2001 caravan remote start

Hey everyone, I just installed a remote starter into a 2001 Caravan. The remote starter is working just fine...lol that is what brings me to this question. You see, the instructions said that I had to hook up a second start wire to the PURPLE / brown wire in the ignition harness and ground it through a 180 ohm resistor using a relay. Well I followed all directions, and tested the install. The van fired right up on remote start and ran fine. The Problem is that I noticed the relay for the second start wire was not plugged into the harness...I forgot. Its sitting on my work bench. So, Im wondering what would happen if I leave this connection out? Its easy enough to plug the relay in...But Im curious. P.S Heater and A/c work as well. Thanks.

when it gets cold you'll see, but since it's pretty simple just to plug in i suggest you do so your vehicle will still start at low temps. just a thought.commit your way to jehovah and he will act in your behalf. psalms 37:5

I'm not so sure it's a low-temperature issue. I started out at the place I work in November 2001, doing new-car-dealer work almost exclusively. When these Caravans first came out, there was no wiring information avaialble, so the guys I work with were never hooking up the second starter wire, because noone even knew it existed. The remote starter would work fine for a long time, and then eventually it would stop working and the dealer would call us. We'd hook up the second starter wire and it would be fixed. The technicians at the dealers all told me there was a recall to reprogram the van's PCM. Something to do with the way the AC compressor was controlled. Anyway, it was only after that recall was performed, that the remote starter stopped working. Maybe your van has never had the recall and reprogramming performed?

Hi again, I (of course) plugged the relay in... Im just trying to find out what this connection is for.

you are right on Chris.....I did a 01 Caravan back in 01 and didn't hook up the second starter wire and it worked fine until the customer went to the dealer for the PCM re program.......then it did still work but it caused the check engine light t come on....between the time of the original install and and the reprogram I learnd about the second starter wire, made the connection to it, and it's worked fine ever since.  the guy is still driving that van today

Hehehe...we must have all done this as i remember doing the same thing years ago. I didn't know about the second starter wire and it worked fine. The van came back the next week because it wouldn't RS. I added the relay/resistor and all was fine....Mike M2

Tech Manager

CS Dealer Services

my bad guys, i'm from the caribbean, i thought it was a nissan caravan, i'm asuuming y'all talkin about a dodge caravan, am i right.commit your way to jehovah and he will act in your behalf. psalms 37:5