Winter's coming up and i really, really hate getting into a cold car. It gets EXTREMELY cold here, and sometimes takes 10-15 minutes for all the ice to melt off the windows. So i'm getting a remote starter. That being said, what should i get? I want something that can activate the rear window defroster, but other than that i don't really care. Something with an alarm and an LCD remote like the Viper would be nice, unless it costs a fortune. Could someone outline the parts / labor costs of gettign a simple starter vs something more advanced, like the Viper?

 

Ur looking at around $300 - $500 for a premium Viper alarm w/ all teh goodies including installation.

Suggest u shop around the audio stores that specializes in car audio since they also do alarms. If ur car is auto, installing remote start is not a problem but most places will refuse to install remote start if u have a MT.

 

Do any places install that blocker that won't allow the car to be remotely started if it's in gear?

 

Dont mean to jump your thread but i have a question on top of your innitial post. Can you buy a remote start and keep stock alarm and everything just have the remote start function put in... just curious

 

d!abolic,

to be honest, i'm not really sure. so far i haven't heard of any such device, although there may or may not be one. it's best that you shop around and ask the shops (esp since ur in toronto, not really sure what's legal or not over there). i suppose if u are able to have the remote start feature put on, u'll have to just remember to only have ur Ebrake up and leave the car in neutral

Daytona350Texas,

yes i do believe that there are stand alone remote starter kits. not sure about quality, price, reliability but they are out there. My cousin had a remote start put on her Accord and kept her stock alarm. do some googling and/or call ur local car audio place.

 

Thanks ill do some more searching, thats what im best at

 

Compustar makes a remote starter for the manual transmission and its safe.

 

+1

I have it & it has a few safety features in regards to the autostart function such as the following:

- Won't autostart if car is in gear.
- Won't autostart if hood is open (just in case someone is working on the engine.)

The Compustar unit is one of the more expensive units out there & a top of the line will run you (including install) roughly $500-$700 depending on the shop.

 

2w900FM Platform is what you want.

In canada they actualy have a real cool feature. If you walk away from the car it will automaticaly lock the doors. Very cool, But not offered in US.

 

Yes you can have just a remote start and maintain the factory alarm. Most decent remote starts will have a factory alarm disarm feature where it disarms the factory alarm, remote starts the vehicles, and then rearms the factory security. It does this via the factory arm/disarm wire or by unlocking and then relocking of the door locks.(like some toyotas do) I haven't had a chance to install my remote start on my Z yet, but a shop may charge a little extra due to the fact that they have to run the door lock wires into the door and the drivers door panel has to be removed.

I have always been a fan of DEI (Directed Electronics) products and have had good luck with them all.(Viper, Python, Cliford, Avital, My Valet, and many more) I am not a fan of Audiovox/Code Alarm products, when I was at Circuit we had all kinds of problems with them.

If you are in the Chicagoland area and want a quality shop to do your work, come to the Best Buy in Vernon Hills. We are all at least MECP Basic certified and some of us are First Class certified.(Shameless plug)

 

Avital

Viper 160xv

Either one is a good basic system. We have the Avital at $160 I believe and $200 for the Viper + install, which for a Z may be around $100-$200. I know it's a big range, but I haven't done mine yet so I dont know how much work is involved. I do know that an Immobilizer/bypass is required and you will have to lose a key. Here's why: When you remote start the car, the car looks for the key in the ignition, and when it's not there, it will just crank for a second and then die. That's the security feature that the vehicle has so that someone can't break in and hotwire the car. So what we do is use a small module that we place a vehicle key in which has a long wire with an O ring on the end. That O ring goes around your key cylinder and the box goes up under your dash. That way when the car is remote started, the car thinks that a key is in the ignition. There are keyless modules available, but they are a bit harder to find and a of course, more expensive.

On most Nissans that have the window roll down feature by holding the unlock button, we can retain that feature with an aftermarket remote starter, and i'm fairly sure we can get them to go up too. I'd have to do more research on the going up part haha. And yes if you have a power trunk/hatck release button, it will work off the remote too.

Definetly shop around when looking for a remote start/alarm and ask alot of questions, there are alot of features that some systems can do and alot that some can not, nothing more frustrating than buying something that doesn't have everything you want. I recomend DEI products and know they are good, but there are alot of other manufacturers that make good stuff, but don't know too much about them. I've been installing between the two companies for 4-5 years and am just recomending what has been proven to be good products that I have installed.

Ok, i'm hopping off my soapbox now to go to work, my fingers hurt.