When you walk out to your Chrysler 300 on a cold morning, hit the remote start button, and the car just sits there quietly, it really gets on your nerves. You’re standing there freezing, hoping for warm air inside, but nothing happens. A lot of Chrysler 300 owners go through this. Most of the time it’s something small like a weak key fob battery or the hood not closing all the way. Good news is you can fix most of these yourself without spending money at a garage.
Why Does the Remote Start Suddenly Stop Working on My Chrysler 300?
It feels awful when your remote start works perfectly one day and then quits the next. The main reason is the car has safety rules built in. If anything looks unsafe to the system, it simply won’t let the engine start from far away. For example, if the hood is even a tiny bit open or the battery is too weak, the car says “no way” and stops everything to stay safe.
Another big reason is the key fob battery getting low. When the battery inside the fob starts dying, the signal it sends gets too weak. The car can’t hear it properly anymore. You might still lock and unlock the doors, but remote start is pickier and stops first. Changing that tiny battery often brings everything back like magic.
You might also see words on your dashboard like “Remote Start Canceled – Hood Open” or “Remote Start Off – Start Car to Fix.” Those messages are actually helpful. They tell you exactly what the car doesn’t like. Pay attention to them and you can usually find the problem fast without guessing.
Cold days make things worse too. When it’s really chilly outside, your car battery loses power quicker. The remote start system notices the low power and turns itself off so the battery doesn’t die completely. It’s annoying in winter, but it’s actually the car trying to protect itself. Checking these few things usually solves the whole mystery.
- Look at the dashboard for any warning messages.
- Try a new battery in your key fob.
- Make sure the car is parked and doors are shut tight.
- Think about cold weather affecting the battery.
How to Fix Chrysler 300 Remote Start Not Working Step by Step
Step 1: Change the Battery in Your Key Fob Right Away
The very first thing you should do is check the battery inside your key fob. Almost every Chrysler 300 uses a small round battery called CR2032. When that battery gets weak, remote start is usually the first thing that stops working. Use a small screwdriver or even a coin to gently pop open the back of the fob. Take out the old battery and put a new one in. Make sure the plus side (+) faces up.
After you put the new battery in, stand closer to your car and try again. Press the lock button once, then hold down the remote start button (it usually has an arrow or a circle with an arrow) for about two to three seconds. If the parking lights flash and the engine starts, you’re done! It feels so good when it finally works after being broken for weeks.
Sometimes the metal contacts inside the fob get dirty. Wipe them gently with a clean cloth. Dirty spots can stop the battery from connecting well. If you have a second key fob at home, try that one too. It helps you know if the problem is really the battery or something else.
This fix is super cheap and quick. Most people spend less than five dollars and five minutes. It solves the problem for so many owners. Do this step before you try anything harder.
- Buy a CR2032 battery (very common and cheap).
- Open fob carefully and swap the battery.
- Clean inside contacts if they look dirty.
- Test right away, standing close to the car.
Step 2: Double-Check That Hood, Doors, and Trunk Are Completely Closed
Your Chrysler 300 won’t remote start if it thinks any door, the hood, or the trunk is open even a little. There’s a small switch that checks the hood. If that switch says “hood open,” the car cancels remote start for safety. Open your hood, then close it extra hard so you hear a solid click. Sometimes it needs a good slam.
Walk around your whole car. Push on every door handle to make sure each door is shut tight. Check the trunk too. Even a tiny gap from a bag or something blocking it can trick the system. It sounds silly, but this tiny thing stops remote start more than you’d think.
If your dash keeps saying “Hood Ajar,” the hood switch might be dirty or stuck. Spray a tiny bit of lubricant on the latch part and wipe off any dirt. Close it again firmly. Lots of people fix this without buying any parts, just by making sure everything latches right.
This is a safety feature so the car doesn’t start while someone is working under the hood. It’s smart, but it can be fussy. Take a quick walk around and close everything properly. Most times remote start works again right after.
- Open hood and shut it hard for a click.
