Remote start on stick shift?

[Kaido]

My car (base 2014 Kia Soul) has power locks, but does not have remote keyless entry. I'd like to add remote keyless entry and I'm considering remote start as part of the package, but it's a stick-shift transmission. I have mixed feelings on this. I know it's possible; in fact, Best Buy even offers it:

Can you install a remote start in a vehicle with manual transmission?

Yes. Some vehicles with manual transmission can get a remote start system installed. However, there are vehicles with manual transmission that will not accept a remote start system. Contact your local Best Buy at 1-888-BestBuy to talk to a certified Autotech about your specific make and model.

Some additional reading here:

http://www.mobileedgeonline.com/can-i-get-a-remote-car-starter-on-a-manual-transmission/

My only concern would be about safety. My buddy's dad had remote start in his manual car, but would always forget to leave it in neutral. He lost his keys once - someone found them in the parking lot and starting pressing buttons to see which car it belonged to and accidentally hit the start button, causing the car to drive forward (since it was in gear) and crash (no one was hurt, fortunately).

The newer systems have extra security features, including e-brake detection. The Compustar system recommended by the Mobile Edge website also has some additional protection features. They have the following procedure to ensure safety:

1. Parking:

a. Park the car
b. Pull the e-brake up
c. Press the Start button on the remote starter
d. Turn the car off (car remains running)
e. Get out & shut the door (car turns off)

2. Starting: Press the Start button on the remote starter

There is a wire on the e-brake that tells the system that the brake is up, so that's step one. Step two is for you to activate the system by pressing the Start button before you turn off the car. Then you shut the car off, but it remains running. Then, when you shut the door, the car turns off. Now the car knows that both the e-brake is up and the car is in neutral, because if you had gotten out with the car running in gear, it would have bucked & shut off the engine.

The car will now start via remote unless someone has opened the door, because opening the door means that the gear may have been engaged since the system detected the proper exit sequence. Sounds like a lot of stuff, but all it means is that you press the button on the keyfob before you shut the car off & get out, and that you leave it in neutral. Directed has a similar idea: (page 18)

http://www.directeddealers.com/manuals/OG/Viper/G4102V_2009_08web.pdf

1. Park & leave engine on
2. Set the parking brake
3. Release the foot brake
4. Within 20 seconds of foot brake release (you can press & release anytime), press any button on the remote & the car's lights will flash 5 times
5. Turn off & remove the key (engine remains running)
6. Exit the vehicle, close all doors, lock the doors
7. Engine wil turn off after a few seconds
8. Car will now remote start unless a door is opened before the next activation

That seems fairly safe to me. Also, it's a new car, so the e-brake is in good condition. I would be more concerned about parking on a hill or grade in neutral with only the e-brake activated & then doing remote start. I'm looking at 3 systems right now:

1. Directed (Viper/Python)
2. Compustar
3. Digital Guard Dawg

Directed systems can be installed at Best Buy & other local electronics retailers, so that's pretty easy to find. Compustar has a bunch of installers in my area. Digital Guard Dawg would be more of a DIY project unless I paid an installer to handle it, but they offer some additional nice features:

1. Pushbutton start
2. RFID smartkey (like Nissan - auto-locks & unlocks)

Directed has some nice features as well:

1. Smartphone support:

a. Nice if you lose your keys
b. VERY nice if you lock them in the car
c. Can remote start from anywhere with a 3G/Wifi signal (don't have to go to a window & aim)

2. 2-way keyfob system
3. GPS tracking via the 3G system (in case it gets stolen)

Lots of options. Seems a little risky though, especially if you're on a grade. Wondering what everyone thinks of this. I think it would be cool to have a combination of a Digital Guard Dawg pushbutton start & a Directed Smartphone/2-way keyfob system to add keyless entry & remote start. The pushbutton kit is $300 (or $350 for the passive card) system, but for the price I could live with a key, haha. The Viper system from Best Buy is $600 installed:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/viper-vs...202700050022.p

More details here:

http://www.viper.com/smartstart/product/vss5000/viper-smartstart-security-and-remote-start-system

That includes:

1. Full kit
2. Installation
3. 2-way SmartStart module
4. Remote start system
5. 1-way Keyfob

Assuming it's plug & play with my power lock system (which doesn't include an existing keyfob), that would add:

1. Remote start
2. Keyless entry via keyfob
3. Keyless entry via smartphone

Somewhat expensive for the Best Buy package, but $600 includes all of that plus installation. It was 5F this morning and I don't have a garage, so it sure would have been nice to have today! I would probably upgrade to the 2-way remote: (1-mile range with command confirmation, but this LED doesn't require charging like the LCD model does)

http://www.viper.com/car/remotestart/product/4806v/viper-led-2-way-remote-start-system

So that would add keyless entry, let me use my iPhone as a backup keyfob, and upgrade to remote start. I think on flat parking spaces, this system would work pretty well (neutral, parking brake, safety procedure). I don't know if I'd do remote start if I was parked on a hill, but I rarely do that. Yay/nay?

 

[NutBucket]

Does the car have cruise control? If so it likely has a neutral safety switch on the transmission. There's your safety.

 

[sze5003]

I was thinking about this too since it's so cold lately. I had it before on an automatic. My car now is stick and works with a fob but you still would need to twist the knob on the wheel I suppose before getting going.

