Anyone using an Remote starter

[ChuckyD]

i have one, no problems either. If you get in and hit the break teh truck turns off. the key has to be in the ignition and turned all the way without cranking it.
actually the only want to get in the truck is if i unlock it otherwise the x remains armed and on.

 

[lonestar]

I have used this one:
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Easy to install and it works.
All I did was get a wiring diagram from the makers of Auto Command webpage and solder on an extra 4-5ft wires and used some of this automotive wire splices with fold over two wires. The hardest thing was getting the power through the firewall, to hook directly to the battery to avoid a fire, a strater circiut draws alot of current. Then ground it to a seat mounting bolt. THen all thats left is run wires to the ignition circuit using the wiring diagram (or use a multimeter) to determine run, start and accesory positions. Hook up a wire to the brake pedal circuit to kill the motor when pressed and a wire to the parking light to tell when the vehicle is started.
Really the lights are not required, but are helpful. The brake switch is required to take the ignition out of control of the REmote starter. Once the your key is inserted and turned to the run pos., hit the brakes and the igniton is then controled by the key.
The hood switch can be left off, all that does is kill the motor when the hood opens and grounds the switch, so just leave the wire open, unless its your busniess, its probably installed for legal reasons when done "profesionally"....
Also the Anti-grind can be left off also, unless you have a bad habit of try to start your car when its already running, I decided it was to much trouble. For Ford ignitions, it requires a selenoid to be spliced into the ignition wiring. THis is also outlined in the Auto Commmand page.
There is also extra wires to operate power locks and trunk.
If you have an factory security system, it may require additional parts and wiring to deactivate the alarm.

You can also look at a PDF instrucion manual at Omega Research iunder products, generic, RS-7k.
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[agoric875]

Hey guys,

I'm getting a remote starter & keyless entry done tomorrow at the local boomer mcloud dealer.
note: i've heard crimestopper has problems with the transmitters, that's why i'm not getting that brand, not sure what brand i'm getting actually, it'll be nice to get into a warm vehicle in the morning...in the winters.

peace.

 

[emon]

i have one made by audivox. with leather seats it comes very handy in the winter time. its priceless actually.

 

[97BlackX5.0]

Being the money minded college student that i am i happened upon a returned bulldog unit at walmart marked down to an unbelievably low 5 dollars.... yes 5 dollars...it was opened and strewn about in the box but it was all there. it had a 4 button remote..... now i know the quality of this unit isnt on par with most of the others but i figured what the heck for 5 bucks i could put it on try it.... Well i got the unit and read the directions and watched the (very dumb) movie. I decided to install it myself... again to save money... I pulled apart the panels under my 97 steering column as this is where you do all the installation.... Let me tell you it was a bit intimidating to see all those wires.... The unit came with pretty good directions and i started connection like what seemed like 500 wires... I have to say that other than finding a wire to hook the door locks up to the unit it was just time consuming and not really all that difficult.... took me about a whole day and thats only cause i had to pull apart the door and trace the wires from the locks.... Other than that ive had no complaints... the unit is very programmable 5 to 20 minute automatic start and run options... you can add on alarm goodies and like temp sensors to start your car if it gets to cold or hot.... i extended the antenna wire and ran it up the A pillar and all the way back to the rear of the truck inside the plastic piece and get about 1200 foot ranges... I did not hook up the Tach start feature because i could not figure it out (tach start gives you a little bit more cranking action if you have a hard starting vehicle) My only complaint thus far is a guy i know ended up having the same system as me and even though they say there are 1000's of codes we ended up having the same one.... so i can start both cars at once if i am close enough to his... But other than that dont be afraid of the electric... if you have a computer friendly test light... which came with mine then start probing away...... so i have a pretty good system thats been functioning for over 2 years with no problems.... for 5 dollars and a days installation time...


(ps. beware of the encased yellow wires those are for the airbag and you dont want to probe those with 12 volts unless you want a really big bang)

 

[98EBV8]

I have a Viper 150 ESP installed by a professional. The timer, was installed as an option to start it by day and time or temperature.

I had it turn on the rear defroster each time it started. One thing I didn't like about the system is that I had the progressive unlocking system turned on, it doesn't have the timer to reset when you press the unlock button once. It waits until you press the unlock button again. What ended up happening was if I use the interior power lock either on the door or near the hatch, it is a pain because if you do that, and open the doors, then the alarm kicks in. The only workaround is to use the key fob to lock and unlock the doors. I suppose if you don't have the progressive unlocking turned on, this would not be an issue.

This is contrast to the factory key fob with progressive unlocking system. I always use the interior door lock button to lock my truck.

I plan to contact the customer service at Directed, the one that makes the Vipers. My installer are aware of the problem, but they do not know of a solution other than to use the key fob completely to lock and unlock the car.

Even though you have the quarter mile range, you cannot start inside a building well, even when you are close. You have to try to get near to the window nearest to your car or open all the doors leading to the window within the range.

Any questions about the Viper system, I will be glad to answer them.

