I say nightmare because of my search results on here. When most threads have a 50% approval / 50% disapproval rate, somethings wrong! However, I made an appt. to drop my truck off at the local Ford dealership on Monday @ 7am.

I have a 2005 F-150 FX-4 SCrew. It's dark shadow gray outside & black cloth inside. After taking a trip up north and having a decent amount of snow dumped on me I started thinking how nice it would be to crank up the truck from the house, let it cool down, jump in & go! I read in a thread where Remote Start is underrated in warner climates... very true IMO. I think I'm about to justify the cost because my gf & I are expecting our first child. I'm not a fan of throwing a baby in the cab of a truck that's been sitting, closed up, in Florida's 100+ degree summer days.

I'm not sure what's standard and what's not, but I have Remote Keyless Entry with the keypad on the drivers door. I use both on a regular basis! I'm not looking for anything fancy. All I want is something I point at the truck, have it crank up, and the doors remained locked. When I walk up to the truck I hit the unlock button as usual and go about my business.

A few things that I want to make clear before they start the work:

1) That I'll only have to carry ONE key fob around.
2) That my RKE & keypad will still function normally w/o sounding any sort of alarm.
3) All work performed is covered under warrantee.
4) I already made sure all work would be performed by Ford themselves, not some shady installer from God knows which of the local podunk Car Audio shops.

Anyone care to add to this? Anymore questions someone can suggest I ask prior to them starting the work? If anyone is wondering, they quoted me $485 installed. However, the Accessories Manager (who is responsible for billing this type of job) is kin to my next door neighbors. He promised a substantial discount

Oh, what's going on with the "Quick Stop" feature I've read on some of the threads? What, if any, FORD system has this option? Thanks!

 

You will like the Ford system weaseled. I had one on an 01 Super Duty a few years ago and loved it. I just haven't gotten around to putting it on my 05 F150. As long as you get the Ford system you will be happy. All of your current functions remain operative (keypad and keyless entry and alarm) and they are all incorporatd into one remote. I believe the "quick stop" feature is where you can pull into 7-11 and while key is in ignition and truck running you hit the blue start button on remote. You can then turn off and remove key and engine will still run approx 10 minutes. Close door and hit lock button on remote and alarm is active with truck still running...pretty slick actually. Good luck and keep us posted.

 

I'd love to add one but my mustang, nearly 15 years old now, has one and I had to rip out the system because of a short somewhere and now it constantly drains the battery. I'm a little concerned about having my truck pulled apart to have a total system installed.

on the fence

 

Very true vader. I watched the guy install it in my SD and was the whole time. It ties into everything , the fuel injector harness, the alarm, even has a mercury switch on the hood to kill engine if you open hood while its running. Its quite the setup when it works right. I must say I had mine two years and no trouble with it though...and I used it every day.

 

I considered one of these for a long time but couldn't justify the cost. if you are getting a discount it might be worth it. for a long time I was warming my truck up while I went back inside the house. I was always worried about someone steeling my truck. and finnally after this winter hit and I started seeing all the news reports of cars getting stolen while being warmed up I decided to get me a club I put on the steering wheel while I am warming up. I know it is not as nice and the remote start system but it is alot cheaper gives me alot more confidence no one is going to steel my truck in the 5 or 10 minutes I spend warming it up. or cooling it off in the summer.

 

Wouldn't it be easier to use the spare key (2nd ford key) to start the truck up, lock it and use the regular key to enter the vehicle? Thats what I do, you have to carry another key to unlock the club anyways.

 

True but someone can walk up, bust the window out and drive off. The truck is running and the key's in the ignition. Those clubs can be removed in 5 secs with a shot of freon on the lock cylinder. The beauty of the remote start alarm is the alarm itself. If its sitting there running and they break in the alarm sounds and when they step on the brake to shift into gear the motor is killed instantly and the steering wheel is still locked (no key). They aren't going anywhere with the truck. Dayum I've about talked myself into one for this truck now!

 

Exactly how do they work? When I talked to the Ford guy he said I don't have to give up my spare key, but he mentioned something about taking up one of the five key slots in the ECM or something like that? Dunno...

So I hit the remote start, and the truck starts...
I walk up and hit the unlock, and I get in...
Then what? Put in key, turn to on postion but not enough to engage starter?

 

Exactly. Put the key in and turn to RUN only, not start. You can then shift out of park and drive away. Pretty slick actually. When you hit remote start from inside house the alarm chirps once, the truck starts and the parking lights are on so you know its activated. The regular alarm is still activated (shock sensor etc). I forgot mine was running once and went out a half hour later and it was off. It will only run for ten minutes then shuts itself off.

 

Exactly!! Just like someone can kick down your door and take your keys!! I wasn't saying its the same as the remote start but it's the same as having a club. Those alarms are pretty cool, I've been looking into getting one soon. Do you know of any places here in SA that are trustworthy to install one or do I just go to the dealer (I bought from Northside Ford)?

 

Any Ford dealer should be able to install it, thats how I did mine.

 

I know you mentioned doing the work at a shop, but if you dare do it yourself take a look at the thread I just posted for maybe some advice... https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=225873

I had pretty much all the same concerns you had with yours...keypad still works and disarms the system. One key fob, and you could still use the factory key fob if you want. I did a lot of research and ended up going with a Code Alarm 670. Code Alarm is the company who makes the Ford unit. The difference is it does not say Ford on it and has some other features and better remote range, I believe.

Having done the install I found it was pretty easy. I am not car electrician, but I was able to do it. Nothing I did is irreversible either, so I can put it back if I want, but I won't want to. Plus, I did the work myself and saved several hundred dollars ($300 if you go by my dealers quote for labor) and know how everything works and where it is.

Dave

 

SOUNDS NICE ,Good Idea

 

Good luck and let us know how it goes!

 

i love mine,i have a viper with the 2 way keypad.i would highly recomend it.i got it from e bay and the bypass module as well,spent $200 total.i isntalled it my self with a back up battery.i carry one remote and my keypad on the handle works fine.i like the 2 way becuase it will tell me if someone bumps the truck.i use my remote start more than i do my key to actually start the truck.