Posted: 12/2/2010 6:36:03 AM EDT
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Hello good people of ARFCOM! I am finally going to get a durn remote start for my GMC Acadia... been talking about the last few years and after the rough winter last winter I am finally going to do it! When someone asks what I want for Christmas I am telling them a gift card to Best Buy! a few questions I have: 1) Is this something that I can install myself? I don't mean to brag, but I have an engineering degree and can stumble my way around a car. Not a car guru by any means, but I could change a water pump ifn' I need to.... at least on the older cars! 2) Anyone have one of these Viper jobbies? Most of the feedback I see is positive, but some negative. Anyone using one on a SUV, CUV type of a vehicle? 3) Leaning heavily on purchasing the Viper 5301... any experience out there with this particular unit? Thanks in advance!
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The Viper alarms/starters have been good for me over the years. I've had some of their competitors products and they are not even close to the same quality. I would strongly suggest letting a very experienced installer install the unit for you. One mistake could set off your airbags costing you thousands.
You will likely need to take a key with you that they will install in the alarm or a component of the alarm. I always use the valet key for this. There is usually about $100 in additional charges for extra pieces that your car will need (key reader, etc) so don't be surprised. Also be prepared to leave your vehicle with the installer for about a day. |
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I have a Viper installed in my '05 Avalanche. A 791 I think.
This is a bitchin system. I had to take mine back for repair a few weeks ago, the remote start and locks quit working. They fixed it for free because of the LIFETIME warranty (just a loose wire). I have gotten it to work at 3/4 mile in line of sight. I paid about $425 or so back in '05. The same place sold the newer smarter version with more features for $475. I considered installing one myself and found a few do-it-yourself websites and it looked like it could take a first time installer with no prior experience, about 2 days to do it right. The alarm shop installed it in 2 hours. Dont do it yourself, you wont have the warranty, but you will have all of the headaches. I thought about BestBuy but I went with a local auto accessories place that SPECIALIZES is this stuff. they were actually cheaper than BB So, in conclusion, buy it from a place that specializes in car stereos and alarms and have them install it. |
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I had Best Buy install a Viper 5101 in my wife's '09 Sonata about a month ago. The only complaint I have is that it's a little picky about the timing of the button presses to get it to start via remote, but I'd imagine that's something the installer could change via programming. It took their installer 4 hours to get it hooked up and running, and that's without a transponder key like your Acadia probably has. This might be a DIY project on an older and simpler car, but I'd let a pro do this. That being said, all Best Buy installers are *not* created equal. Try not to go to a ghetto store that installs 100 bass cannons a day, they won't really do the same quality of work. |
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You are unlikely to fire the airbags.
Get a Fortin bypass, they have tech support. You can download the wiring diagram for your truck, then go one wire at a time. ...................IMPORTANT............learn to solder, and make neat and smallish solder connections........................... avoid "scotch locks" or T taps. loose, poor, lazy connections are the biggest cause of failure. Use scotch super 33 only, cheap tape will suck later. Read the install guide cover to cover, and find a knowledgeable electricity type of friend to help. I know, I install remote starters. 
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Quoted: You are unlikely to fire the airbags. Get a Fortin bypass, they have tech support. You can download the wiring diagram for your truck, then go one wire at a time. ...................IMPORTANT............learn to solder, and make neat and smallish solder connections........................... avoid "scotch locks" or T taps. loose, poor, lazy connections are the biggest cause of failure. Use scotch super 33 only, cheap tape will suck later. Read the install guide cover to cover, and find a knowledgeable electricity type of friend to help. I know, I install remote starters. I have found the wiring diagrams and am still iffy on doing it myself... BTW, the engineering I referred to earlier was Electrical... I can solder pretty decent! at least on a board I can! I will check into the Fortin bypass, but from what I am reading on some Acadia forms is that the 07 and 08 Acadia's are pre-wired from the factory for remote start.... Much more to learn!
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