Remote starters

I have had good luck with the DEI Valet series...

These devices are *notorious* for causing serious, expensive and/or unfixable electrical system problems in the vehicles in which they're installed.

Not to mention that idling an engine in order to warm it up is one of the worst ways to put wear-and-tear on one's engine. A car should be driven at a moderate speed in order to bring the engine to normal operating temperature, not idled.

I'll second the vote for the units from 'Directed Electronics.'

They market under several brands at different price points-

-Viper

-Python

-Valet

-Clifford just to name a few.

I have a couple Viper units on two of our cars. They are all-in-one car alarm & remote start units. My best advice though is to find a GOOD INSTALLER.

Are you really sure that someone who is impressed by a toy like a remote starter would really know if they had no oil pressure? ;-)

Ted

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

You have just cut out 99.9% of all auto installers in the country right there. Most of them wouldn't know what solder is if it was dripped on their hand, let alone be able to avoid making a cold joint.

Ted

Other than the aforementioned warming up the car via extended idling. Not a great idea.

Matt

I work with a woman who just had an engine fire deemed to have been caused by a remote starter installed a year ago at Audio King (Ultimate Electronics) .

KS

"You'll ruin your warranty and void your insurance"

?????????? The the Chrysler and Ford Dealers in my area all offer Remote Starts as an add on with no void in warranty. I have 4 vehicles, all have Remote Starters, my 94 Ply GV 3.3 has had one since new and now has 230,000 and still mechanicaly performes perfectly. I have a 95 Diesel Jetta with 290,000 miles also with Remote Start and again no problems what so ever, as well as a

2002 Ford Expedition. Also a 94 olds Cutlass which also has had one since new, never had any engine related problems with any of these, so I don't know where your information is coming from.

You have to have some common sense when using one, mine never runs more than 5 minutes, and maybe I'm old school but I still believe that the engnine should be somewhat warm before driving, especially in single digit temperatures. In fact I tribute the longevity of my vehicles to having a remote starter and letting the temp at least start to climb before traveling at expressway speeds.

As far as insurance, my brother in law is my insurance agent and all of his cars have remote start as well, so I can't see how it would ruin insurance. And as far as warrenty goes, wll have been in for warrenty at one time or another with no questions asked.

In the next two weeks or so, if the deal is right, I will be buying a new Magnum and that will have a remote start within a week of its purchase. I know they sound like a toy or gimik to many people, but the number of nieghbors, employees and relatives that have purchase them after seeing mine for years in amazing.

I have driven and worked on a lot of cars in my time and thought these were a joke at first, but after having one, would never be without one. If you are interested in getting one look at the "Crime Stopper" brand which will let you start more than one car with just one remote. Good luck and do some research, think you'll find the pro's outweigh the con's 5 to 1.

Thanks for your time,

Butch

I would not know about about warranty issues but best for your car is to warm the whole thing up slowly, not just the engine. However uncomfortable it might be for you it is best for your car to start the engine and move off, driving gently until the operating temperature is reached.

There have been some debates when that is, but the consensus from NG discussions seems to be that it is AFTER the dashboard thermometer says so, so drive gently for, e.g. a further 5 min before adopting normal driving.

Otherwise you have a hot engine but cold axles etc.

Obvious, isn't it?

DAS