2008 Malibu Remote Start Timeout

Hey everyone.  I just got my 2008 Malibu last week.  GM did an awesome job on the design.  I traded in my 2005 Monte Carlo SS.  Although I loved the Monte Carlo, it is much easier to get my baby in and out of a carseat in a 4 door!  I have only one complaint with the car so far, the remote start times out after 10 minutes!  It is a nice feature to have it shut off after a period of time in case you forgot about it, but 10 minutes??  I live in Wisconsin and 10 minutes in Jan and Feb is hardly enough time to start blowing warm air out of the vents.  I had an aftermarket remote start system in the MC and I would let it run for at least 15 minutes when it is subzero temps.  I like getting into a warm car.  Anyone know if this is changable??  Please let me know.  Thanks.
 
Brandon

If it's the same as a 2004, it should let you restart again, but that's it, only twice.

It's not changable from what I know. The system will allow you to start twice by remote and will run for 10min each. Then you must start the car with the key to reset for further remote starts.

Mine is fine, and I live in Northern BC and my Maxx is toasty warm after once....I cant imagine it getting colder there, but you can do it twice if you like...

Thanks for the info.  I did know that you can reset the 10 min anytime, but it is just a pain in the butt.  This morning it was below 0 with the wind chill and I had to let it run for 20 minutes just to defrost the front window.

Here it's -42 and don't need to run the car more than a few minutes.
Besides ... running the car in idle for extended periods does damage to an engine... also chewing into the mpg.
 
idle = 0 mpg

think of it as a gas saver...every 15 minutes of idling is a gallon of gas wasted. you should of got the optional block heater

quote:

ORIGINAL: Chevy Mali 08

think of it as a gas saver...every 15 minutes of idling is a gallon of gas wasted. you should of got the optional block heater

 
It does have a block heater but they dont come on till -18 now, and they HARDLY keep the block anywhere neer warm like the ones of old, my Jeep I fire itan heat instantly...the car not so much, still needs to run for a bit......-49 here yesterday with wind chill so ya C starts are mandatory in the north climate....period period period....

christ where the heck do you live with temps like that?! >_< and how can a car even start?? how does none of the fluids freeze

I know my '06 can be reprogrammed by GM for longer than 10 minutes but i think they'll only go up to 15 minutes.  My issue is more in the summer when you want the inside to not be 500 degrees before you get in. 

quote:

ORIGINAL: been_nice_today_81

I know my '06 can be reprogrammed by GM for longer than 10 minutes but i think they'll only go up to 15 minutes.  My issue is more in the summer when you want the inside to not be 500 degrees before you get in. 

 
well If I can warm mine up in 10 minutes from -40, then Im sure 10 minutes will cool it down a bit...

quote:

ORIGINAL: Chevy Mali 08

think of it as a gas saver...every 15 minutes of idling is a gallon of gas wasted. you should of got the optional block heater

 
Idling doesn't burn this much fuel, at least not when the engine is warm. Consider that on the highway you'll burn a gallon about every 20-25 minutes. When the engine's cold, though, I suppose it could burn through this much fuel.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Jonsey5484

Thanks for the info.  I did know that you can reset the 10 min anytime, but it is just a pain in the butt.  This morning it was below 0 with the wind chill and I had to let it run for 20 minutes just to defrost the front window.

if it takes 20 minutes to defrost you window something is wrong, at -35 to -45 mine is defrosted in about 4 -5 minutes MAX with 3 inches of snow on it....maybe turn the heat on to defrost and turn the temp UP at night before you leave the car for the night, so when you start it it is blowing HOT on the DEFROST setting.
 
----On that note I have NEVER, EVER, EVER plugged it in....in 2 years. NEVER. 

quote:

ORIGINAL: MalibuMaxxSS

quote:

ORIGINAL: Chevy Mali 08

think of it as a gas saver...every 15 minutes of idling is a gallon of gas wasted. you should of got the optional block heater

It does have a block heater but they dont come on till -18 now, and they HARDLY keep the block anywhere neer warm like the ones of old, my Jeep I fire itan heat instantly...the car not so much, still needs to run for a bit......-49 here yesterday with wind chill so ya C starts are mandatory in the north climate....period period period....

GM has been using block heater cords with a thermostatic cutoff switch in the plug end of the cord.
If this thermostat doesn't cutoff power .... the block heater warms the engine too much.
When this happens you could end up with error codes indicating overheating and starting issues.
 
If the cord end is in the cold wind the thermostatic cutoff may not warm enough to work. Relocating it to an engine bracket or coolant hose will help this thermostat in the cord stay warm and help with better operation.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Jonsey5484

Hey everyone.  I just got my 2008 Malibu last week.  GM did an awesome job on the design.  I traded in my 2005 Monte Carlo SS.  Although I loved the Monte Carlo, it is much easier to get my baby in and out of a carseat in a 4 door!  I have only one complaint with the car so far, the remote start times out after 10 minutes!  It is a nice feature to have it shut off after a period of time in case you forgot about it, but 10 minutes??  I live in Wisconsin and 10 minutes in Jan and Feb is hardly enough time to start blowing warm air out of the vents.  I had an aftermarket remote start system in the MC and I would let it run for at least 15 minutes when it is subzero temps.  I like getting into a warm car.  Anyone know if this is changable??  Please let me know.  Thanks.

Brandon

 
I believe the owners manual says you can extend the first 10 minute time, by pressing the remote sequence again before it times out...but only for another 10 minutes. So, you could keep it running close to 20 minutes if I'm reading that right.