Starting a Car Remotely

Also known as the remote engine starter, the remote starter kit, and the remote starter in automobile lingo, the remote car starter, considered by many car experts and enthusiasts as a state-of-the-art aftermarket accessory, has brought a new level of convenience to car owners. Although using this accessory is currently popular in the West, most notably in the United States, Canada, and most parts of the European continent, a growing number of car owners in the East have also been noted to be using remote starters as well. However, despite the benefits of using this accessory, questions are being asked by car owners who are still overly cautious about having a remote starter installed, particularly if their cars are a bit special - an Isotta-Fraschini 8C Monterosa perhaps?. Below are the questions that these wary car owners frequently ask:

1. Will the installation of a remote car starter invalidate the vehicle warranty?
The straight answer is no. Laws and statutes that protect the consumers' welfare are in place to prevent dealerships and manufacturers from invalidating any warranty just because an aftermarket accessory had been installed. The only way any dealership or manufacturer can invalidate a warranty is to prove convincingly that the remote starter or its installation had caused damage to the engine or the electrical system.

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2. Will it work on cars with a manual transmission?
Yes. The latest models of reputable remote car starters are technically designed to work seamlessly on cars with manual transmission systems; however, the installation will be more complex because special circuitry and gadgets will have to be installed in order to achieve the desired functionality.

3. Can the installation be done by a do-it-yourself guy?
It is strongly discouraged to have a do-it-yourself guy do the installation. There are many instructional videos that teaches how to install the remote starter, but in the real sense, these videos are just teaching one how to become dangerous. Newer car models have become more advanced with their complex control chips and circuits and as such, the tortuous procedure involved in the installation would be best left to highly skilled and well-trained professionals. Furthermore, improper or defective installation can lead to warranty issues.

4. What are the important features to look for?
Different brands of remote car starters may have different features; however, the more added features a remote car starter has, the pricier it becomes. Nonetheless, hereunder are two features that will suffice in most cases:

a. Powerful Transmitter – The longer the range of the transmitter, the better it will be. Many reputable brands claim that their transmitters have a range of 900 feet, which can be useful when the car is parked somewhere far. Some high-end brands claim to have a range of up to one mile.

b. Engine RPM Sensor – With this feature, the remote starter can determine whether or not the engine has started. Should the engine fail to start on the first try, which sometimes happen during winter, the remote starter will attempt to restart the engine.

5. With its engine already running, will the car be vulnerable to thieves?
No. Remote car starters have an anti-theft feature that keeps the car locked after the engine has been remotely started. In addition, this feature makes it impossible to shift from “Park” to “Drive” as well as shuts off the engine when the brake pedal is depressed if the key isn't in the ignition.