I'm thinking of putting a remote start system on my truck and am wondering if you guys have any recomendations. I want to get one that has a long range and is reliable. I also want one that is not hard to put in because I will be installing it myself. It needs to have door lock/unlock option, I don't have factory keyless entry.
Any do's or don'ts will be strongly considered.

Thanks,

Mike

 

I have the viper 5500 and it is great. long range and settable times for the remote start. I did have it installed because last year when I looked into it it seemed a bigger pain than the 200 to install it. You may need a pats doubler (if that is what it is called) depending on the year of your truck. Your sig says you have a 98 so I am not sure on that. It was well worth the money to have it installoed with all the possible things that can go wrong with the install. If I had to do it over again I would have it installed professionally and not have the worries that I installed it incorrect. I have not had any issues with the viper and it has been on for a year now.

 

DirectStart 423 from 12voltshop.com


I've installed quite a few of these units and have not been disappointed yet. They are reasonably priced, of good quality and great range. I have installed them in at least 2-150's, 2- 250 deisels 1 Volvo 1 Dodge mini van 1 mazda protage5 and 2 dodge dakotas...i'm probably forgetting one or two but you get the jist. They are straight forward to install and the one time I had a problem. (with my wifes protage5 wagon) the company has technical help a phone call away. Make sure you ask for the wire diagram for your vehicle, they will tell you that they don't supply them but if you insist that you need it, they will relent. I'm fairly certain that you will not need a pats bypass for your truck as you don't have a coded key. I do use the 800 number to oder, i just can't bring myself to type my card number on the keyboard if i don't have to.

Disclaimer: I have no interest in this company or product. I only like to see that good companies with good products stay around.

http://www.12voltshop.com/proddetail...t=12&path=1,12

 

Thanks for your repleys, I have to finish a engine overhaul before I can buy the starter so it may be a couple of weeks. I still have a little time yet.

Did the units you guys are speaking of have the door locks too. Mine doesn't have factory keyless entry.

Thanks again,
Mike

 

The viper 5500 has starter, door locks, alarm, and another channel for a trunk or it can be hooked up to a device for rolling down the windows. My installer said that was a bad idea for the window motor life span, so I did not get that installed.

 

The Avital unit was easy to install (reasonable price on ebay) with some assistance from the other people that frequent this site. The hardest thing was the door locks, only because I didn't understand relays and bought the wrong ones. If your truck has existing keyless entry it is slightly easier. This unit has multiple saftey features to prevent your vehicle from being stolen, including a rpm setting. The range seems to be very good....I can start my truck over 100 yards away from inside a metal building. It can also sense the temperature and start the vehicle if it drop below a set temp. periodically for people who live in sub zero climates and require block heaters to be able to start the car in the winter. I can also be set up for a diesel with glow plugs. All of these features are user set options.

As far as ease of wiring, all the units available should be very similar with the exception of a tachometer hook-up, which isn't hard to find (the cluster of wires behind the battery box).

Good luck.

 

Is there any problems for trucks that have the computer chip in the key? (I think its called P.A.T.S.) I was worried because I know that if you take a copy of the key w/o a chip, and try to start the truck, it cranks, but will not start. Thought maybe the computer needs this to make it start. Anyone have any experience with this?

 

I have a Taurus that uses the P.A.T.S. system and you need to buy a seperate box to "trick" the computer into thinking the key is in. I think they are about $50.00. I hthink there are two kinds, one you have an extra key made and leave it in the box and one that does this with out a key.

I haven't done this yet but plan to in a couple of weeks.

Mike

 

I plan on putting a remote start unit into a Ford Escape with PATS in the next few months. I do know that I can get the box from Ford. I'm not sure how much $$$ these run, but I have seen them go on Ebay for a little as $6.00 for an actual motorcraft unit.

Keep me updated in what it costs an how well it works.

 

Does that box, in simple terms, bypass the system. I'd hate to give up the security of having the PATS system.

 

The PATS transponder bypass module only bypasses the PATS system long enough to remote start the engine. The only thing you have to worry about is if a thief can find where your bypass module is hidden.

 

Double post

 

First off...Viper, Sidewinder, WASP, HORNET, AVital, Clifford, Autopage..they are all made by the same company DEI...excelelnt products. If you're doing this yourself, go with the Viper...Avital and Clifford are a little more nit-picky about programming sometimes. The Sidewinder 6500 ESP is a good model. Features, Starter Kill ( or starter interrupt ), dual stage shock sensor, keyless entry, domelight supervision, etc...extended range all that good stuff you want in an alarm/remote start...

Now onto the PATS question...if you use the By-pass module that requires a key...you have effectively by-passed PATS permanetly...However, all PATS is, basically is a Starter Kill, and horn honk with KEyless entry...it offers no real seucrity except knowing your car won't be stolen, but cna still be broken into, etc...it's a passive anti-theft system..hence PATS. However the other module requires a transponder that is located in the key, it's basically a ring and capsule that goes around the key cylinder...bad thign about those...is that they sometimes need to be readjusted becasue they fell outta place and no longer work.

Than there is supposed to be this other kit, which doens't require a key, or any rings...if it works, I'm not sure, haven't dealt with them...the site for those is bypasskits.com if oyu wanna check them out...

but be warned...for some reason on certain fords the bypass module that goes around the key cylinder doesn't always work...and you'll have to use the key module...the good thing about that is you can go to Home Depot, Menard's, Lowe's wherever, and get a copy made...jsut put teh original in the case and hide it somewhere people wouldn't look...Good thing...if oyu ever need spares made..it's on;y like $2 instead of $60...ran into this problem on an Expedition where the transponder type by-pass did not work...just a forewarning from an alarm installer

 

FYI: The Sidewinder 6500ESP is the same as the Viper 650 I beleive...your local car audio security shop would know for certain...