longest toyota remote start ever

I decided to do a remote start install into a 6 spd Toyota Tacoma Saturday in exchange for a trailer hitch for my STI. It was quite possibly the longest and scariest install ever. Everything with the starter went pretty smooth until it came to the clutch bypass. Every clutch bypass I have ever seen has always been either a ground or 12v + switch regardless of the ignition switch. I tested the switched and got a ground signal on one wire, and a ground signal on the other wire when the clutch was depressed. Perfect, simply hook up a relay to ground out this wire off the status output. I get everything programmed and finished up and try to remote start it... no go. So I check some connections and go to put it in ready mode again and now the truck won't start with the key... oh sh%*. The guy is sitting in the car watching me so that immediately makes my heart sink. I check all of the connections and verify that they are all still testing properly which tells me that is unlikely something has shorted. Checked all the fuses with my blu-point probe (computer/airbag safe) and it registers all fuses as being good.... now I'm really getting nervous. I go through every aspect of the truck for about 4-5 hours and still can't figure out what is going on. Finally I rebooted myself and started from scratch at the vehicle starter with a full wire diagram in front of me. Worked by way back and found that after all that, it was indeed a blown fuse... but it somehow still registered on my probe as being good. So I replaced the fuse and retested the clutch switch only to find out that the switch tests as a ground but once the ignition swtich is turned to the "crank" position it became 12v+.. which explained the fuse blowing. So thankfully it was nothing major, with the exception of keeping the poor guy almost 8 hours for a simple 1-2 hour install... and a hell of a near heart-attack for me. Esspecially since I do all this on the side and I don't have the backing of a store to fix any screw-ups. So moral of the story / lessons learned: 1. Test the clutch switch in all ignition switch positions to verify polarity. 2. Test all fuses with a DMM. Apparently the fuse had just enough contact to signal the probe led / beeper even though the fuse was blown. Sorry for the long story, but if I can help but 1 person by this "nightmare" then its all worth it.Kenny

Owner / Technician

KKD Garage LLC

Albany, NY 12205

No consolation I know but we've all been there, that silly problem caused by yourself that you can't think through. You did commit the cardinal sin though of having the customer near you.

As much as I'd love to not have them around, because I'm doing it on the side and in my own garage I can't use the old "due to insurance reasons...." lol. So if someone wants to watch its tough to just say "no, you can't watch me work on your car". I'm about 99% sure that had I been working on it by myself I probably would have found it a lot sooner because I would have been more calm and gone through the steps slower. But with the heart racing you tend to rush through everything. Hopefully next time the person won't want to watch... otherwise I may just have to find some way to tell them no..Kenny

Owner / Technician

KKD Garage LLC

Albany, NY 12205

That's what I meant old VW Polo (smaller Golf), a couple of years ago, insisted on actually sitting next to me, then complained about the solder fumes! And it was a Clifford AG4 which an uncle had obtained for him in the US, probably been on someone's shelf for 5 years. Probably the world's best made and most complex unit. I managed to confuse (Clifford's wiring) the black ground with the BLACK/ grey tach, I'd already picked up tach at the inst. panel, couldn't spot the error because by now I was panicking and re-ran the lead through the bulkhead to the coil, messed up the 556UW, is that possible? Had nightmares with the wipers at the switch, night light decided not to program, the window switches were pos at rest. I could have done the job in a third of the time on my own. Rule one, rid of the customer. Fourty years ago when I was working out of a workshop, we had the following sign up... Labour charges £10 per hr. If customer watches, £20 per hr. If customer helps, £30 per hr.

I've debated making up a sign like that. I understand that people want to watch to learn (not necessarily watch to make sure I do it right). But no matter how long you've been installing its always harder with someone watching over your shoulder. But on the other hand its tough to say "no, you cannot watch". If it were me in their shoes, I would think ok, why doesn't he want me watching... is he not going to do it correctly??? So thats why I try not to say no.Kenny

Owner / Technician

KKD Garage LLC

Albany, NY 12205

I try and tell them the truth, a) I get very nervous with someone watching me and mistakes happen. b) The job takes twice as long and they will be charged accordingly.

Yea, i'll probably just start telling them the truth and hope nobody takes it the wrong way. most of the people I do it for work on cars so they know the feeling... but some don't. oh well, if it means I lose a few starters then so be it.. but I think the risk of making a mistake while nervous isn't worth the starter. Especially since I have nothing to back me up if something were to ever go wrong.Kenny

Owner / Technician

KKD Garage LLC

Albany, NY 12205

good you figured it out. Ive been down that road too. Trouble shooting is no big deal, but when the customer is around that's when the panic sets in.Ted

2nd Year Tier 1 Medical School

Still installing as a hobby...pays for groceries

Compustar Expert

Or, you are doing an install on your sisters car, you run into a snag,(tach wire) and your brother-in-law keeps asking your every 20 min, "How's it going".When all else fails, Read the Instructions

Support the12volt.com Make a Donation

Actually my sister and brother in-law know better! They had absolutely interest in anything until the job was done. The interfering trouble couple in my family were my late parents! "Hows it going?" I hate that as much as the the newbies who come on to this site and open their posts with "So I" and I want to take them to an English language lesson! By the way my answer to those who want to watch and learn is "go and spend $10,000 on tools and hang around for three years".