AstroStart Remote alarm/starter- good?

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DiskDoctr

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I am looking for a good quality 2 way alarm and remote starter for my 04 V8 LTD 4Runner.

My local shops sells Astrostart made by Astroflex. It looks okay, but I know next to nothing about these things and wanted some input and opinions.

They have quoted $450 installed for the main remote starter and keyless entry, an additional $100 for a full alarm.

I was reading about the Compustar, Clifford, and other systems on this site and wondered if this is the right system.

Features I'd like:

1. Remote start

2. Good, long range. Longer is better, but not worth tons of $$ extra. Minimum 2000'

3. Delayed arming. Hit arm with a door open and it will arm once the last door is closed.

4. Rear window up AND down. Read somewhere that the 4Runner is actually wired for up, too, but due to some regulations about being able to see the window when putting it up, it isn't enabled or available on remote key FOBs. Is this true?

5. 2 way remote so I can be notified if anyone messes with the 4Runner, and check/confirm running and other status.

6. Shock and/or window break sensor. Which is better? Don't want anyone to break a window and steal anything.

7. Any extra controls are a plus. May be willing to pay a little more for some "cool" things, like being able to remotely activate defrost and fan, and stuff like that.

8. Autopilot to drive me to my destination so I can sleep on the way. GPS can do this right? :)

9. RELIABILITY. Okay, this should have been #1 on the list. I don't want something I can't rely on. $50 or $5000, I hate paying for something that doesn't work like it should...

Any opinions, especially related to the 4Runner is wanted.

I do expect some, "This is the best system in the whole world," replies, which is fine, just tell me *why* it is the best.

Thanks!

-DiskDoctr
 
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I have a Clifford Bullet 4, a part of the G4 family with remote start on my daily driver. Overall the alarm is very good, and by far the best I experienced and as well as other brands friends have in their cars.

1. Great for hot and cold weather to bring the interior temp to a comfortable level.
2. 2000' is over a quarter mile. Depends on where you live or park, it might be an overkill IMO. My Clifford doesn't auto relock the car like the factory Toyota keyless if a door isn't opened within 30 seconds of unlocking, so if you walk away and inadvertently hit the silent arm/disarm button, you now left your car unlocked.
3. That's a nice feature. No need to wait around for folks to get out of your car or getting they stuff.
4. They can either add a module, like SmartWindows on my Clifford or they might tap into the switch up front for the windows to control it by using optional output wires from your alarm.
6. Get both if you can. Shock sensor is for impact, so if they smash the class or if you car gets bumped like parking, it'll set off the alarm. Glass sensor is a mic that picks up high pitch/frequency sounds, like metal to glass contact. It'll help in cases where they use a punch on the glass without needing a lot of impact (shock sensor).
7. Depends on the alarm and the number of output signals it can put out and support.
 
I have an astrostart and so far I have been very happy with it. If you can get it for around 600 then it's a steal.

If you get the astrostart plan on losing a key cause they will need to bury one under the dash. On my astrostart, the options I got were the glass breakage microphone and the rear window defrost when you activate the remote starter. Also, I got the car finder option. If you live in a climate that gets a lot of snow I would highly recommend the rear window defroster option since it will not only clear your back window but it also activates the heated mirrors. There's a lifetime warranty on the alarm. I know you can get the window roll up feature, but I don't have it. My doors sutolock 30 seconds after I shut the door.

When I was looking for an alarm I checked viper, compustar, and clifford. I didn't liek clifford cause of the anti-carjacking feature. I could only get viper installed at Best Buy and there was no way I was letting some hack get to my wiring harness. I was tempted to get compustar but afte rreading reviews I was hesitant cause of the complexities involved.


Also just an FYI, but it took the guy 11 hours to put the astrostart in. Granted I went to a place that is known for its installs so maybe they took their time to do it right.
 
My gf recently had an Astrostart installed on her Chev Avalanche. It works great and the installer offers a lifetime guarantee. It was about $500 Cdn installed and came with a bonus remote. she did not lose a kay as they have some kind of box that replicates the key. He will order one for a Toyota and see if it works.

I have considered the luxury car works unit, but it may have limited range, due to the key fob being the activator, plus you have to lose a key.

Rick
 
smdesmon said:
I didn't liek clifford cause of the anti-carjacking feature.
Click to expand...

If you're referring to the PIN code needing to be entered after each time the door is opened for the anti-car jacking feature, BlackJack or BlackJax I think is the name. That can be turned off and completely disabled.
 
