First Alarm, 97 Honda Civic

Re tach wire...start the engine and simply test for tach at the alarm's brain...no continuity required because if you get the right reading, continuity is a given. Don't worry, give it another 20 years or so and we'll teach you how to do diagnostics.

Actually sorry for sounding so patronising, it's just that with things like diagnostic problem solving you need to A) Know what something is supposed to do. B) Know exactly how to test. C) Have some years of hands on test and repair.

I respect your experience, no need to apologize. Here are the results: 1) Removed the blue instant trigger, left in MTS mode, remote start failed. 2) Put the alarm in Auto mode, it worked! Reconnected trigger, remote start still worked! 3) Put back to MTS, relearn tach, remote start fail! rewired the tach wire straight to the distributor, remote start still fails! not sure where else to look. All of the required connections are making good connection. I did notice something different; The "stick shift/remote enabled" icon appeared. The manual indicates when this is on, remote start can be used. But at the end of the process, the remote outputs "remote start off." It did just error out this time around...

If it works in "auto" mode but doesn't work in "manual" mode why would you assume tach? The tach had to be connected properly, otherwise it wouldn't have started in "auto" mode! If it simply won't start in manual mode you need to look at the things that are specific to manual mode. Parking brake, door trigger, etc. Make sure you are following the instructions precisely on arming the manual mode. If you skip a step or do them out of order it won't work.Kevin Pierson

Oh...duh... I'm going to quadruple check the connections now. Mind you that all other electronics are taken apart as well. There aren't any heater/ac/def controls and no radio. Not sure what difference that will make. Thanks for all of your input.

I'm feeling kind of stupid and here's why.... My "new version" Python 991 has it's own owners manual, that I just found in the box. I was following online manuals for the "older" Python 991. The MTS remote procedure is totally different from each other (new to old). Here's how it worked...I did the MTS procedure, again the "new" way, and I was able to remote start it successfully. I disarmed the car, put the key to ON, press the brake, relays go off/on, then my remote says REMOTE START OFF. I turn off the car step outside, then try to remote start again. It fails. Am I supposed to do the MTS procedure every time I step out of the car if I want to remote start it the next time I decide to drive it? I don't have a problem with it, I just want to understand that I've got this to work the way it should. EDIT: But here's the MOST annoying part. After performing the MTS procedure, they (DEI) instruct you to get out of your vehicle, and CLOSE the door, which is fine and dandy. But after you've successfully completed this procedure, All of the relays get activated....including the DOME LIGHT SUPERVISION relay which stays ON after you get out of the car. So you have to wait until that relay shuts off BEFORE you press the lock button to fully enable MTS mode, otherwise, MTS mode will FAIL. And there's probably not a way around this one....I'm almost inclined to leave it on Auto mode and change it whenever I Valet or if I'm not the driving it. But like I said, I would like to know if this procedure has to completed All of the time. Or is there a memory issue with my unit?

Loose the dome light supervision. Or something is wrong with your wiring, I've never known domelight supervision to stay on during remote start manual prep, in other words, once you exit the vehicle with engine running, shut the door and activate the alarm, doors lock, engine shuts down, walk away, then provided nothing triggers the alarm you should be able to turn on the remote start at will. I'd be looking at the door/hood triggers.

The purpose of the manual transmission mode is to prove to the brain that the car isn't in gear so that the car can be started safely. Therefore, you have to do it every time. I'm with Howie, something doesn't seem right with the dome light.Kevin Pierson

Okay, So I'm right about having to do the MTS procedure everytime I want to remote start the car the next I drive it.

The domelight relay is connected to the door trigger(-) on the car. The alarm door trigger input (-) is also connected to the cars door trigger wire. Maybe this is a problem?

During MTS mode, the car flashes 5 times, just like the manual states. But after that 5th blink, and half a second later, the dome light triggers on. I'm thinking I may need to install diodes on the domelight and door trigger?

Here is a visual of how my expert wiring looks like. The green is the door trigger from the alarm.

Doesn't dome light supervision go through a relay? In that case diodes are unnecessary. The fact that the dome light comes on during remote start points to either bad wiring or a faulty switch, the dome light supervision should ONLY work on de-activating the alarm, nothing to do with the remote start sequence. This is G4/5 Clifford but it's effectively the same:- Engine running parking brake on. Press the button that controls remote start manual supervision. Remove key and exit the vehicle, engine should still be running. Shut the door(s), turn on alarm, doors will lock, windows should close if a window closer present, engine will shut down after 1-4 seconds.