favorite remote starter?
Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Security and Convenience
Forum Discription: Car Alarms, Keyless Entries, Remote Starters, Immobilizer Bypasses, Sensors, Door Locks, Window Modules, Heated Mirrors, Heated Seats, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=126274
Printed Date: May 17, 2024 at 9:03 PM
Topic: favorite remote starter?
Posted By: alarep5
Subject: favorite remote starter?
Date Posted: February 23, 2011 at 12:27 PM
I know this question has been asked on every one of these forms by companies or individuals that want to get into the biz, but I need whatever advise I can get.
I have been installing Astro for the last 10 years and i have been bugged by buddy to come to his truck accy shop to install.
But around my area my local Astro dealer syas no, " area is to saturated"
So I am wondering what brand to take on.
I have a good "autostart" supplier ready to set me up, but I want to check out everyone.
viper, compustar etc.
I have gotten used to Astros "dip switch" programming and hesitate when I i think about learning the other brands switch and transmitter programming.
Since it is all Directed Elec now, are the other brands using dip switches also? ------------- OLDSCHOOL - If the wire is there,...use it.
Replies:
Posted By: kreg357
Date Posted: February 23, 2011 at 1:04 PM
Here's my two cents...
Compustar is a solid unit. No DIP switches but very easy to program with the OP500 Option Programmer ( about $80 ). The OP500 can connect at the antenna harness so access is easy. Compustar units ( CM5x00 and CM6x00 ) use iDatalink Blade cartridges or iDatalink and Fortin (external) modules, which are excellent. ------------- Soldering is fun!
Posted By: Twelvoltz
Date Posted: February 23, 2011 at 5:29 PM
Most of your brand name security manufacturers, DEI, Compustar, Audiovox, Omega, etc are good. Quality of product is rarely an issue, quality of installation is the single biggest factor in my opinion. Personally, I have had very good luck with DEI products, no dip switches and they also have their own programmer, the BitWriter. Inexpensive and reliable...but if market saturation is a concern, DEI is not the way to go as they are everywhere. As far as bypass modules are concerned, Idata has proven second to none for me.
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Installer, IT support, and FFL. I need less hobbies.
Posted By: cjanke
Date Posted: February 23, 2011 at 7:16 PM
I have sold and installed them all in my 15 years in the buisness. The brand I prefer and use is audiovox prestige and code alarm. The market is not overly saturated the quality is great the tech support is good. I would HIGHLY recommend them to anyone. I use prestige as my step piece and code as my entry level. They have the car link and the bypass modules are made by Idata. So you have something to compete with every Dei product.
Posted By: barbc
Date Posted: February 23, 2011 at 9:33 PM
have a 1997 Ford expedition with a astroflex 1105 installed. Haven't used it for years since a button fell off the remote unit. The battery on the expedition needed to be charged, my husband put a trickle charger on it and now we can't engage the ignition. We read the manual for the Astroflex and it said we should have turned off the switch under the dash. Too late. Now what? My husband removed the Astroflex box completely and still we can't start it? Help snow is on it's way and it's our only 4 wheel drive
barbc
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barbc
Posted By: howie ll
Date Posted: February 24, 2011 at 8:16 AM
Barb, find the starter wire, bet that's been cut on ignition switch loom and not rejoined.
Twelvoltz, X 2 with your comments or lately not properly reading the by-pass instructions.
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Amateurs assume, don't test and have problems; pros test first. I am not a free install service.
Read the installation manual, do a search here or online for your vehicle wiring before posting.
Posted By: howie ll
Date Posted: February 24, 2011 at 8:18 AM
Barb the colour of the cut wire is RED / light blue.
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Amateurs assume, don't test and have problems; pros test first. I am not a free install service.
Read the installation manual, do a search here or online for your vehicle wiring before posting.
Posted By: barbc
Date Posted: February 24, 2011 at 8:29 AM
Thanks for the suggestion about the cut wire but no one cut anything. fyi wish we were pros believe me. We called a sound shop and the tech told us to unplug all of the wires to the box and take it out. We did that but something is still powering? The theft light is on and we cant start it or take it out of park. My effort in asking you pros is to try to solve a problem not be a problem. If you have anybody knows any more about this please help.
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barbc
Posted By: cjanke
Date Posted: February 24, 2011 at 9:07 PM
not being able to get the truck out of park would not be related to the theft light being on. Also if the pats system is tripped the light would be flashing very rapdily. It id very possible that this issue is not remote stat or alarm related. Does the key turn in the ignition? If you cant take it out of park that is most likely a mechanical issue not electrical.
Posted By: howie ll
Date Posted: February 25, 2011 at 12:29 AM
X 2 with the last post, I simply thought it wouldn't start.
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Amateurs assume, don't test and have problems; pros test first. I am not a free install service.
Read the installation manual, do a search here or online for your vehicle wiring before posting.
Posted By: KarTuneMan
Date Posted: February 28, 2011 at 11:20 AM
x3..... on the mechanical NOT electrical comment.... The astro unit should have had a built in starter interupt relay. On the biggest harness the unit has, there "might be" a dark blue, and a light blue heavy wires.... cut those from the harness and solder (or butt connect them... what ever you have) and try the starter.
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Posted By: howie ll
Date Posted: February 28, 2011 at 11:31 AM
By the way Barb's post which hijacked another thread originally stated "car won't start".
So everyone but Barb who moaned about me being the problem is quite right.
Barb get your husband to actually look under the dash for the starter cut or have the fuses checked properly with a meter or better still have a local pro look at this.
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Amateurs assume, don't test and have problems; pros test first. I am not a free install service.
Read the installation manual, do a search here or online for your vehicle wiring before posting.
Posted By: cjanke
Date Posted: February 28, 2011 at 7:42 PM
Finally someone said it. Back to the original question. I have used a couple ultra starts lately and they have been preety good. But code alarm and prestige are still my favorite. I will never go back to dei. There better options out there for less. Lets face it we are all in it to make money.
Posted By: phil6710
Date Posted: February 28, 2011 at 9:55 PM
My best recomedation would be the Compustar cs 600s. It is a very inexspensive keyless start unit. It is programable with the option programer. Most distributers will give it to you at no cost if you become a dealer. This is a good unit for your common install. Most R/S installs the shops I install for are for keyless and start only. We sell this starter 90% of the time. Very few alarm/start combos.
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Solartech Window Tinting and Electronics,contract installer
Posted By: tedmond
Date Posted: March 01, 2011 at 12:59 AM
i would say compustar hands down, but i have messed with a few ultrastarts, and they are very good + cheap to buy. compustar is pricey on the other hand.
i have had my hit and miss with DEI, but they are good products when they work. code/avox i find extremely hard to install/program.
you can always get good products at cheaper prices if you buy the sub-brand ie compustar(firstech) will cost the most, whereas arctic start will be 60 dollar less. Same brain, parts, remotes just badged differently.
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Ted
2nd Year Tier 1 Medical School
Still installing as a hobby...pays for groceries
Compustar Expert
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