PSA: Another aftermarket Remote starter/Alarm start thread. This one has videos

[gshadow325]

I swear he's not on the payroll lol.

Thanks for the feed back.

 

[itsdchz]

on my 2015 4runner SR5P, this was the most useful mod. Steve was great to deal with. I purchased the ez-go and dronemobile unit from him and it arrived within a week. The instructions were a little difficult and I ran into some problems but that's because it was my first time.

It was my first time installing a remote start and soldering. Steve already put the wires together so you're basically tapping into the existing wires. It was NOT hard at all.

Now my truck has all the functions of a limited model minus the push button start but makes up for it with the takeover (so the engine keeps running when you insert the key).

The dronemobile unit on my phone is also my favorite feature because I can start, lock/unlock my car from my phone, the app was buggy at first but works really well.

Well worth the money. No need to pay an installer! the whole install took about an hour

2nd this....

 

[ImfromtheGovt]

+1 Happy Customer for Gshadow325! My install took a lot longer than most of you, but some of that was figuring out where the hidden bolts were to take the bottom panel (under the steering column) off, some of it was me being slow, methodical and meticulous, and some of it was because it was hot as blazes and I kept having to stop to get water... (I did my install in my driveway in South Florida in June! )

Gshadow325 is great to deal with, he's patient and very knowledgeable, and will walk you through whatever you need help with... even talk you off the ledge when you open the box and go "OH CRAP! WHAT HAVE I GOTTEN MYSELF INTO!?!"

The alarm itself is great and the functionality is better than what you get with the Limited IMHO. I mean, you can't start your Limited via your cell phone, can you? Or GPS track it? You can with the Drone Mobile.

 

[carl528]

Loving the compustar t11 security/remote start all thanks to gshadow325!!

GShadow325 provided clear images and instructions. Customer service is top notch! Prompt response and he makes time to be available for any assistance you need. A+++++ in my book and definitely recommend him. Many thanks gshadow325!! :rockon:

 

[gshadow325]

Thanks for the kind words. I am glad there are many success stories.


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[007Tacoma]

[MENTION=93434]gshadow325[/MENTION], I have been doing quite a bit of research on how to fix my Alarm and Remote Start issues - my wife hates using the remote start on my 2015 TEP 4R because of the shut off. Excellent write-ups and information in this thread! Once I get off work, I will be talking to the wife and sending you an email.

Thanks!

 

[gshadow325]

[MENTION=93434]gshadow325[/MENTION], I have been doing quite a bit of research on how to fix my Alarm and Remote Start issues - my wife hates using the remote start on my 2015 TEP 4R because of the shut off. Excellent write-ups and information in this thread! Once I get off work, I will be talking to the wife and sending you an email.

Thanks!

i'm here to help.

 

[gshadow325]

Since winter is coming I'm sure there are going to be more of these questions coming up.

Just bumping the thread so members can be aware of this.

I get several emails a month with regards to "PRO" install problems.

Seems like many installers out there just dont do it right or takes several attempts to get it right. Plus give out misinformation on product availability.

Please dont hesitate on reaching out with questions via email.

 

[GoHerd]

Well fellow Runner fans, I can attest to the last post from gshadow325. First, if you are thinking about doing a remote start for your 4R, read this thread first!

I'm the proud owner of a month-old TE Premium and the gshadow325 saved my bacon. If I would have read this thread before having a starter installed, he also would have saved me a couple hundred bucks and loads of frustration and time worth far more.

Had a local Compustar PRO dealer install my system with Drone Mobile. It worked sporadically but would set off the factory alarm each time I started it. They worked on it again, but it continued to do that. Then, a day or so after a big national chain store installed new speakers and an amp for my stereo, my truck was stuck in the accessory position.

Scared my new truck was all barnacled, and that the malfunctioning remote start was fooling with the ignition, I started scrolling the forum and found this thread. Contacted gshadow325 and within minutes, he replied with loads of detailed information about what might be wrong. He talked me through scenarios and what I should ask the installer. He also told me my options for configuring it as I had originally wanted. I was prepared to have them take it out and start anew on my own, but even more scared of what I'd find under the dashboard.

