Hello I am looking for advise, I am looking at wanting to put a remote started in my 1997 Dodge Dakota SLT club cab v6. I am looking at what a good brand or equipment would be a good choice on getting. Also I have some wiring and mechanical knowledge and can read most wiring diagrams. are they easy to install by myself or would it be better to have someone install it please any info would help I want to get some thing good not bottom of the line and not super deluxe It is just for remote start no power locks or windows. I am considering getting one because I am a volunteer firefighter and respond from home for one of my depts. I am looking at getting it because then I don't have to wait for my windows to defrost I can start it before I get dressed to leave.

Please any advice on equipment will be greatly appreciated

 

There are stand-alone remote start units that will just remote start the truck and that is all. There are also remote starts with built-in keyless entry and alarm/security features. Nowadays you can even integrate your remote start with your Smart Phone and Garage Door opener if you are willing to spend the money for those capabilities.

Directed Electronics Inc (DEI) is the best you can buy. DEI builds the Viper, Python and Sidewinder brands of alarms and remote starts. You can visit www.directed.com for more info and to find a DEI shop where you live. The main thing to remember is the remote start will only be as good as the guy who installs it. If you pay a shop to install it, do your homework first and look online or ask friends if they know of a good shop/installer. You will usually get a lot better service at the local independent shops but it really pays off in the long run to check their reputation first. There are good installers that care about doing quality work at a fair price but there are also a lot of hack masters out there too.

If you have the electrical experience and mechanical aptitude, you can install a remote start yourself. You need a good working knowledge of relays, diodes and wiring techniques. You also need a very good automotive electrical testing capability and a thorough knowledge of the operation of your truck's electrical systems. It's not super hard to install a remote start, but it is not the easiest thing in the world to do either.

You can buy a good Viper keyless entry/remote start system for $199.00 at Crutchfield:

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_6074105...5V.html?tp=149

Crutchfield will help you with installation over the phone if you need it. I would definitely call them up and find out what kind of support they offer on security/remote starts before buying.

If all you want is a simple remote start without any keyless entry/alarm features, you can buy a Python (DEI) unit from Sonic Electronix for $49.99:

http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_...P-N-4111P.html

If you have a plain black ignition key you will not need a vehicle immobilizer bypass module. If your key is gray you will need the module for the remote start to work.

Sonic probably has good tech support too but I would still check with them before buying. There are other units you can buy from Clifford, Avital and Code Alarm. DEI also owns Clifford and Avital. I can't remember if they own Code Alarm, but they probably do. This will all just depend on the price and what features you want. DEI is absolutely the best you can buy. Period. If a DEI alarm or remote start is installed correctly it will work great and last forever.

Hope this helps.

Jimmy

 

We have 2 different brands avital and Excalibur. The avital is a good remote start just nothing really fancy about it. We have had it in our 04 jeep for about 5 years with no major problems. The excalibur is in our 07 ram and its pretty much top of the line(lcd screen,mile range bunch of fancy settings) Both offer a lifetime warranty but must be install by a pro to take that into full effect.

 

Im no professional installer or such but have had Viper's installed in every vehicle ive owned since the 80's. Any experienced installer will tell you Mopar has the most difficult wire harness system out of any manufacturer out there for non performance related vehicles. The lock/unlock for example if memory serves works off voltage regulation on a single wire. This is why I believe the factory system in any Mopar product is doomed to fail and start randomly locking and unlocking itself. Its happened on the prior PT Loozer and two of my friends Ram's.

Save yourself the hassle and seek out as prior mentioned a local independent shop that knows what they are doing. Dont go in like a know it all but if the installer will listen to what you want, how you want it and advise suggestions such as an interior proximity sensor vs a glass break sensor and such.... Always do some homework and remember online as with anything, you will hear more negative than positive. Word of mouth is key here.

For the record my 03 Dakota Quad Cab just had the Viper 350 (3105V) installed today as I dont want the remote start or LCD battery eating fob. Those little LCD screens look nice but prior models seem to go through a AAA battery in three weeks. Im told newer ones do better. Ive gone to the same shop for decades now as one of the prior installers took over the location when the local brand name retail shop shut down. This guy knows what he is doing and removed the hacked in kill switch system the original owner had installed down to the last 1" of wire, repaired the connections, then installed the new system.

If your in the LA/OC area look up Bobs Car Audio in Torrance CA. Be wary of the local newspaper trade ads offering a half off retail price installed. Not saying this is everywhere but many of the installers know how to do a basic install but lack the skills and experience outside of the basics. They can hack your harness into bits and pieces for some fun future electrical issues all based on a few dollars saved on an alarm install.
I paid $320 installed for the Viper 350, again that included removing a prior hack job, repairs, interior proximity (had the exterior cancelled as I have cats) and the aux being hooked into the lights that will be installed in the bed for late night loading and unloading. In other words, hold the aux button for a few seconds and the bed lights will go on/off. LED strips are super cheap now.

 

Dodge did not come out with the single wire door lock system until the late 1999 and 2000 model year. OP's door locks should be the standard 5-wire reverse polarity type. Dodge wire harnesses are really no worse to work with than any other manufacturer.

Jimmy

 

When we put that excalibur unit in our 07 ram it was all plug and play pretty much. Was done in under 30min