Remote Car Starter Safety

[mister_e]

OK now that's something i know. I'd installed remote starter for more than 12 years..

Usually, there's 2 type of manual remote starter.

1. One that need a special sequence to enable the remote starter
2. one that have optical or magnetic sensor on the shifter + hand brake to enable the remote starter.

The second one is unavailable and obsolete since few years now here in Canada. This is due to the Possible cause of bad installation due to some lazy and/or stupid installer that don't care about people security because they're pay anyways. BUT, even if your the best installer in the world, if you send your car to the garage for a transmission problem, there's few/many chance that the poor mechanician can move/destroy those sensors. If you're lucky, nothing will work... worst case, even if you're in gear BUT park drive, you'll be able to start the car with your remote. Those who think that even if you apply the hand brake, the car will never move or not much... you can be surprise. I saw many times people hit by a remote started car in the past.

For those who need sequences... it's not so hard to remember depending of what model you have. Those i know ...

Type 1 : Brand ==> AutoStart, PolarStart, ArticStart(some), ProStart(canadianTire)
The sequence to enable the remote starter is:

1. While the car is running, place the shifter to Neutral, apply handBrake
2. Releas all pedal (clutch, break)
3. Press on any button of your remote. wait untill the dash light stay on
4. remove your key from the ignition switch.. the car will continue to run
5. get out of the car
6. close the door... the car is still running
7. stop the engine with you remote

if the above is not done correctly, the car will never start with the remote.

type 2 : Now more popular because easier to remember.. Brand : CompuStar, DirektStart, PowerStart....
The sequence to enable the remote starter is:

1. while the car is running, place the shifter to neutral
2. release all pedal(brake, clutch)
3. apply the handbrake, wait untill dash light stay solid
4. remove the key from the ignition switch... the engine will continue to run
5. get out of the car
6. close the door... the engine will stop
7. end

For both model, if somebody open one door or open the hood, this will disable the remote start for more safety. BUT if any of your door pinswitch work erratic, this can cause some problem if somebody open the door...

Anyways, If i can suggest a reaaaaaaalllllly good remote starter brand, have a look to CompuStar. They test all of their product in alaska. I install this brand for more than 5 years now. They are really great and trustable
more info : http://www.compustar.com/

Of course i have those installed on all my cars. I really like the 2W900FM-AS 2 way remote starter+alarm.

If you need any info on how install your remote starter on your car, let me know.

Remote Car Starter = Cold weather

I can't really agree 100% with you. Few people i know install remote starter in California, Liban and some other places like that. We can use remote starter to heat or cool the car (if you have the A/C). Just my 2 cents. But you mostely have reason. Remote starter are more popular in place where you have winter or cold temperature.