Remote Car Starters

[yooper1]

I have 2 Chevy's.

1 is a 1999 Tahoe with plow. The other is a 2009 Silverado Ext Cab 4WD.

I have remote start systems in each.

The pickup has the factory GM system.

The Tahoe has an Astro Start system.

I seem to need to be next to or inside my pickup in order for the remote to find the truck and start it. :evil: (exaggeration) . Plus it will only run for 10 minutes at a time and that is not enough time to warm it up this time of year. AND you can only use the remote twice before you have to go out and turn the key to the on position and back off if you want to use it another 2 times. In the below zero temps it takes about 20 minutes to get warm.

But I can start the Tahoe from about 3/4 of a mile away. It will run for 20 minutes and I can keep doing that all day long if I wanted to.

I would like to upgrade the pickup to use my iPhone to start it from anywhere. The GM system may require I keep my OnStar service subscription in force seeing as that system may use OnStar to talk to the truck. I do not want to pay the unreasonable OnStar fees.

What do you folks have if you have anything. What brands work good and what ones do not?

Thanks in advance.


and yes, I am lazy, thank you :mrgreen:

 

[Poco Oso]

I haven't been able to figure out how to get it to hold the clutch in while I push the button. :mrgreen:

 

[Cholo]

^ Are you married? If so, there's your answer :)

 

[pisgah]

Interestingly, (to me anyway), I just this week discovered that such things are illegal here in SC. We have a law that forbids leaving a running car unattended. If there's no one in the car, it must be turned off, locked, with the parking brake engaged. Although I've never known it to be enforced, it's on the books.

 

[Poco Oso]

^ Are you married? If so, there's your answer :)

I'm in the final stages of a real nasty divorce. Guess I won't be buying a remote starter. :wink:

 

[Mobuck]

If I was a carjacker, I'd just hang around parking lots until a vehicle starts and mosey over to wait on the shopper who's going to wheel up with a load groceries and open the car door. Bingo, car AND goodies.
I have no need or desire for a remote starter feature.

 

[Kevin]

We have had a couple cars with the remote start. A Toyota 4 Runner with a factory system. It worked from a distance, but otherwise like you described. 10 minutes and then turns off. The F150 we have has a factory system, and I believe it is also 10 minutes, but I haven't tried it.

Honestly, I just don't use them that much. But as far as car jacking goes, when you open the door, the engine should turn off, yes? Isn't that the default safety feature for these systems?

 

[pleadthe2nd]

I had an aftermarket one installed on my wifes car about 10 years ago, not sure what brand ot is but it works very well, it was a birthday gift for her , gets good distance, she can start it from her office , and not aware of it shutting down a any period of time, it's now in its third vehicle, and works just as well as it did the day I bought it for her, if you try to put the car in gear without the key in the ignition, it shuts down, these are legal in our area, but running with the keys in the ignition is not. She loves this thing, I don't have this in my truck, so I don't know what I'm missing.

 

[Pps1980]

I had the distance issue with my GM until I replaced the battery in the remote. Might help on that part of the issue.

 

[Captain America]

If I was a carjacker, I'd just hang around parking lots until a vehicle starts and mosey over to wait on the shopper who's going to wheel up with a load groceries and open the car door. Bingo, car AND goodies.
I have no need or desire for a remote starter feature.

With an OEM remote start you would have to steal the keys to move the car. I can only speak for Chrysler products here, aftermarket remote starters can be fine but on cars with a PIN number key required to start the car(all Mopars after 2005) the remote system must get the PIN into the BCM so the fuel pump will run. Some aftermarket systems do this by putting a programmed key or transmitter near the WIN module which means that your car can be stolen more easily. OEM remote start systems also have fail safes that the aftermarkets do not, the car won't start remotely if a window, door, hood, or liftgate is open, if the fuel is low, or if the PCM detects a problem in the car that could cause a problem by remote starting the car, such as low oil or even a check engine light. Our newer systems use different sensor inputs that turn on heated seats and steering wheels, will defrost windows, and turn on the wiper warmers.

