'99 Ford Escort ZX2, Viper 130XV

Hi all new to the forums, but have been browsing trying to get some help with a problem i am having.

Had a Viper 130XV Remote Starter installed in my automatic '99 Ford Escort ZX2.

First problem was that on most occasions, when i started the remote starter it would turn itself off after anywhere between 30 seconds to one minute. Took it back to the installer and he said he "changed the voltage" which fixed it.

Now whilst still at the shop i tried the starter and the car "turned on" radio, air con, lights etc.. came on, but the engine wouldnt turn over. I turned it on with the key, drove home, and tested the starter and it seemed fine, and wasnt turning itself off after 1 minute woo hoo !

In the morning i woke up, got ready for work, and pushed the starter. Again ! everything in the car turned on EXCEPT the motor would not turn over and start ! So when i got to work tried again and of course it worked fine.

Now i am not too up to play with car electronics, so i will be taking it back to the installer, but it would help if any of you have any tips i can relay to him. The way i see it, it won't start when its cold now (i didnt have the same problem when i first got the starter, just the fact it was turning itself off way too quick)

Now i AM up in Canada of course and we do get some cold weather, but this morning it was only -1 (Celcius) and it should be able to operate at far colder than this (otherwise im screwed when it gets to -50 !)

Any ideas guys? Like i said i wouldnt know how to fix it myself, but ive been back and forth to the installer so much that if they cant fix it perfectly this next time then im going to get it pulled out and my money back and take my business elsewhere (and perhaps get a different brand of starter?? I chose Viper due to the name and warranty but its been nothing but grief so far)

Thanks !

thanks guys, bear with me as i am new to this.

Anyway it turned over fine this morning, temperature was 2 above (Celcius)

So not sure why it wouldnt start yesterday. Maybe it won't start if its been sitting for too long or it wont start if its any colder than it is today.

Just out of interests sake, is there any way i can tell whether its in "tach" mode or "voltage" mode ? Do you think due to the fact the installer had to "change the voltage" for the first problem i was having means its in voltage mode? Would this be difficuilt for him to change over it if is in the wrong mode? Wonder if there is a reason if he put it in the wrong mode. im not entirely sure of the difference though.

ok thanks for all the input guys, much appreciated. Its been fine all weekend so don't know if the case is closed or not. Definately the problem with it stopping itself within a minute of turning it on has not happened again. And niether has the second problem of the motor not turning over but everything else starting like lights, air con. etc..

He is meant to call me back on Monday so i might just continue to monitor it and take it back if it happens again. I will also ask him about the "tach vs voltage" question.

If anyone has time could i get a quick explanation of the difference between the two?

Again, a great community here, lots of great help, really appreciate it.

Your Tim's will be on your bench this morning Gus!. And if I recall I was busy on Sat too. Thanks for all the input guys and Nufan be expecting a call before lunch to get your car in and fixed up.

hey guys im sorry to bring up this old thread but im still having some problems with my Viper as stated above.

Have been back a few times to the installer and they have tried lots of stuff. I still am having a couple of problems.

1) It still seems to refuse to start when it gets a little cold. When plugged in the starter will start the car without fail. I understand when its REALLY cold that the car needs to be plugged in but this morning it was only -6 and the starter was a no go. It tries to crank over, everything in the car turns on (lights, radio etc.) but the car doesnt start. The "brains" have already been replaced.

2) Since it has been installed, i have noticed a wierd thing happening with the red light on my dashboard for the emergency brake (handbrake light, whatever u wanna call it). It lights up as if you have the handbrake on even though of course you don't. It happens when you accelerate off the mark pretty much until you take the foot off the gas. It seems to happen more when you have started the car with the remote starter and then put the key in rather than actually starting the car with the key. This is a strange one and the only reason i bring it up here is because it has never done this until the remote starter was installed.

Hope this makes sense, trying to narrow things down so can call installer back again and try get this sorted out.

He says the problem happens when also starting with the key says it seems to do it more when started with the remote start.

I would check brake fluid its easy to check.

again thanks for the input. I checked the brake fluid and it about 3/4 full between LOW and MAX. I haven't noticed the brake light coming on lately though on the last 3-4 drives so not sure if this problem has just dissapeared or not?

Also with the car not wanting to remote start when it gets a little cool, could this be anything with the car itself? ie. the anitfreeze or something?