Remote start recommendations
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Grip Driver
New member
I use a pretty basic python system in my truck. I have a much nicer viper two way for my wife's highlander. I prefer DEI over compustar, I had a compustar on a previous car and it was not nearly as good as a DEI setup.
CookieRoe
Senior Member
I have a Compustar and love it. I don't ask much of it except to start. I know there are better options out there, but this one does the job just fine. Mine does come with a 2way pager which eats batteries, but I wouldn't have it any other way.
Note: for some reason, a remote starter has to come with some sort of "alarm". This was the case for my brothers RAV4. I guess it's a Toyota thing. Oh, you loose the "piezzo" beep. I miss my "beep beep"
Note: for some reason, a remote starter has to come with some sort of "alarm". This was the case for my brothers RAV4. I guess it's a Toyota thing. Oh, you loose the "piezzo" beep. I miss my "beep beep"
Elan750
New member
python
DEi python 1400xp here. Came with the truck as a nice surprise. works great but the remote doesnt seem to work well through walls. Theres tons of settings and it took me a while to really work right. My only complaints are-
I cant seem to be able to get it to unlock just the drivers door one click/all doors two clicks. I have it set up to just unlock all doors with one click.
can't use the rear window down option- not a big deal for me. In fact, with the oem fob i unknowingly lowered the rear window at least three times while in the house (keys in pocket) so maybe its a good thing.
doesn't do the piezzo chirp, but I think this can easily be fixed by just buying another piezzo speaker and plugging it into the remote starter.
I hated the fob that came with it, so I bought a clifford Fob that looked more modern. It had the same frequency and works well. Theres a website that lists fobs that are cross compatible.
DEi python 1400xp here. Came with the truck as a nice surprise. works great but the remote doesnt seem to work well through walls. Theres tons of settings and it took me a while to really work right. My only complaints are-
I cant seem to be able to get it to unlock just the drivers door one click/all doors two clicks. I have it set up to just unlock all doors with one click.
can't use the rear window down option- not a big deal for me. In fact, with the oem fob i unknowingly lowered the rear window at least three times while in the house (keys in pocket) so maybe its a good thing.
doesn't do the piezzo chirp, but I think this can easily be fixed by just buying another piezzo speaker and plugging it into the remote starter.
I hated the fob that came with it, so I bought a clifford Fob that looked more modern. It had the same frequency and works well. Theres a website that lists fobs that are cross compatible.
gm350reratliff
New member
I have an older Avital RS/alarm on my 4th gen and a full blown Compustar RS/alarm with Drone mobile and touch pad on my 5th gen.
The Avital has worked pretty good for over 8 years now with the only issues being, I have gone through a few remotes and those remotes seem to eat batteries. Also, the range is just OK with these 1-way remotes but it does seem to vary greatly for some reason. Overall, the Avital system works as intended and I picked it up cheap years ago and installed it myself.
The Compustar system is really nice though. The 1-way fobs that came with it have an incredible range plus I also have the touch pad on the window that I can just type my code into if I don't want to take anything with me. One of the features I like the most is the Drone mobile. As long as my 4runner and I have cell service, distance doesn't matter. It is a subscription based service but I like that I can check on it from my phone or computer and RS or lock/unlock it from anywhere. There is so much flexibility in the Compustar systems over DEI as well.
The most important thing with any RS/alarm is the actual installation. I recommend that you visit a few shops and talk to the installers and their customers before hand if you don't plan on installing yourself.
The Avital has worked pretty good for over 8 years now with the only issues being, I have gone through a few remotes and those remotes seem to eat batteries. Also, the range is just OK with these 1-way remotes but it does seem to vary greatly for some reason. Overall, the Avital system works as intended and I picked it up cheap years ago and installed it myself.
The Compustar system is really nice though. The 1-way fobs that came with it have an incredible range plus I also have the touch pad on the window that I can just type my code into if I don't want to take anything with me. One of the features I like the most is the Drone mobile. As long as my 4runner and I have cell service, distance doesn't matter. It is a subscription based service but I like that I can check on it from my phone or computer and RS or lock/unlock it from anywhere. There is so much flexibility in the Compustar systems over DEI as well.
