| Static |
2004 MDX w/NAV
Our warranty is almost up.. and was considering a remote starter. So I came here, did a few searches, and found many people with them already in their newer models!???
We were told by our dealer (who we HATE) that you cannot install a remote starter. It will void the warranty! What gives with that?
Has anyone else been told this? been told otherwise?
Any recomendations on starters? |
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| pianoman41 |
quote:
Originally posted by Static
2004 MDX w/NAV
Our warranty is almost up.. and was considering a remote starter. So I came here, did a few searches, and found many people with them already in their newer models!???
We were told by our dealer (who we HATE) that you cannot install a remote starter. It will void the warranty! What gives with that?
Has anyone else been told this? been told otherwise?
Any recomendations on starters?
They're full of crap. I've got a Viper alarm/remote starter on mine and it hasn't voided the warranty. The only time something like that can void the warranty is if they can show the aftermarket accessory caused the failure. Like, say you install a remote start and within six months the starter dies because the remote start was defective and kept cranking the starter motor over and over. Then they could deny a warranty claim for the starter. But they can't deny the warranty in whole just because of an aftermarket accessory. The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act is a federal law that regulates warranties and warranty claims. Remind your dealer about it. |
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| pianoman41 |
Oh, and I think Viper makes some of the best remote starters/alarms out there right now. I had a Clifford (same company--DEI) alarm/remote start on my '97 Maxima SE, a Clifford alarm/remote start on my '02 Acura TL-S and now the Viper on our '05 MDX and in a combined total of 16 years of service for all three alarms I have not had *one* false alarm or one problem with any of the units. Other than a couple of remotes dying out (replaced free under the lifetime warranty), they have been flawless and have a lot of great features.
Just make sure you go to a respectable mobile audio/automotive install place to have it done. I've heard horror stories from the chain stores like Best Buy and Circuit City since their personnel turnover is high. But many of the specialty places (I had all three of mine done at the Tweeter, Etc chain) are usually a safer bet. |
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| quiXilver |
Pianoman41,
1. How does your remote starter for the X work in conjuntion with the OEM Acura alarm?
2. How is thief prevented from driving the X away when the car is remotely started? I ask because I have seen different methods.
Thanks,
quiXilver |
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| Static |
quote:
Originally posted by quiXilver
Pianoman41,
1. How does your remote starter for the X work in conjuntion with the OEM Acura alarm?
2. How is thief prevented from driving the X away when the car is remotely started? I ask because I have seen different methods.
Thanks,
quiXilver
I can answer #2 even though I dont have one. Just about every car starter out ther imediately shuts the car off if you press the brake. Since you have to press the brake to take the car out of park... bam. not going anywhere.
And THANK YOU PianoMan... it sounded crappy to me when they said it, but I wasnt going to take the risk. lol |
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| pianoman41 |
quote:
Originally posted by Static
I can answer #2 even though I dont have one. Just about every car starter out ther imediately shuts the car off if you press the brake. Since you have to press the brake to take the car out of park... bam. not going anywhere.
And THANK YOU PianoMan... it sounded crappy to me when they said it, but I wasnt going to take the risk. lol
Correct. You must press the brake to disengage the shift lever from park and the system checks to see if the key is in the ignition when the brake is depressed. If it is not, the engine dies. This is also how the 'pit-stop' mode works. You can pull up to your favorite coffee shop, press a button on the remote twice, remove the key while it's still running, lock the vehicle and then go in a get your coffee, etc while your vehicle stays running and secure. Then when you return to the vehicle, you put the key back in, turn to the on position and depress the brake and you're back running normal.
As for integrating with the OEM alarm system, it still functions but since my Viper is a combo alarm/remote start the Viper alarm supersedes the OEM one (and is superior in many ways anyway). So the OEM alarm almost becomes a redundant alarm system. Aftermarket ones are *much* better anyway. |
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| quiXilver |
Pianoman41,
If I am not mistaken, I think the X needs the ignition key chip located in the ignition key base to allow someone to start the X. Would you know how the installer got around this with the installation of the remote starter? Did you have to provide him an extra key to be sacrifced and hidden for this purpose? I recall a friend of mine needing to do this for his 2004 Nissan Pathfinder. The installer cut off the metal part of the ignition key and hid the base somewhere near the ignition key hole. I am not sure if this is still the case for the new remote starters.
Thanks
quiXilver |
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| pianoman41 |
quote:
Originally posted by quiXilver
Pianoman41,
If I am not mistaken, I think the X needs the ignition key chip located in the ignition key base to allow someone to start the X. Would you know how the installer got around this with the installation of the remote starter? Did you have to provide him an extra key to be sacrifced and hidden for this purpose? I recall a friend of mine needing to do this for his 2004 Nissan Pathfinder. The installer cut off the metal part of the ignition key and hid the base somewhere near the ignition key hole. I am not sure if this is still the case for the new remote starters.
Thanks
quiXilver
That's the real old way of doing it. When vehicles first came out with the chipped keys (GM was the first to do it in 1998-1999), the only way to install a remote start was to tape a key (or the keyhead with the chip in it) to the inside of the steering column so when the car was remote started the brain 'saw' the key near the ignition and assumed it was in it, so the car would start. The problem is, this completely defeats the purpose of the chip and disables an important anti-theft feature of the vehicle.
For my '02 TL-S I had to sacrifice a key to put in a box 'reader' that would check for the presence of the anti-theft chip when the vehicle was remote-started. This was the next step up from just taping the key inside the steering column. The box is hidden somewhere under the dash and when the car is remote started, the ignition looks to the box to see if the chip is there and if so it allows the car to start. This way, if someone was trying to mess with the ignition and hot wire it, without the remote start brain being activated the vehicle would still look for a chip in the ignition (not the box) and since the thief didn't have one the car wouldn't start. Some places still do this, although it's considered an older method of install.
When I had the Viper installed in the MDX they were able to use a different kind of box that reads the chip electronic 'signature' and then emulates that signal when the car is remote started so a key is not needed. They needed the key for the installation only, but it was not sacrificed in the install and I got it back when I picked up the car.
So ask your installer how they get around the anti-theft chip in the key. The first method should not be used at all, the second method works but the latest method should be used when at all possible. They usually charge extra for the key box and even more for the emulation box, but if you want it done right this is what you need to do. |
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| quiXilver |
Thanks for following, Pianoman41. Very informative.
quiXilver |
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