viper remote start

[Izzmo]

I am thinking about getting a viper remote start, with the PATS module, for about $450. does anyone have any opinions on it and does anyone know of a better remote start?

also, does anyone know how hard of an install this is?

 

[spazmoid]

I don't know much about this, but just so you know, if you have an iphone you can control your car, lock/unlock,trunk,start, all from your phone! It just requires some extra viper component.

 

[Izzmo]

Yeah I know.. but I don't have an iPhone because they are lame ass phones.

 

[jmpSHO]

I have a Prestige alarm with the 2 way remote and I wish I purchased the Viper. Supposedly it (Viper) has the best range which was and is my only concern when I am starting my vehicle. I wouldn't recommend prestige to anyone. I even contacted them and complained and they sent me a new brain and antenna with the same results. Definately buy the Viper.

 

[Izzmo]

Thanks. Yeah I saw on the expensive package it has a range up to a mile! That's crazy talk right there.. but damn that's cool.

 

[SHOMEX]

Viper remote starts are some of the best in the market and they are worth every penny; I have the one with the two way antenna and Lcd display for about 6 yrs without any problems and still working like the day it was new.
About the instalation (how hard it is) it depends on how many options you want to install, but definitly not a job for starters.
I would not buy a cheap alarm or remote start because as others said they tend to go bad real soon. (a waste of money)

 

[Izzmo]

Well.. I'm a starter.. but I know my electronics.. (I'm an EE major.. so yeah I probably should!).

jlros75, did you install yours yourself?

 

[hawkeye18]

Being an EE means nothing. I've known more EEs who didn't know resistor color codes than I can shake a stick at. :theyareontome:

 

[Izzmo]

WHAT!? No way? That's horrible. Well I am not one of them

 

[SHOMEX]

No I didnt do it; it was my brother the one who did it; he is really good with electronics and all that stuff. (something I am not very good at)

 

[Izzmo]

Oh yeah.. I remember pm'ing you now.. duh

 

[kevinatd]

As a professional electronics installer and a viper/clifford authorized dealer, I would not recommend doing it yourself. If you have never installed a remote start, then you won't know what to do. They don't exactly come with an instruction manual for your specific vehicle. As far as PATS is concerned, if you don't get the right interface, you could have problems starting the car down the road. Besides, a viper not installed by an authorized dealer has ZERO warranty! Dealers are not even supposed to sell over the counter or they will have their dealer agreement cancelled. Find a reputable specialty dealer in your area and do your homework. Viper has a lifetime warranty on there product and they stand behind it. The dealer you chose, on the other hand, may not.

 

[Izzmo]

I know, I'm taking business away from you (or other potential dealers), but how hard could it possibly be?

The problem with going to a dealer: they charge you a fortune. $400 gets you a basic remote start.. while I would pay $450 with remote start and bunch of other cools things.

I bet I could find an installation guide somewhere on the net.

 

[bacernate]

I've helped my nephew install in a couple previous vehicles I had [when I lived back in butt cold Iowa]. And I can tell you that I'm an ase master tech and it was the biggest bunch of ******** I've ever done. Except for the month or so I got to install blow and go's for the drunks.
Pay someone to do it. My 97 had a hack job remote start / alarm in it which I've removed.
I had an astroflex unit in my caravan and I could be inside Walmart at the checkout and start it in the middle of the lot, it had very good range.

 

[Izzmo]

Well, I decided to take all of your opinions to heart and just have the system installed professionaly. It was done within 2 hours and it works great!

I got the 2-way 5303 Avital system (which is made by the same people who make Viper.. so it's the same pretty much, just cheaper).

Just a couple questions that maybe some of you can answer:

Will the hood and trunk triggers work? I think they hooked it straight up to the car computer. The door alarm works.. but the hood and trunk don't seem to trigger the alarm.

Any ideas?