Remote car starters are probably one of the least understood products that a 12 volt retailer sells. There seems to be a lot of bad information floating around. I wanted to take a few minutes and dispell some of the myths about remote car starters:
1. Remote Car Starters Will Void My New Car Warranty
Nothing could be further from the truth! The Magnuson Moss Act forbids a vehicle manufacturer from doing this. We’ve covered this a million times so click on the link above to learn more.
2. Remote Car Starters are Bad For My Car
I have never found any information to support this. In fact, many top mechanics would agree that allowing the car to warm up for several minutes before running can extend the life of your motor.
3. Remote Car Starters Waste Gas
Actually, as a tie in with number 2 above, warming up your car can actually improve your gas mileage. When you hop in you car on a very cold day and just take off, your engine is working overtime and consuming more gas. Warming it up and thinning the oil for a few minutes can improve your mileage. And isn’t it easier to press a button to warm it up instead of going out in the frigid cold.
4. I Have a Manual Transmission. I Cannot Get A Car Starter
In the past, I would have agreed. Today’s Remote Car Starter technology has come a long way. Our starters employ a very sophisticated, yet easy to use, method to prevent the vehicle from starting while in gear. If you have a manual transmission vehicle, you can enjoy the same comfort and convenience as those with automatics. To learn more, read this post about remote car starters in manual transmission vehicles.
5. I Don’t Need a long Range Remote. I Park My Car in My Driveway
The fact that you park in your driveway at home is all well and good, but what about when you are at the mall….or the movies… or a restaraunt…. You might need to park 100 yards away or more. Don’t you want to take advantage of your remote starter all the time? Of course you do.
6. I Have Keyless Entry Already. I Don’t Need That Added To My Starter Installation.
Well… You probably do. Your factory remote has probably less than 100 feet of range. All of our remote starters have at least 800 feet of range. So if you are already in line at the movies and can’t remember if you locked your doors, don’t worry. Just press the lock button on your remote starter remote and you can rest assured that your car is locked. Not to mention all of the other convenience features that you can add to your starter installation.
7. My Key Has a “Chip” in it so I Cannot Get A Remote Car Starter
Almost every vehicle key made anymore has a “chip” in it. That chip is designed to prevent your car from being hotwired. A remote starter essentially “hot wires” your car in a very controlled way. So in order to make a starter work, we need to fool your car into believing that the key is in the ignition. Our starter manufacturer offers hundreds of solutions for almost every vehicle on the road. In most cases, it is a matter of installing an additional “bypass module.” This module replicates the actions of that chip, thus allowing the car to start. Pretty simple. huh?
8. My Cousin’s Best Friend’s Uncle Can Install a Remote Starter For Me
DON’T DO IT!!!! Today’s vehicles are very sophisticated and integrating a remote car starter to them is a very complicated procedure. We have gone through countless hours of training and have access to world class technical support if we need it. Can “Uncle Louie” make that claim. Probably not. While he might be an excellent mechanic, remote starters are a whole different animal. You wouldn’t bring your car to us for body work, would you? Of course not. You would take it to an expert like Wentz’s Auto Body. When it comes to remote car starters, Mobile Edge is the expert.
9. I Don’t Need A Remote Starter. I Park in My Garage
Oh yeah?.. Do you park in a garage at work? Or your local eatery? Or what about the “garage” at the movie theater? Does your best friend let you park in his/her garage when you visit? You will get more use out of your remote car starter away from home than at home.
10. I Can Only Use My Car Starter For A Few Months A Year?
Why? You will quickly find that your remote starter is just as useful in the dog days of summer as it is on a frigid Winter day. Your remote car starter will cool off your vehicle on hot summer days also. Just remember to leave the AC on when you get out of your car. Your Automatic Car Starter will do the rest!
Summary:
A lot of myths circulate about remote car starters. The main reason for this is that there are a lot of shade tree mechanics and poor quality products out there. Mobile Edge has been doing this for over 15 years and we sell and install only the very best starters made. Stop in and let us show you how affordable a remote car starter can be.
