viper 5301, anyone?

The 5301 is pretty similar to the viper systems of past. The viper systems for this year now all feature onboard relay packs. So no more ribbon cables and satellite relay packs for the all in one systems. This system also offers the use of a 'Flex relay.' Basically it is the standard second ign out, although it can be programmed to be 2nd accy or 2nd starter. It also offers a 87a for the flex relay, though I've yet to have a use for it. This system offers an 87a for the parking light output for isolated parking light circuits, which speeds things along for PkL circuits that need to be isolated from the switch (IE rest @ ground). The system offers a new voltage sense technology called virtual tach which is supposed to be much better than the conventional voltage sense, although I play it safe and hook up tach anyway. Why not. It only takes what another 2 minutes? Also has the capibility to dock the New XK modules directly to the unit, but we use the older ones so I can't say whether or not this is any good. If you have a bit writer this system will require you to upgrade the CMOS of your bit writer. Good luck and any more questions I'd be glad to help.

About the XK531. I happen to like this bypass mod, although I know a bunch of installers who hate it. Some advice, when programming the unit it may be easier to crack the box open and hold the transponder up the the cylinder. I find this to be much easier than trying to program it via the induction loop.

i bought the viper 5301 2way remote and had it installed in a 1998 honda crv - it worked at first, but then when it was very cold, it would shut off fairly quickly - took it in and they reset it from "virtual tach" to tach (the tach wire had previously been hooked up) two things then happened after that- about 30 mins after picking it up, an electrical burn smell appeared in the car - turns out the dashboard light dimmer had burned out - was this a coincidence? could it have been related to simply resetting the 5301 from virtual tach to tach? i noted that even with the dimmer switch burned out, when the 5301 is activated, the dashboard lights come on initially, so it must be delivering initial current in a separate circuit to the unit as well as to the ignition thE second thing is now the engine doesn't stay on after activation - it cycles on and off about every minute or so does this indicate the need for it to use the voltage instead of the tach? if it turns out to not be defective unit (or install), what might be a solution? thanks

gunn1, I have the 5301 sitting in front of me. However, I'm leaning towards the 5501, as it has a 1-mile range. If you need any info on the 5301 just ask. Also, let me know how the range is, if you get it installed in the next few days.

dued, this indicates an installation error. I would contact the shop and ask for a manager to be on-site for a possible damage claim. You will need to be in the bay with the manager during the inspection. I had always allowed my customers in the bay during a damage inspection. It can help relieve any tension the customer might have and allow them to watch what is being doen, as well as show them you are confident about your installation. In this situation, it seems logical to assume an installation error.

thanks for your response loneranger regarding the dimmer burnout problem, it seemed logical to me as well that there was some installation error - this didn't occur after the initial hard installation though - it occurred after the first repair attempt when they said that all they did was reprogram the already sensor from virtual tach to tach so one of my questions is if simply making that "programming" switch could cause the failure? they claim they didn't touch the wiring at that time the second question was, since the 5301 still does not operate correctly on the (non-virtual) tachometer setting, whether this implies that it will need to use the voltage system (with all the calibration that will need to go on with that approach, since the weather can change dramatically from well below zero to quite warm) - they told me by phone that they found some ford trucks will only work using the voltage (and not the tach or virtual tach) sensor setting thanks again

loneranger wrote: dued wrote: so one of my questions is if simply making that "programming" switch could cause the failure? they claim they didn't touch the wiring at that time It is possible to cause a failure if a menu option improperly set. However, that menu would have nothing to do with the tach.

thanks - i guess i would need to be able to logically mechanically show them that this is the case, as they insisted that it wasn't possible to cause an electrical failure of anything else simply as a result of improper programming - they claimed that there is a fuse associated with the 5301 that would have blown first or else blew out the 5301 unit itself - i guess I will need to get an electrical diagram of the 5301 and the crv so i can see for myself to be able to explain exactly and make the point, if that is the case one problematic thing now is, i have searched extensively online for hours for a replacement honda crv "dimmer control", and i can't find anyone anywhere who sells replacement parts who carries it (or even references it - i wonder if it is called anything different - i searched for that possibility as well, with no luck) - guess i'll have to call the honda dealer parts dept on monday - hope it is something that can be purchased somewhere (seems it should be as the small part is readily accessible from the interior and can be easily removed and reseated), and if so, that it isn't too expensive also not sure if the viper 5301 will even work at all now with my honda crv - the installers said that if they use voltage for the sensor (seemingly the last remaining option, unless the current installation can be fine tuned), that depending on the outside temperature, the 5301 could either under-crank or over-crank, which would would either result not starting the vehicle or possibly harming the starter motor i wonder if all brands have this potential trouble - i understand that viper is a top name (owned by DEI - which also owns the clifford and python brands) and that the 5301 is a good newer model - i just got it 2 weeks ago thanks again