remote starters on a semi?
Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Security and Convenience
Forum Discription: Car Alarms, Keyless Entries, Remote Starters, Immobilizer Bypasses, Sensors, Door Locks, Window Modules, Heated Mirrors, Heated Seats, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=113005
Printed Date: May 29, 2024 at 6:08 AM
Topic: remote starters on a semi?
Posted By: kim b
Subject: remote starters on a semi?
Date Posted: April 09, 2009 at 7:37 AM
I work for a trucking firm and many of the owners are always asking me about installing a remote start system on their semi-tractors. Has anyone ever done this or is it even possible?? Obviously it would require a system that is diesel capable.
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Thanks, Kim
Replies:
Posted By: Chris Luongo
Date Posted: April 09, 2009 at 7:56 AM
No real reason why not.
There are plenty of products compatible with diesels. Some, you connect to the wait-t-start wire on the dash or a glow plug on the motor..........others have a built-in, adjustable timer that simply delays cranking, which makes installation easier.
I think these are going to be your three major obstacles:
1. Manual-transmission vehicles are already more difficult. I assume very few of these trucks are automatics, right?
2. The online wiring databases seem to have much more information for cars than for heavy trucks. Chances are you'll be on your own as for finding which color wire is which under the dash. Do you already have a multimeter or at least a test light, and the ability to use it.
3. If you run into a problem, people on this site will of course try to help you, but you probably won't find anyone with experience on that particular truck.
Posted By: howie ll
Date Posted: April 09, 2009 at 8:29 AM
And of course over here anything over 3.5 tons is 24 volts, just thinking of the extra relays!
Posted By: Velocity Motors
Date Posted: April 09, 2009 at 9:11 AM
I got to do one a few months back and it's pretty simple. I used the Compustar CM5000 and set it up for diesel ( 8 second delay ) and have it set to crank for 3.5 seconds which for this truck was barely enough to have it start. No need for the ACC on these trucks because the IGN shares the same wire. Highway tractors have no need for clutch bypass and from what I understand the truck is always left in nuetral. All the trucks out on this side of the world are 12 volts. ------------- Jeff
Velocity Custom Home Theater
Mobile Audio/Video Specialist
Morden, Manitoba CANADA
Posted By: howie ll
Date Posted: April 09, 2009 at 9:24 AM
Thanks for the reply VM and you're the Shiznak (whatever that means, hope I haven't insulted you). 12volts, gotta be a reason, I know why UK went from pos. ground in the late 60's but I wonder if there's a technical reason for it. In Europe and Japan they're all 24volt, with on your bigger stuff, 7.5 to 42 tons, there are OEM perm and acc droppers for the audio gear, Sat navs and phones.
Posted By: kim b
Date Posted: April 09, 2009 at 10:59 AM
Yea, any real truck driver always leaves their truck in nuetral. The only problem I could see is that there would be no way to fast idle the truck,but that wouldn't really matter. I used to own a truck and Detroit Diesel has an option called Optimized Idle that is very similar to a remote start system. A remote would be ideal here in the winter where you can program it for temp start.
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Thanks, Kim
Posted By: ckeeler
Date Posted: April 09, 2009 at 1:09 PM
I install them on trucks all the time. Piece of cake. no info in any wiring databases and it wouldnt matter anyway, most trucks use the same color wire in all their harnesses (except for Sterling which is actually a big Ford and out of business now anyway) so everything has to be tested. the hardest part is the hood pin switch being that the hood opens backwards. i just use a tilt switch on them now and that works even better.
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