For detailed information on purchasing a remote car starter, please consider 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 great one!
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info@mobileedgeonline.com • 610-377-2730
Great post, never thought of a few of those. Going to look for a remote starter now.
Can I remove the remote car starter to put it in another vehicle?
Yes, but you may need additional or different parts for your next vehicle.
I am trading in my 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe for a 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. I would like to take my car starter with me & have it installed on my new car. What different parts may I need? And, would the parts be costly?
Sandy, Please take a look at this post that we wrote that explains a great deal about what you are trying to accomplish: http://www.mobileedgeonline.com/can-a-remote-starter-be-switched-to-another-vehicle/
I had a remote starter on my Dodge Intrepid. Loved it, but I also went through 3 starters. I have heard some people that know more about cars than I do (which isn’t hard) say that remote starters are hard on a car’s starter. Is there anything to that? I want to put a remote starter on our new car but I don’t want to be shelling out for new starters every other year.
Lee…. With a quality remote starter, starting a car is no different than starting it with the key. Some, low end remote starters (or ones that are installed incorrectly) will crank the engine longer than necessary and this can cause a wear on your starter. My recommendation to you is to find the best shop in your area and have them install one for you. We sell Compustar and have never had any problems with them.
We have a 1999 Dodge Ram pickup. It is a diesel. Is it ok to install an automatic starter in a diesel pickup?
Absolutely! Just because you have a diesel doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy all of the benefits of a remote car starter! Find a reputable, local shop and i would bet that they can do the job right for you.
I am considering having a remote starter installed by my dealership in my 2007 Nissan Maxima. I have been doing some reading regarding remote starters in Maximas and have repeatedly read that once the car has been started by the remote starter, you must actually turn the car off completely and restart it to drive. My car has a “Smart Key” so you don’t have to put a key in the ignition to start it. Is this how remote starters work in these cars or is this the result of a faulty installation?
Karen – There are a few different ways to do your car but, The safest way to do your car is that the remote start shuts down when you open the door and then you restart the car as normal when you get in it. There is a way to do it that the car stays running and does not need to be restarted but if you do not do it the right way it will cause warning lights on your dash to light up and need to be reset by the dealer. So we have found the previous mentioned method to work best.
Won’t the bypass unit make the immobiliser useless? My car insurance requires an immobiliser.
Nathan – Great Question! The bypass only does it’s thing when the vehicle is being remote started. At all other times, the immobilizer is fully functional. Essentially, the bypass fools the car into believing that the key is present, but it only does this when the remote starter gives the command to start. So I would not imagine that any insurance company would see this as an issue.
I have a remote starter installed in my 2009 Nissan Frontier. In order to install it they had to take my spare key and place it in the immobilizer bypass unit. Now the dealer wants $100 for a new key…is it possible just to have a key cut that will work since there is already another key next to the ignition>
Ken – That is another great question. Assuming that the immobilizer bypass was installed properly, it is only coming into play when the remote starter is starting the car. All other times it is out of the loop. When you are using a key, that key needs to be a programmed key. So you will need to get a programmed key from your dealer. Sorry , I know they are not cheap!
Hey mitch, this might sound like a ridiculous question but im a little confused, lets say i remotely start my car, opening my door to go inside will shut the engine off? if thats the case, I then restart my engine like I would normally through key ignition? Could I avoid having to restart my engine?
In most cases, this would not be necessary. There are some vehicles where this is the safest way to do it, but it is not the norm.
i just bought a used 2000 nissan altima with is equipped witha remote car starter. I dont kno what i am pose to do after i get in the car, once it has already been remote started. Do i put the key in the ignition like i would normally do to drive?
Typically, after the car is remote started, you get in the car, put the key in the ignition and turn it to the “ON” position. You would then press the brake pedal which will disengage the remote car starter. You then simply drive away as if you had started it with the key.
If I have a manual doors can I still have remote start.
