2008 dodge ram remote start

UPS tracking site shows my new Python Responder One remote starter, Fortin EVO-CHR interface, and Fortin THARN-CHR2 wiring harness arriving today. So, a few questions.

From everything I can gather on the Fortin website, this should basically be a plug-n-play installation. T-harness to the ignition harness and EVO-CHR, data-to-data cable from the EVO-CHR to the RS unit, and an antenna to the RS unit. I'll need to add a pin switch to the hood as my truck doesn't have one, and I'm assuming possibly power and ground to the EVO-CHR and/or RS unit? Parking lights could be an issue but from what I've read I can get to the factory relay under the hood for that?

Has anyone used the Fortin EVO-CHR on this year (or similar), make and model of truck? This all just seems way too easy! The video on the Fortin website showing the install of an EVO-CHR on an '09 Dodge Journey (or maybe it was a caliber) looks amazingly simple. I didn't see the installer do anything but plug that T-harness in at the column and in about 4 minutes he had lock/unlock and remote start working. If it's this easy I'll be thoroughly impressed!

Any advice from the pros would be appreciated - I used to be an installer but that was over 15 years ago and this is the first RS I've done in awhile.

Thanks!

It is that easy !! Plug and play for the module to control the SKIM and all convenience features and just hardwire power, ground, ignition and hood pin. Everything else is done via the EVO-CHR. With the harness and the module we can do a 2008-2009 Caravan in less than 20 minutes.

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Jeff
Velocity Custom Home Theater
Mobile Audio/Video Specialist
Morden, Manitoba CANADA

Well maybe not quite as easy as I thought. The Python (DEI) RS unit D2D protocol (and connector) are not compatible with the Fortin EVO-CHR. This according to a Fortin tech.

So, I'm left with 3 options. Hardwire the EVO-CHR to the RS without using data-link, exchange EVO-CHR for the DEI CHALL interface, or exchange the Python RS for something compatible with the EVO-CHR. I'm leaning toward the latter as the retailer I purchased everything from sells Compustar and according to the Fortin tech that unit should be compatible. Furthermore, the DEI CHALL interface is hard to find other than on eBay.

Any other suggestions?

try and get your hands on a adaptor cable, that will allow idatalink and fortin bypasses work with DEI products

Is there such a thing? There's actually a 4-wire harness with the DEI unit with bare wires. If I knew which wire did which on each unit I could wire the data link between Fortin and DEI units that way.

Any idea what the correct wiring would be on the D2D cable? DEI unit is 4-wire blue, orange, purple, pink. Fortin D2D cable is also 4-wire...white, blue, black, red. The plugs are different but I can just splice the 4 wires on the 2 different data-link harnesses if someone knows which colors match up with which.

OK, having trouble with this install and I'm sure I've just got a wire or 2 not connected or connected improperly. Here's what I've done so far:

EVO-CHR connected to Immobilizer harness at column using THARN-CHR2 harness for a 2008 Dodge Ram. EVO-CHR programmed to vehicle.

Blue (-) status output from RS to blue (-) while running input on EVO-CHR

Violet/white tach input on RS to pink tach output on on EVO-CHR

Brown (+) brake shutdown to orange brake status on EVO-CHR

Grey hood pin shutdown on RS to hood pin

Black ground on RS to ground on vehicle

Both red 12V inputs on RS to constant 12V source on vehicle

Pink ignition output on RS to yellow ignition input on EVO-CHR

Purple starter output on RS to light blue/black starter input on EVO-CHR

Blue unlock on RS to PURPLE / white unlock on EVO-CHR

Green lock on RS to purple lock on EVO-CHR

EVO-CHR manual states no wiring to be done at 5-pin connector at steering column unless a starter wire is present. That should be a GREEN/ YELLOW wire and it's not there. Having said that, does that mean I shouldn't tap the PURPLE / brown wire in that same harness? They show the WHITE/ black MUX wire from the EVO-CHR going to the PURPLE / brown MUX wire in the column harness in the diagram but they show it with a very light gray dashed line and then state no connections in that harness if no starter wire is present.

Antenna is plugged in, so is the momentary pushbutton programming button.

Any help would be appreciated - I know I'm missing something here! Thanks!

I'm sure I'm missing something

https://ifar.ca/download/1963/evo-chr_installation_guide.rev-i.pdf

Page 7 is the diagram that you should be using is your using the Python RS and no RS232.

WHITE/ BLACK from the EVO goes the the VIOLET/BROWN MUX wire at the ignition switch.

Make sure that you follow the programming instructions exactly.

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Jeff
Velocity Custom Home Theater
Mobile Audio/Video Specialist
Morden, Manitoba CANADA

It was the BLACK/ white neutral safety wire from the RS that I was missing. They show it wired a couple of ways, not sure which way is correct for my 08 Dodge Ram. As long as that wire is resting at ground, it fires right up every time. Any suggestions on which is the correct way to wire that on this vehicle? Not sure why that wire needs a switch...if the truck has a factory starter interrup for anything other than Park or Neutral, can it just be wired to ground? What is the function of the switch? The last RS I did (a very basic Avital several years back) had a "valet override" switch that basically let you deactivate the RS system via that switch. Is this the same function now?

Kinda what I figured, that I could just ground that wire...I installed the switch anyway and will use it for "valet mode". All safety checks complete, RS is working reliably, only things left are parking light output and rear defrost output. Those can wait until spring - it was about 2 degrees above zero today and the Mega Cab won't fit in the garage with the door closed so I'm done for now. At least I don't have to go outside to start it anymore!

Thanks to all for your help!