mind. I was also informed that similar actions are being taken by other businesses. Have you ever come across such absurdity?
A lot of people criticized Toyota for making this choice. The phone app, which requires a subscription, has a remote start feature integrated into it. My understanding is that even without updating the software, the key fob should continue to trigger the remote start. Try this tactic while Toyota mulls its decision on the matter. Press the lock button twice fast, then once more more slowly, using the key-fob. Regarding additional technological stupidity, I recently learned that BMW was charging $80 per year for Apple CarPlay use before eliminating the charge in response to consumer complaints. Readers, have you ever been caught off guard by a subscription-based service? Please tell me.
Q. A 2008 Subaru Impreza 2.5 hatchback that I own has logged around 37,000 kilometers. The timing belt should be replaced after 105 months or 105,000 miles, according to the Subaru suggestion, even though it runs perfectly and I keep up with all maintenance. My technician recently tested the belt in my car, which is now 168 months old, and he said it looked good. I’m going to get a brand-new water pump, timing belt, drive belts, and everything else just to be safe. I have faith that my independent mechanic will complete the task using the required parts. Would you support this strategy?
A. The first thing I would do if I recently bought your low-mileage, 14-year-old Subaru is exactly what you are preparing to do. Although the belts might last longer, it was money well spent to allay my fears of catastrophic engine failure and timing belt failure.
Q. I recently bought a 2018 Subaru Forester for my daughter to utilize. According to Subaru North America, the CVT transmission fluid is changed every 100,000 miles. Online searches reveal that the advice in Japan and Canada, where it is advised to drain and replace the fluid every three years or 36,000 miles, is quite different. Do you have any thoughts on this issue?
A. If this were my vehicle, I would go by the instructions in the owner’s manual that was packaged with it. Although it won’t hurt, changing the fluid every three years doesn’t seem required.
Q. I need to get a new key fob for my 2005 Chevy Cobalt. I’ve been opening my door with my key. My key occasionally refuses to turn. Is it okay to lube the lock using WD-40? Where would you suggest I go to get a new key fob?
A. Although WD-40 is effective, I like to use a special “dry lock lubrication. I’ve discovered that WD-40 can attract dirt and over time increase sticking since it has a tendency to wash away part of the factory lubricant. Your key-fob can be changed by the dealer or a full-service locksmith. An aftermarket fob can be purchased online for as little as $25, but it needs to be professionally programmed.
Without an app, can a Toyota be remotely started?
Toyota seems a little uneasy about the mildly unfavorable feedback from people who discovered their basic remote start capabilities would require a paid monthly subscription. By a blowback of epic proportions, we mean a minor negative, to the point that some consumers began to wonder if Toyota would ever start charging a monthly subscription just to unlock their car.
To Toyota’s credit, top company officials seem to be paying attention. The Drive reports that the subscription requirement for cars with basic transmitter-operated remote starts is being reevaluated. According to the story, Toyota didn’t anticipate the outrage it experienced after word of the subscription need spread. Consider that.
Not so much the subscription itself was the problem. Instead, it was making it necessary to pay for a remote linked service in order to enjoy what is effectively a free analog feature. In short, newer cars with remote starts controlled by a fob use the same linked services software to start the car, but it’s not included in a subscription bundle. As a result, even when the key fob transmits a minimal signal to the vehicle, the engine won’t start unless the software detects an active subscription. Older cars with remote starts controlled by a fob are therefore exempt from the obligation for a membership.
Gallery: 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime
Instead of a simple button on a key fob, future automobiles will only include remote start as part of subscription-based app-controlled features. According to the article, Toyota isn’t even convinced it can separate the transmitter control from the linked services software, leaving Toyota vehicle customers caught between these two technical worlds. It appears that’s a component of the ongoing assessment.
Does the Toyota app need a fee?
The Toyota app was created to provide a simple method of staying connected. The Toyota app also assists the driver in maintaining vehicle knowledge. Additionally, the app gives car owners access to repair specials, maintenance data, and recall notifications.
The software provides a distinctive in-car entertainment experience and is available for Apple and Android. It facilitates the connection of a smartphone to a Toyota car. There are no additional fees or yearly fees must be paid. This Toyota software allows you to use a variety of well-known apps on your phone while driving. These are listed below:
- Pandora
- OpenTable
- MovieTickets.com
- Slacker Music
- iHeartRadio
- Location-Based Search
Entune can be useful whether one needs to look up the weather, reserve movie tickets, or locate a restaurant in a specific city.
Utilizing the smartphone app couldn’t be simpler. The user only has to download this software from Google Play or the iTunes App Store. They must next register their vehicle using the VIN, or vehicle identification number. After that is finished, particular model-specific information will be accessible. These can be specific recalls or the vehicle’s warranty. The app also contains additional vehicle-specific data including the owner’s manual and how-to manuals.
Additionally, drivers will be able to make service appointments, request roadside help, and get some service discounts. There is also a forum where drivers may ask other Toyota owners questions about their vehicles.
When it comes to smartphone connectivity and car performance, Toyota is in the lead. There are several different Toyota apps available that can improve convenience and safety.
Do you need help downloading the Toyota app or do you have any more questions about it? Please feel free to ask any questions you may have at Stevenson Hendrick Toyota Jacksonville.
Toyota Entune is it free?
Toyota’s Entune audio display system had a three-year grace period before owners had to start paying a membership fee when it was first introduced. So what is the price of Entune? As of right now, Entune is free to use unless you want to add a satellite radio plan.
The fact that Entune is free and useful in so many circumstances increases the value of all Toyota automobiles that make use of the program. Here are some of the highlights of Toyota’s Entune system for people who are not yet familiar.
What does a subscription to Toyota Safety Connect cost?
The Toyota Safety Connect plan can be purchased for an annual price of $80.00 or paid in monthly installments of $8.00. The first year of the membership is free for any new Toyota vehicles equipped with Safety Connect that are purchased starting with the 2010 model year.
How can I turn on the remote start on my Toyota?
Press the lock button on your key fob three times to remotely start your Toyota. For the first two presses, make sure you push the lock button quickly, and for the third press, hold the button down for around three seconds.
How can I make my Toyota app support remote starting?
the following steps:
- Get the Toyota App now.
- Launch the Toyota app on your Android or iPhone.
- Start the engine by clicking and holding down the button.
- Await the vehicle’s connection to the Toyota App.
- The App will launch after it establishes a connection with your Toyota vehicle and operate for 10 minutes.
Is remote connect a feature on all Toyotas?
Entune, Toyota’s proprietary high-tech multimedia system, is standard equipment in every Toyota vehicle. Remote Connect is one of this system’s incredibly useful components. With Remote Connect, you may start your car’s engine and lock your car remotely, as the name of the feature says.