Of course you can… and if you want use to add power door locks and keyless entry, we can do that too!
hey i have a 00 ford explore and i found that my car will not start almost like its dead. i have a remote start and i know the battier working. could the remote start cause power problems if not installed right
. it was in car before i got it
If it was not installed properly, any number of things could happen. Unfortunately, I cannot diagnose or recommend a solution in this case without seeing the vehicle. I would take it to a local professional installer.
I have a 2007 dodge ram1500 4×4 I bought new. I got a viper remote start for Xmas and was wondering if it will void my life time power train warranty. Thanks in advance
A quality remote starter installed properly will not void your warranty. You are protected by the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act.
Hi Mitch:
Just a plug for remote car starters. I never had one until a few years ago. But now, I can’t live without it. Before I got my remote starter I used to just jump in the car and drive off, frosted windows and all. Now I still jump in and drive off, but my windows are clear and my vehicle is warm inside. I also use my remote starter in the summer months. With leather upholstery and the car in the hot summer sun all day, it is nice to get into the vehicle with it cooled down somewhat.
But what I don’t understand is why more vehicle manufacturers don’t offer remote start as an option with their vehicles. Like AC, once you have lived with remote start, you will want it for your driving lifetime.
Harvey… Thanks for the great testimonial for remote starters! I may use part of this in a future post! Everything you say is spot on! Remote starters can actually save a LOT of wear and tear on your motor simply for the reasons you point out. As for vehicle manufacturers installing them from factory…. For the sake of shops like mine, lets hope it stays that way for a few more years!
I have a Camry with the Smart Key and I’ve heard that I may have to get a copy made and programmed. I hope that is not the case because I really want a remote starter and to get an extra key fob, its $500!
Actually a GREAT question! I’m guessing that you have a 2011 or 2012 Camry… If that is the case then this myth is BUSTED! There are several companies that make add on modules that will make this a non-issue!
I have a bulldog deluxe 200B that the remote died on. Tech support at bulldog sold me a replacement remote that will not program and scnch up with my starter. Bulldog is not helping and i really need to know if there is an aftermarket place that sells universal transmitters or a place that can help me since bulldog’s customer is LOUSY. please help…i can’t live in the middle of a PA winter without my remote starter!!!
I wish that I would be able to help you… There isn’t a universal remote available and this is not the first time that I have been told about the quality of Bulldog’s customer service. I’m afraid that i do not have a solution for you.
Hi – I was wondering if remote starters would void my insurance policy if the car was stolen while it was “starting up?” I have also heard some states will ticket you if the car is unattended and running. What states do this?
Thanks!
I certainly cannot speak for your insurance company, but I have never heard of any company denying a claim because of a remote starter. If installed properly, you still need to put the key in and tap the break before driving away. As for the states ticketing you, I haven’t heard of this either.
if i remove a remote starter from a grand am can i install it in a ford focus?
You should be able to. You might need a different bypass and it is advisable that you purchase a new harness kit for the unit when having it installed. This way the wiring is able to be cut to the lengths needed in the newer vehicle.
I have a 2011 Lexus ES 350, the starter is not available from Lexus on is model. Can I get it installed after market? It won’t void the warranty will it? It’s a keyless entry.
We can definitely do this job for you and we will not void your warranty!
i have a 2009 honda accord while the car is running the remote is disable, can this be bypass so that the remote will unlock the door while the car is started with the remote starter, and also while the car is started with the remote starter is it running from power from the battery or the alternator.
This is a function of the factory keyless entry system. Many vehicles’ factory keyless entry systems shut down when the vehicle is started… There is not an easy “wiring” solution for this. What you want to do is to upgrade to a remote starter that has keyless entry functionality built into it. The remote starter interfaces with the vehicle in a way that it can lock and unlock regardless of the engine being running or not. What we do in many of these situations is to add the Compustar EZGO add on device. It is an RFID tag that goes on your keychain… When you are close to the vehicle it unlocks it regardless if the motor is running or not.