On my automatic I would still need to place the key in for the safety. Although they say it's going to get a bit warmer. Just don't get audio done at best buy, I had to go back several times and pay more each time because they did a cheap job.

 

[Kaido]

Does the car have cruise control? If so it likely has a neutral safety switch on the transmission. There's your safety.

It does not. I may look into adding it aftermarket, however. The stick-shift Soul is only available in a super stripped-down version, unfortunately. I did read that people had success swapping the steering wheels (on the previous year models); it sounds like all of the equipment is through a central computer, you just have to get the right interface (steering wheel buttons, keyfob, etc.) to get it talking.

 

[Kaido]

I was thinking about this too since it's so cold lately. I had it before on an automatic. My car now is stick and works with a fob but you still would need to twist the knob on the wheel I suppose before getting going.

On my automatic I would still need to place the key in for the safety. Although they say it's going to get a bit warmer. Just don't get audio done at best buy, I had to go back several times and pay more each time because they did a cheap job.

Yeah, I've heard the same thing about audio installs at Best Buy - it can be hit or miss.

Since I purchased the car instead of leasing it, I have more leeway in the modifications I can do. The higher-end version of the Soul basically has 5.1 sound, so there's a blank shield in the center of my dashboard that I can re-purpose - I'm thinking about picking up that new 7" Garmin GPS with the wireless backup camera and cutting a hole in the dummy speaker cover and then mounting the bracket & power cable inside the dash. That way it would be more or less permanent, but also look somewhat factory instead of just sticking on the windshield with a suction cup.

 

[Kaido]

Smartstart service plan details here:

http://www.viper.com/SmartStart/ServicePlans.aspx

Pricing is for base or base + GPS features for 1 year or 3 years:

1. $70 annually ($5.79/month) for base features (lock/unlock, remote start, Viper Motor Club)
2. $140 for 3 years ($3.89/month) for base
3. $100 annually ($8.33/month) for base plus GPS (car location/speed, speed/lockdown alerts, SmartSchedule, SmartFence, Hotspot)
4. $200 for 3-years ($5.56/month) for base plus GPS

The GPS feature sounds pretty cool - the main thing is you can see where your car is, no Lojack required! One of the first things my insurance rep asked me when I bought the car was if I were getting a tracking system installed, so I wonder (1) if this would qualify, and (2) how much of an insurance discount it would be. Heck, if it's five or six bucks a month, that would cover the monthly cost! (it will probably be 50 cents, if anything haha)

The SmartStart module with GPS is the VSM250: ($299 at Best Buy)

http://www.viper.com/smartstart/product/vsm250/viper-smartstart-gps-module

I like this LED 2-way keyfob pair: (model 4806V, also $299 at Best Buy)

http://www.viper.com/car/remotestart/product/4806v/viper-led-2-way-remote-start-system

It says you have to go through an authorized dealer to get it installed, but you can also buy the stuff off Amazon, so that's weird. I can get the GPS SmartStart & the 2-way LED keyfob for the same price as the 1-way keyfob package. As per the website, the formula is:

SmartStart Module + Compatible Viper System = SmartStart

So I can buy the standard 2-way keyless with the keyfob & remote starter, then add on the SmartStart module & be good to go. If I go the Best Buy route, $600 out the door with installation, maybe a little extra if they need wiring adapters & stuff. $200 for 3 years of service doesn't sound horrible either - lets you use the smartphone as an emergency/backup key, lets you remote-start your car from inside your house or work building, and is a quasi-Lojack system. Nice!

 

[NutBucket]

I think the discount for having OnStar is like 5-10%.

 

[yagawood]

Hi Kaido - I just purchased a base model 2015 Kia Soul with manual transmission and was researching key fobs/remote starting when I found this post.

I'm interested in adding this to my Soul as well and wanted to see which system you decided to go with and whether you enjoy it or would have picked something different. Also, since our Souls are fairly bare-bones, I was wondering whether you ever made that mod to the speaker blank on top of the dash, or anything else to upgrade your ride.

Thanks - and sorry to bring back an older thread!

 

[QueBert]

YMMV but I have a high end 2 way Viper and the 1 mile range quote is a damn joke. Anything beyond 1/4 a mile is super iffy. It wasn't a selling point for me, but it sounded good. I also strongly dislike how cheap the LCD FOB is. It works great, but the quality of the material blows. Cheap plastic, and even the screen is covered in low quality plastic. After 4 months in my pocket from banging around with my keys it was scratched to holy hell. This alarm wasn't cheap, it would have been nice for them to use Gorilla Glass or something.

 

[Midwayman]

If its possible to buy a OEM module for your car, I'd go that way. Typically they will snap somewhere in the existing harness. Wiring for a remote start is complex. I bought one for my wife's CRV, looked at all the wiring in the panel and just brought it some where.

I want it on my new car, but due to the security on the car is over a grand to even get the hardware.

 

[Scarpozzi]

Don't a lot of sticks have a safety switch on the clutch....meaning, you must press the clutch and/or brake before the starter will turn over? I'd probably just deal with the cold....sounds like too much trouble dealing with neutral and the worry about leaving it in gear while starting it. I know the engine would die instantly without more gas to keep it from stalling, but it still wouldn't be good to do... Plus, I like the concept of leaving it in gear and using the parking brake.....

 

[Zivic]

Get a compustar unit. 2 way. A good installer will have no problem with a manual trans