parking brake instead of neutral?
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=122479
Printed Date: July 12, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Topic: parking brake instead of neutral?
Posted By: nitro71
Subject: parking brake instead of neutral?
Date Posted: June 29, 2010 at 8:47 PM
Installing a remote starter on a 97 Dodge Ram Van, automatic. Was thinking that using the parking brake instead of the neutral sensor would work well. What are the considerations for doing this? Should I diode isolate the ground input? Avital starter.
Replies:
Posted By: Mike M2
Date Posted: June 29, 2010 at 9:22 PM
Why bother with either? Automatics only start out of gear so neither are required...
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Mike M2
Tech Manager
CS Dealer Services
Posted By: i am an idiot
Date Posted: June 29, 2010 at 9:31 PM
As long as you tag the start wire at the ignition switch, the truck will take care of itself.
I would not want you to tag the wire at the starter solenoid and be mad at Mike.
Posted By: nitro71
Date Posted: June 29, 2010 at 10:44 PM
Thanks for the heads up! I think I've got a handle on this. Will actually be my third alarm install. First with a remote start though.
Posted By: howie ll
Date Posted: June 30, 2010 at 1:41 AM
Actually for a REALLY SOUND neutral safety on an auto, I wire the neutral safety to the reverse light feed,
Posted By: Mike M2
Date Posted: June 30, 2010 at 6:06 AM
A good thought, but practically all cars bought in the US require you to depress the brake before you can shift. That said, i had a late 90's Caravan that you could shift without doing this so it may be possible on the OP's Dodge van. Something to check...
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Mike M2
Tech Manager
CS Dealer Services
Posted By: nitro71
Date Posted: June 30, 2010 at 12:20 PM
Sounds like there are some options. I'm really not to concerned with preventing odd stuff I wouldn't do anyways. More concerned with the fob in my pocket getting pushed and trying to start the engine when it shouldn't. Like when it's already running. I kinda doubt that's possible anyways.
Posted By: howie ll
Date Posted: June 30, 2010 at 12:36 PM
It won't and programme your alarm so that the remote start button has to be pressed twice to respond.
Posted By: Mike M2
Date Posted: July 01, 2010 at 6:14 AM
Your RS can be used while it's running and that is a good feature. If you press the start button while it's already running in park when you turn the key off it will simply continue to run(the starter won't engage). It's great for running in 7-11 for a coffee....
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Mike M2
Tech Manager
CS Dealer Services
Posted By: brent w
Date Posted: July 01, 2010 at 2:13 PM
howie ll wrote:
Actually for a REALLY SOUND neutral safety on an auto, I wire the neutral safety to the reverse light feed,
Howie, what exactly would this do? Ive installed a decent amount of Remote starters, but not in about a year and a half(which is why i'm spending my spare time on here trying to catch up before winter hits), but i don't get the function of that.
Posted By: howie ll
Date Posted: July 01, 2010 at 2:37 PM
I use it as a neutral safety with auto boxes. If the villain whacks the gearshift out of park past reverse to neutral, it will cut out. Not really necessary, but I don't trust parking brakes.
Posted By: brent w
Date Posted: July 01, 2010 at 2:43 PM
I'm still kind of lost here. I understand what it would do if someone was trying to steal it under remote start, but as soon as they hit the brakes(or went over 2500 rpm or something iirc)it would just die anyways. I'm good at hard stuff...the easy things escape me some times =/
Posted By: howie ll
Date Posted: July 01, 2010 at 2:46 PM
You're right of course, simply "belt and braces" but this way the vehicle doesn't go anywhere. On manuals I stick with the parking brake.
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