6-speed Remote Start (and other technology lacking ramblings)

[Sandalwood]

I see no one responded. I know my Focus RS had remote start on the manual. Not sure of other manufacturers, but I know Ford had figured it out on a few of their manuals

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but that was a dealer-installed aftermarket item. The Focus RS never had true factory remote start anywhere in the world; owners with remote start had dealer‑installed systems that use the factory fob or a phone app, which owners then describe as “factory.”

It's not just regional, either. Ford’s own support documentation in Europe explicitly says remote start is only available on vehicles with automatic transmission “for safety reasons,” i.e., not on manual gearboxes at all. Focus RS is manual‑only, yet Ford and third‑party “plug‑and‑play” kits for the general 2016–2018 Focus explicitly list compatibility with automatic transmission only, even when they use the factory key fob’s lock button as the trigger.

Owner discussions and installer videos that show remote start on Focus RS (including push‑to‑start cars) are all based on aftermarket modules (Compustar, Fortin, etc.), often wired to respond to 3x‑lock or similar sequences, not a built‑in Ford remote‑start ECU. Aftermarket systems are frequently marketed as “factory remote‑activated” because they reuse the OEM fob and can integrate with the factory security system, so to the owner it feels OEM. It's not.

 

[meesterover]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but that was a dealer-installed aftermarket item. The Focus RS never had true factory remote start anywhere in the world; owners with remote start had dealer‑installed systems that use the factory fob or a phone app, which owners then describe as “factory.”

It's not just regional, either. Ford’s own support documentation in Europe explicitly says remote start is only available on vehicles with automatic transmission “for safety reasons,” i.e., not on manual gearboxes at all. Focus RS is manual‑only, yet Ford and third‑party “plug‑and‑play” kits for the general 2016–2018 Focus explicitly list compatibility with automatic transmission only, even when they use the factory key fob’s lock button as the trigger.

Owner discussions and installer videos that show remote start on Focus RS (including push‑to‑start cars) are all based on aftermarket modules (Compustar, Fortin, etc.), often wired to respond to 3x‑lock or similar sequences, not a built‑in Ford remote‑start ECU. Aftermarket systems are frequently marketed as “factory remote‑activated” because they reuse the OEM fob and can integrate with the factory security system, so to the owner it feels OEM. It's not.

Interesting info, @Sandalwood

I would still like to add it if I can find a safe way to implement it. I hardly ever park my vehicle in gear with the modern parking brakes, unless I am on uneven ground. I will always apply the parking brake though before letting off the brake pedal to avoid the weight of the vehicle resting on the transmission.

If I will have my vehicle sitting for an extended period, I will
- Enable parking brake
- Block a tire
- Disable parking brake
- Put in gear (just in case someone decides to remove the blocks for some odd reason)

Point being, if you want to have a remote start with a manual trans, you have to pay attention. If you do not know the state of the gear position, then do not remote start. Having a neutral detection sensor would be the best option IMO. I cannot find one that exists. Parking brake being enabled alone is not enough for me.

 

[nsmith27]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but that was a dealer-installed aftermarket item. The Focus RS never had true factory remote start anywhere in the world; owners with remote start had dealer‑installed systems that use the factory fob or a phone app, which owners then describe as “factory.”

It's not just regional, either. Ford’s own support documentation in Europe explicitly says remote start is only available on vehicles with automatic transmission “for safety reasons,” i.e., not on manual gearboxes at all. Focus RS is manual‑only, yet Ford and third‑party “plug‑and‑play” kits for the general 2016–2018 Focus explicitly list compatibility with automatic transmission only, even when they use the factory key fob’s lock button as the trigger.

Owner discussions and installer videos that show remote start on Focus RS (including push‑to‑start cars) are all based on aftermarket modules (Compustar, Fortin, etc.), often wired to respond to 3x‑lock or similar sequences, not a built‑in Ford remote‑start ECU. Aftermarket systems are frequently marketed as “factory remote‑activated” because they reuse the OEM fob and can integrate with the factory security system, so to the owner it feels OEM. It's not.

Completely agree with your comments regarding Ford OEM do NOT release remote start on manual vehicles from the factory for safety reasons. Technically though it could be implemented. One of the marketing benefits of remote start on Ford automatic vehicles is to have HVAC, heated seats, heated steering wheel and heated windshield etc all come on at their last known setting.