561R-hood pin switch?

Installing a remote starter 561R in a 2004 Ford Ranger.Does the hoodpin switch have to be hooked up in order to get the remote to work? All wires hooked up,Ign 1,Start,Acc 1 and 2,constants,brake,ground from bypass and module,blue status wire,parking light wire.The remote wont do anything.What do I need to do? Thanks!

I would be sure the hood pin switch is hooked up, and also the brake shutdown wire. These are extremely important for safety reasons. I'm not sure about the Valet 561R, but most remote starter will not initialize until the hood pin switch is recognized. A lot of R/S's have a "safety mode" and require a certain sequence of things be done (such as raise the hood, press and hold the brake, close the hood, turn on the key, etc., etc., that must be followed in order to program the unit out of this "safety mode" before the unit will activate for the 1st time. Check your installation manual for the exact procedure and follow each step carefully. Also, for safety's sake - yours as well as others who may work on the vehicle or operate it, please make sure you connect the hood pin switch and make the brake wire connection properly so the unit will shut down if either the hood is raised or the brake is pressed while in remote start mode.The Badger

MOST RS units need the hood pin wire grounded for going into programming mode. Its a required safety system too. Install it immediately.

dei systems don't require the hood pin to be hooked up to go into programming.  There's a thin gauge BLACK/ white wire in the same harness as the hoodpin, tach, and brake shutdown wires.  Make sure you ground that wire otherwise the remote start will not engage.  Also you want to make sure that you program the tach signal first.Cause I'm So white and nerdy...

First Class Certi-fried installer

Hoodpin is an important safety item, and worth discussing...... but to answer your question---the unit will work without it---so if it's not working, that's not your problem. --Is the antenna connected? --Will the unit learn tach? --If you ground the activation input, will the car remote start?

The 04 Ranger uses the PATS system where if it doesn't see the code for the PATS, it will not even attempt to crank. You must use a universal or a PKF3 bypass module in order for the vehicle to start or even attempt to crank.Jeff

Velocity Custom Home Theater

Mobile Audio/Video Specialist

Morden, Manitoba CANADA

Did you ground the BLACK/ white wire? It must see ground or the remote start will do nothing. Either hook up the provided switch and turn it to on or ground the wire....Mike M2

Tech Manager

CS Dealer Services