Remote car starters are very popular because they are so convenient, especially if you live in a very cold or very warm climate. You can start your car a few minutes before you leave your home, and it will be warmed up or cooled down when you are ready to go. Remote car starters can also provide a safety measure if you are leaving work or shopping and have to cross a dark parking lot. The best remote car starters combine several convenient features, including keyless entry, security, and remote starting capability.
Remote car starters can be installed on any car, but are most easily installed on pre-existing sytems that have a keyless entry. These types of remote starters piggyback on your existing keyless entry signal. When this after-market product is installed, a transmitter will be wired in and a new “clicker” will use this signal to start your car. You operate it by pressing your unlock or lock button in some combination three times. These transmitters prevent having to install an entirely new system, but they typically have a very short range, usually about 100 feet, and do not work well when objects are between the car and the remote keypad.
The best new systems come in two types: single button and three-button remotes. A single button, as the name implies, has one button that functions solely to start the vehicle. A three-button remote combines the lock, unlock, and starter buttons on a single remote. The advantage to these systems is that they have a much larger range, around 1000 feet, and operate even in the presence of obstacles such as other cars in a parking lot.
Another consideration in installing either type of remote is that your car may have a “chip” key, meaning that there is a computer chip installed in the key itself. The car will not start without sensing this chip, so you will have to choose whether to sacrifice one of your chipped keys during the remote installation process or choosing a bypass data module.
There are several companies that offer remote installtion services on pre-existing systems. Two reputable systems are Prestige and Valet. According to Bizrate, the highest rating goes to Autopage, which makes a combination vehicle security and remote entry and starter system. The average price for these remote starters is around $125.00. This price is only for the components; installation will be separate.
Finding a company to install your system is much more difficult. Many places advertise very low prices for installation, but do not mention that their systems are not compatible with many models, or that there will be significant expenses related to making the system compliant. Unfortuantely, car dealers are not a better option than independent dealers, as car dealers send these types of installations to private companies for the actual work. In fact, going to the dealer may end up costing you more, as the dealer may even add to the price as a middleman.
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