Remote Starters Pro and Con
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sharp4runr
New member
A couple of members have had their 4Runners go "dead" with a remote start/alarm installed. It was attributed to the alarm being wired incorrectly. After they wired it right, the truck was able to be started.
Also since they have to hide a key to bypass the engine immobilizer feature, someone had their truck stolen. They did get the vehicle back, but would it have been stolen at all without that security feature bypassed? Well if a thief wants your vehicle and he's determined he'll get it (just load it onto a flatbed and drive away). I've heard of some units that can trick the truck into thinking that there is a factory key nearby, but an installer I talked to said sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.
I'm still up in the air on getting a remote start alarm. It'd be convenient 4 sure but in some places it is illegal to have an idling vehicle that is unoccupied. I understand that the truck cannot be driven away unless you put the key in the ignition, but that is the law.
Also since they have to hide a key to bypass the engine immobilizer feature, someone had their truck stolen. They did get the vehicle back, but would it have been stolen at all without that security feature bypassed? Well if a thief wants your vehicle and he's determined he'll get it (just load it onto a flatbed and drive away). I've heard of some units that can trick the truck into thinking that there is a factory key nearby, but an installer I talked to said sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.
I'm still up in the air on getting a remote start alarm. It'd be convenient 4 sure but in some places it is illegal to have an idling vehicle that is unoccupied. I understand that the truck cannot be driven away unless you put the key in the ignition, but that is the law.
BuckyBadger
New member
I have had the Viper 791XV - Auto starter/Alarm Installed for a year now.
Pros:
1. Starting the car from in the house or office when it is cold as hell (which it gets up here) Car stays locked during this time which is better than having to run out start the car and then watch it from inside the house. I have my car in a garage so I put a dryer vent in the side of the garage, when I get home at night and it if it is going to be cold the next morning, I put the dryer vent hose over the exhaust and it vents out when I start the truck. Avoids the old suicide look from the garage with fumes building up and I don't have to have the garage door open which invites unwanted people.
Pro/Con: middle ground
1. Alarm; I didn't really care about the alarm, wanted just the car starter but the Viper 791 had the two way remote that let's me know if the 4R actually started if I am sitting in my office. If the alarm ever actually keeps someone from stealing my car or even attempting to break a window than that is a plus.
2. Warm up time, always a hot debate on the time taken to warm up a vehicle, will it cause more damage to sit and idle etc. vs jumping in a cold vehicle and just driving. who knows, but I like to at least start it for a few minutes if it is really cold outside. This helps out a lot of your windows are frosted up, either you sit there and wait for the windows to defrost or you jump in and off you go.
3. warning that idiot in the parking lot who parked close to your nice 4R and is about to open his door into the side of your truck. Had it happen a few times when walking out of a store to my truck and from across the parking lot I can just tell someone is about to open there car door up into my truck, so I quickly start the truck and their head usually goes on a swivel and they are then aware they better not slam their door into your truck. Can also be accomplished by just unlocking the vehicle, the beeping gets them to look as well.
4. Had to use the valet key to be mounted in the truck, so down to 1 backup key.
Cons:
1. Viper remote replaces the unit that comes with the 4R. Had to program the remote to still be able to put the rear window down. Cool thing is it is programmed now to put the rear window up or down.
2. Batteries for the remote only last 2-3 weeks. I keep a supply of AAA batteries in my car.
3. Losing the Viper remote, if I lose the remote it is something like $150 to get another one.
4. Burn through a little more gas while it idles, and during the winter I used the auto starter a lot, don't use it much in the summer except when warning those idiots in the parking lot.
Pros:
1. Starting the car from in the house or office when it is cold as hell (which it gets up here) Car stays locked during this time which is better than having to run out start the car and then watch it from inside the house. I have my car in a garage so I put a dryer vent in the side of the garage, when I get home at night and it if it is going to be cold the next morning, I put the dryer vent hose over the exhaust and it vents out when I start the truck. Avoids the old suicide look from the garage with fumes building up and I don't have to have the garage door open which invites unwanted people.
Pro/Con: middle ground
1. Alarm; I didn't really care about the alarm, wanted just the car starter but the Viper 791 had the two way remote that let's me know if the 4R actually started if I am sitting in my office. If the alarm ever actually keeps someone from stealing my car or even attempting to break a window than that is a plus.
