Posted: 1/22/2004 9:54:13 PM EDT
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(This does NOT apply to anyone that lives in a nice warm climate year round) It's been frickin' cold here in NY for the past couple of weeks or so. I'm deciding wheter or not to get an automatic car starter for my 2003 Nissan Xterra SE-S/C, so that I can fire the bitch up from inside my warm house. I figure by the time I get to my truck the snow/frost/ice will have melted and I can just take off. What do you guys have/suggest? |
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It's handy. The remote starter on my jeep is part of my viper alarm system. Just remember when you go to get one installed make SURE they are going wire it so the heater and shit comes on. (Advanced install) Most shops only do the (basic)install free if you bought the system there. |
| I've got one in my 2002 Tacoma Doublecab. It works well and is a fun toy to play with. The remote supposedly works from 1000' away. I have to add that I'm selling the truck right now and probably won't install it on my Pathfinder because of how rarely I actually used the remote starter. |
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just don't get a $50 bulldog from wal-mart. the range sucks and I heard it'll bust your starter. Get one from a reputable shop and have htem install it, unless you're mechanically/electrically inclined. I'm not. I got mine for $200 and change w/ free keyless entry. |
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Got mine in Miller Place, it was $190(tax included)installed, we just haven't installed it yet. Your price may vary due to the individual make's starting requirments. With Ford you need a blank chipped key that wires into the receiver in the engine. We got it for the Explorer but now we're getting rid of it as we just bought a Honda Mommy-Van. So the starter now sits unused..... |
| Just be careful where you get one, and how it's installed. Some cars are VERY sensitive if they have built in security systems. I know two different people (both GM cars) that have had remote starters professionally installed that made the car innoperable. The Nissan will propbably be much easier to work with, but make sure you ask questions about if they have installed one on a vehicle like yours in the past. |
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Quoted: Quoted: This is gonna age me, but... When remote car starters first came out, my little $2 Heathkit transmitter provided much entertainment. [}:D] cynic [LOL][rofl][rofl2] I wonder how many people here actually know what heathkit stuff is... <-----raising hand... Been a while since I've seen it though. |
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Quoted: (This does NOT apply to anyone that lives in a nice warm climate year round) While my official residence is currently Florida - I am in northern Alabama right now and usually end up running the gamut in climates in a given year. Remote starts aren't only great in winter. Walking into an already cooled car in the summer is one of life's simpler pleasures. I'm currently using a Compustar system w/ alarm. The range is incredible, and the convenience is undeniable. It isn't that cold here, but the mornings are frosty - and I have already been out and back once (it is about 6:13) - so remotely heating the car is good stuff. I have a buddy who makes fun of me starting the car with the remote for no reason. He says I just like to show off. Damn right I do - it's about the best thing I have ever purchased - I find myself starting it with the remote even when it would be just as quick to use the key. It's just plain fun. |
| I don't persnally have one in my car but I think they are great for cold NY winters. I have installed many different systems over the years and if installed properly, they will never cause any problems. An experienced installer is worth the $$ for a newer vehicle because they must be tapped into the ignition, brake switch, and doorlock systems. |
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Quoted: Just be careful where you get one, and how it's installed. Some cars are VERY sensitive if they have built in security systems. I know two different people (both GM cars) that have had remote starters professionally installed that made the car innoperable. The Nissan will propbably be much easier to work with, but make sure you ask questions about if they have installed one on a vehicle like yours in the past. The biggest problem with GM installations are on vehicles equipped with the 'chip' ignition. This is where an inexperienced installer can make a mistake. The system is designed to start with the special key with 'chip' and when a remote starter system is installed it must be able to 'fool' the ignition into thinking the key is in it, or else it will never start. The system is not too difficult to defeat, but doing so improperly will cause no start conditions down the road. This goes for any car with a similar type of 'security' system. |
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Funny story (now, anyway). A buddy of mine had a 1995 'Vette and had the remote starter installed. But he had a slight problem with the neutral safety switch (automatic). Our parking garage had a section on an incline in which he would back into. One day he came out, hit the button, and the car took off through the garage by itself. It was lucky that he had parked in such a way that there were no cars parked in front of him. You should have seen him run to get to his car, open the door, and hit the brake. Even funnier was that to unlock the door was another button and in his panic he didn't unlock it. Heathkit... built a computer with one. |
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UPDATE: Had an [b]AviStart 4000[/b] remote car starter installed in my truck yesterday at Best Buy. Total price including install, just under $200 [url]http://www.avital.com/products/ap_as4s.htm[/url] Oh, well what do you know...[:D] Severe Weather Alert from the National Weather Service ...BERGEN NJ-BRONX NY-EASTERN PASSAIC NJ-ESSEX NJ-HUDSON NJ- KINGS (BROOKLYN) NY-NASSAU NY-NEW YORK (MANHATTAN) NY- NORTHEAST SUFFOLK NY-NORTHERN FAIRFIELD CT-NORTHERN MIDDLESEX CT- NORTHERN NEW HAVEN CT-NORTHERN NEW LONDON CT-NORTHERN WESTCHESTER NY- NORTHWEST SUFFOLK NY-ORANGE NY-PUTNAM NY-QUEENS NY- RICHMOND (STATEN IS.) NY-ROCKLAND NY-SOUTHEAST SUFFOLK NY- SOUTHERN FAIRFIELD CT-SOUTHERN MIDDLESEX CT-SOUTHERN NEW HAVEN CT- SOUTHERN NEW LONDON CT-SOUTHERN WESTCHESTER NY-SOUTHWEST SUFFOLK NY- UNION NJ-WESTERN PASSAIC NJ- 518 AM EST SAT JAN 24 2004 ... SOME MORE SNOW IS HEADED FOR THE TRI-STATE REGION TO END THE WEEKEND... LOW PRESSURE MOVING OUT OF THE FOUR CORNERS REGION WILL REACH THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY BY SUNDAY MORNING. THE STORM SYSTEM WILL REDEVELOP ALONG THE ATLANTIC COAST SUNDAY NIGHT... AND MOVE OFFSHORE MONDAY MORNING. PRECIPITATION WILL MOVE INTO THE TRI-STATE REGION SUNDAY EVENING AND OVERSPREAD THE ENTIRE AREA BEFORE THE MONDAY MORNING COMMUTE. WITH THE ARCTIC AIRMASS THAT IS IN PLACE... THE PRECIPITATION WILL FALL IN THE FORM OF SNOW THROUGHOUT SUNDAY NIGHT AND INTO MONDAY. BASED ON THE LATEST FORECAST TRACK OF THIS STORM... THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY OF SEVERAL INCHES OF SNOWFALL FOR THE REGION... ESPECIALLY CLOSER TO THE COAST. IN ADDITION... ANOTHER AREA OF LOW PRESSURE IS EXPECTED TO FORM ALONG THE CAROLINA COAST MONDAY NIGHT AND THEN MOVE EAST. THIS WILL CONTINUE WINTRY WEATHER INTO TUESDAY. SOME WARMER AIR WIL TRY TO WORK INTO THE REGION MONDAY NIGHT. AS A RESULT... THERE COULD BE SOME SLEET OR FREEZING RAIN MIXING IN WITH THE SNOW ALONG THE COAST LATE MONDAY NIGHT. THE ACTUAL AMOUNTS OF SNOWFALL AND WHETHER ANY MIXED PRECIPITATION OCCURS WILL BE HIGHLY DEPENDENT ON THE TRACK OF BOTH SYSTEMS. BE SURE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS FROM YOUR NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION... OR POSSIBLE WATCHES LATER TODAY OR TONIGHT. ... |