No more key loss guys... I went to an installer meeting about 2 weeks ago for Audiovox who just bought a company called Bypasskit. Look up part number PKT2... its an immobolizer bypass for 03-07 Toyota/Lexus and works for A LOT of them. I've been meaning to post this online for awhile now, but forgot. Anyway, that bypass is http://www.bypasskit.com/product.aspx?prodid=PKT2&catid=15 and there is also a chart to show which cars are supported at the bottom.
 
I would suggest going with a Directed Electronics unit either best buy or circuit city will carry it

Best Buy
Viper 5900
2-Way

Circuit City
Python 990
2-way

they are both the same btw..

Go take a look at them...
mile range
comes with shock sensor, (which will detect window breaks from impact), siren, starter kill, anti-grind, so much more

Usually will run you 5-6 hundred w/install..
BB / CC will warantee it for lifetime of your personal ownership too..
 
i have an audiovox informer 996a for $300.00 dealer installed with an option of a carlink (satellite) for 150.00 more.
 
directed and audiovox are both great alarms... and both manufactured in the same building.... atleast thats what Nicky Gentiella Jr of Audiovox told me. He is their Field Application Technician. The good thing about audiovox is they bought the company that makes Bypasskit and when intergrating them with an audiovox alarm, all you do it plug in a like a 7 pin plug from the bypass kit to the alarm, vs. DEI where you have to wire it up from the kit into the alarm.

And to explain a little more about bypass kit, basically you can get doorlocks, tach, light flash, horn honk, etc... all by tagging one wire.
 
Help- Alarm problems

Okay, now I have some troubles.

My local installer put in a module for the rear window to go up and down with the AstroStart remote.

It works...mostly.

Most of the time it takes twice to get the rear window to go down with the remote, then also twice for the dash button to lower the window.

My rear window, washer, and remote do not work. I did get them to work for a bit by putting the window down and back up a few times (he had the battery terminals disconnected when installing, so had to reset)

It seemed to be okay then, but after using the remote and having to hit it twice, I think it is "confused." ??

The dash button operation seems reversed now, in that pressing it once puts the window down all the way, instead of holding it a second to get the rear window to auto down/up.

Any suggestions for my installer? I think he's doing okay, but the rear window has him stumped.

Single pulse, double pulse...stuff like that (I don't know what I'm talking about on these... ???)

If it matters, I could swear the factory alarm went off the other day (supposed to be disconnected), as just the horn was beeping instead of the horn and siren. :(

This is why I waited so long and tried to find an experienced installer.

Thanks in advance!

-DiskDoctr
 
Basically he used a DEI module for window regulation. By using the module you do loose the "1 touch" automation, just how it goes. 4 wires get ran to the rear window motor to do this... and basically he has them reversed which is causing it to be backwards are the switch. Thats what I think anyway.

Also, you don't have to use this module to control the back window. Most alarms have a programable auxilary output to where you can hit a sequence on your remote and it'll trigger an output on your alarm. To do the back glass, basically all you need to do is program a + trigger output for a duration of about 12 seconds. To figure out exactly how long you need, press and hold the switch to roll your back glass down, and time it. Using a bitwriter you can progam the output of your alarm to have a duration of however many seconds you need, but if you don't have a bitwriter you only have a selection of about 4 different times but may be close enough to work.

Hope that helps... oh and I've been installing for about 4 years so I'm not just making this up!
 
tarheeltp17 said:
Basically he used a DEI module for window regulation. By using the module you do loose the "1 touch" automation, just how it goes. 4 wires get ran to the rear window motor to do this... and basically he has them reversed which is causing it to be backwards are the switch. Thats what I think anyway.

Also, you don't have to use this module to control the back window. Most alarms have a programable auxilary output to where you can hit a sequence on your remote and it'll trigger an output on your alarm. To do the back glass, basically all you need to do is program a + trigger output for a duration of about 12 seconds. To figure out exactly how long you need, press and hold the switch to roll your back glass down, and time it. Using a bitwriter you can progam the output of your alarm to have a duration of however many seconds you need, but if you don't have a bitwriter you only have a selection of about 4 different times but may be close enough to work.

Hope that helps... oh and I've been installing for about 4 years so I'm not just making this up!
Click to expand...

Thanks, I'll pass this info along...

What do you think about the factory alarm issue? Any problem? I can still use my factory remote, but don't- I put it away in the house.

-DiskDoctr
 
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