Remote starter yes or no?

[LuckyTaxi]

i would love to get it for the winter months, however, I would like to know if I'm setting myself up for issues down the road. Mainly, could it cause an issue with my electrical system later on. I know it all depends on whether the installer is competent but over the years could it breakdown and cause issues. If the starter breaks and I'm able to start the car as normal, then that's fine.

I called around and found an installer who wants $400. he mentioned he doesn't cut into the electrical system. How is this even possible? Everyone else wants around $250 and they cut into the car's electrical system.

 

[mike8675309]

Depends on the car. Ford has remote starting integrated into their control module on 2014 and up. It costs about $400 to add the key fob hardware and the interface into the car's systems. From there it takes care of it. Check with your manufactures dealer.

My wife requires it. I live without it but it is nice to have in the winter and the summer. The summer to cool a car off before you get to it, the winter to warm it up as you walk to it in the mall parking lot or outside as you finish your dinner. If you are somewhere where it gets super cold (-30 F) you can get ones that will cycle the engine, turning it on and warming up for 20 minutes every 180 minutes or so.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Viper.com has you covered .

 

[DaTT]

Yes, if the remote start feature fails, you can start it normally.

 

[SearchMaster]

I once worked with a guy who had a remote starter installed on his manual transmission car. He had cleaned his car one day and inadvertently knocked the shifter into gear. His remote starter didn't have a disabler when the car was in gear, and when he remote started it, the car went over the hill at his apartment complex and down about 20 feet. Luckily for him it was a hill and not a straight dropoff but it still did several thousand dollars in damage.

So I say no, don't do it. They only cause problems

 

[ra1nman]

I'm assuming when the installer mentions he doesn't have to cut in he'll be using a bypass module. I had one put in my car so it uses my stock fob as my remote start by pressing lock button 3x consecutively. The down side to this is the range is limited to what the factory fob is capable of. On the plus side I can add a dedicated module at some point that would work in conjunction with the bypass if I want to increase the range.

 

[Raizinman]

I would stick with the factory remote. Honda has a kit that will fit most all their cars ($300 for parts) that requires no wire cutting. If your vehicle is still under warranty, this is now covered. Service can be had at any Honda dealership. Too many problems with other brands. Not necessarily due to a bad product, but mainly due to a untrained or lazy installer. Go OEM and get it done right the first time.

 

[RLGL]

My daughter has a remote starter on her car that was bought used. The system worked until the battery was disconnected for replacement. I later found that a decal was to have been placed under the hood warning a switch position on the unit needed to be changed. This caused the control unit to lose its programing. The reflash could only be done at a small shop 650 miles from her location. Appointment needed, no weekends.
So much for that unit.

 

[Zivic]

if you buy a good system with a competent installer you should have no issues. I have had 3 compustar systems over the yrs in my personal vehicles with minimal to no issues. the main issues I have are a broken or lost remote fob. same installer has done numerous installs for family and personal friends... again, no issues. I have had a compustar two-way in my van now for 7 yrs without issue. $400 sounds a little on the cheap side for the systems I have had experience with.

short story long, I wouldn't be scared of issues due to a remote start system (assuming you have a competent installer)

 

[olds]

I loved it in my F250. I'd get to work, shut the F250 off and turn the defroster controls to high. I'd get in a plow truck and be out plowing snow for 12 hours. When I got back to the facility, my F250 would be covered in snow/ice. As I drove by the F250 in the plow truck, I'd start my F250. I'd go wash the plow truck, do my time and come out to a warm, defrosted truck.

 

[bigi]

Big YES. I've had one with 3 cars. It even worked with Stick Shift perfectly well.

 

[Scarpozzi]

I forgot all about it because my car got totalled....but I had one in my Jeep Cherokee years back. It was an automatic.

I lived in an apartment complex and parking was outside. It was definitely nice to setup my defroster on cold mornings and get the car heating up while I drank coffee. I bought a unit with a remote for around $60. It had a website that told me where to find the wiring harness and which wires to use to bypass the security. There were plastic splicers included and it wasn't difficult to add the pigtails needed to install the unit. I think I had the thing installed in a few hours.


My first experience with a remote starter, however, was when my dad bought a used Cadillac. We were standing in the driveway and the car started out of the blue. The key wasn't in it...we couldn't figure out what happened. It was months later that I saw the receiver and antenna for the remote starter and realized someone had installed it. I wasn't sure how to remove the thing totally so I just cut the wires to the unit marked 'power' (black & red wires) and left it in there.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I vote no but only because I live in San Diego where the coldest it gets is down in the 40s on rare occasions so I basically have zero need for one.

 

[foghorn67]

My current and previous car had a factory remote start. I use it for hot days. Winter, maybe once in a while. Doesn't get very cold here

 

[BurnItDwn]

I dont have it, and its not worth paying $500 or whatever for to me. The time it takes to heat up in the winter, I am outside scraping the windows...

In the summer, when is hot out, it would be nice to cool the car off, but I can deal with windows the first 10-15 minutes of the dirve as the car slowly cools down.

But, I dont think its likely to cause problems or do any harm to the car. If its worth the Price to you, then, they are good.

 

[BUTCH1]

I loved it in my F250. I'd get to work, shut the F250 off and turn the defroster controls to high. I'd get in a plow truck and be out plowing snow for 12 hours. When I got back to the facility, my F250 would be covered in snow/ice. As I drove by the F250 in the plow truck, I'd start my F250. I'd go wash the plow truck, do my time and come out to a warm, defrosted truck.

My GM has it, many GM product lines from '04-up offer it, automatically applies max AC or max defrost depending on outside temp detected. Car is not operable without key in the ignition so theft is not a concern, runs for 10 minuets or you can click the FOB twice and go for 20 minutes (max). Now the bad news, seems more and more states/towns are outlawing cars idling, link to .Pdf,https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...myPNoUxs50049w&bvm=bv.139250283,d.eWE&cad=rja
Luckily, (for me) FL currently has no laws against idling vehicles but that Pdf has states where it gets cold as beJesus, when I lived in Mass we used to just run out and start the car with it set on max defrost and go back inside to get ready for school/work. Have people lost their friggin minds?, WTF are you supposed to do, drive with an ice-covered windshield?, drive for miles when it's -5 degrees and freeze your nuts off waiting for the heater to kick in?. The tree-huggers have page after page on the web about idling cars and your "carbon foot-print" and claiming how it can lead to engine damage. One woman writes a lengthy rant about the wasted fuel then admits at the end she drives a V8 powered SUV. If you were lusting after a big truck or modern muscle-car I'd recommend you don't wait much longer because soon you will be TOLD what you can and can't drive.