Remote Start

[Lvnmarks]

Looking to buy a remote start and was wonder what one to get. To be honest I'm completely clueless to these so I'm the type of guy to walk in to a Best Buy and buy whatever the zit face behind the counter tells me to buy. All I know is I want a two way and I would like to be able to roll my windows down from the remote. What do you guys think?


This is for my 01 TC

 

[tixer]

I've installed a few of these in my day, and it is difficult to make it anything less than a hack-job. There's a fist-sized bundle of wires, and each of them have to be spliced into something. On the newer cars you'll have to bypass the RFID chip in the key, as well. Either by securing an extra key under the dash, or using a module to bypass the system electronically. I've seen both done. I doubt there's much of a theft-risk on these Town Cars, so I'm not too worried about the end effect of bypassing the security.

Interestingly enough, this Town Car I just bought appears to have one installed, but I was not provided with a remote. I have yet to dig under the dash to find out just how shoddy the install is.

If you are doing it yourself, and don't mind sitting upside-down in your driver's seat for a few hours, it can be done well. It is something I wouldn't trust most shops to do a good job on though.

Edit: I wonder if I just figured out why the previous owners only had one key to give me with the car...

 

[Lvnmarks]

Sounds like I'm inviting you over for free beer and pizza once I buy one.

I have had Best Buy install them before and Ultimate too. They did a good job but I want a good job that won’t lead to electrical faults in 6 years that causes me to have to remove the R/S. I have an extra PATS key that I can do that with. How close to the ignition does it have to be?

There is nothing and never really will be anything in my car to steel so I don’t need a security system but I don’t want two remotes to carry around. If I can do this for $300-$400 I would be happy.

 

[tixer]

Me and my big mouth...

I swore I'd never do another one, but I suppose exceptions can be made...

 

[Lvnmarks]

Dont worry man, I just need supervision if I do it my self. But I dont know if I will.

 

[steve]

I am not a big fans of remote starters, unless maybe if it is factory installed. Also excessive idling on startup is not the best for your engine/drivetrain or warm-up.

 

[Lvnmarks]

I would have to disagree, I always let my car warm up a bit when it’s cold out. Too many people get in there car, start it and even before the starter is disengaged there at 30mph. technically we should never drive the car till the oil is up to operating temp. At least in aviation that is the case.

 

[steve]

not true with cars, a soon as the fast idle goes down (usually under 30 seconds) you should proceed slowly, the fluids will warm up better while driving.

 

[Lvnmarks]

With some of the cold mornings here it is necessary to have defrost working. Cold cars aren’t good at that (obviously). I've seen people driving around with a 3 inch hole of clear glass on their wind screen (I’m guilty of it too). Other then not burning fuel efficiently, no real harm will come from a few min of idling in the winter.

Plus the real issue is no one wants’ to hear their wife complain about how cold it is

 

[steve]

The Marks did have a plug-in heater option. :thumbsup:

 

[Lvnmarks]

Thought about that too, I would have to install one and I don’t know how effective the aftermarket kits go for.... In my model T club they told me stories of old farmers starting a fire then pushing the coals under the cars to heat the oil enough to hand crank the motors. Glad we don’t have to do that anymore.

 

[budpytko]

Guess we'd all be a little thinner, eh?

 

[Lvnmarks]

I need to be thinner!