2. Warm up time, always a hot debate on the time taken to warm up a vehicle, will it cause more damage to sit and idle etc. vs jumping in a cold vehicle and just driving. who knows, but I like to at least start it for a few minutes if it is really cold outside. This helps out a lot of your windows are frosted up, either you sit there and wait for the windows to defrost or you jump in and off you go.
3. warning that idiot in the parking lot who parked close to your nice 4R and is about to open his door into the side of your truck. Had it happen a few times when walking out of a store to my truck and from across the parking lot I can just tell someone is about to open there car door up into my truck, so I quickly start the truck and their head usually goes on a swivel and they are then aware they better not slam their door into your truck. Can also be accomplished by just unlocking the vehicle, the beeping gets them to look as well.
4. Had to use the valet key to be mounted in the truck, so down to 1 backup key.
Cons:
1. Viper remote replaces the unit that comes with the 4R. Had to program the remote to still be able to put the rear window down. Cool thing is it is programmed now to put the rear window up or down.
2. Batteries for the remote only last 2-3 weeks. I keep a supply of AAA batteries in my car.
3. Losing the Viper remote, if I lose the remote it is something like $150 to get another one.
4. Burn through a little more gas while it idles, and during the winter I used the auto starter a lot, don't use it much in the summer except when warning those idiots in the parking lot.
Last edited:
cwest94
Member
I was shopping around for remote startes last weekend and didn't like anything I seen. It gets really cold where I'm at in the winter months, so it would be nice to start the car from inside the house to let things warm up and to melt the ice and frost off the windows. Everyone at the 3 shops I went to told me that I had to get something else that came in around 80 bucks, on top of the remote starter and the fees to install it. The cheapest place gave me the price of $380 bucks WTF???? The one I talked to said they disable the factory key chip thing, and the other place said the special bypass thing disables that feature on our cars but will still work??? I did not have one person say that I would have to hide a key somewhere close by.
lookmanohands
New member
In some cities it's illegal to leave a car running when nobody is in it check your local laws
If your garage is attached to your house and you hit the start button by mistake you could be overcome by CO
If your garage is attached to your house and you hit the start button by mistake you could be overcome by CO
RonMAIDEN
Super Moderator
That's alot of $$$ just to start your truck from your house.
The other ish is I don't like my truck idling for an extended period of time and prefer to let it run for a minute and then drive so the tranny and the engine warm up together,if it's just idling the engine will be at operating temp and the tranny will be cold which isn't the best for the driveline.
The other ish is I don't like my truck idling for an extended period of time and prefer to let it run for a minute and then drive so the tranny and the engine warm up together,if it's just idling the engine will be at operating temp and the tranny will be cold which isn't the best for the driveline.
alaskaman
Senior Member
I for one appreciate all these good suggestions. $600 is pretty steep for a non essential item. though when parked in a hospital parking lot at 20 below zero, going to a window in the building and firing up the Runner for 10 minutescan come in quite handy when it sits for a while........more to learn....
"3. warning that idiot in the parking lot who parked close to your nice 4R and is about to open his door into the side of your truck. Had it happen a few times when walking out of a store to my truck and from across the parking lot I can just tell someone is about to open there car door up into my truck, so I quickly start the truck and their head usually goes on a swivel and they are then aware they better not slam their door into your truck. Can also be accomplished by just unlocking the vehicle, the beeping gets them to look as well."
In this case hit the PANIC button on the back of your remote. That will certainly get their attention as they open thier door.
In this case hit the PANIC button on the back of your remote. That will certainly get their attention as they open thier door.
boston_kevin
New member
For those states which have a maximum time a vehicle is allowed to idle, they can set a maximum run time when it is started by the remote starter. A friend of mine here has a viper system with a max run time of 5 minutes. Gets the car warm and stays within the boundaries of MA law (5 min maximum for a vehicle to sit an idle).
BuckyBadger
New member
boston_kevin said:
I truly like this feature on my Viper, I set the idle time max to 5 minutes and then changed it to 10 minutes, but it is nice to be able to set that, sometimes I start the truck and get side tracked so it is nice to know it will shut itself off if I have not entered the truck by then.
