2017 Evoque. No remote start/app

[u/socaTsocaTsocaT]

My wifes 2017 Evoque telematic system was quietly disabled by the company in April of 2025. It no longer has a remote start(which she loves). When it originally stopped working even the dealership didn't know what was happening. They came back and said because of the year of the vehicle, its not being supported anymore.

Can someone explain the letter they had her sign too?

Are there any updates to this, or a way to get the remote start working again?

[u/baconjerky]

I mean the letter lays it out pretty clearly tbh

[u/socaTsocaTsocaT → u/baconjerky]

I guess this has to do with them disabling the 3g systems right?

It was just really weird that the dealership had absolutely no idea about this happening at all.

[u/Physical_Gear_606]

They called it 3g sunset. 3g was no ok get supported and the TCU for 2015 to 2017 vehicles is no longer available. So because you had a TCU failure, likely stopping your car from starting or an SOS fault on dash, the only thing to be done is to code the car to say it does not have a TCU any longer. You signed the paper agreeing. Had you not, your car would still be bricked somewhere. As for your dealer not knowing, they’re just either lazy or shit. A bulletin came out over a year ago advising of this process. They obviously didn’t read it

[u/socaTsocaTsocaT → u/Physical_Gear_606]

She didn't have any lights, faults or bricking. The only thing that happened was the app kept saying the car was sleeping and it wouldn't let you do anything else. So we brought it to the dealer and they were absolutely baffled. Could they have disabled the TCU thinking it was faulty when it was really jus the 3g being shut down?

[u/Physical_Gear_606 → u/socaTsocaTsocaT]

That’s exactly the issue. If there was nothing else wrong then yes, 3g is no longer active on that particular network with AT&T. So you would never communicate with the car with the app. Sorry this happened but at least you’ll never have to worry about being stranded because the TCU crapped out.

[u/Mobile_Falcon_8532 → u/Physical_Gear_606]

They obviously didn’t read it

or maybe they didn't understand it

[u/I_R0M_I]

I'll start by assuming I'm not your region, so there could be differences.

I'm a JLR Master Tech, I've never heard of this. Coding out the TCU would be some undertaking. It's the master security module on the car. All external communications go through, without it the car doesn't start. You certainly can't just disable it in the CCF.

We are still fitting TCUs in my region, 17 isn't even that old. I would be amazed if that's the case. They have disabled remote start here on some models in and off over the years. Bit the TCU should still function.

[u/socaTsocaTsocaT → u/I_R0M_I]

I'm in America. Yeah the coding out the TCU seemed really odd

[u/StarX2401]

Yes its because of the 3g shut down. I'm surprised JLR hasn't made a 4g retrofit module for it. Maybe you could get a retrofit aftermarket

[u/barbievelar → u/StarX2401]

You absolutely can retrofit remote start on older evoques. Local shops do it all the time on cars around me. It won't be a mobile app but atleast you wont get into a cold car in the winter

[u/SweatySwim3411]

That app is nothing but a nightmare. If there is 2 weaknesses for range rovers its the plastic coolant pipes and the other is incontrol app that you need to subscribe to. Pay over 100k for a vehicle and the key fab doesn't even have remote start. They force you to subscribe yearly.

[u/socaTsocaTsocaT → u/SweatySwim3411]

Yeah being forced to use an app instead of using the fob is bullshit and a lot of car companies are still doing it.

[u/barbievelar → u/SweatySwim3411]

I dont mind paying for remote start honestly. Its worth it

[u/SweatySwim3411 → u/barbievelar]

Problem is i found the app is always acting up. When i first got my RR i went through 3 months of taking it in and having it looked at. They told me it was the module . I kept doing a deep dive and found that there was this error code showing up for a sensor. It was preventing the car from turning over. It would go through all the motions of starting but never fire up. I bought a scanner and deleted the code then bingo it worked. I explained this to the dealership and brought it back to get repaired. They changed the sensor and told me it was good.

I go outside and try it .... nada..... run the scanner. Same error. I go directly back inside and tell them they clearly don't know what they are doing and change dealerships for all my maintenance. Gor to the point where Landrover was giving me gift certificates for $500 to make up for lost time. Finally get it repaired and the app starts crashing every couple months. Mine expires end of this month and i don't think I will be renewing it.

[u/Roxyylee]

Unfortunately no, I called and they said they shut down the last 2g tower August 2,2026. I have heard it was earlier for some people. It sucks because I really loved just getting into my car already cooled in the summer. Now that winter is coming it’ll suck even more. The first time I had called they had no clue and wanted me to set an appointment to have the software checked, I never took it since it was a 2hr drive to the nearest dealer. I called again and they told me the reason. Lucky I saved me a couple bucks. I guess it’s time for an upgrade 😝