Remote starter experience?

[firefighter]

My wife wants a remote starter installed on our (cough) Miniven.
Something about getting into a cold vehicle in sub zero temps. 

I've never had one before and was wondering if anyone had any experience with them.
Do you like a certain brand?
Do you dislike a certain brand?

Any helpful advice before I buy would be appreciated.

Thank you.

[DustyRusty]

I have one in my 94 Silverado.  IIRC, it is a early-model 'Viper'.  It  works great 'cause it is a simple unit.  IDK if it's made any longer.  It is not effective for more than 100 ft. or so.  At the time it was installed they were only available for vehicles w/ auto trans.

There are lots newer models w/ effective ranges of a quarter mile or more (or so they claim).  And they can now be installed in vehicles w/ manual trans.  However, I have no experience w/ the new, more modern units.  Others will chime in.

Rusty

[VileZambonie]

I hate remote starters and don't believe in them. If you use one on a M/T equipped ride it's even worse. I've refused every install request and always will.

[Da67goatman]

Agreed. If your too lazy to go out and start your own car, deal with the cold.

[zieg85]

My wife found her latest car, a 2006 Buick Lucerne and it was one of the options.  I wouldn't purposely go and buy one but I will tell you what, it sure is nice.   It also has heated seats and they turn on when the remote started is used, it was a nice treat.

[firefighter]

I hate remote starters and don't believe in them.

You hate them because...... They cause problems? They cost too much? They never work?

You don't believe in them because...... They never had them 30 years ago? They're new age technology? They mess with the factory wiring? 

Why don't you guys like them? Give me reasons.
If it's the fact that you think it makes a person lazy to use one, how many of you use remotes for your TV's?
How many of you use cell phones instead of stopping at a pay phone to make a call?
It's convenience.

The fact is, my wife is looking for a remote starter so she doesn't have to go out into the cold to pre-start the car to get it warmed up for her and the kids if they've been in somewhere for a while during the winter. At home she has a heated garage to park in.
"If you're too lazy to go out and start your own car, deal with the cold" ?   This is for the woman who puts up with me for hours on end working out in the garage and spending thousands of dollars on a truck rebuild and I can't spend a couple hundred bucks on her for a little comfort?
Give me a break.

I'm all ears with answers to my original post.
Thanks guys.

[thirsty]

I don't like them because when hacked in they can cause mystery problems down the road. My buddy sells them and installs them at his shop. I don't know the brand he uses but I do know that he only uses one brand and he is the only person in his shop that puts them in. This time of year he usually does one a day, most of the time it is after hours so he has no distractions.

[velojym]

I have one in my HHR from the factory, but I've only really used it once to startle some kid who was peering into the window in town.
I don't like to start the engine until I'm strapped in and otherwise ready to roll.

[bake74]

     I don't think any shop will install a remote start in a M/T vehicle, it is too dangerous because you would have to leave it in neutral all the time, auto's you always leave in park.
     That being said, everyone in my family in Michigan use them on their automatics, there is not much difference in brands, in my opinion get a simple one that starts the car, and tell your wife to leave the heater on when she parks it, that way it will be warm when she gets into it.

[firefighter]

Thanks for all the replies. I appreciate you all taking the time to respond.

Yeah, the vehicle in question has an automatic trans and I'll have the local shop install it. They've been putting them in for years.
As someone mentioned, I don't want phantom electrical problems because of some shoddy installation.

Thanks again.

[heavychevy91]

I work on many cars that have aftermarket alarms or remote start systems installed and the majority of them seem to be a hack job install, that is what tends to cause problems with the systems. Most of the time when they tie into factory wiring they use scotchloks. Not the best IMHO. Personally I HATE working on cars with aftermarket systems. However I have seen a select few what were actually good quality installs.

Another thing to think about is the age of the vehicle. The reason i say this is many aftermarket alarms or remote start systems void manufactures warranty. There have been several cases at work when replacement of a module should be covered under warranty but was denied due to aftermarket equipment.

If you were to get one installed take it to a reputable shop known to do good quality installs. Also see if they offer any kind of warranty along with their system.

You said your van was automatic, on a side note IIRC it is illegal to have a remote start system installed on a vehicle with a manual trans. This is because the clutch safety switch needs to be bypassed in order for the remote start to work. As you can imagine this would be bad if the vehicle was left in gear.

I dont know that I would want a remote start on any of my cars, but I can understand why others would. Again if you can find a good shop known to do good work. I would say go for it.

[HAULIN IT]

Vile, Thirsty & Heavy saved me a bunch of typing! Likewise, I've been involved in towing MANY vehicles with alarms/remote starters that wouldn't run/start. The only way I would own a vehicle with one would be either a factory install or a complete plug-in deal without all of the hacking.
I took apart a Honda van some years ago that had a key, wrapped with bare wire  electrical taped INSIDE the steering column plastic cover to make the transponder system work...Imagine after some time of the vehicle sitting out in the sun & the tape gave out?
 I have NO patients for the "electronic hacks". It appears from what I've seen, the dealers don't either...I've seen several cases on nearly brand new cars (read: still under warranty) where it was "A complete new harness all on your wallet or tow it back to the hack that ruined it." Lorne 
   

[VileZambonie]

I've yet to see a quality install on any of these types of systems. The aftermarket crap people buy usually comes from eBay or some fly by night company.

There are so many reasons to dislike these. For a Manual Trans, that's just common sense. Most who have installed them have ended up with a disaster. One guy I know sent his Honda for a ghost ride and totalled it.

An automobile is a dangerous machine - You should be in it when you operate it -including starting it. We had a Tahoe on a lift with no oil in it and the customer must have hit the start button from the waiting area. Luckily no one had their hands near any of the rotating parts but nevertheless his engine ran for a bit with no oil in it. Anything that can incidentally cause an engine to crank puts people at risk. Carbon Monoxide is toxic and what if you forget to open the garage door? I could go on and on.... You either love them or you hate them I guess.

[firefighter]

Very good safety points Vile.
I never thought about what could happen if someone hit the remote starter while the mechanic was working on it. This along with other hazardous starts. That is certainly a safety concern.

I would never install a remote starter on a manual transmission vehicle. No matter how you tell yourself it would never happen, it's gonna happen.

I'm most likely going to have one of these starters installed for my wife. I'll just do my homework and read reviews on what brand is a good brand and have it installed by a qualified, reputable installer.

Again, thank you all for your input. I appreciate the discussion and feedback.