problems with 2006 toyota tacoma 5spd

I need some major help here.. I am at a complete loss on this one. A few weeks ago I installed an Autostart manual ready remote starter into a 2006 Tacoma 5speed. Of course the customer watched me the whole time (doing everything out of my garage so I can't use the old "insurance purpose" reasons.. lol). Well for whatever reason the status output didn't work on the unit so I had to switch it out with a brain I had in my roommates car which didn't need a status output. I switched the brains and everything worked great.

About a week later I get an email from the customer saying that the locks, lights, and starter were just intermittently not working at all. He brought it in and I verified they weren't working. The installation was still good so I decided to order up a Python 1401 starter and when it came in I replaced the Autostart with the Python. Everything was once again working 100%. Because of the previous issues I tested this thing at least 50 times and it never once gave me a problem. Not with the locks, not with the lights, and not with going through the MTS to have it in ready mode.

Well I just received another email today from the customer saying that the locks and MTS have stopped working again. I know my connections are good, and I know the ground is good (factory grounding bolt low in the driver's kick, with the paint scraped to be extra sure)... so I really don't understand what keeps causing things to randomly stop working.

I let him know that I would look into it and if I can't find a solution I will remove the starter and refund his money to make it right. It was originally done on trade for a hitch (he just paid for the actual parts) and I'm already under on this whole deal since I've now paid for 2 remote starter units... and I don't think just throwing a new brain at it will work since after taking out the original Autostart I put it back into my roommates car and everything works fine...

Please help me so I don't lose more money on this deal!!!

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Kenny
Owner / Technician
KKD Garage LLC
Albany, NY 12205

What's the condition of the vehicle battery?

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Amateurs assume, don't test and have problems; pros test first. I am not a free install service.
Read the installation manual, do a search here or online for your vehicle wiring before posting.

As far as I know its good. I never had issues with voltage during testing and I don't believe he is having any other trouble other than with the remote starter. I'll have him check the terminals just to be safe.

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Kenny
Owner / Technician
KKD Garage LLC
Albany, NY 12205

Here is the email that was sent:

"Bad news, since yesterday the remote starter will not "set". I go through the steps and after the 5 flashes (which up until now signified the remote start being activated) the truck shuts off when I turn the key off. I have had inconsistent issues with this starter since I got the truck back including the inability to activate the locks and not being to even set the starter (no flashes) on several occasions.

I see in your thread that you are now offering compustar starters (which I know of a few people having with no issue) and am wondering if the Python unit is of similar quality and if you have changed for a reason.

Let me know what you think."

The only reason I switched to Compustars is because of acquiring a new local distributor.. I've been using Pythons (back with C.City and up until recently) for years and they have always been good to me. I've never had a brain go bad.

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Kenny
Owner / Technician
KKD Garage LLC
Albany, NY 12205

The line about the locks is what worries me, I know it goes without saying but, check all your joints, is there a by-pass (don't ask me to guess the answer I only know it if it's European, all vehicles after 01/01/97).
If so was it wired D2D or W2W etc.
Does he have any of these problems when using the key?

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Amateurs assume, don't test and have problems; pros test first. I am not a free install service.
Read the installation manual, do a search here or online for your vehicle wiring before posting.

Just one more thought, take all constant lives and ground back to the battery?

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Amateurs assume, don't test and have problems; pros test first. I am not a free install service.
Read the installation manual, do a search here or online for your vehicle wiring before posting.

Exactly... but its odd how they are intermittent. I am 100% sure on the connections. Even when the old brain was having issues, they test fine at the r/s connector. And I made extra sure that they were great on the new starter... I made all new connections when I put the Python in... not just connecting to the old wires. On this truck in the US, the bypasses are only good for the Immobilizer which doesn't seem to be the issue here. All other connections are "old school" lol. I don't believe he had any factory keyless entry remotes prior to this.. but I don't know for sure. But he hasn't mentioned anything about it.

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Kenny
Owner / Technician
KKD Garage LLC
Albany, NY 12205

OK on the surface one makes the following assumptions.
Forget the by-pass because R/S enables.
Faulty equipment, unlikely from two reputable manufacturers with product made in different places..I assume Auto isn't part of DEI....
Down to wiring which I doubt, having seen yours and you know what you're doing.
That leaves voltage or bad grounds.
Do a drop test on the battery, check the actual voltage between your ground and all the constant inputs, hence my suggestion about connecting directly to the battery.


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Amateurs assume, don't test and have problems; pros test first. I am not a free install service.
Read the installation manual, do a search here or online for your vehicle wiring before posting.

Just a wild thought, should a keysense be involved?

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Amateurs assume, don't test and have problems; pros test first. I am not a free install service.
Read the installation manual, do a search here or online for your vehicle wiring before posting.

Sorry, I originally missed your post about the battery and ground inputs. I'm probably only going to have one go at this to fix the problem and then if I can't fix it I'll be pulling it out (he is not very local and can't keep leaving the truck with me). So I'm hoping to get some multiple ideas... as best as can be expected. But I'll def. try the constant and battery. When I pulled the old one out I tested all of the power off the ground right at the plug and they seemed fine... but everything was working at the time so who knows.

Keep the ideas coming... hopefully I'll figure it out... if not then it will suck.. lol. The worst part is I have a 2010 Tacoma coming tomorrow that I'm starting to get a little nervous about... lol.

I was just looking over the readyremote diagram and I'm starting to wonder if maybe it has to do with the factory alarm wires not functioning with the key in the ignition. I'm wondering if I will maybe have to go with the power lock/unlock wires instead of the arm/disarm wires. I can't remember exactly which ones I used, but that might be something to look into.

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Kenny
Owner / Technician
KKD Garage LLC
Albany, NY 12205