 

[DeletedMember275]

Interestingly, (to me anyway), I just this week discovered that such things are illegal here in SC. We have a law that forbids leaving a running car unattended. If there's no one in the car, it must be turned off, locked, with the parking brake engaged. Although I've never known it to be enforced, it's on the books.

Shortly after I left Alaska and moved (very reluctantly, kicking and screaming) to Maryland, I was in a convenience store one winter day. I had noticed a car sitting in front of the store, engine running, and thought nothing of it. Very common in Alaska (and other cold states). A Maryland State Trooper entered the store, and announced loud enough for everyone to hear that he was about to have that car towed, because leaving it running while unattended was a violation of state law.

Welcome to the nanny state, I thought.

 

[yooper1]

As for safety features:

The Astro Start system will instantly kill the engine if someone jumps in and touches the brake pedal. And, seeing as there is no key in the ignition, the steering wheel is locked and the column shift will not come out of park. The heater and fan work, but stereo will not until the key is inserted and turned to run

The GM Factory is similar. Nothing will happen when a thief may try and steal it. It does not kill the engine like the after market Astro Start, but again, the steering wheel is locked and the shifter is locked until a correct key is inserted into the ignition. The radio will not work. the computer tells the heating system to not turn on the fan until it reaches a certain temp. Then it will start blowing warm air to defrost or heat the space. That temp is not adjustable as far as I know. Although I do know that the temp needed to start the fan is never reached in the 10 minutes it is allowed to run.

So neither one can be taken by a thief by just gaining entry and driving off.

ps: they do make them for manual transmission vehicles. There are modules that bypass needing to depress a clutch, etc.

 

[Jimbo357mag]

Wouldn't a block heater keep the engine warm so it could heat the inside within 10 minutes?

 

[yooper1]

Wouldn't a block heater keep the engine warm so it could heat the inside within 10 minutes?

Yes it would if I only had a cold truck while at home.

It does not really help the cabin heat or defrost too much in -15 degree weather. It basically keeps the engine just above an ice cube so it will / should start.

Plus, in -15 weather, the semi melted snow that comes from warming up and driving to the coffee shop, or movie, or anywhere where I might be away from the truck, refreezes in a matter of minutes. Freezing the wipers down and requiring scraping of the windshield whenever I return to the truck. Most parking meters and movie theaters and doctors offices do not have 110 plug ins for customers to use. ;)

And, again, I am lazy, but I do like to be able to jump in and go rather than spend 5 - 8 minutes with a scraper and snow brush outside the truck before I can get in to absorb the heat and drive away.

 

[Poco Oso]

As for safety features:

The Astro Start system will instantly kill the engine if someone jumps in and touches the brake pedal. And, seeing as there is no key in the ignition, the steering wheel is locked and the column shift will not come out of park. The heater and fan work, but stereo will not until the key is inserted and turned to run

The GM Factory is similar. Nothing will happen when a thief may try and steal it. It does not kill the engine like the after market Astro Start, but again, the steering wheel is locked and the shifter is locked until a correct key is inserted into the ignition. The radio will not work. the computer tells the heating system to not turn on the fan until it reaches a certain temp. Then it will start blowing warm air to defrost or heat the space. That temp is not adjustable as far as I know. Although I do know that the temp needed to start the fan is never reached in the 10 minutes it is allowed to run.

So neither one can be taken by a thief by just gaining entry and driving off.

ps: they do make them for manual transmission vehicles. There are modules that bypass needing to depress a clutch, etc.

I have a 1979 Ford F-150 4wd. After reading several articles on the remote starter, I think I'll pass. Sounds like an accident waiting to happen. Not to mention the problems I'd have to overcome just to install it.

 

[lipofsky]

I am the remote car starter, I go out start the car come back in pack up all my stuff for the day and off I go

 

[kramden]

I put one (I found on E-Bay) in my Nissan Murano. Best $$ I ever spent. Don't recall the brand but you push the lock button on the remote 3 times and it starts and runs for 15 minutes. The only time of the year I use it is winter. I go to work at 2-3 AM and it will often be below 20*. So nice to get up that early and get into a warm car. Dealer wanted $600 to put in when I bought the car. I bought mine for $126 . Fired up You-tube and put it in. Highly recommend a remote.

