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By RemoteStarterCheck team · Published · Updated

Your car's immobilizer won't let the engine run without the key. A bypass module tells it the key is present, only during a remote start. How it works, what Fortin's EVO-ONE does, and why your installer wants every key.

Last checked: . RemoteStarterCheck methodology and source records.

Bypass modules and immobilizers, explained simply

An immobilizer stops the engine from running unless the car recognizes your key. A bypass module tells the car the key is present, but only while the remote starter is running it, so the engine can start with the key still in your pocket or on the counter. Every new light vehicle sold in Canada since September 1, 2007 has to have an immobilizer, so almost every remote start install includes a bypass. On Fortin's EVO-ONE, the bypass is built into the remote start module.

Data source: Fortin Electronic Systems public install guides, checked 2026-10-16. We're independent and not affiliated with Fortin. Always confirm with your installer or the manufacturer.

The immobilizer, in one paragraph

Canada's motor vehicle safety standard CMVSS 114 requires an immobilization system on passenger cars, three-wheeled vehicles, and multi-purpose vehicles and trucks with a GVWR of 4,536 kg or less, excluding walk-in vans and emergency vehicles. The requirement was published in March 2005 and took effect September 1, 2007. By Transport Canada's estimate, about 80% of vehicles already had one in 2002, when it first tried a voluntary deal with automakers. The rule is simple: with the key removed, the engine must not run normally.

Where the bypass fits

Step Without a bypass With a bypass
You press start on the remote Starter cranks Starter cranks
Car looks for the key No key, immobilizer blocks it Bypass answers for the key
Engine Cranks and dies, or won't fire Runs on the remote starter
You get in to drive n/a You take over with your real key

Fortin describes the EVO-ONE as a "remote starter, universal all-in-one data bypass and interface module." In our data, 922 of 941 verified configurations use EVO-ONE and the other 19 use Fortin's EVO-ALL, such as the 2015-2020 Nissan Pathfinder push-to-start and the 2018 Ram 1500 gas push-to-start.

Why your installer asks for your keys

The bypass has to learn your key. Compustar calls this key "learning": programming the vehicle's factory key to the remote starter so the engine can start without the key in the ignition.

How many keys the guide needs varies:

Our advice: bring every working key to the appointment. If the guide needs two and you only have one, the install stops.

Toyota keys: dot, G and H

Toyota key blades are often marked with a dot, a G or an H, which relate to the chip type. Start-X, a remote starter maker, warns that the letter alone doesn't prove the car has an immobilizer, since key shapes are shared and replacement keys can carry markings that don't match the chip. Its suggested checks are a flashing security light on the dash with the car off, or the foil test around the key head.

In Fortin's data, the key letter does split the guides:

Toyota key type Configurations Verified Example
H key 35 32 2019-2024 RAV4 H key (THAR-ONE-TOY14)
G key 23 13 2012-2013 Corolla G key (THAR-ONE-TOY1)

Same model, different key, different parts. Tell the shop what's stamped on your key.

Does a bypass make the car easier to steal?

The bypass only answers for the key during a remote start. To drive, you still need the real key. In Fortin's guide for the 2023-2024 Ford F-250 push-to-start, the truck shuts down if the smart key isn't detected when you take over. On key-start vehicles, Fortin's takeover has you put the key in and turn it to ON before you can drive.

Two habits that matter more than the hardware:

  • Use valet mode when the car goes in for service, so nobody can remote start it by accident.
  • Make sure the hood pin is installed. Fortin's EVO-ONE guide calls it mandatory, along with the valet switch and warning labels.

Bypass plus factory fob

The bypass is also what makes factory fob remote start possible. Fortin's 3x lock setup sheet notes that option 38.2 (press lock 3 times to remote start) needs a bypass module, with "OEM remote monitoring" turned on.

FAQ

Do I need a bypass module for remote start? On almost any car with an immobilizer, yes. On Fortin EVO-ONE installs it's built into the module, so there's no separate box.

What is an immobilizer bypass, exactly? A module that tells the car's immobilizer the key is present, only while the remote starter runs the engine.

Will the remote starter work if I lose a key? Ask your installer. Some guides program with one key and some need two, so a lost key can matter at install time and when you replace keys later.

Are there rules about using remote start? Ford's own support page notes that many states and provinces restrict remote start use. Check your local rules, and ask your insurer if you're unsure.

Does the bypass change my car's software? Fortin's guides have the installer update the module's own firmware to a minimum version. Ask your installer what, if anything, they program on the vehicle side.

Sources

Always confirm with your installer or the manufacturer.

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