My store has been installing Remote Car Starters since the early 1990s. This experience has taught us what is important in a quality remote starter installation. With the cold season upon us, we thought it would be a good time to post our Top 10 List (in no particular order).
10. Warranty
The actual remote starter brain should be warrantied for as long as you own the car. Many quality companies offer this (if they do not, it is a possible sign of inferior equipment). Remote controls, however, are rarely warrantied for more than a year. Our Pro line remotes carry a two- year warranty and all our two-way remotes have a $25 replacement plan.
9. Engine Speed Sensing
A good remote starter should have some method of monitoring the engine RPMs. Why is this important? There are a couple reasons:
- On a very cold day, the car might not start on the first turn of the key. The same is true with a remote starter – it might not start the first time the starter does its thing. Without a method of sensing engine RPMs, the remote starter will have no way of knowing that the vehicle has failed to start. The end result is that you go out to your car and it is still cold.
- The other main reason is over-rev protection. A quality remote starter will know if the engine speed is too high and shut off. A remote start that does not offer RPM sensing cannot know if this level has been exceeded and you could end up with damage to the vehicle.
8. Transmitter Range
You want to make sure that the remote start you are buying will allow you to start/stop/lock/unlock, etc., from a long distance. Many people say that they just park their car right outside their house and do not need a long-range transmitter. Just keep in mind the trips to the movies, the mall, the amusement park, restaurants, the hospital, etc., that you’ll make. You will want to use your remote start then – and you will not be parked as close as you are at home. Our transmitters offer a range of a minimum of 800 feet, and some work from over a mile!
Mobile Edge is proud to offer the exciting new T11 2-way remote starter from Compustar. See Compustar’s new waterproof, 2-way, 3-mile range remote here. We call this 30x Power Range!
7. Hood Safety Switch
Make sure that an emergency cutoff is installed under the hood. This cutoff is designed to prevent the vehicle from remote starting if the hood is up. This protects you and your mechanic from forever having someone else open your ketchup bottles! DO NOT OVERLOOK THIS!
Many shops skip this step because doing so saves time. Mobile Edge integrates a hood cutoff on every single job.
6. Manufacturer
Make sure that the manufacturer is a company that specializes in remote car starters. There are many companies out there that simply throw a label on a product and call it their own. You want to avoid that. It is our experience that these companies provide little, if any, support for their products and many will not be in business next year. Stick with the experts.
5. New Car Warranty
Do not let your car dealer tell you that an aftermarket remote car starter will void your warranty. This is against the law! The Magnuson Moss Act prevents a dealer from voiding a warranty simply because of the addition of aftermarket equipment. If that equipment or associated installation causes damage to the vehicle, the dealer does not have to warranty the job. This is another reason to go to a specialist shop that sells good remote starters and installs them professionally. We offer a detailed PDF on this subject.
4. Do it Yourself?
Unless you are a certified technician with experience in remote car starter installation, do not attempt to install your own remote starter. I know – the one you saw at WalMart comes with an instructional video. That video will teach you enough to make you dangerous. Trust me!
That instructional video may have worked in the early 1990s, but today’s cars are very sophisticated. It will not teach you how to integrate the transponder in a 2004 Ford or bypass the security in a 2006 Trailblazer.
Save yourself a ton of expense and headache and have it installed by someone who does this for a living and can be responsible for the job. This brings us to number 3.
3. Buy it Here/Install it There?
Do not buy your remote starter on eBay (or WalMart or Amazon, etc.) and expect to find a quality, reputable shop that will install it for you. While many aftermarket shops will install stereos and amps purchased elsewhere, few, if any, will install a remote start purchased elsewhere.
During remote starter season, the good shops are busy enough trying to keep up with their own work. If you find a shop that will install someone else’s remote starter, they are likely not very busy. Do you want to trust your vehicle to that guy?
There is another very important reason not to buy a remote starter at one place and have it installed at another. Let’s say something goes wrong. A remote starter is an electronic product and can fail. The guy who puts it in will blame the product and the manufacturer will say that it was installed wrong. Guess who is stuck in the middle with no recourse?
When you have the shop that you buy a remote starter from install it, you have one place to go in the event of a failure. There cannot be any finger-pointing.
2. Go to a Specialist
Look for a specialty shop. Not to bash any of the chain stores, but they have much higher turnover rates with installers than a specialty shop. These are people who probably have less experience than a long-term employee at a specialty shop. It is my experience that many installers “cut their teeth” at a chain store and, once they have more experience, move on to a specialist shop (we pay more!).
Many specialists (not all, though) will solder all of their connections. I feel that this is very important. Crimp connectors can save up to an hour of installation time, but when dealing with the vehicle’s electrical system, I want a rock-solid connection. The only way to get that is by soldering the wires together. Mobile Edge has soldered every connection on every job for nearly 15 years.
