DIY Remote Starters & Keyless Entry. How difficult to install?

[Mojoed]

Lately I've been thinking of having a remote starter/keyless entry system installed on my cars. I loathe entering a hot/freezing cold vehicle.

Some of the decent systems at Best Buy were $300-500 installed. That seemed pretty steep to me so I found a few DIY kits online for pretty cheap. Here's one:

http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/nav...&ci_sku=160079

Pretty big price difference between having it done professionally and DIY. This leads to my questions.

1) Is the kit I linked above any good? If not, any suggestions?
2) How difficult is it installing these things? For reference, I'm somewhat mechanically inclined, but by no means a natural.
3) Any kits out there that will give me huge range and have remotes that will start 2 different vehicles?

Any other tips or suggestions are welcome. I can't research this stuff myself from work.

 

[DuffmanOhYeah]

Remote start = easy

Keyless entry, particularly if you are doing a solenoid install = time + pita

 

[Ronstang]

If you have to ask how hard something electrical on a car is to install you probably should either not do it yourself or at the minimum get a friend who has experience hel you. You can end up with a car that won't start and you won't know why.

 

[Mojoed]

Hey good advice you two - thanks.

How do I know if it's a solenoid install? If it helps the two vehicles are: 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo and 1993 Ford Escort.

Also, if anyone else can recommend a good reliable brand that would be great.

 

[NutBucket]

Do your vehicles have power locks?

No = solenoid install
Yes = "easy" install

 

[franksta]

The remote start can be a little more difficult if your cars have an anti-theft system. I put just a keyless entry on my Merc and it wasn't too difficult.

I got the system from KC Autosound and for an extra $25 he'll pre-wire the 'brain' and write up directions specific to your Ford. Plus if you run into any problems he'll talk your ears off over the phone. The only problem I ran into was my own fault, I got the wrong wire for the trunk release. It can be rather tedious finding all the wires and splicing into them. It took me several hours to do but I was super critical and checked everything several times.

 

[Mojoed]

The remote start can be a little more difficult if your cars have an anti-theft system. I put just a keyless entry on my Merc and it wasn't too difficult.

I got the system from KC Autosound and for an extra $25 he'll pre-wire the 'brain' and write up directions specific to your Ford. Plus if you run into any problems he'll talk your ears off over the phone. The only problem I ran into was my own fault, I got the wrong wire for the trunk release. It can be rather tedious finding all the wires and splicing into them. It took me several hours to do but I was super critical and checked everything several times.

Hey, thanks for the link/info! Any other opinions/tips are welcomed as far as brands and installation goes.

 

[exdeath]

If you have a manual make absolutely sure the remote start can be wired into the clutch start inhibit or neutral safety switch correctly.

Too many painful pictures on the internet...

 

[franksta]

Hey, thanks for the link/info! Any other opinions/tips are welcomed as far as brands and installation goes.

Mine is Code Alarm brand. It was amongst the least expensive ones I could find. It has onboard relays for the lock/unlock but required an external one for the trunk release. I also thought that there was one for the interior lights but I forget. I put it in several months ago. It also slowly dims the interior lights now rather than just abruptly turning them off.

I'd buy a nice wire stripper/crimper if you don't have one and a variety pack of wire terminals came in handy too. Some of the wires you T into and others you connect in series.