Shane

 

[duketter]

I had a sidewinder remote starter in my explorer and wife has an astro start on in the car. Both work great. She has the lcd keychain display one where she can see if the car started or not. That is a nice feature if you can afford it. They both start from about 2000 feet away. I would say that is the most important feature. I have had good luck with those too and the sindwinder was about $225 to install and the astro start was $400 or so.

I had these professionally installed.

 

[Black Magic]

Originally posted by 98EBV8

...Even though you have the quarter mile range, you cannot start inside a building well, even when you are close. You have to try to get near to the window nearest to your car or open all the doors leading to the window within the range...

Shane

That is not true, I have a Clifford 8500, which is still a DEI. I have the long range setup and I can start my truck from inside the Computer Office Building in the middle of the 3rd floor with the truck a full block away. I love it in the winter and summer.

 

[duketter]

That is the same with both of mine, I can start them from inside buildings no problem from easily a block or two away. I can sit in our civic center watching a b-ball game in the winter and at the end of the game start our car that is easily 1500 feet away and I am inside a huge civic center building. I don't have to see the vehicles to start them.

 

[98EBV8]

Any idea to improve the range?

I'm wondering, do either of you have the self-dimming mirror on your Explorers? I have one and thought maybe the mirror causing the problem because the antenna is next to it.

I have been using my factory-size remote and I have to hold the two buttons like 5-10 seconds to start. Yesterday, it was about 5 seconds and it would not start from the second floor about 100 feet away. I just got the remote like a couple of months ago.

I mentioned this to my installer and ask if he could put more antennas. He said that no matter how many antenna you have, the range would not improve.

Thanks.

 

[duketter]

I do not have the self dimming mirror. Do you maybe have tinted windows on the fronts? I don't? Just a thought, don't think that would matter though.

Maybe do a test of some sort. Go to a parking lot and park your explorer. Now go start it from a distance that is straight in front of it. See how far you can go. Then do the same thing from behind it. I would think if it is shorter from behind then maybe that mirror has something to do with it??? I can't see that would affect it though. Maybe it is just a bad battery in the transmittor?? Just trying to give you some ideas becuase I am sure it is frustrating if you have to basically walk up to it to start it!!

 

[Black Magic]

I don't have a dimming mirror. I Do have lots of tint everywhere. So I don't think that causes it. Altho I do know that kills my remotes. I can't change the radio with the remote through the tint in the back hatch. I have to open it.

 

[98EBV8]

Thank you for your responses. I do have factory tints in the rear doors and liftgate glass. There is a blue strip that runs across the top of the windshield. I assume that it is on all vehicles today.

There is a slight tint in the front windows and windshield. I have not add any more tint than what the factory put in.

I will try to test how far I can do with my Explorer front and back sometime.

After getting ahold of another DEI installer in town, I found out that there is no way to use the interior locking with the progressive unlocking feature on. I have to use the remote fob all the time, otherwise the remote will not reset like the factory fob does and the alarm will kick in when the door is opened.

I also mentioned about the range...because of a frequency that many people use, it shortens the range considerably much like the cordless phones. So, if everyone uses a 900 Mhz frequency devices, such as the remote, the range is reduced. The only way to fix this is to get another whole new remote starter unit. I just got the system this January. Now, I am not too sure about this. What do you think?

Thanks.

 

[DeRocha]

A little remote info:

The radio remote, much like your TV,VCR ect is IR Infra Red and therefore is basically a flashlight. The beam has to be pointed in the general direction of the receiver. That is why you cannot use it through your tinted windows... If you actually want to see the output just hookup a Camcorder to a tv. when you use the remote you should see it on the TV image. (most Camcorders are sensitive enought to capture the IR signal).

The Alarm and starter remotes are RF radio frequency. These work like you garage door openers, RC cars ect. There range is only limited by the transmitting output and the METAL shielding on the pick up antena... The remote signal needs to travel through everthing to reach the antenn. So try and get the antena as high up in the dash where you only have plastic.. Metal will at as a shield and will block/reduce the signal.

 

[greenhornet3147]

distance

only problem i have is that after i had windshield replaced I have to be just about ontop of truck for it to start.

 

[checkedout]

I installed the cheap bulldog model the other day. Took an hour and a half start to finish using the T-harness. It works great I'm really happy with it.

 

[Daps]

Forgot I even started this thread

Well since then I've got the audiovox prestige alarm/remote start with the LCD 2way pager remote...comes in very handy..can program it to turn on at a certain time of day or temp... now that its getting cold out i turn on the heat and defroster when i get out at night...

 

[98EBV8]

Originally posted by DEROCHA
...try and get the antena as high up in the dash where you only have plastic.. Metal will at as a shield and will block/reduce the signal. [/B]

What did you mean up in the dash? My antenna is mounted on the left side of the mirror from inside. It is not all the way to the top of the windshield. Do you think I should place it all the way to the top center? There is a blue tint strip, however.

Thanks.

 

[DeRocha]

98EBV8 my statement was generic.
I have installed many brands of after market alarms. In all cases of poor distance we would install a new remote battery and reposition the alarm/remote starter antenna. To benchmark a unit we would leave the antenna on top off the dash in plain view. We would then test the remote at various distances and positions. This would give us a descent max range estimate. We would then install the antenna in various positions until we came close to our max range value.