what brand remote start alarm system?

Hi,

I want to install a remote start alarm system in my 2003 Mitsubishi Diamante.

I've had Magicar remote start systems before but they would always fail.

What I want is not a million features, I just need it to be reliable and not fail on me with time.

I have been looking at Viper, Python and Mongoose. Which of these is the most reliable, and are there any other brands I should be looking at?

Thanks

This topic has been covered a billion times. The search button is your friend.

It comes down to personal preference. Here is my personal preference order:
Compustar
DEI (Viper, Python, Etc)
Ultrastart (not a huge fan but I don't mind doing them if someone brings it in to me).

DEI products seem to have lost a lot of their reliability lately.

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Kenny
Owner / Technician
KKD Garage LLC
Albany, NY 12205

Thanks offroadjz,

Any reason why compustar is your first choice?

Would it be a good idea to source an older DEI model for reliability?

X2 with Kenny. There are several other factors to be considered during the planning phase. Things like one-way or two-way remotes, desired range, programming features, etc. ( Ex : your vehicle needs a system that can output a double unlock pulse. )

As a general rule, steer clear of any system that uses the oil pressure sender to determine if the engine has remote started...

I have found that long term reliability is usually determined by the installation quality. Take your time, solder everything. Do it right, do it once.   

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Soldering is fun!

Compustar. Excellent alarm/remote start/keyless combo along with several features for various applications. The Compustar units are very reliable as long as the unit is installed correctly.

DEI is over priced garbage. If you notice, all the postings on here are for people having issues with the DEI units. I put them in for 5 yrs until I finally got sick of them and switched to a more reliable brand.....Compustar.

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I drink current, eat ohms, and bleed voltage

What model Compustar should I get?
Like I said I don't care too much about features, I just want:
-Good protection (might add a glass break sensor and/or a microwave sensor)
-Remote start
-And most importantly reliability. I've had Magicar alarm systems which were horribly unreliable.

Would someone who has never installed an alarm before be able to DIY assuming time is not a concern?

Totally depends on what you want CM6000 brain and whatever remote you want

Are there online stores that sell Compustart and send internationally?

I believe there are U.S. online sellers that will ship internationally. Of course, you will want to verify that the transmitter
frequency used by the Compustar system is not restricted locally. Usually Compustar sells their units separate. You
choose the controller unit first, then you select the Remote Kit that fits your needs. In your case you want the CM6000-AS
controller and then something like the RF-2WG5-900SH remote kit. The remote kit supplies the two remotes and the
corresponding antenna and harness.   Some on-line sellers will bundle these together to make a complete kit.

While the Compustar systems are excellent products, they ( like all major brands ) aren't real DIYer friendly. Information,
like install guides, is restricted but can be found on-line. Compustar will not supply Tech Support to DIYers. Here is a
link to an older CM6000-AS guide : https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/file.asp?ID=1092 The controller will come with
only a two page wiring diagram and programming guide.

The Compustar CM6000 has 4 menu's of programming options plus two Special Option Groups. Programming in the 4
meuns can be done with a 4 button remote but the Special Option Groups are accessible only with the OP-500 Programmer.
This is similar to Directed products, like the Viper systems, and the BitWriter programmer.

If you can't find any Compustar sources with an internet search, PM me.

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Soldering is fun!

To add onto what kreg was saying, depending on how long the seller has been "sitting on" the control module(s) you may get an older firmware which will affect certain add-on devices (such as RPS-Touch) and changes some programming options, To update the firmware of the control Module you will need the "ADS-USB Link Cable" (which comes with the OP500 Option Programmer or is available seperate) and internet access (which you obviously have) to the idatalink site and using the WebLink v6.3 (or newer) update the control module, during updating you can also program the 4 basic options tables (no special options Group though), and if you have a blade module with that KLON functionality you can program that too.
I haven't used that KLON thingy myself so I don't know how that works, I only installed one in my truck that didn't need a bypass but I was able to update it to get my features working.
In the downloads section if you search "cm6000" you will get 6 or so results, including a firmware version 2, 6, and 7(most up to date as far as I know) install guide booklets in .pdf fromat.

Thanks guys I've figured out which control module and what remotes I want and it seems I can source them.

How hard would this be to DIY install?
I am fairly handy but have never taken a big electrical project before. Obviously with a lot of reading and researching prior commencing the install.

The car is a 2003 model Mitsubishi Diamante with a factory alarm system fitted

I've done quite a bit of electrical add-ons on my vehicles so I was fine with the electrical aspect of mine, My issue was where to mount the module and how to get my hands in there to secure the module once I got it in a place I liked it in. Like I always say to anyone that asks me about electrical, just remember unless you use a diode the power will flow in both directions, so make sure you have a good idea of what your doing otherwise it really isn't that hard. Most all of the wiring diagrams/charts you can find on the internet just double check them with your install and you should be fine. Everywhere I read says to solder connections, If you can and want to by all means go that route, however, I just used T-Taps and My install has been fine; If I ever run into an issue with a connection I will see about trying to solder them, Unfortunately no matter how many tomes I try (on scraps) the only thing I can seem to muster up is what looks like (on youtube) as a "Cold-Solder", so I'll have to find someone to help with that If the time ever comes.

From what I see the hardest bit should be figuring out which wire to splice into.
I was also planning on using those T-Tap (posi taps whatever they are)to at least initially test that all works well and once it does I would consider soldering them. I wouldn't start with solder as it might get too messy if I make a mistake.

I dob't know if the Australian cars use the same wire guides as the American but I know af a couple places that you can get wire guides from and I've made the printouts from them into a single PDF file, If you want it just PM me and I'll see if I can send it through here, otherwise I can just e-mail it. I don't have a diamante so I don't know how acurate the guides will be but it may be a start.

I've come to learn that even though they are built in the same factory, the US and AU spec Diamantes use different wiring looms.

I can get the wiring schematics for the AU spec. This should be enough to wire up an alarm shouldn't it?

it should, just test and double check the connections (to the spec sheets) with a DigitalMultiMeter or at least a test light to make sure you have the right wires, once you know you have the correct wires, have at it and enjoy.