I have a 98 corolla a just recently bought a dei viper 2 way remote car starter and a universal by pass but people around me keep telling me it nt a good idea to out it on because they think that it will kill the battery or mess up the altenator
I cannot speak for the quality of that brand as I do not sell it. I can tell you that a quality remote starter that is installed by a professional (or at least professionally installed!) should not create any of those issues.
the chipped key for my 1999 ford mustang broke and i lost my chip but still got my key. instead of getting a new chip can i just get remote start installed.
We would highly recommend that you have a working key for any vehicle that you own. In most cases with fords, you will need at least one working key anyway to do the remote starter programming.
I had a remote starter installed last year by an A+ rated dealer, recently my battery died and my Honda dealer is trying to tell me that it was the remote start that caused the battery to die. They put in a new main fuse and that blew up on them. So they had my remote start uninstalled by the dealer who put it in and then said after that the car ran perfectly. Hogwash I say. They had to have it working to get it down to the dealer who installed it. I thank you for your article and I am going to contact the Federal Trade Commission. My honda dealer is also using the excuse of using out of market parts, it was not covered under my warrany. Again thank you for this article.
Glad we could be of help!
how do that remote started will know that the engine is already running to stop start it again and again,you know sometimes especially with diesel engines you need to start it repeatedly if it really cold outside,sorry for spelling Im hungarian element.
Will my insurance company cover something in case of an incident with the remote starter say it was to catch fire or something would they cover it also will a remote starter effect my battery and or my car stereo system?
There is no way that i can speak intelligently about what your insurance would or would not pay. A quality installation facility should have insurance to cover their workmanship. If it could be shown that the incident was caused by and installation related issue, I would guess that the shop’s insurance would come into play.
Also, a remote car starter should not negatively impact your audio system or vehicle battery in any way.
I have a 2012 Volvo xc60. Today I had a remote start installed and the removed from the dealership. They just started offering this. The reason I had them remove it was because when you unlocked the doors with the fob, the car shut off requiring an additional start up. This seemed stupid to me. I want to remote start, open the door, drive away. They told me due to the push button technology that shutting down when the doors open was a safety feature. I find this ludicrous. Your expert opinion please?
This can sometimes be the case. Without researching your vehicle, I would not know if there was a way around it or not. It you would like to stop in with your vehicle, we can look it over and see if we could provide a solution that would not require the vehicle to be shut off during the takeover procedure.
When I use my auto start it starts the car, and then I go out to the car, and push the break the car goes off, I start it with the key. Yes the engine is warm, but I just started my car twice, so I didn’t I just waste twice as much gas as if I had just gone out and started it with the key?
Than not as in that last sentance
It sounds like you are not doing it right. In most cases, you need to put the key in the ignition and turn it to the on position before you hit the break. This will prevent the vehicle from shutting off when you hit the brake…
I have an 06 Saturn Ion and on cold days my cars passlock system locks me out from starting my car its like the car thinks im stealing it. Well I have been thinking about getting a remote control starter for a couple of weeks but im not sure if this will help or hurt?
My educated guess is that it will not help or hurt…. It will continue to fail in cold weather even when remote starting. It is possible that the vehicle will be less sensitive to the Passlock Bypass than it is to the key, in which case, it may start more reliably… I would not buy the remote starter solely in hopes of improving your pre-existing issue.
Wow, you have had so many people ask you such great questions and I wish there was one about mine and then I wouldn’t have to bother you, but I am thinking of getting a AVITAL 5303L Security/Remote starter, but I have a 2006 salvaged title Acura MDX and I never know what can go wrong… Is this a good idea to get a starter put on or should I just leave it like it is?
Mercedes, I can’t think of any reason why it would be a bad idea. If you are comfortable with the vehicle and it is something you believe that you will keep for a while then I would say go for it!
Now what if I lost one of my remotes and the other one broke, my car has a chip so I was told I can’t get. New key or remote endless I go to dealer and they want 350 for replacement
If you are speaking about your aftermarket remote car starter remote, then you should be able to replace it. Inquire with the folks who installed it. As for the factory fob, that would be something that you would need to address at the dealer.