Before we dive into a discussion of the potential benefits and drawbacks of purchasing a dealer-installed remote car starter, let’s make it clear that, as they say, your mileage may vary. What we mean is that no two installers will install a car starter the same way, and your car dealer might offer high-quality products and employ an expertly trained technician with years of experience. The alternative, as we’ll point out in this article, is that someone unqualified might be messing with the wiring in the dash of your brand-new vehicle.

The Dealership Remote Starter Sales Process

More often than not, new cars don’t come with a remote car starter. Cars are often designed as global solutions, so while the folks in Mexico could benefit from letting the air conditioning run for a few minutes on a 120-degree summer day, most people associate starter systems with cold weather. If you ask about a starter during the purchase process and it’s not something on the feature list in the brochure, chances are very good that the dealership will be performing, or at least coordinating, the installation before you pick up the vehicle. This is very common and not in any way abnormal. Hundreds of reputable mobile enhancement shops around the country provide upgrades and enhancements for local car dealers.

Find Out Who’s Working on Your Vehicle

Let’s get to the point, shall we? If you agree to purchase a remote car starter system from the dealership, you need to ask a few very important questions. First, find out who will be installing the system in the vehicle. Ask for proof of their qualifications. Sadly, and though there are exceptions, automotive repair technicians are not always trained to upgrade vehicles reliably. If a local shop is doing the work, visit that shop and ask to see samples of their wiring. Quality retailers will typically be able to show you how they prep the remote starter hardware before working on the vehicle.

How Are Electrical Connections Made?

A car or truck driving down the road is subject to often intense vibrations. All of these little bumps and wiggles can wreak havoc on poorly executed electrical connections. Vehicle manufacturers have invested millions of dollars to ensure that the wiring in your vehicle is secure and connections to components remain reliable. It’s crucial that you know how the shop that is going to work on your car will make mechanically stable connections when installing a car starter. There are many different ways to connect two wires. When executed properly, both soldered and crimped connections can work well. What doesn’t work well is twisting and taping or T-taps.

What Remote Starter System Are You Buying?

Next, and of similar importance to the reliability of your vehicle, is the quality of the remote starter hardware. There are very inexpensive starter systems on the market. These systems often don’t include many extra features or options and definitely don’t provide much range. You may find that old starter technology puts greater strain on a vehicle’s electrical system. If you don’t drive at least once or twice a week, you could wake up to a dead or very weak battery on a cold morning.

Find out what brand of starter is being installed in the vehicle. It’s your money, and you most certainly have the right to know what’s being installed in your car.

Remote Range and Control Options

If you visit a specialty mobile enhancement retailer to purchase a car starter, they should ask you a series of questions that will help them determine which product is best for your situation. This extends beyond knowing the make, model and year of the vehicle. The salesperson should be trying to determine how much remote range you need, if you need a single- or multi-button remote, if you want rear window defroster control, if there are heated seats, a heated steering wheel or perhaps a power sliding door in a minivan that you want to open remotely. If you aren’t being asked these questions, the process is broken.

Another great option is a telematics solution. Products like DroneMobile allow you to use an app on your phone to start your car with a simple tap. You can even upgrade the service to include GPS-based vehicle locating and geofencing features for added safety.

What Should a Car Starter Cost?

The answer to this is tricky. Without knowing exactly what you are getting, it’s hard to determine value. We suggest that you shop around at some local specialty retailers to find out what they charge for a car starter for your vehicle. The owner of the Mazda CX-5 with the single-function, pull-up antenna remote shown above was charged $700 for the car starter system. That’s an unreasonable price for old technology.

Choose Who Works on Your Vehicle

Before you agree to any dealership-installed upgrades on a new vehicle, find out exactly what they intend to do. Get the make and model of the car starter (or window tint or paint protection film) and do some research. Chances are, a local specialty mobile enhancement retailer can offer a similar or better solution, with a better installation for improved reliability, often for a lot less money.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Leaving your vehicle unattended and running is an open invitation for thieves to steal your car or truck. In Northern states and Canada, these crimes are often called warm-up thefts, and their frequency peaks as cold weather arrives. The reality is, whether you’re letting your air conditioning run on a hot summer day in Texas or Arizona or have the heater and rear window defroster going on a cold morning in North Dakota or Alberta, leaving your vehicle running and unattended is a dangerous proposition. Let’s look at how you can prevent someone from stealing your vehicle and still have it comfortable inside when it’s time to go.

What Are Warm-Up Thefts?

Imagine the all-so-common scenario of wanting to start your vehicle’s engine so it can warm up before you leave for work. You throw on a coat and boots, head out, put the key in the ignition and start the vehicle. While you’re back in the house grabbing your coffee and lunch bag, a thief can hop in the car or truck and drive away a matter of seconds.

Not only is your car or truck gone, but you also have the hassle of explaining the whole thing to the police and your insurance company. Many insurers want to see the vehicle keys before paying to replace your car or truck, a policy that comes in the wake of many fraudulent claims.

Can You Keep Your Vehicle Locked?

If you recall back to the ’80s, cars came with two keys. One key was for the ignition and the other was for the door locks. Back then, it was easy to start the vehicle, then lock the doors to keep things secure. As we’ve moved to single-key and keyless solutions, the simple issue of locking the car doors while having the engine running is more complicated. If the key is in the car, how are you going to lock it?

For cars with keyless entry systems, very few will allow you to lock the doors with the remote once the engine has started. Even without the key nearby, these cars can often be driven away. A new key might cost the thief a few hundred dollars and he or she still makes a tidy profit selling the stolen vehicle.

Remote Car Starters Let You Warm the Vehicle Safely

The beauty of a remote car starter is that when it’s integrated into the vehicle properly, your car or truck is just as difficult to steal once started as it is when off. Car starter systems don’t typically bypass security functions like transponder or proximity keys. As such, in order to drive a remote started vehicle, you still need the original key. Likewise, once the engine has started, a process that takes a second or two, the doors usually remain locked. Finally, almost every starter system is tied into the brake or clutch. If either pedal is pressed before the ignition is turned on with one of the original vehicle keys, the starter system shuts the engine down immediately.

Questions about how your specific vehicle works should be directed to the sales team at your local specialty mobile enhancement retailer before you agree to the installation.

Avoid Warm-Up Thefts with an Auto Start System

If you’re hoping to avoid being the victim of a warm-up theft, the options are simple: Stay in the vehicle while it warms up, or have a high-quality remote start system installed by a professional. As we remind all of our readers, wisely choose the technician who’s going to work on your vehicle. The safety and reliability of your car, truck or SUV depends on how each connection is executed, where components are located and the integration and starter hardware you choose. Upgrades and modifications to your vehicle should never be taken lightly.

Drop by a few of the specialty mobile enhancement retailers in your area and ask them about the car starter products they offer and how they perform their installations. Better yet, ask to look at examples of their work. Once you know your options, you can choose the retailer that offers the highest-quality solution.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.