i am also looking to install a mopar remote start. a dealer quoted me $200 for install, does this sound right? would i be able to do it myself then bring it there to have it added to the vin? the dealer was telling me you had to solder wires witht he mopar kit in the steering column, this didnt sounds right to me. anyone have any input or have done the install?

 

If you look at the link in the first post, the install directions are available so you can see for yourself what it involves. Looks like a pain to install.

 

I was a professional car audio technician for 6 years. I worked for a large retailer and ran two of their install bays. I can say that I have seen allot of very bad installs. It is very hard to find a shop you can trust to do the job right without it damaging your vehicle. There is so many things people do not take into consideration because they do not know.

1. A quality remote start will have a tachometer sense wire that can detect the motors rpm's. This will tell the remote start if the vehicle started or not and if it starts to idle rough it will shut down. Allot of installers do not connect this wire and they use the voltage sense feature which is not that reliable and can cause the vehicle to try to start again while running or not crank enough to start.

2. A hood pin is a MUST to be installed. This tells the remote start that the hood is open and will not allow it to start the vehicle. If this is not installed and you or a mechanic is working on the vehicle then it can accidentally start and injure or kill someone.

3. If the wire connections are not made properly (loose) then this can cause a fire. A loose connection can vibrate and cause arching which creates heat and can lead to a fire.

4. If the remote start or parts of are not secured under your dash properly they can fall out while driving. I do not think I need to tell you what this can lead to but just imagine it falling in behind the brake pedal, not good.

Finally you have the aspects of the vehicle to overcome. Newer vehicles use allot of multiplexing technology that you have to work with. This is when multiple resistances are used across one wire to trigger multiple items, wrong resistance values can lead to unwanted outcomes and damage. If the technician fails to use a diode in the right place this can damage very expensive modules. Does the shop your taking your vehicle to have insurance?, will they pay if they damage the vehicle or will they try to push the blame off?

These are just some of the items you need to take into consideration. There are many shops out there that do quality work and the installers will take pride in the work but they are hard to find. Look for someone with a MECP (Mobile Electronics Certification Program) certification. This will not be a guarantee of quality but it is a place to start.

As for a factory remote start as a option, you have to think about what you want? Are you just looking for the convince of not waiting for the motor to warm up, the ac in the summer, heat in and defrosted windows in the winter?, or do you want the full features of a aftermarket system like two way notification if you alarm goes off?, a shock sensor to tell if someone it hitting your vehicle? These are the things to think about.

A factory installed system will come with a warranty from the dealer ship. The system (for most part) is plug and play so no worrying about spliced wires and best of all the dealer ship can not blame your system for any problems you have with your vehicle.

Each person is going to have their own opinion on this and rightfully so. I am just trying to give more information to people who do not know. If you have any questions about this please ask.

Charles

 

I do not have keyless entry or remote start in my truck but I plan on getting one. I have to say that I am one of the ones who has a bad experience at a shop. I brought a Jeep I had to have an alarm installed. After I picked it up I noticed a screw sticking out the side of my Jeep. When they grounded the alarm they did it on an outside body panel. Needless to say I made them pay for the repair and I never went back to that shop, matter of fact the shop shut down about a year later. With all of this said I plan on going to the dealer to get the install. One of the reasons is stated above and the other is the warranty issue. With Chrysler going Bankrupt they are just looking for reasons not to cover a repair and I do not want to give them that reason. Just my 2 cents!!!

 

It's nice to have in Houston, especially with the cooled seats. Sitting in a hot car sweating your **** off waiting for the AC to cool you off sucks!

 

Someone mentioned their factory remote start will automatically turn on the air conditioner? Is this only on laramies? I have a TRX w/o digital controls and a factory remote start.. I don't think I have it..

 

Sport here with digital dual zone blah, blah, blah. If the AC is on when you turn the vehicle off then it will be on when you remote start it. I may like the temp at 72 in the AM but have it at 68 in the PM. So I have to remember to set it to 72 before I get out of the trauck so it will warm up to 72 after I remote start it.

The defroster does automatically kick in if the cab temp is below a certain degree (sub 55 degrees, I believe).

 

My '09 has the dual zone and it always cools/heats based on whatever the temp was last set at when I turn off the truck. The heated seats come on when it's 32 or below outside and the cooled seats come on when it's 80 or above outside. I've noticed the defroster is on sometimes, but i haven't figured out what temp it's set to. Maybe it's 55.

I had factory remote start on my '07 as well, which just had the *****, and it would blow at whatever I left it at when I got out. If I had the heat on, it would blow heat... if I had the A/C on, it would cool, if the fan was on 1, it blew at 1, if it was on 4, it blew at 4. The remote start wasn't anywhere near as useful without digital temp control.

 

i have a 09 sport with the duel zone. when it was -40C outside the truck would turn on the drivers heated seat, the heated stearing wheel and the highest setting for heat with the blowers on full force. when it is 20C the a/c seat turns on and the the temp is set to the lowest possible setting.

i am not sure what it is set for outside temps. like when it decides it needs heat or cold.

you can turn this feature on and off in your options in the dash.

 

I had heard also that only the automatic air comes on with the remote start but my SLT CC BigHorn does. Now the indcator lights do not lite but it is indeed blowing cool air.
I turn it on MAX and high fan before getting out and it works fine. Have not tried it without the AC on MAX.