Remote starter experiences?

[Vikas]

If you do research on internet, you can find few DYI brands such as Bulldog which gives detailed instructions on how to do it. You can also get the wiring diagrams for professional brands such as Viper (and related DFI brands). If you feel comfortable splicing wires under the dash, it it does not look hard. Some vendors actually make vehicle specific ignition harness which cuts down on number of splices.

Having said all that, I had Circuit City do the remote starter for our van. I initially resisted the idea but the wife insisted.

Find a competent installer and insist that they solder the wire rather than crimps and you should be ok.

- Vikas

 

[Win]

A 2002 vehicle might be OK to tamper with, depending on the sophistication of the vehicle systems.

Personally, I would not alter or modify the electrical system in any way on a modern vehicle.

 

[The_Jeff]

I got a bulldog on clearance from walmart and waited for the right vehicle to come along. (turns out it was a 95 saturn with no anti theft key stuff to complicate matters.)

As said above I just unraveled the insulation on a few key wires then made sure they were taped up good. Although I prefer heat shrink insulation, there was no way to get it around a wire I didn't cut. Put zipties over the tape to keep it from unraveling.

I liked that the factory ignition wires weren't physically interrupted. (Can just imagine a purgatory where a pile of chinese relays interfere even if the starter isn't used anymore.) Also as an aside, my car has two "main" ignition wires, one for the stuff you have to have, like fuel and spark, and the other for the blower motor. This bulldog, the cheapest one out there, "muted" the blower motor while cranking then kicked it on when it started, slick!

You need the brake pedal hookup for programming, I was lazy and didn't hook it up at first. When one hits the brake it kills the motor without a key in and turned to "run"-- and one needs to hit the brake to take it out of "park".

Only bummer with the bulldog was the short range, I had the module and its wire antenna under the dash of a plastic-paneled car and even then the RF didn't get in from more than 20-30 feet away.

 

[addyguy]

My wife has a GREAt remote starter for our car:

"Roger, go start the car".

Always works, never fails to start!

 

[JTK]

Originally Posted By: addyguy
My wife has a GREAt remote starter for our car:

"Roger, go start the car".

Always works, never fails to start!




Bwahahah!! That's great! (and the absolute truth)

Joel