Credit gshadow, he encouraged me to have my own look at the installation and speak patiently and understandably with the installer. I did. And they were very kind and as helpful as they could be to correct it. And they also were asking me what else I could find out from gshadow325 because their speaking with Compustar and iDatalink didn't resolve the problem and now my factory key fobs wouldn't work, either. He told me what they needed to do.

Turns out the first Compustar 7000 unit was apparently faulty because it couldn't be properly reconfigured, but the amplifier also somehow is feeding back a signal, causing the truck's ignition to think it is in the accessory mode.

My Compustar installer replaced the entire unit and reconfigured it and it's working like a charm now. Not sure what will resolve the other issue with the radio, but that's for another appointment with the chain store.

Bottom line here - if you care about your truck as much as I do mine, I have no doubt you can do this yourself with gshadow325's help. He knows his stuff, gang, and he knows your truck's guts. He could step me through everything without even sending photos. He's that good.

If I could do this over again, I'd definitely try it on my own with his expertise and direction. Sounds like the other folks here who've tried it agree. I owe a big thanks to him for easing my mind and ensuring things were made right. Credit my installer, too, for their support after the fact and for taking full responsibility for sorting it. But if you are able to tinker a bit and enjoy learning how your truck works, I'd drop him a line and give it a shot. He's a pro. Thank you!

 

[Pigeye]

I hope this system is as easy to install as gshadow325 is to deal with. I emailed him on a Sunday after 5pm and after a few emails back and forth he is putting my system in the mail tomorrow morning (Monday). I have too much invested and love my truck too much to leave it unprotected.

 

[BigMike603]

I was looking into having a remote start put in my 2016 4 runner SR5 and was thinking of going with Compustar. After reading this thread I believe I will definitely go that route.
At first I just wanted a basic single button starter but was told by the installer that my lock and unlock button may not work on my key fob when the vehicle is running. I have confirmed that by reading this thread also. I guess I just want to know if that has changed with a 2016? If it hasn't changed, can the Compustar remote be programmed to lock and unlock the doors while the vehicle is running? I was thinking about the Drone app but cell service is not New Hampshire's Strong suit.

 

[gshadow325]

I was looking into having a remote start put in my 2016 4 runner SR5 and was thinking of going with Compustar. After reading this thread I believe I will definitely go that route.
At first I just wanted a basic single button starter but was told by the installer that my lock and unlock button may not work on my key fob when the vehicle is running. I have confirmed that by reading this thread also. I guess I just want to know if that has changed with a 2016? If it hasn't changed, can the Compustar remote be programmed to lock and unlock the doors while the vehicle is running? I was thinking about the Drone app but cell service is not New Hampshire's Strong suit.

Mike,

Please email me at the address in my signature and i'll guide you in the right direction.

 

[sleevefullofaces]

I was looking into having a remote start put in my 2016 4 runner SR5 and was thinking of going with Compustar. After reading this thread I believe I will definitely go that route.
At first I just wanted a basic single button starter but was told by the installer that my lock and unlock button may not work on my key fob when the vehicle is running. I have confirmed that by reading this thread also. I guess I just want to know if that has changed with a 2016? If it hasn't changed, can the Compustar remote be programmed to lock and unlock the doors while the vehicle is running? I was thinking about the Drone app but cell service is not New Hampshire's Strong suit.

I'm sure Gshadow has you squared away but I'll add my experience as well: I just had a compustar rs with Drone mobile installed. The installer told me that my key fob wouldn't operate the locks while the car was running but when I tested it out (using the app to start the car) my fob worked fine. It doesn't make the lock/unlock noise when I use the key fob but it does lock/unlock the vehicle.

 

["Snowball"]

Just a shout out to Gshadow for another satisfied customer!

I received my Compustar Pro T11 remote starter in the post (Canada) yesterday when I got home from work. Had a quick dinner and headed out to the garage for an install session. Easy peasy!

All buttoned up and ready to go in 2.5 hours.

I had one question regarding the location of a single wire. I sent Gshadow a quick message and he got back to me within 5 minutes with a description and a photo which as we know, is worth a thousand words.

