5 Frequently Asked Questions about Remote Car Starters
#1 Will a remote car starter void my vehicle’s warranty?
When installed properly, a remote car starter will not void your vehicle’s warranty. The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act prevents a manufacturer from voiding your warranty just because you chose to install an aftermarket product. So if your car dealer tells you that a remote starter will void your warranty, please refer them to this article on the Federal Trade Commission website.
#2 Why is Remote Starter Range Important?
Clients often tell us that they only park 100 feet away from their office or home so they do not need a lot of range. This might be the case, but consider these two pieces of information:
- It is likely that you will want to use your remote car starter when you are at the mall, at a movie, or at a sporting event. You will need much great range and transmitter power in these circumstances.
- Don’t think of it in terms of range…. Think of it in terms of transmitter power. You want a powerful transmitter buy not to start you car from 5000 feet away. You want a powerful transmitter to penetrate concrete walls, go over or around buildings, or deal with the dozens of sources of RF interference surrounding us all day. Typically, the further the range specified, the more powerful the transmitter and the more likely you car will be toasty warm when you get in.
#3 Can a Remote Starter Be Installed on A Manual Transmission?
Yes it can. There are solutions available that, when installed properly, can start your manual transmission vehicle safely and securely. If you take to heart anything in this post, please pay attention to this:
BE SURE TO SELECT A TRAINED PROFESSIONAL TO DO YOUR INSTALLATION.
Manual transmission vehicles need a whole new level of quality control and installation skill. Get this done by a pro or don’t do it at all!
#4 What Is A Transponder Key and How Does It Effect My Remote Car Starter Installation?
In the late 1990s some vehicle manufacturers started putting small RF transmitters (transponders) in their ignition keys. The purpose of a transponder is to verify that the key that is in the ignition is the real deal, and not a copy. If the transponder signal does not match what the vehicle is looking for, the vehicle simply will not start. This presents a problem for remote starter installations. Why? Because the key is not present when remote starting. In order to properly integrate a remote starter in a vehicle with a transponder key, an extra part called a “bypass” is needed. This “bypass” fools the vehicle into believing that the key is present and the RF signal is correct. Most vehicles need some type of bypass.
#5 Should I Trust The Installation To My Expert Friend?
Well, that is a difficult question for us to answer. We don’t know the skill level of your expert friend. What we do know is that new vehicles are very complex. Remote car starters needs to be able to tie in to many functions of the vehicle. One mistake can be very costly. We go through countless hours of training each year and have access to world-class technical assistance any time that we need it. We humbly suggest that WSS Westminster Speed and Sound be your Expert Friend!
If you would like to learn more about how we can seamlessly integrate a remote car starter into your vehicle, please stop in and let us show you around our facility. We look forward to meeting you!