- Check every door and trunk lid.
- Make sure nothing blocks the latches.
- Clean hood latch if it feels sticky.
Step 3: Confirm the Car Is in Park and No One Is Touching the Brake
Remote start only works when your car is safely in Park. If the shifter is even slightly off, like in Neutral or Drive, the system says no. Make sure you push the shifter all the way into Park until it clicks. Sometimes it doesn’t go in fully, so give it a little wiggle.
The brake pedal must be completely free too. The car checks if the brake is pressed. If the pedal is stuck down even a tiny bit or the brake switch is bad, remote start won’t work. Take your foot off the brake fully and try again.
Also turn off your hazard lights if they’re on. Hazards being active is another reason the system cancels. These rules are written in your owner’s manual, but easy to forget when you’re cold and in a hurry.
After you check Park and brake, turn the key on and off one time. This helps the car double-check everything. You’ll be surprised how often this simple step gets remote start working again.
- Push shifter firmly into Park.
- Let the brake pedal come all the way up.
- Switch off hazard lights.
- Turn ignition on then off to refresh.
Step 4: Do a Quick Reset by Starting the Car Normally
If your dashboard says “Remote Start Disabled – Start Vehicle To Reset,” listen to it. Get in the car, put the key fob inside, and start the engine the normal way. Let it run for three to five minutes, then shut it off. This simple action resets the system and clears many temporary problems.
A lot of times this happens after you jump-start the car or change the battery. The computer gets confused and needs this normal start to remember everything is okay. Many owners say remote start comes back instantly after doing this.
If that doesn’t fix it, try a bigger reset. Disconnect the negative battery cable first, wait ten to fifteen minutes, then reconnect. This clears any leftover glitches in the car’s computer. Be careful and write down your radio code if your car needs one after.
Test remote start a few times after the reset. This step fixes the really stubborn cases where everything else looks fine but it still won’t start.
- Start engine normally and run a few minutes.
- Shut off and try remote start again.
- Disconnect battery for deeper reset if needed.
- Reconnect and test several times.
Step 5: Test Your Car Battery Voltage Because It Matters a Lot
Even if your Chrysler 300 starts with the key, remote start needs stronger battery power. The system checks voltage and won’t work if it’s too low. Get a cheap multimeter and test the battery when the car is off. It should read 12.6 volts or higher.
If it’s lower, put a charger on the battery until it’s full. In cold weather the number drops fast, so this is super common in winter. If your battery is old and weak, think about replacing it soon.
After you charge it, wait a little and try remote start again. A good full battery often brings the feature back without any other work. Keeping your battery healthy means remote start stays reliable all year.
This fix helps so many people who complain about winter problems. Don’t skip checking the battery voltage.
- Use multimeter to check 12.6 volts or more.
- Charge battery if low.
- Replace if battery is very old.
- Test remote start after full charge.
Step 6: Look Closely at Any Warning Lights on Your Dashboard
If your check engine light is on, remote start usually turns off. The car doesn’t want to remote start if there might be an engine problem. Buy or borrow a small OBD2 scanner and plug it in. It will show you any trouble codes.
Fix whatever the code says first. After the repair, clear the code and see if remote start works again. Sometimes it’s a cheap sensor, sometimes something bigger. But the check engine light is often the hidden reason.
Even if there’s no check engine light, look for other warnings like alarm issues. Lock and unlock the doors a few times with the fob to reset any alarm. Fixing dash warnings almost always helps remote start come back.
- Plug in OBD2 scanner if check engine light is on.
- Read and fix any trouble codes.
- Clear codes after repair.
- Reset alarm by locking/unlocking doors.
When Should You Finally Take Your Chrysler 300 to a Mechanic?
If you’ve tried every easy fix here – new fob battery, hood check, reset, battery charge, and no luck, then yes, go see a mechanic. Problems like a broken hood switch inside, wiring issues, or a computer module acting up need special tools. A good shop can scan deeper and fix it quickly. Don’t keep fighting it if the simple stuff doesn’t work. Most times it’s not super expensive once they find the real cause.
