Installing Remote Start = PITA!

[Joe in NY]

For anyone looking to installing their own remote on one of these vehicles, letting you know now, it is a major pain in the rear. I currently hate Ford. I am doing the job the correct way. Not butchering everything and quickly hacking it in.

Here are a few quick picks I took with my non smart phone:

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B6z9W4aWlAb8VEpNT2p1U29idGs&usp=sharing

What I have done:

Installed relay to trigger glass release while car IS LOCKED. Most people just wire up their remote start up to the lift gate button so it only works while unlocked.

Use ox-guard and heat shrink butt connectors for all my splices. (I would solder and heat shrink, but too cramped and takes too long.)

Go through Ford Wiring manual and double check all wires and locations. Be careful, the Ford Wiring manual does have some small errors and Ford used the same color coding for two completely different items and same gauge wire in the same connector to the interior fuse box! Also, that fuse box, the one up underneath the dash... Way too hard to get out! That was a battle in itself. I will update more as I go.

 

[Joe in NY]

So I have it all hooked up.. Correctly. And the AVITAL module is bad! It wont send the 12 volt pulse to the starter circuit... It activates yes. But wont send the voltage... Errr....

 

[2000StreetRod]

reliability

Something to remember a few years from now. From what I've read on the forum aftermarket remote start retrofits are a common source for no start issues. You're smart to do the installation carefully. I suspect moisture corroding electrical connections may be the biggest problem.

 

[Joe in NY]

Yes I am very aware of electrical works. Corrosion = bad things.

It is really frustrating. I started Friday by pulling the front dash apart and the driver seat. Then Saturday morning yanked the rear passenger side interior out to install the glass latch activation relay. (So I can pop the glass while car is locked like factory) Finding all of Fords wires and working the tightest and most uncomfortable positions I had to quit Saturday night. I got it wired up today and went to test it. Nothing. I have been searching around and trying different things.

I am sure the module is bad. It goes through the cycles and I can hear the relays clicking. Also, ACC 1 output has 0 volts. ACC 2 output has 12 volts when it should. So ACC and Start wires not working leads to me to believe it is bad. What stinks is I just found out AVITAL hates dealing with consumers. Only authorized dealers. -_- I just the car back together at 6:30 p.m. today..

 

[lincolnshibuya]

did you install the GEM wakeup circuit? explorers typically sleeps the GEM to conserve battery, you need to wake up the GEM to enable waking up the accessories.

http://diagrams.marktoonen.nl/DOWNLOADS/8172_EXPLORER_FORD GEM WAKE UP DIAGRAM II.pdf

 

[Joe in NY]

interesting. Did not know that. Thank you.

But my current problem lies with the remote start module. It will not send 12 volts to the start circuit.. :/

Strange though, because it is supposed to honk on lock and honk twice on unlock.. The module is doing either and the glass release doesn't work.


Oh yeah, a few more pics in the link now too.

 

[Joe in NY]

Forgot to mention again

For testing purposes. I left everything hooked up. Including the non working ACC output to the ACC lead on the explorer. I then used the working ACC 2 output and jumped it to the starter circuit when the module clicked the 3rd relay for starting. The Explorer started right up and ran fine. (This was done with key in ignition barrel @ OFF position)

The bypass module I got says you must be able to remote start the car with key in barrel in OFF position before trying to program the key code into the module.

Here is what I am working with:

Remote Start: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002P4P1G2?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00

Bypass: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005KGOG8G?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00

 

[lincolnshibuya]

you might return the avital for a replacement.
it's best to pair the avital unit with the expresskit DBALL2 since it handles the door lock/alarm/key module and you need not worry about that GEM wiring installation.

avital only deals with registered installers unlike bulldog, so you won't get any support from them.