Remote start system for a vehicle having a data communications bus and related methods

A remote start control system for a vehicle comprising a data communications bus, an engine and a vehicle brake, the data communications bus carrying vehicle brake position data related to a position of the vehicle brake, the remote start control system comprising:

• a remote start transmitter;
• and
• a vehicle remote start controller connected to said data communications bus for starting the engine based upon the vehicle brake position data carried by the data communications bus and based upon signals from said remote start transmitter.

A method for remotely starting an engine in a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a transmission connected to the engine and a data communications bus carrying transmission position data related to a selected transmission position, the method comprising:

• providing a remote start transmitter;
• and
• connecting a vehicle remote start controller to the data communications bus for starting the engine based upon the selected transmission position as determined from the transmission position data carried by the data communications bus and based upon signals from the remote start transmitter.

A method for remotely starting an engine of a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a vehicle brake and a data communications bus carrying vehicle brake position data related to a position of the vehicle brake, the remote start control system comprising:

• providing a remote start transmitter;
• and
• connecting a vehicle remote start controller to the data communications bus for starting the engine based upon the vehicle brake position data carried by the data communications bus and based upon signals from the remote start transmitter.