a remote starter question

[loquito]

In my search I mainly ran across threads that dealt with (this wire here type info)
I own a 91 so thats why I posted here, If the wrong place sorry Junk.
The 91 is my wife's, she is a chef, so in the winter she comes out of a very hot kitchen.
We live in Alaska so it getts real cold.
One poster talked about clearing the windows of ice before driving off,
I put a remote starter bought at costco in the bronco. worked perfect unless it was below -20. then it would not do anything, it would warm up and it worked perfect.
So What brand names do you folks have experiance with? Any leads that I can follow up? Anyone else live where it gets real cold?
With the door locks poping back open if the key is in the ignition, we can't use the second key, lock the door, go back into the warmth method.
Help please I don't want to make another poor buy. I spent 7 hrs upside down under the bronco's dash to have it not work when we really need it.
It's going to be a great Cruiser theme'd Christmass, and the wife even approves, I should have bought her a cruiser years ago
Well thanks for any input.
Steven

 

[Gumby]

Mine works great. It does have a feature that will not allow it to start if the voltage is too low. That might be an issue in the real cold if your battery isn't all that great. Needs to be on defrost to clear the ice of course. I don't think it pops the locks back open. It certainly will not allow the car to be driven as it will shut off if you step on the brake, and you must to get it out of park.
It will turn the lights on if you never turn them off, as many of us do. If the car does not start or the timer runs out and it shuts back off, the lights do not turn off until you open a door.

 

[loquito]

Thanks Gumby
You always offer advise.
For low voltage, the truck would start up even at 40 below with the key,
my fords R Starter had the features you said, steping on brake shuts it off etc.
For the locks poping open, my stock land cruiser does this, I think it is a safty feature so you cannot lock the door with the key in the ignition. Thus we can not start it and lock the door and go back inside.
What unit are you using? Iknow your close to the windy city, I went there once, It getts cold, Any problems when the weather turns real cold, you know the type, when even the inside of the windows have a buildup of frost/ice?
Thanks again,

 

[Junk]

Think mine's called a Valet or something like that. Works fine and has good range. I think they all have timers.

 

[Safado]

I got mine at a local electronics place called Ultimate Electronics. May of the same features Gumby was talking about, but it turns on the running lights in my setup. Your other remote start system seems to be a problem with the actual unit itself then. One good thing about Costco is they'll always take it back if you do find one that performs better in the -40 degree weather. I've never had mine near that, but have started it without problems when it was under a foot of snow.

Your descriptoin of the lockout feature entrigued me enough to go out and try it...it's pretty idiot proof. However I did notice that if you use Key 1 to start the truck and Key 2 to lock it from the outside it works like a charm. Those Toyota engineers thought of everything. That still doesn't give you the -40 degree remote start functionality you were looking for, but I think that what you are going to have to do it hop on the internet and research it with the different remote start manufacturers and email them with your questions. Maybe try Jim_Phillips on this list...he just got back from a trip to Iceland and may be able to give you some contact information of someone there as they live in the same winter-wonderland as you do.

Good Luck

 

[Safado]

Here's their website, if you know Icelandic, All I could make out on the front was Jim's name. WWW.ARCTICTRUCKS.IS

Google doesn't even offer to translate it.

Here's another one in English

http://www.f4x4.is/english/

 

[lx450landcruiser]

dont get a designtech they suck i hate it and its not worth the plastic its made of

 

[loquito]

(However I did notice that if you use Key 1 to start the truck and Key 2 to lock it from the outside it works like a charm.)
Safado
I am now really looking forward to trying this when I get home I have to wait till I put the battery back in. On mine it seemed like all the locks come open, it may just be the front, I'll have to pay more attention. Locking both front doors is no big deal.
Still getting the R starter though, boy Christmass for the wife is easy this year.
Steven

 

[Gumby]

I don't remember what the brand name is on mine. It does have a cranking limit. If it doesn't start is a few seconds, it shuts off and tries again a minute or two later. I have had that happen when it gets cold.
I'm pretty sure the doors stay locked when I start mine with the remote. If you get a good one, you should be able to program the fob with the door locks as well.

 

[Safado]

(However I did notice that if you use Key 1 to start the truck and Key 2 to lock it from the outside it works like a charm.)
Safado
I am now really looking forward to trying this when I get home I have to wait till I put the battery back in. On mine it seemed like all the locks come open, it may just be the front, I'll have to pay more attention. Locking both front doors is no big deal.
Still getting the R starter though, boy Christmass for the wife is easy this year.
Steven

So did you try it?

You're right about it unlocking all the doors, but when you use the key in the outside of the door it will lock all 4 of them. Trust me, it will work, but the RS would be tons better.

 

[loquito]

So did you try it?

You're right about it unlocking all the doors, but when you use the key in the outside of the door it will lock all 4 of them. Trust me, it will work, but the RS would be tons better.

__________________
1993 FZJ80~TJM, Warn, ARB, Kaymar, Supercharged, snorkel, 37s, sliders, CDL, and a bunch of other shiz I'm still trying to figure out. )
Thanks for trying Safado
No I haven't tried it just yet, I am waiting on a box and doing disassembly right now, no battery. BUT I will be trying it as soon as she is back together, if it works on mine it could buy me some time, yesterday morning it was 36 Above and their is snow on the mountains. And I really do want to have something not already installed on Christmass morning to give my wife.
I'll tell you how it went when I'm done, Thanks again for trying it out for me.
Steven

 

[Montana Cruiser]

I have a RS thats called Astro-Start made by a company called Astro-Flex. My model is the 3106. It has six buttons on the fob. When I remote start the doors stay locked, but the door locks are programmed into the fob so I unlock them as I am approaching the truck with the fob. You can also shut the truck off if you have started it and then got tied up and need it to turn off for awhile. There is a feature that allows the truck to start at preset intervals once the temp drops to a certain level as well as a manual mode where it starts at preset intervals regardless of temp. My manual says the range on the unit is 2000 feet, and people (myself included) are amazed as to how far away I can be and the truck starts (its kinda a game now) I have been WAY on the other side a parking lot, inside of a movie theater and started the truck. The fob actually beeps to let you know your command was recd and has started/locked or unlocked the locks etc. Its a sweet system. It was installed by the PO so I know nothing of price or where to get it, but it works VERY well and as far as my manual says, there is no limit on outside temp to start. Hope this helps, and here is the web-site. Cheers!

http://www.astroflex.com/ENGLISH/FramesPRODUCTS.HTM

 

[AZFJ]

Ok..IMHO..The best remote start is UNGO BOX..Made/owned by Clarion..I've installed 3 of these so far..By far the easiest..Ive installed ones be Avital ( Avistart )..DEI electronic variety ( Viper, Python ) before....This one beats them all...If you go with the Alarm/Remote start together..its all built into one brain..super simple..Great warrenty and the Clarion name ..Cant go wrong!!

 

[loquito]

Well I have gotten great feedback
I'm ganna look into the brands mentioned and start shopping around. Dividends are just around the corner and its a Cruiser holiday this year
Thanks everyone
Steven