Pros/Cons of Remote Start

9752 Views 40 Replies 12 Participants Last post by vaBooM, Apr 20, 2004

BK1017

Discussion Starter · Mar 10, 2004

What are some pros and cons of having remote start?

Pros: Since I live in TX, it gets hella hot in the summer, so it would be nice to start the car and cool it down.

Cons: Some of my cop buddies say that an electronic frequency catcher type of device can record the frequency and make the car easier to steal.

Does anybody have a remote start on their vehicle? How well does it work? Is the security of the vehicle compromised if the remote start does not have an alarm? Anything will help!

BK

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1 - 20 of 41 Posts

sirius1722

· #2 · Mar 10, 2004

This is just my opinion but,

I think if I was going to get a remote start, I would definitely get it coupled with an alarm system. For example, the alarm I have on my truck right now (which has an optional remote start module that I did not install) if I were to remote start the car, the alarm would stay armed until I came and disarmed it before climbing into my warmed up or cooled down car, depending on the climate. Mine will even turn off the car if I don't get to the car for over 15 minutes after remote starting it.

As for frequency catchers... they DO exist, although I'm sure they're pretty pricey and only owned by professional carjackers who can break into your car no matter what you do. But, most GOOD car alarm systems have a rotating frequency pattern (it will use a different signal everytime you press the button) that makes it much harder to intercept. Just remember, while alarms and rotating alarm codes will stop or deter common car theives, the committed will always find a way to break into your car!

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vaBooM

· #3 · Mar 10, 2004

Freq catcher is very real. Yes, it will un-arm your system BUT.. without a key they still cant steal it. They would have to break the ignition and then the immobilizer will kick in.

When you buy a remote start, almost all installers will have to activate hood/brake shut offs. Meaning, if the car was remotely started, pressing the brake or popping the hood will kill the car. Dont think for one second just because a device is starting your car, it will be more prone to be stolen. Break ins, yes, stolen, no.

Yeah, a common theif would break the window, hop in and press the brake to throw it in gear. WHAMO, car dies and of course they run off since the alarm is wailing and the car is dead. A pro theif wouldnt even think twice about a car that is in remote start mode (usually the parking lights flash every other second).

A properly installed alarm and remote start has no REAL Cons. You could remote start then run out of gas.. but as for equipment and such, as long as you go with DEI/Directed/Viper/Python/Clifford/Avital you should be fine.

codegirl

· #4 · Mar 10, 2004

I just know that I've been waiting for many many years to get a remote car starter. It's my first major purchase for this car!

mnemonicj

· #5 · Mar 10, 2004

Vaboom, the remote start installed with the immobilizers require a key to be in the vehicle at all times so the code can be read and the car will start without one in the ignition. When you press the remote start it bypasses the ignition on the steering column and reroutes to an ignition switch with a spare key in it hidden in the dash near the ECU.

If you see someone start a car with a remote start and you know that car has an immobilizer then you know a key is already in the car. If you know your wires well enough... you have yourself a new Mazda3.

There are some places that offer "bypass modules" specific for your car so you don't have to use a key, but who knows how well those protect since the code is in the bypass module.

vaBooM

· #6 · Mar 10, 2004

There is another module (check with your local installer) that doesnt require a key. It adds another "floating" code to the immobilizer system. A few years back, DEI made a module called a 555U, where the customer would lose a key so the immobilizer would be inactive.

I just did a remote start on a 04 Town and Country, a few weeks back. DEI has a Chrysler specific module called 555C, that learns both key codes and creates another so the immobilizer in the car will recognize it. They make one for almost all makes of car, Ill get the product number.

Luc

· #7 · Mar 10, 2004

first you need a module that will simulate your key. Secondo the newer car starter/alarm have what they call rolling code. So each time you press you keyfob, it is a different code. So it is practilly impossible to steel the car.

vaBooM

· #8 · Mar 10, 2004

Pressing the keyfob doesnt change the immobilizer code. Each car has 3 codes.. 2 regular keys and a valet key. Rolling code is only for factory alarms.. and its the alarm side only.

With the right knowledge, any car can be stolen, with or without the key.

mnemonicj

· #9 · Mar 10, 2004

vaBooM said:
Pressing the keyfob doesnt change the immobilizer code. Each car has 3 codes.. 2 regular keys and a valet key. Rolling code is only for factory alarms.. and its the alarm side only.

With the right knowledge, any car can be stolen, with or without the key.

