I live in winter climates and love the idea of a remote starter. But I have several reservations.

I have the fully loaded SE and I know that the whole security/locking/keyless entry system is fairly intricate so,
1. Is it a pain to install a remote starter and does it cause any problems?

2. Are there any that don't require that you carry two nasty bulky plastic things on your keychain??

 

Man, I know some people here have remote starter added on to the factory alarm. I have see some on ebay for like $50, that you use your factory alarm with (three pulses on the lock/un-lock button). I've been trying to get something like that, and I've done some searching on the org; But although some people have them, no one ever post anything on how to install it.

 

just get it installed @ circuit city.. lifetime warrany...

 

I checked that option out, but they told me they would only do it if I get the whole alarm. One of the guy even told me that it's not possible to do that unless I carry around two remotes; Of course he was either BS-ing or not know what he was talking about.

 

I have the Valet remote start system. Never had a problem, starts perfectly every time. No additional transmitter, 2 lock impulses of the factory remote starts my car. Everything works with the factory alarm system as wll. The shop that did my car did a clean install too.

Great setup for under 200 bucks.

 

Autotragic posts only.

 

if possible, keep it so that you can use your factory remote. it CAN be done. i've also heard your range is significantly better than an aftermarket. my cliford alarm is great, but its range isn't that great, even with a new battery.

 

I've tested a Clifford RS3 at 300 YARDS. Try doing that with your factory remote. With the RS3 you can just look at it and know if your car is running. You don't have to see or hear it running. The LCD says it all.

 

I have the clifford rs..no problems what so ever. I live in Maine, and it did not even get above 0 today....it is soooooo cold. Very good quality, had it installed. I don't have the 3rd version, I don't have the LCD...but I have door locks/trunk pop/remote start features...the only feature I lost was the window roll down feature. I don't carry my oem keychain.

 

RS3 vs my AG4 is a no competition. RS3 is like the caddy of alarms

 

I also live in the DC area, and that RS3 sounds like exactly what I'm looking for. I like the idea of the LCD status readout. I'll send you my e-mail, and I would like to take you up on that offer sometime in the future.

 

I wouldn't recommend one. When I browsed through my friend's 2002 Honda Owner's Manual, they said that it is now not recommened on any of their vehicles so to eliminate the possiblty of cold starts with extended idling that occurs often with an automatic starter. As you may know, and as Honda pointed out, reseach has shown that extended idling (common to cars with auto-starters) reduces the longevity of the engine.

So, the moral of the story is, start the car, wait no more than 30 seconds and take off. If cold weather is a problem, wear a hat.

 

Interesting. I would like some more factual data. Any idea where some of this 'research' is?

 

NO! Don't start that war again

 

As much as I agree with don't start the war again, I think it really says something if a major car mfgr is advising people through the owners manual in such a way that Honda is. Anyone know of any other mfgrs? Well....I highly doubt US-domestic companies would, but any other import makes?

For the record I'm on team not-warmup-by-idling and also team anti-remote starter.

 

A RS does exactly what your key does w/out the physical motion of turning your key. The issue some people may have is the cranking time. There are 2 ways this can be done. Tach monitoring or timed crank in various milliseconds to seconds. I've installed over 500 RS's and trouble shot hundreds. They only problems that were RS related were with the unit going bad and grounding the tach wire. This happened 2X's in a Windstar and Excursion. Other than these 2 problems everything else was installer error (bad solder connects, no soldder, no tape insulating hot wires, not familiar with the car (ex: never unplug the ign harness in a 98+ Accord. It will cause the SRS light to go on). Just choose your installer wisely.

 

I'm still curious about this whole, Idling being bad for the engine thing..


Where's the Factual Data???

 

NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

 

I don't want anything to do with some blasted war of the past, but someone out there has to know where some sort of documentation is.

 

Some have argued oil vicosity (sp?)
Others have argued life of the engine due to prolonged idle.

Do a search on it and you'll see bud.

 

Below are some snipits from

http://www.resourceconservation.mb.c...ff/facts1.html

Just one of the first articles I came accross on the web...there are throusands more...



(Information provided by the Government of Canada, Office of Energy Efficiency) *and I'm sure they did their research*


2. Once a vehicle is running, the best way to warm it up is to drive it! With computer-controlled, fuel-injected engines, you need no more than 1 to 2 minutes - 30 seconds is actually recommended for normal winter temperatures - before driving away, provided it is safe to do so (e.g. frost is off of windows).
In extreme weather, it is frosted windows that will prevent you from driving away sooner. Here's a tip: roll down one window just a crack.

3. In winter conditions, emissions from an idling vehicle are more than double the normal level immediately after a cold start. Driving a vehicle cuts warm-up times in half. That means reduced fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.


5. The catalytic converter is the device that cleans pollutants from the vehicle's exhaust. The converter does not function at its peak until it reaches a temperature of between 400 and 800o C. The best way to warm up the catalytic converter is to drive your vehicle.

this ones a good one
7. Excessive idling can be hard on your engine. Because the engine is not working at its peak operating temperature, fuel combustion is incomplete, which leaves fuel residues that contaminate engine oil and foul spark plugs.

8. Every litre of gasoline you use produces 2.4 kilograms of CO2. And every 10 minutes of idling costs you at least one-tenth of a litre in wasted fuel - and up to four-tenths of a litre if your vehicle has an eight-cylinder engine.


10. Using remote car starters or Command Start actually encourages us to start our vehicles well before we have to leave, which means unnecessary idling. A wiser (and cheaper) investment would be an automatic timer for your block heater.

 

ive got a fully loaded 96 se with a viper remote start and it works great. the viper key fob takes the place of the factory one. it does the exact same stuff except for rolling the windows down. also, the viper setup works from 1/4 mile away. my advice is to get it professionally installed though.

 

man not another idle war...... btw any installer live around sacramento ca? i had a autopage alarm thingy layin in the garage for about a year now

 

( What about gloves and a *******?)


Most good remote starters have timers to limit the amount of time car is left idling after it is remotely started. So no engine wear will happen if car is only left idling for 5-10 minutes until defroster has a chance to kick in and de-ice the windows, and get the interior warm enough to prevent severe bodily shivering while driving for first 10 minutes.

 

They seem to be a challenge for the latest year car where the installation folks have to get up to speed on the ignition wiring. Usually not a real problem.

Most seem to work fine, right up until they don't work fine...Then the problem can be anything from "won't start" to "won't let go". Mine worked great until a bad connection or bad brain prevented it from detecting that the engine was running. The result was that it didn't disengage the starter and eventually burned the starter motor. Not wanting to take another chance, I deinstalled it and joined the "manual start & warm up for a minute or so" club. In retrospect, it seems to me that if these gizmos were reasonably perfected, and that there was such a market for them, we'd see them as options on new cars...I should point out that I haven't kept up on the latest new car options, so no need for anyone to point out any isolated examples...My point is that they don't seem to be prevelant.

 

All this is just propaganda, AKA: B.S..
Obviously posted by bunny-hugging, tree sitting, VW-bus driving Green Party fruitcakes.

 

Propaganda by bunny-hugging, tree-sitting, VW bus-driving, Green party fruticakes. Most of it is not true.

 

true that..