 

[Mobuck]

I guess I failed to clearly state my point. The car jacker simply waits for the vehicle owner to arrive, takes the keys, car, and groceries. I watched the perfect scenario for this to occur yesterday. Walmart parking lot(where else?) middle aged female trudging up the line of cars with a loaded cart pushes the remote start and keeps trudging head down face wrapped in a scarf. As she approaches the running car, she pushes door unlock button still not looking up and dumps bags in back. Then she pushes cart to "cart corral" and returns still w/o looking around. Car is now unlocked AND running. All that remained was for Mr. BadGuy to step from the shadows, grab the keys she was holding and scoot.

 

[Captain America]

I guess I failed to clearly state my point. The car jacker simply waits for the vehicle owner to arrive, takes the keys, car, and groceries. I watched the perfect scenario for this to occur yesterday. Walmart parking lot(where else?) middle aged female trudging up the line of cars with a loaded cart pushes the remote start and keeps trudging head down face wrapped in a scarf. As she approaches the running car, she pushes door unlock button still not looking up and dumps bags in back. Then she pushes cart to "cart corral" and returns still w/o looking around. Car is now unlocked AND running. All that remained was for Mr. BadGuy to step from the shadows, grab the keys she was holding and scoot.

But my key is in my pocket and my wife's key is in her Gun Toten Mamas purse(along with her gun) that she carries crossbody and neither of us ever have to take the key out.

 

[Dave P.]

I guess I failed to clearly state my point. The car jacker simply waits for the vehicle owner to arrive, takes the keys, car, and groceries. I watched the perfect scenario for this to occur yesterday. Walmart parking lot(where else?) middle aged female trudging up the line of cars with a loaded cart pushes the remote start and keeps trudging head down face wrapped in a scarf. As she approaches the running car, she pushes door unlock button still not looking up and dumps bags in back. Then she pushes cart to "cart corral" and returns still w/o looking around. Car is now unlocked AND running. All that remained was for Mr. BadGuy to step from the shadows, grab the keys she was holding and scoot.

The remote starter or lack of pretty much doesn't make any difference at all in your above
scenario. Your bad guy can watch anybody roll out a grocery cart and do the same thing,
he doesn't save.... any.... time or steps if the car is running via a remote start.
Dave

 

[vito]

Buy a new car. I have a 2016 Dodge Durango that has Remote Start. It is activated by the remote key fob and works from a fair distance, even through walls. The SUV remains locked and cannot be taken out of the Park gear until I am seated in the car with the remote fob in my pocket. I have to touch the start button once which then allows me to put the vehicle in gear. I think it is a great feature. I also like that when the car starts, remote or otherwise, if the temp outside is below 40 degrees, the heated driver's seat and the heated steering wheel is activated (but unfortunately not the passenger seat). During this really cold spell we are in (with morning temps down to as low as -15), even sitting in my garage the Dodge gets really cold. Using the remote start from within the house makes it much more comfortable. I don't let it run very long because the garage door is still closed and I don't want the carbon monoxide fumes to build up to dangerous levels.

When I want to remote start my 2011 Subaru Outback, I use a more labor intensive method. I run out, start the car, and run back into the house.

 

[Tensaw]

If I was a carjacker, I'd just hang around parking lots until a vehicle starts and mosey over to wait on the shopper who's going to wheel up with a load groceries and open the car door. Bingo, car AND goodies.
I have no need or desire for a remote starter feature.

This is a reality. We have had nine cars stolen while remotely warming up during this cold snap. Police are advising against it.

 

[Pyromike]

I've had several remote starters. Push the button twice and it starts and will warm up for 15 minutes then shut off (or step on the brake). It can be set for the cold nights so car will auto start every 3 hours; run for 15; then shut off. Designed for the sub temps here in Michigan. System can be easily reset. Good luck bad guy because without the key in the ignition; you must step on the brake to shift from park. Step on the brake and the car shuts off. Screw the police - there is a backup system. If you start with your keys, you're on your own for theft.

Bad guy waiting in the parking lot; he'll be there regardless if you're loading groceries or just walking to your car.

READ THE DIRECTIONS PEOPLE! This isn't rocket science.