Tuesday, February 23, 2010 - 09:57 pm, by: Hays Sleiman(Hays1530)
Hi everyone, im a little bored so i thought i'd start a thread outlining my thoughts on the remote engine start i had installed.
Okay, usually people get the remote starter for one of these reasons. 1. It's cool! 2. warm up the engine before taking her for a drive. 3. get the cabin temp ready before hopping into the car on cold or hot days.
So, is it worth it?
first of all...it IS pretty awsome! If you have the fold in mirrors, theres nothing like walking to •• car and having it turn itself on and fold out the mirrors for you...especially when there are people around. You feel pretty damn special. like your hopping into a hundred thousand dollar car!
Second, it does warm up the engine. Its good starting it when your inside your house and having it ready for you. Especially for those short trips. I used to hate being in a hurry and having to drive the car on a cold engine. never felt right...
lastly, the cabin air conditioner. This was a disappointment! I thought I'd be able to have the cabin warm when i went out to the car if the heater was left on from the night before. It doesnt work that way. When the engine is started remotely, non of the electrics come on except for the fold in mirrors and the emv/radio. So the state of the car is the same when the key is set to ACC. in this state, the air con doesn't come on. It comes on when the key is turned to the ON position. I'm not sure if this can be re-wired, but if it can, i would recommend it as it was one of the main reasons i had the starter installed. But there weren't alot of threads on this matter and so no research pointed this out.
Another thing some people misunderstand is that a remote starter does NOT eliminate the need for the key! The car will not run without the key! When the car is started remotely, you have to get in, insert the key and turn it to the ON position (Not the usual START position) and push on the brake for the car/electrics/dash to "turn on". If the brake is pushed before the key is turned to this position, the engine will turn off. Must be a safety feature.
For those who don't know, remote starters are illegal in Victoria (I'm not sure about other states), but then when has that ever stopped us... As a condition of being insured, it was compulsory I install an engine immobilizer that meets Australian standards. That means black wiring. Just about ALL remote starters come with engine immobilizers and none of them have black wiring. And it is hard to find a remote starter without an immobilizer. What i did with the guys down at Autobarn Pakenham was install a remote starter with an Immobiliser and have the harness (Cables) changed to black ones from a different immobiliser. This way, I have an engine Immobilizer that meets the standards as well as the remote starter. I had to buy the new harness with a seperate immobilizer which i sold later because they don't come in seperate packages.
Thats all i can think of for now. Any questions are welcome
The immobilizer i bought was a Viper 560XV worth $800. I realise there are some cheap ones on ebay but i have had experience with those in the past and do not trust them at all!
All in all, i am happy. I think it was well worth the money. I feel it adds a bit of classiness to the already classy soarer. But like i said, if it weren't for the aircon not coming on in the ACC position, i would be 100% satisfied!
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 - 10:18 pm, by: Warren Moore(Warreng)
How would you get the electric mirrors to fold out? Mine don't fold out when I put the car in ACC, I need to press the mirrors button on my drivers side door. This for me would defeat the purpose of having a remote engine starter. Wouldn't it get annoying having to relock and reopen to doors via the remote in order to start the car if you have a immobilizer? My immobilizer kicks in after only about 30 seconds of unlocking the car. Even if the aircon turned on while in ACC, the air wouldn't bee cool nor warm due to the fact the aircon doesn't cool or warm properly until the engine is on. Saying this, I have seem some people with actual engine starters, that actually start the car. This would be a better option, not sure much it would cost though. Even having this, you would need to go into the car to turn the aircon on? Sort of defeats the purpose of having a remote engine starter if you are entering the car to turn the aircon on anyways.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 - 10:38 pm, by: Hays Sleiman(Hays1530)
My immobilizer doesnt work in the way you described. I simply turn the car on with the remote with having to lock/unlock it. I don't wait for anything either.
"Even if the aircon turned on while in ACC, the air wouldn't bee cool nor warm due to the fact the aircon doesn't cool or warm properly until the engine is on." I'm not sure what you mean by that as the engine dose turn on with the starter. Maybe I have what your calling an "actual engine starter".
