I have a 2009 Aspen (5.7) with the following problem. When the factory remote start is used the defrost in the cold months and the A/C in the hotter months should come on when I start the vehicle. This does happen about 60% of the time, but the other 40% of the time it does not. My dealer has replaced the FCM (front control module) and the internal temperature sensor with no luck. The engineers at Chrysler do not seem to have a solution for this problem. Does anyone have an idea what may be causing this problem or what needs to be replaced, the dealer does not want to throw parts at the problem.

Thank you

 

Do you have things tossed up on top of the dashboard that obscure the sunlight sensor?

 

Just to get a couple of obvious issues out of the way:

1. When you turn the vehicle off the last time before using remote start, are you certain that the automatic climate control is on?

2. If the heat isn't working, are you sure it's not due to warm-up delay in cold weather?

I notice with my remote start that the air never blows out of the front vents until I get in the car and turn the key. The air will sound like it's blowing, but it must be coming out on the floor or defrost. I think this must be the factory default for remote start.

When you say that 40% of the time "it does not", do you mean the climate control unit doesn't come on at all (no display until you turn the key), or it just doesn't blow air, or you perceive that it's blowing cold air when it should be warm, or ??

 

I believe I read somewhere that only the duel climate control cars have that feature with the remote start.