Remote Starters

[waif69]

Anybody have a remote starter? How easy are they to install? Should I pay to have one installed? How much should I expect to pay to have one put in? Can I even get one since my EGT has a manual transmission? Just a couple of questions... :confused:

[exsailor]

I had the dealer put one in for CAN$129. If anything goes wrong it is under warranty :)
The only thing with mine is that I cannot use the original remote but I am well pleased with it and only use it in winter months.
The range is fantastic and I can start my car from the apartment and it is parked on the other side of the building about 300 ft away.

[paki]

i wouldnt suggest putting it onto a manual.

[southpawboston]

nothing wrong with putting one in a manual. i put one in my manual. there are so many safegaurds built in that it's impossible for them to cause your car to try to start in gear.

unless you're comfy working with electrical wires and have worked with electrical stuff before, i wouldn't attempt it...just pay to have it done.

[johnblaze94]

I would definately have it installed. It's a LOT of work.

[Rdizziedog]

nothing wrong with putting one in a manual. i put one in my manual. there are so many safegaurds built in that it's impossible for them to cause your car to try to start in gear.

unless you're comfy working with electrical wires and have worked with electrical stuff before, i wouldn't attempt it...just pay to have it done.

I've read and have been told by many people that it is bad to put a remote start in a manual. I've wanted to do it since the day I got my car, and now more so that winter is coming, and quck.

No one has really given me a reason though, is it because if you park the car an dhave it in first gear or reverse (like some people do when parking a manual, they just don't leave it in neutral..) that if it tries to start it, bad things happen? Haha, I have no clue, but if I leave it in neutral while its parked and have a remote start, I still don't see a problem...

Anyone feel like explaining?

[yamaha]

I had one put in with my alarm system a few months ago. Just as SouthPawBoston said, if your not comfortable doing electrical work, stay away. If you have a weekend to dick around and learn how to do it, I say go for it. Any reputable car audio place would charge about 130-150 dollars to do the install. I would check around your location if I were you to get an idea on some prices.

Sean

[KeWLKaT]

Yes. That problem is that you could smash your car into something like it happened to the aussy guy and sammyc...

my remote start has a built in sensor that doesnt activate the remote starter unless you have it in neutral.

[kylemorg]

There were a few posts a while back about people having their manual transmission cars wreck into things (including a new SUV at a dealership) because the proper safety systems weren't installed.

All that really needs to be installed is one lockout sensor to make sure the transmission is in neutral. If the transmission is not in neutral then the remote starter should not operate.

Here's a lot of great info for you on this very topic:

http://www.elantraxd.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3730&highlight=manual+remote+start


Here are the two "I ran my manual transmission car into something because it didn't have a neutral lockout" threads: http://www.elantraxd.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7344&highlight=remote+start and http://www.elantraxd.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5072

[southpawboston]

my unit does not have a neutral gear sensor, but if it senses a load on the battery during the start process (such as would happen if the starter tries to turn the engine while in gear), it aborts instantly. also, the remote start can't be "set" to activate (put on standby) until after the driver gets out of the car with the car running, brake pedal not pressed, handbrake on, and clutch pedal not pressed. all those things together make it impossible to set the remote starter into standby with the car in gear.

[kylemorg]

Very Interestinc Herr SouthPaw...

That's an interesting way for the remote starter to function properly without a neutral lockout. That makes sense -- threre's no need to add another switch. What brand / model is it?

[southpawboston]

designtech, now owned by DEI i believe.

the only annoyance is that you have to go through a routine just to set the thing. foot on brake, pull handbrake, release foot, flip a switch, remove key from ignition (engine stays on), get out, lock door with remote (engine switches off). now the car's ready to start with the remote. kind of a hassle, but hey, i chose to have a manual tranny...

[waif69]

Thanks everyone. I will start calling around the area and see what some of these places are going to charge me to put a system in.

[NHElantraGT]

the only annoyance is that you have to go through a routine just to set the thing. foot on brake, pull handbrake, release foot, flip a switch, remove key from ignition (engine stays on), get out, lock door with remote (engine switches off). now the car's ready to start with the remote. kind of a hassle, but hey, i chose to have a manual tranny...

Mine works in a similar way...

Routine to set = Foot on brake, pull handbrake, release foot from brake, remove key from ignition (engine stays on), get out and close door. When last open door closes (always mine if I'm alone) the engine switches off, doors lock and the remote plays a song to let me know I did it right. Now car can be restarted with remote.

At first, I found myself walking through the steps, but as I always use my ebrake and almost never leave the car in gear, it felt normal quickly.

[southpawboston]

Mine works in a similar way...
At first, I found myself walking through the steps, but as I always use my ebrake and almost never leave the car in gear, it felt normal quickly.

same here, it's natural now...

[Vampyrate]

okay, i searched and found nothing on the topic (probably, cuz its not possible) but woudl there be a way to wire in a remote starter to run off the stock remote? say... like if i hit the lock button twice within 5 seconds, have the engine start. btw, i have an 01

and its automatic

[southpawboston]

that is every bit possible and in fact that is EXACTLY how my Designtech (DEI) remote starter is set up. i have to press lock-unlock-lock within 5 seconds. it has an input sensor which can be programmed for one or two pulses, but with only one lock pulse, if you accidentally unlocked your car and relocked it, it would activate the starter! the one-pulse setting is what you would choose if you had an aftermarket alarm with an additional channel.

[Vampyrate]

thanks southpaw... ill look into buying a designtech remote starter then... how much did yours cost and is there a diagram or diy that you could post on how to install one?

[zx2uner]

vampyrate,
I installed mine by myself. It's tricky, but if you're familair with electrical, it's not so bad.

www.autocommand.com
www.bulldogsecurity.com

those two websites have vehicle wiring diagrams that list which wires to hook them to, and autocommand is designtech.

anyother questions, pm me

-alex

[Vampyrate]

cool, thanks a lot. btw, im not afraid to tackle any electrical mod...

[southpawboston]

i have the autocomand model # 20222, it's called the "add on" module since it's designed to work with your existing keyless system.

owner's manual (http://www.autocommand.com/pdf/manuals/20022v83b.pdf)

my DIY for installing it in an Xd w/keyless (http://homepage.mac.com/tutter/DIY/autocommand/autocommand.htm)

[Vampyrate]

sweet... i told my g/f about it and now she wants me to do the same thing on her 05 corolla... but for teh life of me, i don't know how to remove the dash to get to the wiring back behind it... damn you toyota! *shakes fist*

[menallychllngd]

i installed one in my manual and i love it. if you have a manual tranny i would suggest putting it in yourself, because you will really have to search hard to find an installer who will do it. most places will tell you that it is against their policy. even though there are many safety features that will keep a manual car from auto starting while it is in gear they still will not do it. southpaw's diy is a great help when going it alone. i like this route too because you know what is going on wit your own car. if something goes wrong you have a pretty good idea how to fix it.

[Vampyrate]

i have an auto... so it should just be a fairly simple "plug program and play"

[menallychllngd]

yeah i have to do my g/f's auto soon. not sure which path to take. attach it to the factory alarm or just have a separate remote for the starter. decisions..