But yes, the only way i can get the aircon on is by turning the key to the ON position manually. But like i said, if this could be rewired to the ACC, it would be great! and it would work as planned because the engine is running even though the electrics aren't.
As for the mirrors, if you just push the mirror button again after you turn the car off, they'll fold out on their own when the car is turned back on with the remote since they only need the ACC state and not the ON state. A little cheezy i know, but looks great!
Maybe i can have them wired so that they fold in when car turns off and back out when it turns on...that would be nice too.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 - 10:58 pm, by: Warren Moore(Warreng)
Hays Sleiman wrote on Tuesday, February 23, 2010 - 10:38 pm:
My immobilizer doesnt work in the way you described. I simply turn the car on with the remote with having to lock/unlock it. I don't wait for anything either.
I cannot start my car anything longer than 60 seconds after unlocking it with the remote. This is because my immobilizer kicks in and doesn't allow engine start after 60 seconds. Not the same as yours?
Wednesday, February 24, 2010 - 06:50 am, by: Matthew Sharpe(Madmatt)
And warming the engine up at idle is a bit of a waste of time on a modern automatic, where the ECU's will control shift points to restrict RPM until the engine and transmission reach operating temp anyway. Maybe more useful on a manual?
It could also lead you into a false sense of security thinking you can thrash the car because the engine is warm, when in reality you risk damaging all the other driveline components that are still cold, your brakes and tyres will be stone cold etc.
So really its just a "cool" factor thing, which yeah, you will possibly get over eventually.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010 - 05:04 pm, by: Hays Sleiman(Hays1530)
I don't think its a waste at all...I've had it for months and still use it all the time and I'm not a single bit over it. Hey Grant, how does yours work? Because mine definitely doesn't work that way...maybe it can be wired to do so though?
Thursday, February 25, 2010 - 06:49 pm, by: Hays Sleiman(Hays1530)
Called up Autobarn and they said mine can be rewired to have all the electrics come on when started with the remote, but it'll cost $80...which is a bit dog cuz thats what i asked them to do when they first put it in.
Oh well, ready airconditioned car, here we come!!!
Thursday, February 25, 2010 - 09:46 pm, by: Sebastian Grant(Saabg)
Matthew Sharpe wrote on Wednesday, February 24, 2010 - 06:50 am:
So really its just a "cool" factor thing, which yeah, you will possibly get over eventually.
How hot does it get on the North Island, probably not anywhere near the 40 degree heat we've been experiencing lately. I wouldn't be surprised if our cars get up to and over 60 degrees especially when you have a dark coloured soarer so it's not really a bad option to have the a/c on for a minute or two before you get in.
I'm pretty sure those Viper alarms have a turbo timer as well so they are really good value for money. Viper are also selling a product that allows you to control a few functions (start, stop, windows etc) from your IPhone. I can't wait to get that.
Thursday, February 25, 2010 - 10:03 pm, by: Shadi Sabbagh(Shadz)
I got my alarm off ebay, remote start turbo timer, window roll up and imobiliser, installed myself in 3 hours and a little research on This forum: TOTAL COST(was the cost of the unit, lol) which was $130 delivered! Works like a dream, has been in the car for a year now! Nothing on Ebay i have purchased has EVER been •••• Quality, Only good things to say about my Favourite website!
Friday, February 26, 2010 - 12:36 am, by: Hays Sleiman(Hays1530)
i second that...ebay's the way to go. I cant stand people that immediately jump to the conclusion that something is crap because its off ebay...or those who think my life savings will be stolen if i purchase something online...
Anyways, wish mine had the windows rolling up when locked. That would be awesome!
Friday, February 26, 2010 - 07:04 am, by: Matthew Sharpe(Madmatt)
Good point, a really hot day here is only around 28... I generally leave my sunroof open on days like this, which helps a lot - plus my car is garaged most of the time.
Sunday, March 14, 2010 - 12:21 am, by: Callum Finch(Sigeneat)
Remote starters are easy to install and very cool.
...BUT... they do certainly make it easier for people to steal your car. In order to wire a remote starter up you have to bring a whole lot of wires together that people need to start your car.
I'm pretty sure they are illegal in all states as well?
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