Abstract: A slave controller for mounting in a vehicle having an engine for driving at least one wheel of the vehicle via a manual transmission and a cabin having a plurality of components for operation by a user of the vehicle while in the cabin. The slave controller has a control module responsive to an RF signal conveying an engine start command for starting the engine of the vehicle. The control module is capable of performing a transmission state check to determine if the engine is in a driving relationship with the wheel. When the transmission state check is performed and the control module determines that the engine is in a driving relationship with the wheel, the control module acquires an operational state preventing starting of the engine in response to the RF signal. The control module is responsive to actuation of one or more of the plurality of components to initiate the transmission state check.