Will a remote starter from a specialty shop cost more than from a chain store? Sometimes yes. But put that into perspective. Even if the job cost $100 more from a specialist, that difference is less than 1/10 of 1% of what you probably paid for your car. Why take the risk? Not to mention that, when you deal with a specialist, you can talk to the installer, salesperson and, in many cases, shop owner. There is definitely a value in that.
1. More than Just a Remote Starter
Make sure that you review all of the convenience features that can be added to your remote starter with your salesperson before the installation! Most higher-quality remote starters will let you add a ton of cool features or control them from the remote.
Anything from heated seats to keyless entry and rear defrost can be integrated with most better systems. It is a lot cheaper to have this done at the time of installation. If you want to add it later, you may be paying for several hours of additional labor.
The Bottom Line
In summary, the cheapest price does not always save you money! When selecting a shop to put a remote starter in your vehicle, ask a lot of questions. How long have they been in business? How much training and experience do their technicians have? Do they have sophisticated computer programs to aid with installation? How do they handle warranty issues?
You get the idea. The better shops will clearly rise to the top. They might cost a little more upfront, but that extra expense will pay dividends in quality and peace of mind.
I am sure that you will find that Mobile Edge is one of the best shops for your remote car starter installation.
For much more detailed information on purchasing a remote car starter, please consider purchasing The Ultimate Remote Car Starter Buying Guide. It is filled with over 25 pages of great advice to ensure that your buying experience is a good one!
This site is very informative. It makes me think more of the value of my investment in my vehicle. Why ask for the cheapest product when it would have so much potential to cause damage to my car. Thanks for the advice in this column. I will be asking a lot of questions when purchasing my remote starter. To bad I don’t live near your shop, I could just go to you.
Thank You……Thank you…..
I’m looking to purchase a Remote Starter for my husband and had no clue how to go about it. Your article answered many of my questions.
I do almost all my own car repairs but when it comes to remote starters, I leave it to someone that i can trust , Mobile edge, because if you do one thing wrong during installation, you can destroy a piece of electronics in your car and then you will be very upset you did not leave it to a professional. The cost to replace a computer in the car far exceeds the cost to buy a good remote starter from Mobile Edge. I have bought many from them and refer anyone that ask to do the same. Not fast, in this case a good thing, but on time, big difference, and done right the first time.
P.S. This is not a paid endorsement, haha, just one of their satisfied customers.
What’s the difference between 1 way and 2 way starters?
Grant…. THIS post should answer your question!
I have a 2004 Chevy Malibu Maxx and the factory starter works great. However, the remote doesn’t seem to work at all anymore. I tried replacing the battery and nothing fixes the problem. Is it easy to install a new system in a factory present starter or is it better to remove the original equipment and go aftermarket. It’s very annoying when its 25 outside and I’m trying to start my car only to find out my remote doesn’t work.
Matt,
I don’t think that you would need to remove the existing unit to install a new one. If you are in our area, please stop off and we can take a look.
We had the same problem with one of our remotes. When the battery in the remote died it lost the ability to communicate with the main unit. I installed a new battery in the remote fob & in my case all I had to do was to press the fob buttons a multitude of times to get them to learn each other again. If that doesn’t work try to buy a new fob. They will eventually wear out. Try Googling the name of the units manufacturer if your unit is old? You might get lucky.
Hi. I wish I found this site before I got my newest car starter. The two things I asked for anti-grind and programmable timer so it will come one before and after work and I can get into a warm car I was told it would have. Guess what it doesn’t have. The owner refuses to remove it and give me my money back. I also asked about t-taps and he bad mouthed them. I went to him because I had my first starter installed there and I had no problems. In between I had to get a new car(crash) and had tweeter install a viper with a programmable timer. It worked great (crashed car- no idea how to remove starter or timer). Any idea on real programmable timers and how to get this owner to guarantee what he sold me as what I wanted. I wanted programmable because on the first plain remote I always forgot to start it before I went to the car. Made it useless. He sold me a car starter with a 24 hour count down timer that can be set one time per day. Who gets in their car once a day. You get in to go to work and to come home from work. Why would I want to freeze my tush off once a day. Even if I remember to start it 15 minutes before I leave and use the countdown at night I take a commuter bus and have no way to schedule it 24 hours in advance to start 15 minute before the bus hits my car. It doesn’t have 10 mile range. Plus large building block my car. Thanks and any advice on the starter I want and how to get my money back. I called my bank but who knows.
