audiovox aps996 remote starter issue

Greetings.

Background: I recently purchased a 1996 Chev fullsize pickup used, with a manual transmission. It has a Audiovox Prestige APS996 alarm/remote starter installed in it from the previous owner. With the truck I got the owner's manual for the system, but NOT the installation manual. I have recently acquired the installation manual however through this site (Thank you, btw). Anywho...

Today I remote started the truck... and it started backing up!! It was in gear (it's a standard) and started going!! I ran after it, popped the door, jumped in and stopped it, but not before it back into another car. The trailer hitch ball punctured the bumper of this other car. Now I'm wized.

I went and read through the manual, and it specifically states: "To be installed on Automatic transmission vehicles only" So why would a shop have installed this unit on my standard trans truck??

I have installed alarms before, but never a remote starter. It does state about 'neutral safety switch' but then why would it not be installed.. and better yet, why would the install manual state for Auto Trans only?? Any ideas what I can do or rig up??

I'm still pretty shaken up after seeing my truck drive away by itself. Thank god no one was hurt.

Mike

People don't read manuals or they don't care as long as it worked. There is a DEI piece you can add that will make it safe for your manual transmission truck.

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The wire I'm test'n isn't doin' what it's supposed to be doin'... I am so glad I printed that tech sheet, with the wrong info.
Do it right the first time... or I might have to fix it for ya

Well, it's good no one got hurt.

There are remote start systems that are specifically designed for vehicles with manual transmissions. They cost a little more, are a little more time-consuming to install, and a little less convenient to use.......but they're relatively safe.

On the other hand, on your truck, it appears that someone has installed an automatic-transmission remote starter on your manual-transmission vehicle.

So, pretty much, you have no safety features there. The installer may (or may not have) wired the system so that it won't work without the parking brake on........but that doesn't help a lot. The engine could easily overpower the parking brake anyway.

NOTE: The rules of this forum don't allow any of us to help you install a system like this.........but I hope it's OK to answer your questions, because it's not your fault that it's already installed.

Also, you asked about the truck's neutral safety switch. There isn't one. I think there are a few imported manual-transmission cars on the market with neutral-position switches, but not many.

Your options:

--Leave it as it is. (But we're not allowed to help you much more if you go that route. If we do, the moderator would close this post.)

--Build your own neutral safety switch around the gearshift somehow. It'll take care and patience, but it's possible. (You'd still, however, have an automatic-transmission remote starter installed. I'm not sure if the moderator would keep the post open.)

--Remove everything.

--Disable the remote start portion, but leave the alarm in place.

--Remove everything, and reinstall a manual-transmission remote starter. (Audiovox doesn't make manual-transmission remote starters, so you'd have to pick another brand, and no, none of the connectors would be the same.)

P.S. IMPORTANT:

Can you find a red-handled toggle switch (toggle, not a pushbutton) under the dash somewhere? If you can, flip that to Off, which should disable the remote start for now.

If you can't find it easily, can you find the main brain for the APS996?

On the side of the brain, is a small two-pin plug. That's what goes to the control switch. If you unplug that plug, the remote starter will be disabled.

yes I have switched the override switch to off already. First thing I did. And yes, the unit was installed on the truck long before I purchased it (only got it in Feb '08) I respect the rules of the forum, but in my defense I'm not responsible for the improper install. It's not something I would have ever done.. that said... it still needs a solution.

I appreciate the input. A complete re & re of the system will be a costly venture. I will more than likely just disable the remote start unit and only use the alarm features.

oh for my reference.. what is "DEI" ? Thanks in advance.

Mike

DEI is Directed Electronics, Incorporated. Maker of the Viper car alarm. And they've been busy buying a whole bunch of their competitors as well.

And I forgot about the piece techman93 mentioned. The part number is 689M, I believe.

I've never installed one of those, but the part will allow you to keep the Audiovox unit you have, and it would work just the same as any other manual transmission remote starter.

When parking the truck, you'd have to go through a short routine to "prove" to the system that you've left the transmission in neutral, and the parking brake on.

Each system is a little different, but it's more or less like this: Park the vehicle, apply the foot brake, apply the parking brake, release the foot brake, turn off the key and remove it. The engine stays running until you get out and close the door, and then it shuts off.

If you don't go through the routine when parking, it doesn't hurt anything, but the remote start won't work.

Furthermore, even when you do go through the routine, if the door is opened again (either you forgot your wallet in the car, or maybe even someone broke in), the remote starter is disabled again.

It IS model number 689M. I've done some reading on it, looks like it retails for about $50-$99 and looks like it does what I'm going to need. I'll let you know what I decide to do and update this thread on the progress, so longs it fits in compliance with the forum rules and Moderators.

Thank you.