new member needs a hand a remote starter

First off, hello all, this site came with high recommendations from nissan forums & i need some help here, the quicker the better.

Before I get any deeper, the vehicle is a 98 Nissan Altima Auto Trans and it does NOT have a transponder key. It had an alarm but the remote was on the fritz and it had zero range (no external antenna).

As far as tools go, I have a DVOM, computer safe logic probe(knock off of Power Probe), soldering iron, inline splices, butt connectors, etc

I have done a few alarms & radios before & I'm an auto mechanic, not an auto electrician so this isn't my forte. I purchased a Viper 4105v and attempted to install it. In the past I've used other brands, none of them remote start and they included wiring diagrams & relay diagrams but the viper is lacking & so is my 12v knowledge.

At the moment the only thing that works properly is lock/unlock. It has options for remote start (definitely want/need), parking light output(wire hooked up but not working, relay maybe?) horn/siren output(wire hooked up, but relay again?)

With the other systems I've used I only had to use 1 relay max and I'm not familiar enough with this to go it alone & in my area there's a lot of hacks out there that do shoddy work and I'd rather not deal with that.

I don't remember from my last install if the 775 relay comes with a wiring diagram for various hookups or not.

If I come across as a rook, it's because I am, I try & do everything myself, whether it's my 1st time or my 50th, I've been the only mechanic to work on my cars & I like to keep it that way

Mikey, listing your connections from the viper to the vehicle will help us forum dwellers in aiding you in successful completion of your viper install. A few considerations with the viper, it usually comes with a parking light jumper which you need to pay attention to when it comes to polarity. + would be powering the vehicle parking lights directly through the viper while the - would be triggering the factory relay. You didn't mention what you set it up for or which vehicle wire you tested and spliced into. There is also a BLACK/ white neutral safety wire on the viper that needs to see ground in order for remote start activation. If it's not grounded, that could be part of your no r/s situation. The hoodpin, a nice safety feature if you care about your mechanic, which sounds like yourself in this scenario, only needs to see ground when the hood is open. The brake shutdown wire only needs to see 12 volts when the brake is pressed. Usually if the unit has power and ground and your ignition switch wiring is on point then it's the neutral safety wire, hoodpin wire or the brake wire keeping it from atleast attempting to start.



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Advanced

Does that vehicle have two starter wires?
Leave the 2nd. disconnected, no start.
Come to think of it I briefly (vehicle was a POS) had a Nissan Primera (G20 in the US) and that bugger had 3 X IGN, 1 X ACC and 2 X starter wires.
Plus of course 1 wire locking system.

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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.

If I remember correctly, the 1998 Altima is a bit of a unique vehicle and has some specific needs.  You chose an
advanced install for your first one.  <IMG src="https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/smileys/smiley16.gif">

First, it has two Starter wires as Howard mentioned.  This usually isn't a problem but the 4105's Flex Ignition output
( thick Pink/White wire ) can only be programmed for IGN or ACC.  Man, what's up with Viper???  <IMG src="https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/smileys/smiley6.gif">  It is not a good idea
to combine both Starter circuits on to one R/S output, so you will need a SPDT relay ( Bulldog 775 ) for Starter 2.

The next problem is that the Accessory 1 wire must be isolated from the ignition switch during a remote start.  Here is
a link to a diagram from Bulldog Security for that : 
https://diagrams.marktoonen.nl/DOWNLOADS/14301_ALTIMA_NISSAN%20ACCESSORY%20ISOLATION%20CIRCUIT.pdf
You can also reference DEI TechTip 1077 for the diagram.  Here is a link :  https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/file.asp?ID=1060
Additionally, ReadyRemote suggests that there are two Accessory wires.  Use your DMM to test to verify this and,
if there are two ACC wires, I think I would use the TechTip 1077 ( lower diagram ) for the ACC1 wire and the Vipers thick
Orange ACC wire for the Altima's ACC2 circuit.

The Viper 4105 has (-) low current outputs on the 4 Pin Satellite Harness that are used to control these extra external ignition relays.

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Soldering is fun!