Tara,
I sorry but I won’t be able to give you much help on this one. Assuming that you went to a respected, reputable dealer, they should stand behind their product. It is impossible for me to know exactly what the conversation was or what was promised. Only you and the dealer know this. Assuming that your invoice indicates a programmable timer was to be added, i would go back to the dealer and let them know that it was not installed and you would like to have them install it. Mistakes do happen. We make mistakes sometimes and miss something on a workorder. We have procedures in place that things like this are caught 99% of the time before the customer picks up. The fact is however that they might have just made an honest mistake. I would not be asking for a refund and removal. I’d simply be asking for what was sold to me and spelled out on my invoice. Good luck with your issue.
Thanks for responding. Not sure what is going to happen. I really did check around and I thought he was reputable. I found the patent for the product I want. Now I have to find the product. 🙂
Very informative do you have a shop in Ill. ?
Great info to help me know what to ask when I finally get the starter installed, but I’m just so frustrated with the first ever starter (installed 7 years ago) I’ve had installed by the dealer where I had purchased my new car (they used a company that is now out of business, and my starter actually locks the car starting system, I have to wait 20 min to manually start the car whenever I try to use the car remote starter now!) Now, I just purchased a 2013 Honda Accord (I live in Alberta, Canada) and paid the car dealer for them to install a remote starter in it (apparently the Honda one has much shorter range and as expensive as the one they sold me). The dealer told me that because the car is so new it would be a couple of weeks before that company can install the remote. Two months after purchase I still don’t have it. Finally the dealer called me and said that they will use a different remote starter company. The one they want to use is called “Automate car security” (never heard of them) and the model they will install is called Automate Car Security 2 Way starter. Do you know this product? Is it a good one?
That is not a product that we deal with. We sell the Compustar brand exclusively at our store and we are very happy with it.
I’ve been trying to find someone to install a remote starter in my 12 VW Golf TDI and keep getting told that they won’t install on my car…is this really that hard of a car to install one on?
Until about 1 month ago, we did not offer remote car starter installations on Volkswagen Vehicles. We have found a solution now that we are very happy with and works for many (but not all) VW vehicles. We have not yet made a formal announcement of our intention to offer installs on VW however we should be doing so very soon.
So to answer your question, I believe that your vehicle would be one that we would do but we would want to look it over first. If you are in our market, please stop by with the vehicle and we can look it over. If you are not in our market, I would recommend that you search out the very best facility in your area. These installs need to be performed properly (as is the case with all remote starter installs)… If you need assistance locating a facility to do your installation I would like to recommend my e-book “The Ultimate Remote Car Starter Buying Guide.” It is not free, but the small investment will teach you everything that you need to know to find the right facility to do your installation. The book is available for purchase here: http://www.remote-car-starters.com
Good luck in your search!
when you suggest soldering ALL wires do you mean all of the “heavier” gauge wires and not the smaller “secondary” wires, I’m sorry – I’m not in the industry – but there are some “relay” wires and a guy that we are looking into to do our install suggests that these “relay” wires won’t benefit from being soldered and that taping them in is best. What are your thoughts?
Every wire of every job we have ever done for 20 years has been soldered. In our opinion, it is that important.
Thank you for the quick response!
Also, do you find that having a remote starter complicates maintenance on a vehicle? As in trouble shooting, false non-starts, towing, and just basic wiring into the electronic system?
When using a quality product and getting installed by a talented installer, you should be fine.
Hi Mitchell,
I’ve read your article and was relieved to find that adding an after market part such as a remote car starter will not void a new vehicle’s warranty…. Could you please advise if this is true for the Canadian market as well?
I am looking to purchase a new Infiniti SUV and the dealer here in Canada is not helpful in clarifying whether or not adding a remote starter to the the vehicle will void the warranty… I would really like to have some comfort around this before I make the purchase.
Regards,
Janet
Janet,
I am not familiar at all with Canadian laws. I cannot help you with that. I would check with a reputable installer in the area and ask them to provide you with proof.
I heard lots of good and bad thinks about remote starters. I got a Jeep and factory installed remote starter,and so far I’m happy with it.My wife have Subaru Forester ,and on time of buying it (2005) dealer simply refuse to install it. Commenting that can interfere with Subaru electronics.How much is truth in that statement?
This is something that we hear from time to time from car dealers. It is completely false. If a quality remote car starter is installed properly, it will have no impact and not interfere at all with vehicle electronics. Subraru’s are a more challenging vehicle, but a skilled installer would have no problem with your vehicle. We do them all the time.
We install remote starters in Subarus all the time. If they are installed properly, there is no cause for concern.
Is it true that a remote starter cuts the life of your battery by half?
Thank You
Eddy
There is no truth to that at all. If a remote starter is installed properly, starting it with the remote is exactly the same as starting it with the key. The source of your information very mistaken.
Ok. You guys look great, but I’m in Milwaukee! Know or recommend anyone around here?
