2011 ford flex, viper 5901 issues

Hi everyone. Yesterday I had a Viper 5901 installed in my 2011 Ford Flex and am having issues. When he first finished up, he could not stop the factory alarm from activating when he unlocked the doors using the viper remote. He called someone and then hooked a line directing into the key area I believe. Although this stopped the alarm from triggering some other things are now happening. I plan on going back, but would like some insight if possible. 1) When I unlock the vehicle, using the Viper, it puts the car into acc mode so the nav unit, radio, lights etc come on for about 3 seconds and then cut off. Is this supposed to happen? I would not be worried, but it seems like turning any electronics on for a couple of seconds and then right back off is not good. 2) When I got home last night I noticed that every time I unlock the doors, approx 5 seconds later I get the "Remote start off" alert just like I would if I turned it off while it was running. One time it actually showed me the time remaining as if it was running. I cannot say for sure if it started or not, because it cut off again prior to me getting out there to check. 3) Not a big deal, but would they be able to prevent the tail gate from opening while the Viper is in lock mode? Really not a big deal, but I opened the gate, using the aux button on the viper, forgetting I was locked. The gate opened but the alarm went off. Thanks again Mike

Sounds like your unit wasn't wired properly. The Flex factory alarm should not arm itself unless you lock the door with the factory fob or activate the interior door lock switch BEFORE you close the door. (Unless they have introduced passive arming, which I'm not aware of.) The factory alarm "thinks" you are still in the vehicle when you lock it with the Viper remote and thus does not arm itself. This is because the Viper is (or should be) wired into the lock/unlock circuit that the interior switch uses. So when you arm/disarm with the Viper its as if you were sitting inside the vehicle. 1. As for the dash lights, did this usually happen when you opened the door BEFORE the Viper was installed? That is what normally happens on my 2012 Focus. If the installer hooked up the dome light supervision connection, the vehicle thinks the door has been opened when the dome light is activated, and thus would activate the dash lights momentarily. 2. No idea on your remote start message 3. The Viper should not sound an alarm if you open the hatch with the Viper fob, even if armed. The factory alarm would sound however, if they were both armed. . I'm not a professional, but these are observations I have encountered on a couple of Ford installs I've done. Hopefully some of the pros on here will give you more insight. Good luck! 

Hi. The dash lights came on, but the radio/nav unit never powered up just from unlocking. I also believe he wired incorrectly. It all comes down to the one wire I believe. He was trying to wire it one way and the alarm kept going off (all other items worked correctly). He then wired it into the steering column key area I believe and the alarm stopped, but the other items started. Just do not know what to tell him to look for. I think he believes this is how it is supposed to work

No, I didn't mean just unlocking the door would cause the radio/nav to illuminate. OPENING the door will cause the radio/nav (My Ford Touch) screen to illuminate for a few seconds on the 2012 Focus. I thought perhaps it was the same on the Flex. The same circuit that causes the dome light to come on when you open the door tells the MFT to illuminate. So if the dome light is activated by unlocking with the Viper fob, then that open door (dome light) signal will be sent to the radio/nav causing illumination.

Interesting. He may have it wired correctly after all. I guess I never paid attention to the nav unit briefly coming on. Sounds like this is how it is wired. As for the hatch, I will have to look at this closer and see which alarm was triggered and why. No idea why unlocking the car sends me an autostart off message though. You have opened my eyes a bit and actually make me feel a lot better about the install. Thanks again Mike

Ok, I checked everything out. My Flex illuminates the dash lights only upon opening the door. With the Viper, unlock actually starts to move my seat into position, starts to bring up the nav screen, heat/ac etc. Just like the key is turned to ACC mode. Does this for about 2 seconds then cuts everything off. After this, I still get the autostart off signal. Actually today it acted like it was in remote start mode and showed the count down screen. Car was actually not running, but it thought it was. Lift gate is working like it should. Something is just wired wrong but not sure what.

The more I read the more I wonder if they used a wrong module. I have HA stamped on the side of my key and am reading this may indicate 80bit encryption. The module they put in does not yet have an 80bit firmware update.

I've never used one of the newer modules that eliminate many of the individual wiring connections that are necessary. You could be right. If they are a reputable installer I'm sure they will figure it out and make it right for you.

I have chatted with Directed tech service and called the installer back (1.5 hour trip to get there). He is sending me a document from Directed that states it has to be wired this way on the 2010 Ford and up to use remote start. He said it has to trigger the acc like the key was inserted and turned which means all of my stuff fires up, including the auto seat, then cuts right back off. I really hate that part. He also said the message saying "remote start off" is supposed to be there with this set up. Wow...not sure on this, but who knows. Looking for feedback from any Ford owners 2010 and up that have Viper remote starts installed. Do you get this feedback and all the items starting up and then cutting off?

Well I don't know about the 2011 Flex, but my 2010 Fusion isn't wired that way. The only compromise I have on my install is the factory alarm. A lot of cars have a way to wire the factory alarm so that it will disarm when you disarm the Viper. It seems that the only way to disarm (that I've been able to find) a 2010 Fusion factory alarm is with the factory fob or turning the ignition on. So when I exit the vehicle I just make sure I don't lock the car with the factory fob or by using the door buttons. That way the Viper alarm is the only one ever turned on. If the factory alarm does happen to get armed, there is a countdown warning chime when you open the DRIVERS door that gives you a chance to disarm with the factory fob or by turning the ignition key on. (It instantly sounds the alarm if any other door, hood or trunk is opened.) It sounds like they have wired it so it thinks you have turned the ignition key on, thus disarming the factory alarm. You could leave it like that or use the method I do. (Assuming the systems are the same). It's easy to tell which system is activated. Horn only = factory alarm. Horn & siren = Viper. That is how it looks to me.