05 ram, remote starter, what's missing?

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slow eddie

Member - Posts: 4

Joined: August 09, 2008

Location: California, United States

Posted: August 09, 2008 at 10:05 PM / IP Logged

I just bought an '05 hemi Ram quad cab on Thursday and dropped it off at the installer for an alarm with remote start (Crimestopper CS2014 DP II TW2). After having the truck for 9 hours I went to pick it up when it was "finished".

The first thing I noticed was that the remote start worked, meaning it started the vehicle, but the interior accessories didn't work (stereo, windows, AC). They told me they would fix it the following day.

Fast forward to today. They screwed with it a bit and got the radio to work when remote started, but the AC and windows still don't work. The fan motor runs but the AC doesn't kick on. The snow flake light on the dash is off. Even if you manually push the snow flake button while the vehicle is running via remote start it still doesn't kick on. It works as it should when key started. This leads me to believe they are missing an accessory wire somewhere.

The install shop is telling me that with a remote start, on my particular vehicle, that the AC won't kick on by itself when the vehicle is started, and thats just the way it is. I think that is a line of BS. Either they can't figure out what they did wrong, or they choose not to do it right.

All I know is that I didn't pay a bunch of money for a remote start system in this 105 degree desert for the AC not to work when remote started. Thats the whole freakin point of it in the first place.

In short, does anyone have any experience with a remote starter on an 05 Ram? And more importantly, does your AC work? I'm assuming it does. Can any of you installers out there venture a guess as to the problem?

Help me please. What are they neglecting to do to make this thing work like it should? They have one more chance to make it right before I ask for a refund.

This site is awesome by the way. Definitely an incredible resource of information.

Eddie

i am an idiot

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Joined: September 21, 2006

Location: Louisiana, United States

Posted: August 09, 2008 at 10:11 PM / IP Logged

This vehicle has 3 ignition wires that need to be powered.

https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp~TID~54234

Chris Luongo

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Joined: May 21, 2002

Location: Massachusetts, United States

Posted: August 10, 2008 at 9:28 AM / IP Logged

No reason at all for the air conditioner not to work on that truck when remote started.

If the shop refuses to do the job correctly, I'd try to get them to remove it, refund your money, and go somewhere else. If you paid by credit card, file a dispute with them if necessary.

In my opinion, it's better to leave the radio circuit unpowered during remote start. You won't wake up your neighbors, you won't lose your place on a CD or cassette.

Also, that same wire powers up the windshield wipers. If you park the car and forget the wipers on, and then remote start later, you'd be dragging the wipers across a dry (or worse, frozen) windshield.

But, if it's OK with you, it's just fine to leave the radio wire powered up as it is now.

I just did a Ram (not sure exactly what year, but similar to yours) the other day. If I remember right, I did it like this:

Ignition 1: pink/light green (powers up the engine, fuel pump, spark plugs, and so forth)

Ignition 2: pink/white: (transmission makes funny noises if you don't power this wire)

Accessory 1: thick blue wire (blower motor for climate controls)

Accessory 2: pink / YELLOW: If you don't power this wire, the ABS and BRAKE warning lamps will stay on during remote start.

I did test it out afterward, and the AC worked fine.

slow eddie

Member - Posts: 4

Joined: August 09, 2008

Location: California, United States

Posted: August 10, 2008 at 10:49 AM / IP Logged

Thanks Idiot and Chris for the help.

I'm not hung up on the stereo and windows working during a remote start, I just figured their non functioning would serve as a clue to solving the problem.

My guess is that the Accessory 2: pink / YELLOW wire is not powered in my vehicle, since I did notice the ABS and BRAKE warning lights on during a remote start until I put the key in. This is probably the same wire that powers the air conditioning and other interior accessories. The wiring schematic shows 2 different gauge pink / YELLOW wires. The 10 gauge for the windows and the 14 gauge for the second accessory. If both were powered I bet everything would work.

Now how do I go about powering this wire? Do I just run another relay in series with the relay that powers the Accessory 1: thick blue wire? My alarm has a gray wire coming from the brain for the high current accessories, is this what needs to be used for the dark blue as well as the pink / YELLOW?

Thanks for the help.

Eddie

slow eddie

Member - Posts: 4

Joined: August 09, 2008

Location: California, United States

Posted: August 11, 2008 at 10:31 AM / IP Logged

I verified today that the ABS and BRAKE warning lights come on when remote started, although they immediately go out once the key is turned. I also noticed that the valet switch wasn't mounted, its just hanging there. I have been busy at work and haven't had time to take the vehicle back, but I will some time this week.

Eddie

Chris Luongo

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Joined: May 21, 2002

Location: Massachusetts, United States

Posted: August 11, 2008 at 3:20 PM / IP Logged

Ah ok, so yeah, those two warning lights coming on during remote start are a good sign that the correct pink / YELLOW isn't being powered during remote start.

You could either A: configure a relay to output accessory power, as you said, and connect it to the correct pink / YELLOW in the truck, or:

Disconnect the pink / YELLOW that's hooked up now, and move that accessory output over to the other, correct, pink / YELLOW. You'll lose the radio/wipers/windows during remote start, but the ABS and BRAKE lamps will go out, and the AC should work too.

TIP: If you (or your installer) are testing the two pink / YELLOW wires for power, one wire (radio) will show power in the ACC and RUN positions, while the other (necessary) wire will show power in RUN only.

P.S. I wouldn't be surprised if this shop you're dealing with would take additional shortcuts while you're not looking, such as jumping various wires (of the truck) together, to save the time/cost of a relay.

When the install is done, move the key to ACC and verify that ONLY the radio comes on (no heater or dash lights), and also verify that the heater and radio shut off when moving the key to the Start position.

VALET SWITCH: The valet switch is for various purposes: 1, programming replacement remotes, 2, reprogramming features (runtime, automatic doorlocks, etc), 3, putting the alarm in valet mode for parking or repairs, and 4, disarming the alarm when the remote is lost or broken.

Especially for 4, you need to know where the button is, so you don't get stuck anywhere.

I could see the idea of hiding the switch, both so thieves can't find it so easily, and to have fewer holes drilled in your interior.......but it should still be placed somewhere neat (such as behind a fusebox cover), and the installer should show you where it is.

If it's just dangling there under the dash, well, that doesn't sound very professional.

NOTE: On a basic remote starter, we often tie the valet switch somewhere inconspicuous, because the customer doesn't need it, it's just for programming new remotes or changing the runtime.

But since you said you have an alarm too, you definitely need to have it available to you.

KarTuneMan

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Joined: December 14, 2004

Location: Isle Of Man

Posted: August 11, 2008 at 7:50 PM / IP Logged

Power the second ign. (pink/white) with ground while running thru a relay, (so it's fired BEFORE first ign.) this in conjunction with powering the correct

accs. wire (small pink / YELLOW) should take care of the ABS light.

slow eddie

Member - Posts: 4

Joined: August 09, 2008

Location: California, United States

Posted: August 12, 2008 at 8:23 AM / IP Logged

Thanks guys.

I haven't gone back yet, but I will the end of this week. At least now I have some knowledge of what they need to fix it. If they don't want to fix it I'll just reverse the charges on my credit card and either take it somewhere else or fix it myself. I hate being like that but clearly I haven't gotten what I paid for. It sad to think I spent $2500 with this place on my Durango, you would think they would want to keep me as a customer.

Its hard to find a good shop around here. Every where I've been to so far either sells junk equipment for ridiculous amounts and does a half ass job, or just does a half ass job.

Eddie

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05 ram, remote starter, what's missing?

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