The closest retailer that I know personally is on-the-go-tech outside of Madison. http://www.onthegotech.net
Mitch, Happy New Year! Need you’re expertise in finding a remote starter for my 2014 Fiat 500L with the factory alarm. I called some dealers and many are telling me that it’s not possible.
Hopefully you can lead me in the right direction.
Thanks!
Hi how r u . im hoping to know which would be the best remote start for an 09 murano. Im looking for a kit that can also maybe start the heat after it has warmed up. Ive done a little research but still cant choose. You guys seem like ur all over the place as i look for help so i thought id just send u an email please dont mind. I just want good info & help. Thank you guys.
interesting info on your website. however I live to far away to purchase from you and have it installed. can you recommend anyone in my area? I live in the Lewistown pa area. thanks.
I recently got the Compustar Slice jr. It would start from an okay distance but my remote wouldn’t light up to let me know it started. This wouldn’t happen when the car was in close range. So I switched it for the Compustar G7 which is supposed to have 3000 ft range. I was in a pool hall, went to the window to start the car and it didn’t work. Please tell me off a good brand (remote starter only, no alarm) that works through the walls of malls, stadiums etc that you speak of.
Shawn,
It is odd that you are having any trouble with either of those models. We sell A LOT of compustar remote starters and have nothing but compliments on the range that we get. I would have the installer take a look at the antenna cable or relocate the brain a bit to rule out any RF interference..
I preferred Compustar’s one button Slice jr’s remote over the G7. With your experience would you say that there really is a 1000ft difference in range between the two? If not, I think I’ll go back to the Slice jr. Lastly which Compustar model would you sa works best in those places you mentioned (the mall, stadium, etc)? I want a unit that can do this
We just bought a 2014 hyundai Santa fe sport with a push button starter and asked about a remote starter, they said it would void the warranty, where can I get something in writing to show them that this is against the law.
Do you recommend going to the dealer for installation? They are quoting me $499 for a 2014 Toyota Camry XLE.
Hi,
I live in Markham, Ontario, Canada, and i would like to buy good Quality remote control for my brand new 2016 Santa Fe sport van. Can you please suggest where can i buy and install the remote control?
Thank you.
Zein.
I do not know anyone in your area. If you want to find a great shop, but are confused about how to go about doing that, please consider The Ultimate Remote Starter Buying Guide. It is $4.99 and I guarantee that, if you do not find it worth the money, I will promptly refund your purchase price.
I have the same question that Jeff had back in February 2015. Do you know of, or can you recommend any shops in the DC\Northern Virginia area that will install a remote starter in a 2009 Dodge Charger? Very impressed with your website, and all the responses you’ve given to all the questions so far. Wish you guys were closer!!! Would love to find someone that can do a quality install in my sons car. Giving it as a Christmas present. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks ahead of time.
Not sure exactly where you are in Northern VA, but there is an Excellent shop with 2 locations in the Richmond area called Extreme Audio (www.extremeaudio.org) and another in Westminster, MD called Westminster Speed and Sound (www.wssdriveeasy.com) .. I would take my own car to either of these shops. You definitely want to find a great shop. Our E-book will help you find a great shop if either of those stores is too far away (www.remote-car-starters.com)
I have a new 2015 Ford Edge. Recently tried to have a good reputable installer put in an Autostart unit. One of their better models. The installer said they could not install it because the BCM would not accept the commands. The BCM needs to be enabled by Ford. So I called my Ford dealer, they said that Ford has not designed software or a system to accept aftermarket or Ford remote starters. After this vehicle being built almost 2 yrs ago, I can’t imagine that the Ford engineers haven’t come up with something that will work. Are they pulling my leg?
thank you,
Robert Pat St. Germaine
Thank you, thank you,, thank you! An ethical rep..wow!
Great goods from you, man. I’ve understand your stuff previous to and
you’re just extremely fantastic. I really like what you’ve acquired here, really like what you are saying and the way
in which you say it. You make it entertaining and you still care for to keep it smart.
I can not wait to read much more from you. This is
actually a wonderful site.
Hi
What do you thing of the remote starter apps ? are these more efficient ?
and what company is the best ?
thank you
I got a Python starter that works fine, but the dealer I got it from went out of business. Now the problem I have is opening and closing my car doors. Have to use the key to do it. As for remote starting…… no problem. I can’t find anyone in the Pgh Pa area to check my remote out. I went on line to find a dealer and when I called those listed, I was told they don’t handle Python.
Real instructive and superb anatomical structure of written content, now that’s user friendly (:
.
Any recommendations for places in Virginia beach, Va ?
I am located out of state. Washington DC to be exact.
If I were to schedule an appointment would you be able to knock
out a Compustar P2WT11 install on a 17′ MX-5 RF the same day?
Very likely but we would need more information. Please call our facility at 610-377-2730 to discuss. Thank you.