Auto Remote Starts??

[Karen]

I'm just so surprised they cost so much... plus, with all the adjustments they'd have to make and comments like "Well, if we did it that way, then anyone could open your car and just drive it off" , it doesn't make me feel too secure getting one, lol.

I told my mom and dad to just save the money and buy me some of those hand warmers that you can get at Cabela's and stuff, and I'll put them on my car seat and stay warm that way. Dad's comment... "They don't make them big enough to fit your butt." Nice.... thanks Dad!

Well, tell him he should get you a large dog - let dog into car, dog will almost always try to assume the driver's seat. leave dog in car for five munites, the seat will be nice and warm ... then you just have to try to persuade the dog to then surrender the driver's seat!

[jennielynn1970]

OOOH... now that would be a good excuse to get that dog that I want, lol. I think a Rottie would warm up that seat really well!! Sigh.... maybe one of these days!

[Freedom]

If the manufacturer doesn't even OFFER one for that car, I would hesitate.
Once the manufacturer makes one, the other guys develop off of that, so it is easier to install and more likely not to interfere with things.

Just run out, start the car, run back in, finish getting ready, then go out and leave.

How long does it take for the engine to warm up and give you heat in the cabin? Dad's Jeep has heat in about three minutes but my Honda takes 8 minutes to throw off any heat. I've been known to run out in slippers to start my Honda.

[Blue_Frog]

When i bought my escape from the ford dealership, they had a deal where they would put on a new auto starter for me. However, on and off it interferes with my cars' ability to recognize the 'unlock' on the keyfob, and so doesn't turn off the passive antitheft. In short, the vechicle will not start if the antitheft does not disengage. It only happens for a few hours at a time, but at first it was enough to really worry me.

I had my vechicle towed (under warranty) back to the dealership the first time it happened and the ford 800 number didn't know what the problem was, and by the time it got there, the unlock worked again. This unlock shenanigans happened a few times, until i finally got sick of it and took it to a Ford Special Vechicles group to have it taken off... only to be told by the service manager that there was an override button hidden under the dash that would disable the auto starter, and allow the passive antitheft engine cutoff to be bypassed. I think i dropped the F word several times.

The auto starter also made it so that if i just want to use the key to unlock the door and start the car (and not the fob), i have to press the override button first. With the auto starter, i otherwise have to press the unlock on the fob to start the car normally.

The long and the short -- if you get one put on, get them to show you where the override is just in case something goes wahonnie shaped. There will be an override somewhere, and the installer should know where it is.

[jennielynn1970]

BlueFrog.... so you actually have to go out to your car, unlock it, hit the override button, and then do the remote start??? Doesn't that kind of take away from the "remote" part of it?? That part I would not like. I thought that it would start remotely, meaning from inside where it's toasty and warm, and then you go out and get in.

Also, Freedom... in my neighborhood, you don't leave anything unlocked and running. Unless you want to give it away... I don't even leave my trunk open to unload the groceries.

[Blue_Frog]

BlueFrog.... so you actually have to go out to your car, unlock it, hit the override button, and then do the remote start??? Doesn't that kind of take away from the "remote" part of it?? That part I would not like. I thought that it would start remotely, meaning from inside where it's toasty and warm, and then you go out and get in.

Also, Freedom... in my neighborhood, you don't leave anything unlocked and running. Unless you want to give it away... I don't even leave my trunk open to unload the groceries.

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lol ... no, its not as bad as that I can start my car with the starter about 98% of the time with no problem. I can use the fob to unlock my car the same amount of time with no problem either. The other 2% of the time, the auto starter interferes with my fob disabling my passive antitheft system, so that my engine wont turn over. Theres a button under my dash that i can push while turning the key to disable the auto starter and passive antitheft and start the car. After doing that, i dont have a problem again for months on end. It was just something to bring up to the dealer if theyre installing an autostarter for you -- have them show you the override button

I like my starter tho, it gives the car a chance to warm up before i drive it, and since its been so cold its nice to give the engine and inside the car a chance to get warm.

[Queen of Poop]

I had Ford install one in my 2003 Ford Explorer Sportrac truck when I bought it. Cost $500. I've had it 4 years now and have never had any grief. It's very useful here in the winter time. I'd never have another vehicle without one. It's just too bad it doesn't also turn on the seat heater!