autostart as 1515sh, 2000 cavalier

So I have a Cavalier 2000 with an Autostart AS 1515-SH. It's been working great all these years until my remote broke. So I bought a replacement, and now need to program a new transmitter to the 1515-SH unit. I'm reading the manual and it says to hold down the hood pin for 4 seconds, release pin switch (parking lights should turn on), then immediately push and releasee hood pin (parking lights should turn on for 20 seconds). I have been trying to do for 2 days and it will not work. I removed the wire connector from the hood switch and put an alligator clip at the end of the wire. As soon as I ground the wire to the car's body, the lights turn on. If I keep grounding, after 4 seconds (coincidence?) the parking lights turn OFF. I tried doing: - Just before the lights turn OFF, release, then immediately ground and release (lights don't turn on) - After 4 seconds (lights turned off), release, then immediately ground and release (lights don't turn on) - Ground for 1 second and release, lights stay on for 4 seconds then go OFF again. How am I supposed to ground for 4 seconds, release then ground and release if after 4 seconds the lights automatically turn off on their own? I'm really scratching my head and it's really getting annoying. The unit was working fine until the remote broke (the led on the remote didn't turn on anymore when I would press the buttons, and changing battery didn't resolve). Thanks. PS. If somebody experienced with Autostart is in the Montreal area, wouldn't mind some help for a modest fee!

Hey moonliter, thanks for the help! With your step 1, I'm now able to get the parking lights to stay on for 20 seconds!! Some progress! However, I still am not able to get the remote to program. This is what I get now: 1) Goes fine, lights stay on for 20 seconds 2) I turn ignition on, off, on, off (lights turn off the first time I turn ignition on, and the lights turn on after my last off) 3) I press the "LOCK" button twice on the remote within 5 seconds but nothing happens. No parking lights flash, no nothing. Parking lights turn off after a while (I guess this is the timeout). Two questions: 1) Ignition on, off, on, off means I have to turn the key so that all my accessories, heater, fuel pump start up? I don't have to crank and start my car up all the way? 2) The new remote I bought was from eBay. I'm comparing it to my original Autostart one and on the back of the remote it says: Original: FCC ID: NAHRS5304 CAN 2678 1021 782A New eBay: FCC ID: NAHRS5304 CAN 2678 1021 782A The only thing that is difference is that on the front side of the original one it AUTOSTART and on the new one it says POLAR. Now I was under the impression that as long as the FCC ID matches that the remote would be compatible with my starter. Can you confirm this? Thanks for your help.

oh and you only have to turn the ign key on then off one time, then press and hold the lock button.Shaughn Murley

Install Manager, Dealer Services

Visions Electronics

Red Deer, Alberta

Shaughn, i agree with you on newer autostart rs, that is how to learn the transmitter code. but on older model e.g. 1515sh, ign sw needs to be turned on, off, on and off again. I dug out my old quick guide on 1515sh ver h1.1 s1.2, it said the lock button needs to be press once, lights would flash twice, then press the lock button again for 1 sec. until parklights are flashing for 5 times. It is even conflicting with autostart user guide in their download section. I m not sure what version minghia has.

Still no dice. Someone told me that the LED light on the remote matters? My old remote had a GREEN led. The new one that I have (although it has the same markings FCC ID: NAHRS5304 , CAN 2678 1021 782A) has a BLUE led? Could this be the problem? Thanks