It has been awhile since i've asked, and the most recent remote starter threads are over a year old at this point, so I'll bring it up again...

I'd really like to do a self-install remote starter (don't care about anything fancy or an alarm) on my 05 cabrio manual transmission

I'm not worried about leaving the car in gear and having it launch, as I'm always very careful about that, I leave the car out of gear and put the parking brake up. What's more, i could buy or kludge in a sensor that locked out the starter if the parking brake wasn't up.

I was thinking of getting a off the shelf remote starter and hiding the spare key inside the steering column (in a removable way, just in case i want to get it out of there if i need to). Where i live and drive, theft isn't of concern, so i don't really care about defeating the immobilizer.

Any suggestions/recommendations?
Is starting the car electronically without a key in the ignition (but with a valid signal to the immobilizer) going to work, or did they make the ignition system too complicated to do this?
Any other issues i might run into (the constant "you left the keys in the ignition" ding will be bothersome, i suppose...)

thanks!

 

I can't address whether it will work or not, but I'm curious as to what the attraction is for a remote starter?

Do you live in a particularly cold part of the world and leave your car out at night? My understanding of modern cars is that you're supposed to start and go, not let them sit and run.

 

I installed a Viper 5901 on my 2004 R50. It works great, although you don't need a 2nd key IT HELPS TREMENDOUSLY. It's not even that hard to install... The kick panel right underneath the steering column is a great spot for the brain and the steering wheel cover comes off easy enough. I know you aren't thinking about connecting the immobilizer, but I strongly recommend you doing so. Not connecting that immobilizer makes the car EASIER to steal... That's why I chose the 5901, if the alarm is going then the car won't start even if they have the key.

 

justin, how much did you pay total for the viper system, you got the alarm and car starting? I want to get the iphone smart start and my estimates have been crazy high.. lowest $600 highest $900! ughhh

 

At the time I worked for Best Buy and got a rather large discount on the whole system. Unless you really know your stuff I would look into getting pro install. Keep in mind that the Smart Start is very cool but also NOT FREE. You pay an annual fee for use of that system ($40!) (if you avoid the smart start you can save yourself A LOT of money almost $200). If you go with the 5901 or the 5701 (both have 2 way alarm and remote start) you can save yourself some bank too. Both of them are also SmartStart compatible too... so if you really want to add it later then you are golden.

5901 is $599 (this one just has a little gray scale screen and IMO has a relatively low build quality not really worth it, if you really want that get the better version, the 5902v, which comes with a very SEXY OLED full color remote)

or

5701 is $399 (2 way communication, almost identical to the 5901, only difference is the remote as far as i can tell)

(both including install) on bestbuy.com

If you have any questions PM me!

 

If you have a manual trans. most shops won't even touch remote start. It's a huge safety issue and most shops won't be held liable. You may leave the mini in gear start the car, and it will take off on you. Just a heads up.

 

wow... good info you just gave me. Thanks!
You saved me a lot of searching and learning

 

I been looking at getting remote start, I have a manual and I never put my car in gear, always eBrake.. Just by habit, but I have noticed when I take it to shops, almost always has been in gear.

 

Is there a how to on this? I have a bentley manual and pretty good with electronics, have access to a multimeter..

 

IMO pay for the install...they will need to tap into, and use several different adaptors to interface with the computers, and clutch switches.....the odds and ends can add up quick...and you will have a garentee it works right...if they f-it up, they will fix it. Your wiring is much less likly to be chopped up if you find a good pro shop that uses the proper install kit...if you order a kit, you may still need to order various parts, adaptors, and may not have acess to the correct tech bulletins to install it properly. It can be done on a car with a stick, but you must preplan that it will be remote started from the ones I have seen, and shut it down in a special way...to activate the system so it can remote start...not as simPle as with an auto.

 

I run a home/car stereo shop here and once November hits we get oodles of remote start. My installers will only install R/S on certain manual vehicles (Coopers included). Recommend prof. install!! There is a lot to it! I have an CVT 04 R50. I was able to do mine with no issue, but the manuals are a whole different animal.

 

I'm an engineer, happy to do it myself, but curious as to how the immobilizer gets overridden. Can you elaborate on what is going on with that viper? Also, manual or auto? I see that the cheaper model says it is manual ready but the more expensive model omits this (probably an accident...)

It is insanely cold where i am right now, and my car does not drive well until the engine has reached steady state on the tach. Tried driving while cold once, not only was it annoying, the gas mileage didn't get into double digits for 2 minutes. Not a huge deal, i know, but yeah, i'd prefer to warm up my car before driving off.

yeah, i've got a manual, but i always leave it out of gear, parking brake on.

 

Is there an "out of gear" or neutral or "in gear" sensor on the manual transmission that i could use to lock out the remote starter -just-in-case-?

Normally, i'd think no, but with the inclusion of cruise control in my car, i'd think that they'd need to have an in gear sensor, 'cos if someone pulled the car out of gear while in cruise control, the system could overrev trying to increase speed, no?

the other option would be a sensor that looks for the physical position of the stickshift, but that won't be as reliable or robust.

Could also use the parking brake to lock out (don't remote start unless parking brake is up), but if the car were in gear with the brake up, i'd still not want it to start.

Lastly, could use the speed sensor as well, if wheel speed is detected while starting, cut the power, but that'd be a lot of work and not a great method at all.

anyone here done a manual and put in some kind of safety lockout? What does the viper unit that says it is manual ready do? They don't have an email address to inquire with. :P

thanks
Eric

 

Do you think they would use the clutch switch to cancel the cruise?

 

I figured that was a possibility, but i didn't like it as an option because it means i can't use it to help with a remote starter.

i guess i could turn on CC, and pull out of gear after cresting a hill without using the clutch and see what happens...