Remote Starter - Should I Do it MYSELF???

mennindj · 10-18-2008, 05:35 PM

Its starting to get cold and I wanted to get a jump on installing a remote starter/alarm system. Has anybody done a DIY on this or have any links of step-by-step install? Any help would be great

suprapt · 10-21-2008, 06:19 AM

lol that would've been a great DIY post..
i had a viper remote start alarm system before cuz i need to warm up the turbos.. a friend of mine installed it onto a manual transmission car.. good stuff

mennindj · 10-22-2008, 03:01 PM

bump...nothing anyone?

djphibes · 10-23-2008, 01:50 AM

I'm about to get the oled autopage. Not sure yet if I'm ganna do the install or let someone else do it.

crossafied · 11-02-2008, 11:52 AM

a remote start/alarm will be the frist on my list of many things to install. i ve used viper before. anyone have any other suggestions as far as brands?

Lt4mula · 10-16-2009, 08:52 PM

Got a quote for $440 (installed) for a Auto page C3-RS730 remote starter.

C3-RS730 LCD - 2-Way Communications - AutoPage

If i were to buy one on my own, i would probably shop around for viper of DEI or something. I would probably get an alarm too.

I found that I could by it new for under $150. That means $300 in labor.
So I am considering the DIY approach. After some research, i found some DIYs for other vehicles, none for an xb.

It looks pretty straight forward, but I'm still a little nervous about trying it myself. It looks like i just need to tap an ignition wire, unlock/lock, and relay the clutch switch.

Here are some parameters to consider:

Time: I can dedicate one staight 7-8 hour day to finish. Longer if i can drive the car without finishing it in one shot

My skills: never installed a remote starter. But ive done stereo/amp/subs stuff and pulled and dropped a few engines. I am a year away from a bachelors in mechanical engineering, but struggled in my electrical engineering lab

So, should I do it myself???
Has anybody done this on a 1st gen? Pics? Wiring Diagrams?

I drive 2006 Xb manual.

Here is some stuff i found in my research:
2009 Toyota Corolla Remote Start Vehicle Prep Installer Central

Viper (DEI) 5701 Remote Start DIY -

I'm hoping toyota stays consistent with their wiring

Mrs_Black_Box · 10-16-2009, 09:01 PM

i ouldn't do it urself, i have a remote start & paied the same price for the actualy remote start & the same for labor. even aaron (Black Box) my husand wouldn't even do it & he does electrical stuff for a living. just my input, the 300 labor i think is worth it

Lt4mula · 10-16-2009, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrs_Black_Box

i ouldn't do it urself, i have a remote start & paied the same price for the actualy remote start & the same for labor. even aaron (Black Box) my husand wouldn't even do it & he does electrical stuff for a living. just my input, the 300 labor i think is worth it

He wouldn't do it himself?!? Didn't he cut his car in half or something?

That definitely tips the scale a little bit.

bigguy · 10-16-2009, 09:52 PM

Its really not to hard. but with a manual its risky without help, if you want to drive to tampa fl ill give you a hand??

Mrs_Black_Box · 10-16-2009, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lt4mula

He wouldn't do it himself?!? Didn't he cut his car in half or something?

That definitely tips the scale a little bit.

haha yes i know, he will cut the roof off his car but wouldn't wire a remote start lol

Black_Box · 10-17-2009, 01:04 AM

dont want to fry the ECU somehow. i can fix my roof, but not afford a ECU. both of my xBs have auto start...all i care about..lmao

Lt4mula · 10-17-2009, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigguy

Its really not to hard. but with a manual its risky without help, if you want to drive to tampa fl ill give you a hand??

Ha, I'm from Minnesota. Its getting cold. Don't like starting it and leaving the keys in there, I live in the city right now. What are you doing with remote start in FL anyway!!
Anyway, I found this clutch pedal bypass DIY online somewhere. Is this how you would usually do it?

Quote:

if youre adding remote start to an xB you will obviously have to bypass the clutch so it will start. The advantage to wiring it this way is that if you ever give someone your keys to take your car for any reason, they still have to push in the clutch to start the car. This is how Ive wired it in my xB.

You will need a Bosch style relay (SPDT) and some extra wire/connectors to wire this to your remote start.