Final Thoughts
Remote start failing on your Chrysler 300 is such a bummer, especially when you really need that warm car on a freezing day. But honestly, most problems come from super simple things you can check yourself. Start with the key fob battery and hood latch, do the quick resets, and you’ll probably be back to easy warm starts soon. Hang in there, take it one step at a time, and you’ll get it sorted. You can do this!
| Fix Step | What It Fixes | Tools You Need | How Long It Takes | How Often It Works |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Change Key Fob Battery | Weak fob signal | Small screwdriver, new CR2032 | About 5 minutes | Almost always if battery is low |
| 2. Check Hood/Doors/Trunk | Open sensor problem | None | 5 to 10 minutes | Very often |
| 3. Make Sure It’s in Park | Safety lockout | None | 2 minutes | Quite often |
| 4. Normal Start Reset | Disabled message glitch | None | 10 minutes | High success |
| 5. Check & Charge Battery | Low voltage issue | Multimeter or charger | 15 to 30 minutes | Great in cold weather |
| 6. Look for Warning Lights | Engine or system faults | OBD2 scanner | 10 to 20 minutes | Good if light is on |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is it normal for Chrysler 300 remote start to stop in very cold weather?
Yes, it happens to lots of people. When it’s freezing outside, your car battery gets weaker fast. The remote start system sees the low power and turns off so it doesn’t kill the battery. Charge your battery fully or test it with a multimeter. Once the battery is strong again, remote start usually works fine. It’s the car being careful in winter.
Can a bad hood latch switch really stop remote start?
Yes, this is one of the most common reasons. The small switch on the hood tells the car if it’s open. If that switch is dirty, stuck, or broken, the car thinks the hood is up and cancels remote start. Clean the latch area, close the hood extra hard, and try again. Many owners fix this easily at home without new parts.
Do I need to do anything special after putting a new battery in the key fob?
Not usually. Just put the new battery in and try remote start. But sometimes the fob forgets how to talk to the car. Lock and unlock the doors a few times. If it still doesn’t work, start the car normally once to reset things. That almost always gets it going again quickly.
Is the check engine light why my remote start won’t work?
Very often, yes. When the check engine light is on, the car disables remote start because there might be an engine problem. Get a scanner, read the code, fix what’s wrong, then clear the light. After that, remote start normally comes back. The car just wants everything safe first.
Can having almost no gas stop remote start?
Yes, sometimes. If your fuel is very low, the car cancels remote start so it doesn’t run out of gas while idling. Fill your tank at least a quarter full and try again. You’ll see a message like “Remote Start Canceled – Low Fuel” on the dash if this is the issue.
Do I have to press the remote start button in a special way?
Yes, there’s a right way. Usually you press the lock button once, then hold the remote start button (the one with the arrow) for two to four seconds. Don’t just tap it quickly. Stand closer to the car too. Check your owner’s manual for the exact steps for your model.
Is it okay to trick the hood switch so remote start works?
Some people put a resistor to fool the switch if it’s broken. But please don’t do that unless you really know what you’re doing. It’s dangerous because you could start the car with the hood open. Better to clean or replace the switch properly or get a mechanic to fix it right.
Can a weak car battery stop remote start even if the car starts fine?
Yes, 100%. Remote start uses extra power to run without you there. If the battery voltage is low (under 12.6 volts), the system blocks it to save power. Charge or replace the battery. This fixes so many cold-weather no-start complaints.
Do software updates ever fix remote start problems?
Sometimes they do. If there’s a small bug in the car’s computer, a dealer can update the software. If you’ve tried everything else and nothing works, ask the dealer about any available updates. It’s not always the answer, but it helps in some cases.
Will adding an aftermarket alarm mess up factory remote start?
It can, yes. If you install a non-factory remote start or alarm, the wiring might confuse the original system. Things don’t always play nice together. If you have aftermarket stuff, get it checked by a pro. Factory setups are usually easier to troubleshoot.
