DIY remote starters
 

Anyone ever install a remote starter themselves? Any recommendations? I hate going to shops and sitting around all day waiting for stuff to get done. Would rather order something and install myself if possible. Wifeys Cherokee has remote start and I love it.

Going in a 97 Chevy 454 Dually. Id consider a kit with alarm too.

Yup, I did two of them. Plan to spend a couple hours on your back under the dash. Other then that, follow the directions and there not that bad!

When I read the post title, I thought someone was putting remote starters in their boat!!

Kinda a neat idea. Would be cool to hear my boat fire up from a distance!! :lolhit:

I've put several in myself. As a matter of fact a few hundred would be more accurate. But then again, I'm the guy in back of the shop doing the install while you wait up front for me to finish. :)

I ALWAYS tell the customer to get a ride. Never could figure out why someone would wait all day for something that takes that long to install.

All joking aside, I would be more than happy to talk you through your install. If you purchase a Bulldog unit you can count me out though. They're junk.

Buck

Step 1 pick out the unit that fits your needs/wants.
Step 2 find a local dealer
Step 3 drop the car off there and pay the $250!!! Lol
I'm sure a full day of yours *****ing and moaning under a dash is worth more than that!

+1 Buy a quality remote start. I am on 12yrs this winter with my Viper.
I agree it's not worth the time once you have bought a quality unit.

That year, make, and model are about as basic as they can be for a remote start install. I can fax you a copy of the schematics you would need for the install. If it helps for reference, I would charge someone coming into my shop $295 for parts and labor to install one on the same vehicle. This would be for a two-way remote start with keyless entry.

Fortunately you won't need any interface modules for this particular vehicle. If you did I would have recommended a professional for the install. A late model vehicle that requires one needs to be installed by someone with experience.

I feel comfortable talking you through it if you decide to tackle it.

Buck

I have done a handfull and im far from a expert. They are great to have in the middle of winter. Some can be a pain: programing, extra relays for negative door locks, bypasses, tach programming, ect. Yours should not be that bad, don't think you will need a bypass. Like said before stay away from Bulldog.
For a first timer don't think your going to get it done in a hour or two. It will take you a while and might be challenging. You might get to a point you wish you took it somewhere, I have been there before a couple times, once after spending hours trying everything then being on with a tech for almost an hour to find out a wire/pin pulled out slightly in the 16 pin remote start harness/plug in. Also make sure you do it on a day/hours when a help line/ techs are in, I learned that on a Sunday. :)

fixx
 

yes joe,,i use to install them in my younger years,,have done thousands of them...keep in mind you will need a VAT's patch module for your key...let me know what your looking for i can still get deals on them..my burb has had one since 1994 and im on my second one..i would not go with out one now that im spoiled..

i can get you the auto page one for around 80 bucks or the one you can start your truck with from california with your smart phone,,will even tell you inside temps..

Now you're just talking dirty!! I like that idea of starting it via my bag phone.

Thanks for all the info guys, appreciate it. Its a old truck, but a major modern upgrade from my 1989 dually. This one has a....get this.....a factory Compact disc player!!!! I gotta figure out how to fit my cassettes in it. :cartman:

Edit

You won't need anything on a 97 Chevy or GMC. 98 started the passlock II system that needed a bypass.

For an install on this vehicle all one would need is just the remote start unit itself.

Buck

For what little is charge I wouldnt mess with it. Most cars impossible these days as they are not all plug and play types. And alot of cars are requring a dealer to turn on a remote start with a computer on some types. Some models require by pass' etc. For ace pain of being on your back and the potential to be cutting wrong wires and making a mess I wouldnt bother.

I agree I wouldnt attempt this on a 2013 Benz. But Im thinking my 1997 chevy should be pretty basic, like Buck here says.

I rewired my boats, always dont my own stereo installs, just nothing alarm/remote start. I would imagine if a 18 year old non english speaking kid working in the back of the alarm shop can manage it, I'd hope I can. Then again, sometimes I think I was sharper at 18 than i am now!

The main problem with living here in the city, is finding a shop that speaks english, or isnt loaded with gangbangers talking ghetto slang and their pants around their knees waitin on their new sounds. I have very limited patience for that bs. By the time I drive out to the outskirts, arrange for a lift, have to go back and pick it up, come back home again, Id have it installed and be napping already.

I called around today and you can install a one way basic job for about $150 bucks, range over 2000ft. By the time you buy the parts and such is worth saving 20-40 bucks? Come the holiday season they are all on sale.

fixx
 

o yes you do,,it dont use the resister in the key like the old ones,,you need to figure which resister is in the vehicle and use a programed module with that resister number to tell the pcm that the key is in the ignition..

I hired a small Asian boy to start mine every morning, it just costs me some rice.

Joe you need to take that thing to my buddy In Brookfield for a nice Magnaflow exhaust, and then some 35% tint:evilb:

fixx
 

i can do the magnaflow as well or just get the kit for joe and he likes to do that kind of easy bolt on stuff also..tint???? well you know its eeeeelegal....:evilb:

Law passed for tint like a year ago, get your head out from in between those legs buddy!:lolhit:

My bad. Don't know what I was thinking.

Go to Directed Electronic's website and look up both a 97 and 98 Chevy truck. See which one needs a module. Here's the link.
http://www.xpresskit.com/default.aspx.
Punch in the vehicle info on the home page.

Next go to their tech page and look up the schematics for each vehicle and see which one describes using an interface and which one doesn't.
Here's the link for that one if you can't find it. https://www.directechs.com/Default.aspx

I'm out.....

Buck

You have a buddy that owns a exhaust shop? Plan on ordering the pre-cut tint on ebay for the front windows. did that on my last truck, cant beat it for like 12 bucks pre cut for you!

