[593]

hello. my wife's b-day is coming up fairly soon and she really wants to get a remote start system for her car since it is so damned cold here in minnesota. her car is a 2000 grand prix gt with auto trans.

i see that there are several different brands to choose from starting at $49.99 and go up from there. the local places want $250 for installation and they do good business at that price so it must not be too far out of line....they also list a kit for around $40.00 extra that will allow them to install it without cutting and splicing wiring.

financially there is no way i could afford the $250 installation charge (times are tough for a lot of us right now) and was thinking of doing the install myself.

my question is...are they really that hard or time consuming to install and has anyone on this board actually installed one themselves? any certain kit better than the others? any tips? were you happy with the end result? any issues with the install or performance of the remote start itself?

i appreciate any feedback you can give me whether it be good or bad.

 

[Guest]

Well, if the car was an older model, I would say go for it. However, unless you are really comfortable with today's more complex auto electronics, you might want to think of saving for the pro install. Most people could probably get through one of these installs, but plan on it taking a few days, and LOTS of patience (not to mention the expense of replacing an ecu or airbag). If you have any friends that have done this sort of thing, buy some beer and get some extra hands. If you'd like a little more online help try these guys http://www.carsound.com/cgi-bin/UBB_CGI/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=forum;f=3;DaysPrune=365. You won't find a more experienced or technically capable group of people anywhere. They are a little like the guys at pirate, just not quite as extreme. Read all you can find online, and make an informed decision. This stuff isn't impossible, just tedious and time consuming. Good luck.

 

[zooky]

I've installed 5 or 6 of these already. I recommend this brand. Its the easiest and its a good quality and they are cheap. I've done a few other brands and I like these the best. I can do it in about 1.5-2 hours now. Your in luck with the Grand Prix, they make a T-harness where you unplug a connector, plug this in then plug the other connector into. I havent used one yet but it really should simplify the install. She will LOVE it, there is nothing like getting into a warm, defrosted car in the morning. I will never own a automatic car without it.

 

[593]

jewellboy, yeah i am worried about the ecm,airbag, electronics etc....i just didn't like the idea of cuting and spicing the wiring on a perfect condition car. if it was just a bomber or a zuk i wouldn't care, but this is different. i have done an efi conversion but i am not by any means an electrical expert.

zooky, that "T" plug thing is what i was told about at the installation places. that would be really nice if i could do the install without doing much cut and splice. any clue if i was to get the kit you suggested with the "t" plugs if i would still be running much of a risk of damaging the ecm, setting off airbags, or damaging other componants?

any other opinions?

 

[zooky]

In reply to:

still be running much of a risk of damaging the ecm, setting off airbags, or damaging other componants?

[/ QUOTE ] no, I dont think so, its really strait forward, the website lists the wire color codes you need to tap into for your car. Before hand, I pull out the unused wires, use tachless mode, and dont hook up stuff like the parking light, tach, horn and dome light wires (on most newer cars the parking lights come on anyways so why hook up the wire). That reduces the amount of wires to hook up. Its an easy install, dont be intiminated by it.

 

[593]

cool. thanks again zooky!