I believe that Luc was speaking of an aftermarket starter/alarm changing codes between the keyfob and the remote starter, not the remote starter and the immobilizer. This type of code switching is good for defeating the people that try to capture and reproduce the communication between the keyfob and the remote starter.

ManualShifterMz3s

· #10 · Mar 10, 2004

Remote Start on a Stick-Shift?

Remote Start on a Stick-Shift?

Is that a good idea?

What happens when you park in first/reverse and then remotely start it?

Or do you always park in neutral?

vaBooM

· #11 · Mar 10, 2004

There is a kit... Ive seen it before. That uses magnetic field switches that would stop the remote start if it was in gear. Quick problem with that is: if the magnet fell off the stick shift, it would remotely start and the car would do some damage.

If you can keep a habit of leaving it out of gear, then do it. But if you left it in gear once, you could lose your car forever. Keep in mind that its illegal for any installer on the clock to install a remote start on your car. You will have to talk to someone privately or do it yourself.

neoriffic

· #12 · Mar 10, 2004

vaBooM said:
Keep in mind that its illegal for any installer on the clock to install a remote start on your car. You will have to talk to someone privately or do it yourself.

Why?

vaBooM

· #13 · Mar 10, 2004

Because if some stupid kid was to buy a remote start and POW hit the button and his car plowed through the house and killed his jobless dad that sits on the couch everyday, there would be a mighty law suit.

Same with TV screens. NO installer can make it operatable without the leg brake or hand brake active. Like I said, on the clock. If you install it or your buddy, its ok. Because then if anyone does get hurt, the company wont suffer anything.

mz6zoomzoom

· #14 · Mar 10, 2004

Well, it isn't "ok" it just won't get the company in trouble. Instead, you'll be personally liable.

ManualShifterMz3s

· #15 · Mar 10, 2004

Quite interesting of course!

neoriffic

· #16 · Mar 10, 2004

vaBooM said:
Because if some stupid kid was to buy a remote start and POW hit the button and his car plowed through the house and killed his jobless dad that sits on the couch everyday, there would be a mighty law suit.

Same with TV screens. NO installer can make it operatable without the leg brake or hand brake active. Like I said, on the clock. If you install it or your buddy, its ok. Because then if anyone does get hurt, the company wont suffer anything.

Thx vaBooM, more usefull knowledge as usual. I had heard about the TV thing, but never the remote starter...

vaBooM

· #17 · Mar 11, 2004

One important thing I left out: TV monitors in plain view of the driver must only operate with the leg/hand brake in place. Such as single DIN retractable screens. All the other screens in the car can be playing at any time.

Hardrocky

· #18 · Apr 15, 2004

There are special adaptors for remote starts on stick-shift vehicles. Only very old specialty stick-shift remote starts used any kind of sensors on the stick. The only ones I've ever seen were optical. There were transmitters and recievers. They would NOT work if one of the sensors fell off.
The (now discontinued) Clifford AvantGuard4 was probably the best remote start/ alarm for a manual transmission car. No extra adaptors, no extra BS. The remote start is "enabled" by setting it before turning off the ignition. The car would continue to run until the alarm was set. This ensures that the car is not in gear and the brake is set. If the alarm went off, the remote start would not restart the car. I have one, works great. The new adaptors work in a similar way. The car will continue to run until the last door is closed. If a door is opened the car will not restart.
You may be able to still find some AvantGuard4's around. We still have four of them at our shop, I suspect other shops may still have a few also. They are NOT cheap though. They were $1199usd before they were discontinued. We have been selling them for $799 installed on a car w/ automatic, $899 for stick shift.
DO NOT put a regular remote start on a manual transmission car. Some jackass brought one into our shop (not our install ), and when the battery was reconnected, the car tried to start ( hood pin was disconnected ),lurched forward and pinned two employees between the car and a van. Another kid ran his car up over the curb and into the front door of the shop (not our install either). DON'T DO IT!!!

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mnemonicj

· #19 · Apr 16, 2004

Was visiting a friend at his apartment once. We were on his balcony when we heard someones car crash in to the brick wall below us. My friend yelled down, "Are you okay?" to the person in the car. A guy in the apartment above us startled us when he said "It was me, and yeah I'm fine." He left his car in gear and started it with a jerry rigged remote start. Busted his bumber pretty bad and took some chunks out of some of the bricks on the wall.

M3-GT

· #20 · Apr 16, 2004

I have a 5 speed and a remote starter. It doesn't start if my stick is in gear.

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