The clutch switch has two wires leading to it and is located near the bottom of the clutch pedal assembly. When the pinswitch is depressed, the two wires create a circuit that sends a signal to the starter to start the car. What you have to do is "fool" the car into thinking that the pedal is down and complete the circuit.

Wiring:
Terminal ----> Where the wire goes
86 ------> constant 12v = battery
85 ------> ground wire from remote start while its engaged. On DEI systems this wire is usually reffered to as the status output wire.
30 ------> one of the two clutch switch wires
87 ------> the other clutch switch wire

Do not cut off the clutch switch, simply tap the wires from 30 and 87 onto them and solder them into place. Now when the remote start is activated it will complete the circuit and start the car. When starting the car with the key you will still have to push in the clutch to start it.

note- I tried just pulsing ground to one side of the switch and it quickly blew a fuse under the hood. this is why I wired it this way.

Quote:

dont want to fry the ECU somehow. i can fix my roof, but not afford a ECU. both of my xBs have auto start...all i care about..lmao

So that's what I'm up against... Hmmm... still contemplating... Cause if i learn how to do it, i can do it over and over. I Need a Ginnie Pig car.

Staticlink05 · 10-18-2009, 12:11 AM

well i hope you figure it out haha! i installed a clifford alarm auto start system on mine and OMG i took like the whole day figuring it out haha! but i got it dont and its freaking AWSOME!!

good luck with your install!

eargasm · 10-18-2009, 04:20 AM

Code-Alarm makes some good stuff as well.. Viper/Python/Avital are good pieces but the prices keep going up up UP UP.. Code is pretty much all we install anymore.. lifetime warranty even on the remotes. Some of the DEI stuff has Lifetime warranty (not on remotes) but the lifetime warranty is only good for the first year, after that it's 40 bux for a rebuilt unit..
As for the install.. not that hard, if you've never done one.. be careful or let an experienced installer do it..I've been doing it for over 14 yrs and wouldn't wish some of these cars on anyone.. but the xB's arent that bad.

Black_Box · 10-18-2009, 02:01 PM

..as i told some one else on here, ill cut the roof off my car, but wont wire in a auto start, both of my xBs have an auto start....i had a freind do it that did it for a living. i didnt want to take the risk of frying some wiring of my ECU...let a installer do that...cause they do it from time to time.

bigguy · 10-18-2009, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lt4mula

Ha, I'm from Minnesota. Its getting cold. Don't like starting it and leaving the keys in there, I live in the city right now. What are you doing with remote start in FL anyway!!
Anyway, I found this clutch pedal bypass DIY online somewhere. Is this how you would usually do it?

So that's what I'm up against... Hmmm... still contemplating... Cause if i learn how to do it, i can do it over and over. I Need a Ginnie Pig car.

RS Not only warms your car, but cools it down as well. but ya that looks right. just make sure it is not left in gear EVER or you will get in a good amount of trouble

Lt4mula · 10-19-2009, 02:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigguy

RS Not only warms your car, but cools it down as well. but ya that looks right. just make sure it is not left in gear EVER or you will get in a good amount of trouble

Yeah, I know. I've seen the results of that exact incident. I did read about one setup where they keep the car running until the door is opened, switching the car into the off position. That way, if the car is left in gear, the car will stall out as a warning. I gotta find where I read that. But I'm sure clever relay wiring could accomplish that... Or I could just be careful.

BTW, it must be painfully hot in the car after a long day at the beach, huh?

Lt4mula · 10-20-2009, 02:18 PM

I think I'm going to do it. And if I'm successful, I'll post a DIY!

Some more cool ideas for safety switches:
Modifry's S2000 Remote Start Interlocks

This is a good idea too. It would help with the initial setup to make sure everything works, and diagnose wiring problems.

Lt4mula · 11-08-2009, 10:28 PM

I did it! Not difficult at all, just time consuming. Any one who knows how to use a multimeter and a soldering iron can do it.

If anyone is interested in trying it, i'll try to find time to write a DIY.

thehump · 11-12-2009, 01:42 PM

I agree, shouldnt be too hard. I just finished wiring a clifford alarm into the XB with immobilizer, and have done remote starters on other cars... The only thing I found interesting with the XB is a lot of the electronics is ground/negative switched, so if your alarm or remote starter is expecting to use a positive output to trigger something, you will need to wire in a relay to change the polarity (which are pretty cheap, under 5 bucks at local car parts places)