Remote Car Starters - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

albertGQ · 09-21-2006, 08:20 PM

Well, we are approaching winter again and that means demand for remote car starters will start to increase. I wanted to get one through Neeper's shop last year, but didn't have the money. Too bad his shop closed down. I don't have the money again this year, but ##### it, I'll just charge it to the MasterCard. I ain't going another winter without a remote car starter.

So basically my question is this. Does anyone know where I can get a good quality remote car starter for a good deal? I don't want to pay too much, but I don't want to cheap out as well. I want to pay for a remote car starter and not have any problems with it.

Where should I go? How long will the install take? And how much should I expect to pay? Any help would be greatly appreciated. I want mine installed before the first snowflake drops.

Thanks in advance!

albertGQ · 09-22-2006, 11:06 AM

BUMP!!!

Any help???

MattyK · 09-22-2006, 03:11 PM

I got a good deal on a two-way remote starter, and looked around town for someone to install it. After a good three days of researching and calling around (in Edmonton), it seemed that only Future Shop and A&B Sound would install a starter that they didn't sell themselves.

I had A&B Sound install it. I recently discovered, though, that even though I paid extra for a VATS remote starter bypass module (for cars with resistors in the ignition keys)...they didn't install that. All they did was take a resistor, peel back the insulation the wires leading out of the VATS resistor, twisted on the resistor, and sealed everything up with electrical tape.

No solder, no connectors, just snip-twist-tape. How did I discover this? My car would magically not start at random times. Their little snip-twist-tape shortcut was coming loose. Took me about a half-hour to solder some resistors to two wires, cover the resistors in heat shrink, crimp on connectors, and voila.

Where was I going with this? Oh, yeah...don't go to A&B Sound. Probably common knowledge to most...but I'm mostly a DIY'er when it comes to cars, and that was the first time I actually took it in to have work done.

Bobblehead · 09-22-2006, 03:19 PM

I started getting some prices a while ago. I contacted a guy from Beyond.ca, and corresponded for a bit, got a good price, but now he's gone MIA and under questionable circumstances.

So back to the search again, I guess.

Quinn is OK - they did a remote starter for my wife a few years ago, but they do a hard upsell. Autotemp seems pretty good.

ken0042 · 09-22-2006, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

Autotemp seems pretty good.

That's what my 3rd hand info tells me as well.

One thing I wouldn't do; unless you know the person installing it personally; don't give your home address. Give them your uncle's or something.

Call me paranoid, but the last thing I need is to have my car stolen buy some 18 year old who happens to know the freqency and code that will start your car. It used to be a problem at some shops in Winnipeg; so much so that in the early 90's police were almost encouraging people to switch license plates with a friend before going to the shop.

I say almost because they said it, then retracted it- knowing they had just opened a can of worms.

I-Hate-Hulse · 09-22-2006, 05:29 PM

I've always hesitated getting the remote starters as they seem to all disable the anti-theft componetry of the cars. My chip-in-key requirement to start the engine gets disabled, which I don't think is a good thing. Is this true of all remote starters?

Bobblehead · 09-22-2006, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I-Hate-Hulse

I've always hesitated getting the remote starters as they seem to all disable the anti-theft componetry of the cars. My chip-in-key requirement to start the engine gets disabled, which I don't think is a good thing. Is this true of all remote starters?

Yeah. If you have a chip in key, they need an extra key to get the chip.

CRXguy · 09-22-2006, 06:51 PM

What car is this starter for?

I have a Compustar on my Subaru. It's been 3 years now and not a single problem. Got it done on 17th Ave SE by the old Hub Oil. The place is called K&N Auto Service. I think I paid $580 out the door for the 2-way starter with an extra remote(no LCD screen). Add $50 if you drive a Honda/Acura or any other makes that requires a key to bypass the immobolizer.

MattyK · 09-22-2006, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I-Hate-Hulse

I've always hesitated getting the remote starters as they seem to all disable the anti-theft componetry of the cars. My chip-in-key requirement to start the engine gets disabled, which I don't think is a good thing. Is this true of all remote starters?

That's not true in all cases. At least with the older VATS system (uses a resistor with a specific resistance, not a fancy computer chip)...there's a module (just a relay, I think) that you can purchase. When this module is installed and the remote starter tries to start the car, it uses an in-line resistor to send the right signal to the VATS module. If you try to start the car with the key (or try to hotwire the car, or whatever), the relay passes the signal from the key's resistor to the VATS module. Wrong (or, in the case of hotwiring, non-existant) resistor, it won't start.

That is, if the lazy *******s install that remote-starter-bypass module dealie. Like I said above, A&B Sound didn't...they just spliced a resistor in right off the VATS module itself, essentially disabling the VATS. Someone could just hotwire my car with ease right now...

Anyways, I'm sure there's also remote-starter-security-bypass modules for the newer, computer-chip keys. It's just a lot more convienent for the installer to bypass the system entirely...plus they just pocket the extra cash you paid to have them install the report-starter-security-bypass module.

4X4 · 09-24-2006, 07:42 AM

Well, we all know that installation shops (like everything else in the world) have employee turnover. That said, I had so many problems with an install at the future shop on mcleod by glenmore, that 5 years later I'll still take the time to tell people not to go there.

I had to go back three times (and leave my ride for half a day or the whole day) and it still didn't work properly. Eventually, I ended up calling a couple other future shops and asking if they'd please fix my goddamned remote starter because the other future shop was so incompetant... North hill future shop fixed it for me in less than an hour, free, and it worked perfectly.

albertGQ · 10-13-2006, 01:31 PM

Looks like I am goign to set an up an appointment with Auto-Temps next saturday. Total cost for everthing (since I have keyless entry, factory anti-theft, power locks) for 1000 feet range is $555 and total cost if I wanted a 5000 range is $705.

Is this price too high and is it worth paying an extra $150 for the extra 4000 feet?

ken0042 · 10-13-2006, 01:51 PM

400 feet? or 4000 feet?

Keep in mind a mile is about 5000 feet. I know the guy who parks in the parkade a block away has the long range one so he can start his truck from his office.

albertGQ · 10-13-2006, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken0042

400 feet? or 4000 feet?

Keep in mind a mile is about 5000 feet. I know the guy who parks in the parkade a block away has the long range one so he can start his truck from his office.

I meant 4000 feet

So is extra $150 worth getting an extra 4000 feet worth of range??? And am I overpaying?