Remote Start brand & installer suggestions wanted

[hooah]

:confused2: Hey, just yesterday purchase a 2001 Yukon and then it snowed last night. I woke up with the words "remote start" on my lips and want some guidance. To make a long question short, which remote has the best quality/price/function ratio and which "national" installer does the best install? I know my history with electronics, and really shouldn't install it myself, and I want a warranty that will cover me as I travel state to state. I don't need a lot of options, but I do need to be able to tell if the truck started or not. Thanks.

 

[Sepiroth]

I gotta say i have had good luck with Best Buy. I had them install a remote start in a previous vehicle of mine. I have heard horror stories about chain shop employees cutting corners. What I ended up doing was tossing the installer a 50 and told him to do a good job.

Afterwards when my car was done, I went home and inspected the guys work. He used the appropriate heat shrink and solder. Not this crimp and tape b.s. He really took his time with the setup, I could tell.

 

[Polecat]

if it's a remote start built by DEI, Viper,etc...it's good. As for a Viper. Good stuff!

 

[hooah]

Sepiroth, that's a bit of a surprise, that Best Buys installs. I thought they were strictly register sales types. Which system did you have them install, what was the cost and how is it working out? I could maybe grease his palm with $10, but no way $50.
Polecat, good looking truck there. I see a lot of mention about both DEI and Vipers, and get the impression they are two of the main players in this sort of electronics. There is a local Car Toys that may sell them, but the one time I was in there, the guy appeared to be flakey and didn't give me any confidence in his abilities. I'll look around for another installer when I find the right product. Thanks

 

[Polecat]

thanks for the kind words!

Yea, DEI, is Harmon Kardon company. So they are HUGE, in car ad home audio, remote starts,etc.
Here's the website, they have alot of brands, adn features. Check em out.

http://www.directed.com/

 

[hooah]

Thanks Polecat, thanks for the site, and it looks like just a Viper remote start system is going to be in the $350 neighborhood. I'm out of here now, to stop by the dealers and tire shop, but I'll use tomorrow to try to focus in on a specific model and then a place to get it installed. Thanks

 

[Polecat]

no problem, I ran a search on there for my Yukon, for a remote start and alarm, part #5102, was about $449 on their site, but that's probably MSRP, on the high side...no need for the pager, etc...a basic remote start and alarm is fine...unless you like the idea of a pager to your remote, if there is a theft attempt.

 

[boostaholic]

I paid about $600 installed for my clifford (dei) matrix 50.5x and couldn't be happier with it. I can turn my heated seats on remotely and even open the sunroof. I've started it from 4 blocks away downtown and it has an integrated temperature control.

 

[hooah]

Hey Polecat, I stopped by the GMC dealer earlier and their eyes glazed over when I asked if they installed remote starts. He said the new Yukons already have remote starts, which meant nothing, so I threw myself a lifesaver, started talking about the weather, and we never mentioned it again. I really don't need any of the other options, like alarms and window controls. Boostaholi, if I had the extras, I'd probably end up loosing my truck because I opened the windows and sunroof and didn't know it or couldn't figure out how to close them. Besides, around here, if you roll the window down and them immediately roll it back up, you'll catch somebody's arm. Their really fast. No, I just want a nice simple remote start that let's me know it started. Thanks

 

[Polecat]

Sounds like the same part number I posted above, simple and will do what you need

 

[OmarR]

Wherever you decide to get it installed at, just make sure they solder, heat shrink (or use quality Super 33 electrical tape), and hide everything. NO t-taps or scotch-loks.

Alot of the chain stores already have a "solder only" policy, but installers can and do violate it. (Just like any policy at any company in any type of business) Make sure you find a store that does all this. It would be preferable to talk to the installer. The sales guy....well, he is just a sales guy.

If you use one of the chain stores (Best Buy, Circuit City, etc) and they do not solder, demand they fix it or have them take it out and refund your money.

 

[hooah]

Hey OmarR, thanks for the reminder. I'll just tell them up front that I have rewired a Chris Craft in the past, know what heat-shrink and the tools look like, and maybe they won't try to short-change me. I'll also let them know that I'm going to inspect everything before I leave the parking lot. Then I'll hang around the garage door as their doing the install and give them the "I can see you" look. Because I'll be traveling this winter, it has to be a national shop, with branches in other states who will honor the warranty, like Best Buy, Car Toys. Thanks for the reminder.