1997 Chevy/GMC trucks don't need transponder bypass and have nothing for resistors.... Like Buck said, 1998 and up. GM did use the resistors but not on the trucks. Most cars did use them.

I'm a dealer for Clifford and Avital, and I sell a ton of the Avital 4103's for a basic keyless entry/remote start. My price is $200 installed, or add $75 if an interface module is needed - I use Idatalink for those.

If you can find a good installer that's reasonable on price, it's worth the extra money to not have to mess with it and to have a warranty. Make sure and have a ride to take you home, there's no reason to sit around and wait.

On the other hand, if you MUST do it yourself, make sure and plan it out first. The problem with installing one of these is that if you don't have something right, or something goes wrong, you don't know how to troubleshoot it and figure out the problem.

And I want to re-iterate what Buck said, don't buy a damn Bulldog. I don't care if a customer pays triple, I won't install it in my shop.

Thank you sir. I appreciate that. Knew it, but its obvious he had no intention of listening. I'm also guessing he missed the sarcasm in my last post on this thread.

I do this for a living, not a hobby. I would not reply I'd I didn't know.

Been doing this for 15 years and I've NEVER seen a 97 that needed a module.

Buck

fixx
 

Call it how ever you see it,,i see the 2 i have in my lot a 06/97 gmc 1500 that has a security light when you turn the ignition on and a 03/97 chevy k 3500 with a F engine that also has a security light when you first turn the engine on..
Frankly i dont give a S H I T either way..Gang bangin and your sarcasm will get you no where in life..im done on this topic..joe will figer it out,either he needs it or he dont period..next!

Cool.

The security light has zero bearing on whether or not it has a passlock system in it.

The 95 I owned had a security light too.

Buck

fixx
 

i just put a ecm in the 97 3500 and had to flash to accept the ecm with the tech II..truck would not start...well it started for a second then the security stayed on and you know what that means..key on for 10 min then off for 15 seconds,on etc etc..

Yep.

I've done several of these and never needed anything. AND just to make sure, I checked all of the places that I get info from.

Directechs
xpresskit.com
Idatalink.com
the12volt.com

None of them say that a resistor is required, which backs up what I say. Here's a link to the12volt site if you want to check for yourself: http://www.the12volt.com/installbay/...etail/478.html

If not, go get mad or be an a$$hole somewhere else. I've installed these for 18 years. If you don't want to take my word for it, find someone else to offer free tech support.

The passlockII is a garbage system to begin with! I have had my last 3 GM trucks with the passlockII lock me out with a no start when the contacts in the key cyl went bad.....the current truck i have right now, i had a custom program installed and had the tuner turn the passlockII off....no more worries! :D
I too have installed a few hundred of these systems as i used to work for a company that did all the alram/remote start systems for the dealerships in the area....wasnt uncommon for me to be installing 5-6 per day...anyway we used the Audiovox Pursuit and prestige models....they all made by DEI or AVital anyway...but what i would look for in a system if i was in the market......that the system had buit in relays....i hated having to add relays for door locks or parking lights etc.... some you cant avoid like if the car/truck works on a can bus system and needs certain values to trigger different things ;)

Nice lookin new ride Joe, but how you gonna park it by the garage for a few hours of install work ???????????

Easy, it fits in the garage! Now that I cleaned most of the junk out of there

fixx
 

You have a garage?:bong:

If ned be he could use mine or im sure mike t would also...

p.s. mine has free heat lol...

I have a 2013 Ford F150 and I am thinking of adding a remote start. What is the best brand? How does the remote start interact with the factory key? Is there any way to incorporate the remote start button into the factory key? Can you give me an estimate of the cost for the unit and install?

you can actually get the plug and play model from ford the module just plugs in but you have to pull apart the liner and add the attena I think. Also from what I have been told the dealer must turn on your remote start I have heard from guys doing this they charge anywhere from nothing to 200 bucks to just turn it on. The module is around 200 bucks and can be bought on fords accessory website, and you can use the same key you got know it will just have one more button. I know this because I tried doing it for my 2011 F150.

Personally though you can get aftermarket where the range is 10 times for the same price. factory is only good for really as far as you can remote unlock. One thing with aftermarket you have to have a seperate key fob as far as I know there may be some option to not have to.

Basically you have a one way range can be 2-3000 feetm usually two buttons on and off. They are selling istalled around here for 130-170 bucks.

Two way is the other kind and heres where more options come in. two way basically starts your engine then sends a message back to your key fob saying your engine did in fact start. Two ways you can depending on which package you choose, have them go to your cell phone, tell the temp in your car, change the temp,auto start if it gets to cold and run. Etc. Most two way fobs unlock doors, trunks etc. I have seen these go from 250-600 bucks depending on which model. Also there range can go up to a mile and maybe further.

I just bought a two way for 249 installed, LCD Fob, unlocks doors, trunk, 3000ft range, tells temp in car for my F150.

So really if you dont get remote start from the factory your better off going aftermarket.

oh and all i know about brands is dont buy Viper. Honestly regardless of brand are probably all made in China, by the same people regardless of branding.

fixx
 

i would not say its the bes but for many years i have had the one in my suburban and is still working is called auto page..company goes way back to the 80's before all thease other so calles name brand's..on thease so called name branda you can almost use anyones modules on anyones wire harness..they all look like they are the same mfr and all put their name on the module,,remotes are not the same tho..i had 2 fancy transmitters,5 yrs later i dropped then, cracked the face of them my keys fell in a puddle of water and shorted out the remotes,,i sent them back after 5 yrs of abuse and they gave me 2 new ons free of charge..

http://www.autopageusa.com/

Don't buy Viper? Where do you get that?

I've sold DEI products since the early 90's and IMO, they're the best on the market. I sell/install Avital and Clifford currently, and have rarely had any come back.