Remote starter problems in 2003 Ram/ Viper remote starter

Hey,

Anyone here having problems like this?

Twice now, the Viper remote starter has suddenly died, and failed to run the blower when I warm my truck up in the morning. About a year ago, this happened and the dealer I bought it from replaced the "brain", and it was fine until yesterday morning, and there it was, no blower again. It was a few days before I could get it in to get looked at, and by that time, I was getting odd idiot lights when it was started up to drive it.

Anyone else?

The same starter is probably sold under all the DEI brands, Viper, Clifford, etc.

BDK

Reply to
BDK
Loading thread data ...

Hey, BDK, you mention one or more problems and I might be able to help but I'd like to narrow the problem(s) down first.

When you say the "Viper has suddenly died", do you mean it no longer remote starts at all? Or do you mean the second problem you mention that "the blower fails to run"?

The "odd idiot lights" you got; were they while it was remote started or when you started the truck with the key just like it didn't have the remote start in the truck?

Post back and I'll see if I can help.

--HC

Reply to
HC

Well, it looks like the "brain" of the remote starter died again. It always starts fine, but there's no blower. I was just wondering if this has happened to anyone else, a this is the second time in less than a year..

Sorry if I was confusing..

I was very sleepy when I typed it..

BDK

Reply to
BDK

Had mine for 3 years and it has never failed, other than a battery in the fob.

dave

Reply to
Willy Wanka

This is my third Viper remote starter and the only one that has had any problems. I'll be taking it in at 9 tomorrow morning.

BDK

Reply to
BDK

I'd eyeball the relays that power the auxilliary power and the fuses that supply them. FWIW, in my 02 2500 (old body style) there are two pink wires (pink and pink/white) that go hot in the run position (IIRC). There are two wires from the relay pack on the Viper that go hot in auto start for auxilliary circuits. If the monkeys who hooked the system up used just one of the Viper's supply wires to heat up both of the factory aux wires it could over-stress the Viper relay pack and cause it to fail. OR, if they hooked it up that way it could cause the fuse(s) on the supply (from 12v+ to the relay pack) to fail. I'd look at all the fuses on the vehicle AND the Viper system, including all wiring harnesses (which should be in a single location I imagine) for blown fuses. Then, if it's anything like my 791XV, it'll have a "relay pack" (basically a long, slender black "thingy" with about 8 or

10 heavy-gauge wires coming from it), and I'd look to it for damage.

Having the system run the engine but not actually blow the air (cold or hot, as you choose) into the cab is silly (that's half the reason for having remote start, I think), and since this isn't the first time this has happened to you I'd be wary of the installation. Closely checking the installation, and maybe finding the problem yourself will help you save time and money in the future, I would think.

Good luck. Let us know where that leaves you.

--HC

"I was having a bad day. A man said to me, 'Cheer up things could be worse!'. So, I cheered up and sure enough, things got worse." :)

Reply to
HC

My Viper likes its batteries (the two-way remote...Responder or whatever they call it). Eats one, in light use, about every two months. :)

--HC

Reply to
HC

Hmm, that's weird. My last one was almost 3 when I sold the truck and it had the original batts. Actually, I've never replaced any on any of the

3 starters I have had. This one is going to be two in Oct, and I bet the batteries will still be the originals..

If only I had that kind of luck with car batteries. I've NEVER had one last 3 years! The last one I tried to stretch out showed no signs of any problems and was so deed it took over an hour with the jumper cables to get it started. I was like 3 years and a month or so...

BDK

Reply to
BDK

I don't think it's the install. The same guy has put all 3 on, and he definitely seems to know what he's doing. I watched him put several thousand bucks worth of alarms and stereo stuff into a 99 Ram and for the first time I can ever remember watching a system being installed, I didn't see anything I thought was something like "WTF is he doing it that way for? Why doesn't he..?"

He must do several hundred starters a year, at least, since the store manager claims they do about 1000 every year. I saw a guy drop off 4 vehicles at the same time for remote starter install.

Thanks for the reply..

BDK

Reply to
BDK

MotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.