The most important thing with any RS/alarm is the actual installation. I recommend that you visit a few shops and talk to the installers and their customers before hand if you don't plan on installing yourself.
markymark191
New member
I chose compustar over viper based on what some installers said. (who all stocked both brands) From what I heard is that compustar is more accurate on the range they say the fob has over viper when tested. I am sure both would work just fine though. I have the 2 way 3,000 foot one and works great. If I did it again I would have spent a little more and got the mile one, because if you are in buildings it cuts down a lot on the range. but for the most part the range has not really been a problem at all.
riceandpho
Elite Member
i have the older compustar 2w900fm on my truck, works as advertise and i got that 3000ft range, also installed a CS6502-AS model on the camry, works just fine and it only costed me about 150 total with the bypass. works fine and got that 1500ft range, my next system will be the pro t11 and ill have them add drone service, maybe ill be fine with the prime 901 remote.
nevada
Senior Member
are there any basic remote start systems for these rigs?
I don't want an additional alarm, nor a pager, or another bulky FOB. I just want to be able to remotely start the engine. preferably with a small 3 button fob. if it could be tapped into the OEM fob that would be even better.
does such a thing exist?
I don't want an additional alarm, nor a pager, or another bulky FOB. I just want to be able to remotely start the engine. preferably with a small 3 button fob. if it could be tapped into the OEM fob that would be even better.
does such a thing exist?
riceandpho
Elite Member
there are other system around like the drone system, they do give you a back up fob, incase you dont have cell phone range. it just certain wires that need to be hooked up. but since everything is apart, i would do a whole alarm at it. labor wise, its not much, but just to do remote start only, you might have that itch that you should of did the full system the first place.
nevada
Senior Member
me personally, i want nothing to do with an aftermarket alarm system. I have read far too many bad things about them, with various battery drains, or other miscellaneous problems. the OEM security system is just fine for me.
I really with this thing would have came with a factory remote start, so as not to have to mess with any of this.
riceandpho
Elite Member
battery drain, the battery last about 3 months if you use your remote 4 or 5 times a day, and its only a aaa battery. thats on the 2 way pager remotes. now onto the problems, its all about how the install is. sure some brands have a problem here and there, but if you paid for a product that the shop carries, the parts are always lifetime warranty. but you do pay a premium. oem is just keyless entry, and security is that vip system that was a oem part. still investing money to an old system is like wasting more money, when you can buy a product with latest technology, at least better with more features you can add later on.
Montego Murph
Member
My 2003 came with a Viper 2-way LED start system.
Everything seems to work ok, but I agree with what Nevada said... I despise anything that hacks with the OEM wiring. I've owned too many secondhand vehicles that looked like where some "expert" at Best Buy used that car as a learning experience.
Everything seems to work ok, but I agree with what Nevada said... I despise anything that hacks with the OEM wiring. I've owned too many secondhand vehicles that looked like where some "expert" at Best Buy used that car as a learning experience.
nevada
Senior Member
oh, I was talking about the vehicle battery. I have read far too many horror stories where either the battery drains, or the rig simply wont start, that ended up being a faulty, or improperly installed aftermarket alarm. that is a headache I want no part of.
if that is the only option, I will skip having remote start. sad though. as I have remote start on my 85, 5 speed, but there isn't a simple solution to have it on the 06.
planeboy95
New member
Add-On Crimestopper Remote Start Kit for Toyota Vehicles 2003-2009
This is the one I'm going to install in the next month or two, it uses your remote fob and has a wiring chart for your specific vehicle and great customer service!
Compustar has higher profit margins being an off-brand and older, less sophisticated technology. Often the use of bare-bones tech makes it easier for novice installers to install the systems... I'm not surprised in the least that it was "recommended." I typically recommended whichever alarm made me more money when I was an installer. Unless it was one of my friends, in which case I would not let them get anything but a DEI product. I hated getting calls in the middle of the night from friends about being stranded by their POS off brand alarms systems.
Having been an installer for 10 years, I am not going to put any off brand system in my own cars. I'll leave the fun of getting stranded and under-dash fires to other people.
wkeryder4
New member
Please update this thread after you get it installed. Would really like to use this kit if it is reliable.
Edit: Just noticed this in the description. "One important note about using 'add-on' remote starts in Toyotas: The factory remote controls in your car do not work when the car is running - that's the way Toyota engineered the car. This means that if you're using a remote start that works from your OEM remotes, you'll be able to start the car just fine, but you will NOT be able to unlock the doors with the factory remote control." Since it starts by pressing the lock button you would have to put your key in the door every time you get in after remote starting it.
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