Well, seens how I'm leaving for my deployment next month, I decided to get Christmas shopping done early. My wife and I decided we were gonna get each other car starters this year. I wanted the factory ones since they should be "plug and play". Anyone have any experience installing these things? Is there anything I have to do with the key? I don't have the Grey key that is coded, I have the key with the integrated buttons for door locks.

Oh, and wifes vehicle is a 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo.

 

I don't know why you would buy a factory one. I would just get a Viper Alarm System with Remote Start. That way you get a top of the line alarm system and a remote starter. Best in the business in terms of effectiveness and reliability.

Just my two cents..

 

You can't install OEM yourself as the feature needs to be turned on with a Starscan tool that only the dealers can do.
If you go aftermarket, i wouldn't bother doing it yourself because there's a bit to do and you'll need a bypass module.

 

Mostly because I'm cheap, got the whole system for under $200. Second I am looking for ease of instillation. I've installed starters/alarms in older cars and they were always a pain in the a$$ splicing wires all over. Not to mention the problems that come around years later from corrosion.


Is this something with the '06 and newer? I've read a few places that the Starscan is necessary for the 2007 and newer but nothing about the '06.(for my truck anyway, haven't really looked into her Jeep that much yet.)

Anyway, thanks for the replies, keep'em comin'.

 

The 2006-2008 Rams are identical. Sure they have slightly different part numbers on certain items, but the only difference is within the programming which is soley based upon vin anyways.
Problem with factory remote starters is their range sucks...completely. The dealer charges $220ish for the kit plus another $120 or so for installation. That means $340ish for a basic 100ft remote start, where as an aftermarket unit you can have a Real alarm with remote start for less money AND have 1500ft range or more.
You WILL need the dealer to flash your TIPM to turn on the remote start feature. Chrysler made their vehicles this way on purpose. There is NO way around it no matter how many replies you wait for...trust me.

I would try and sell the OEM kit and buy an aftermarket unit. I bought mine from THIS place. Awesome, awesome owner(Derek..spoke with him on several occasions and he treated me like gold). Just sent my module back for testing just to verify there was nothing wrong with it. He checked it out for free, plus my 2-way remote went bad 1 yr past the warranty and he sent me a replacement anyways)($150price tag just for the remote) You get a Pre-set kit that they put together on a workbench for your specific vehicle. Order takes 7-9days to process before it's shipped because they custom build each kit. They also give you plenty of t-taps, connectors, ziptie's, test light and anything else you would need for installation. They provide COLOR directions that walk you through each step and tell you exactly where each wire is and the color of the wire and how the test light should react upon checking the circuit.
I have the most advanced alarm/starter combo on the market. I paid $350 for it and it took me 3hrs total to install including programming and installing a bypass module for the remote start. My door locks are fully functional with both factory and aftermarket remotes. i purchased a basic chipped key off Ebay for $25 and had a local truvalue cut it for a Buck. This way i only have to carry a small key with my aftermarket fobb rather than the ginormous OEM key with the lock features on it. Don't need those since i carrry my aftermarket remote instead. i highly reccomend them.
You can get just a remote start kit for under $200 with bypass module from them. Check them out. AUTOALARMPRO
No dealer tool needed. You install and it will work.

 

Well, got my remote starter in the mail yesterday. I'm at work tonight so I decided to install it. Honestly, it was about 100X easier than I thought it was gonna be. Most of it was plug-and-play. Only had to solder 4 connections. I think it took twice as long to program the damn thing than it did to install it. I'll be honest, the SENTRY/SKREEM system was a PITA! All is working well now though. I took a bunch of pictures planning on doing a DIY but as I was trying to upload them to photobucket I somehow erased most of them. Anyway, here's what I got left:









On the other hand, the install kit for my wifes Jeep isn't coming in. The company I ordered it from told me they didn't have it in stock and the price would go up $60 if they had to order it. So, I took your advice Dog and ordered a remote start system from Derek. It should be here on Monday. Hopefully that will be as easy as this one was to install.

 

Good to hear it's up and running! What did the dealer charge if you don't mind me asking?
Did you get the bypass interface for the wife's Jeep? You'll need it.

Everything should already be programmed when you recieve everything other than the bypass module which obviously you would need your actual keys to program.

 

I have aftermarket one from some stereo shop, it was 170 installed (i provided extra key). dodge wanted 500$ for theirs un installed! mine is great.

 

Most newer bypass modules don't require the loss of your key, so no key is stored inside your vehicle, just the rf frequency which it reads and programs and uses that rather than your key. Much safe for theives and saves money on buying and programming another key.
My bypass module was $40.

 

No dealer involved, just bought the module and install kit from eBay. Together was about $175 in parts. Installed it last night while I was at work. From what I've read, as long as your install kit is specifically for your vehicle, and your vehicle is 2006 or newer, the kit includes the SENTRY bypass because it was standard on all vehicles and no longer an option.

As for the wifes Jeep, Derek said the bypass was included. Should just have to do the same to program it as I did for mine.