I just tested my new remote and I can now communicate with my 4Runner from the comfort of my office chair while it is parked in a parkade 3 buildings away!!!!

Awesome!

Thanks again for the great prep work, wicked price, great instructions, fast and tactful shipping and the quick support Gshadow!

This "Snowball" will not be having any snow balls this winter!

Be Good!

SB

 

[sure74]

Thanks to Steve I can now start my 4Runner from my watch haha.

Steve is a pleasure to work with. With his guidance I'm pretty sure
anyone can accomplish this install.

Thanks again Steve, appreciate it!

 

[jetblack3s]

Please don't put compustar in your car, that stuff is garbage, talk to any experience installer and they will tell you it's nothing but problems. Stick with viper. I have that in both my taco and 4Runner never a problem


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[gshadow325]

Please don't put compustar in your car, that stuff is garbage, talk to any experience installer and they will tell you it's nothing but problems. Stick with viper. I have that in both my taco and 4Runner never a problem


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[MENTION=134386]jetblack3s[/MENTION] thanks for sharing your opinion.

I'm glad you are so passionate about viper at one point in my life, I was too.

Would you mind sharing why viper is so much better than Compustar?

I personally have the opposite, Compustar in all my cars?

If you talk to all the inexperienced installers that installed Compustar in this thread, they will tell you their opinions on how their installs went and the quality and reliability of the product.

Can I tell you why I like Compustar?

-expandability, example today I want it to control with my factory remote and it's only a remote start. Tomorrow, next week, next month, next year etc life changes you move to Maine and you need a long range remote now. With Compustar, you can add a large variety of remotes from one simple button to a 3 mile range two way remote. Also you have one drone unit(viper is called smart start) that is already GPS tracking enabled. Viper has 2 units, one without gps and one with(drone mobile is the same price as the more expensive gps viper smart start FYI.)

-flexibility. Example, you got it installed. Now you want to control extra stuff, defroster, windows, trigger heated seats, turn on and off a set of lights remotely, you can with some knowledge and wiring.

These are just two reasons in my many reasons why I live and love the Compustar product since 1999. Before that I was 100% viper.

Please don't put compustar in your car, that stuff is garbage, talk to any experience installer and they will tell you it's nothing but problems. Stick with viper. I have that in both my taco and 4Runner never a problem


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[gm350reratliff]

Please don't put compustar in your car, that stuff is garbage, talk to any experience installer and they will tell you it's nothing but problems. Stick with viper. I have that in both my taco and 4Runner never a problem


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:rofl:

I was a DEI (viper, avital, clifford, python) installer for roughly 8 years. In that time I went from absolutely loving them to oh no not another one. Maybe they're better now but they (DEI) were one of the reasons I left my last job. The quality and reliability of their products just wasn't there and it really had me pulling my hair out as I was solely under the gun by the shop's owner.

While I'm not an installer anymore I still do some work on the side. I've installed a few Compustar systems now and I can easily tell they are much better quality with much greater flexibility.

 

[gshadow325]

:rofl:

I was a DEI (viper, avital, clifford, python) installer for roughly 8 years. In that time I went from absolutely loving them to oh no not another one. Maybe they're better now but they (DEI) were one of the reasons I left my last job. The quality and reliability of their products just wasn't there and it really had me pulling my hair out as I was solely under the gun by the shop's owner.

While I'm not an installer anymore I still do some work on the side. I've installed a few Compustar systems now and I can easily tell they are much better quality with much greater flexibility.

Glad a experienced installer after 8 years in the business chimed n.

Is Compustar really junk like [MENTION=134386]jetblack3s[/MENTION] Jay says it is?







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[gm350reratliff]

Glad a experienced installer after 8 years in the business chimed n.

Is Compustar really junk like [MENTION=134386]jetblack3s[/MENTION] Jay says it is?

Lol, no. In my opinion, Compustar offers a much higher quality product.

9 times out of 10 if someone is having alarm/remote start system issues, it can probably be traced back to a crappy install. However, I fell victim to a rash of defective DEI stuff back in the day. Could the same thing happen to Compustar? Absolutely but I haven't seen anything defective from them yet.