Well, I have a WinMo phone and a Clifford Matrix system, so I don't think I'll be utilizing this feature anytime soon. Seems pretty nice though, especially if you can get alerts to the phone.

 

I just got mine installed yesterday and it's pretty nice. I typically park on the roof of a parking garage three blocks from work, so it'll be nice to have my truck warmed up when I get there. I like not having to carry around the key fob. I have my keys on a D ring and carry only my truck key with me until I need to unlock the house.

 

this actually works? crazy!

 

whats it cost to get the viper system?

 

I belieeve it's around 4-5 hundred for the system and the SmartStart.

- NCSU

 

$200 to add on to an existing system. I wish I could see the use and need but for the additional cost, it just doesn't work for me. My 5901 has a 1 mile range and hasn't failed me on distance yet and I park in a parking garage too.

 

I think I paid around $600 for the viper 5901, I got it almost 2 years ago. The app is free to download on the iphone. Best Buy charges $300 for the add on.

 

The total cost of the unit, including install in my truck and running a bypass block for the chip in the key (instead of surrendering a key and wiring it into the system) was $638. The good thing was that Best Buy offers 18 months same as cash for purchases over $499, so at least I have that going for me. I did not have a Viper system at all, so it was the $499 system plus install of the $80 bypass. An additional drawback is that it's $29.99 per year after the first year. I will be testing the range for the first time today. I will start it from the office (three blocks away). I'll keep you posted on the functionality.

 

I've been using this for a few months now and I loved it until the system somehow got put into manual transmission mode. I haven't had time to get to Best Buy when the remote start guy is there, so I have been without it entirely for about a month. I'm going to be sure to be there early Saturday morning to be first in line to get mine fixed. I like the system, but it has messed up twice on me. The first time, I was able to unhook the battery and restart the system bc it lost iphone capability, but now my key fob doesn't work at all either (not even for lock/unlock) but I'm sure that Best Buy will get it running... it's still under warranty.

 

I went in on Saturday and Best Buy reprogrammed the system and it works great now. The guy asked me if I had unhooked the battery at any point and I had unhooked it a several times (install CAI the same day as the Viper and also my headlights and taillights within a couple weeks) since the Viper was installed. The system worked fine after I unhooked the battery. I told him at one point the phone stopped connecting to it and I unhooked the battery to reset the system, and that worked fine. Very weird how it got out of sync, but it's working fine and only cost me about 20 minutes on a Saturday morning.

 

i also work for best buy and install these. there seems to be a problem with the software in the smart start module. it sometimes does not work and needs to be reset. from what ive heard, viper is working the bugs out of it still and hopefully itll be fixed! seems like installing a switch on the power wire for the smart start is needed in order to reset it in case it looses sync again...well until it gets fixed. from what ive gotten when i spoke to a viper rep, was the app is continually being updated for more features.

 

Yeah, the app works great and now it's two-way... it'll let me know when the truck has received a signal and it also let me know when there was an error. I wish I was able to figure out how to reset it myself. Un-hooking the battery seemed to work one time, but that may also lead to a problem for the unit (that is very weak). Anyway, I'm glad I have it. Keep us posted if you hear of any Viper fix being released and especially if there's a recall on the faulty units. Thanks.

 

no prob. i would strongly suggest that if you need to bring it back to the installer to reset the smart start, ask and see if he can put a toggle switch on the power lead to it...that way you wont have to pull the battery every time. and yea, the alarm doesnt like power disruptions like pulling the battery....just messes with the programming sometimes

 

That's a good idea. I never really thought to ask him that. It is very inconvenient to have to wait until I'm free on a Saturday morning to head to Best Buy and have first-come first-served service. I work too late to get over there during appointment time.