Thanks for this detailed post, very helpful.
Just finishing up my install of a Viper 5601 in a 1992 Land Cruiser, and for the most part, it went well! Got tripped up on the unlock circuit with the diodes (thought I could do it without the diodes), and then finally added the diodes to the Blue-Yellow and Blue-Orange wires in the driver’s kick panel (these were the colors for me on my car, I recognize they are different than the original list in this original post). The stripe, the cathode side, on the diodes face the alarm side. So now, that works perfectly.
The issue I am running into is with Remote Start. I have done numerous alarm and car stereo installs over the years on my cars, so I am pretty decent at wiring, but this one is throwing me for a loop for some reason.
I followed the original wiring list in this post, with only the following differences:
Viper Wire Toyota Wire
Pink Black/Green
There was no brown in the harness, and this had same behavior. So, I think it is the same, just a different color wire in the Toyota side of the harness, and it shows voltage only when the ignition is on (not in accessory position), so it makes sense to me that it is the same wire/behavior as the Brown wire mentioned in the original post. Everything seems fine with getting ignition signal – the alarm is able to be programmed, and is working fine except for the remote start.
Here is the problem – try to start the car with the remote, and it does not. It flashes the lights either 7 or 8 times, which according to the install manual, means 7 – MTS issue, or 8 – Neutral switch error.
For 8 flashes - The neutral safety switch is ON, and I tested resistance across the switch to prove ON/OFF working as expected. Have tried it in both positions to be 100% sure, but it seems to work just fine….
For 7 flashes, here is what is in the Viper manuals:
• Remote start MTS mode failure
The remote emits a failure notification when trying to enable the manual transmission
mode or the vehicle fails to stay remote started when the key is turned off.
Possible causes are:
• Hood Open (gray wire).
• Foot Brake active (brown wire).
• No Parking Brake input, Black/white neutral safety wire not showing
ground with parking brake set.
• Tachometer is not hooked up or programmed.
• The unit has not been programmed for tachometer mode
• Toggle switch not installed or not in the ON position.
I did change the default programming from MANUAL to AUTOMATIC, as required to make Remote Start work per the Viper instructions. I have left the Tachometer mode in the Virtual Tach mode, as this seems to be the preferred mode…and as such I have NOT hooked up a tach input, as this is not required from what I understand. Hood pin switch and brake light switch are hooked up properly and tested (step on brake, and the car will flash 5 times as the error that brake wire is active).
So, I am stumped. Currently, I get just the 8 flashes after many testing cycles and changing a few things, and then changing them back each time as well. This is so strange, this seems black and white – either the switch is on or off. And it is on. I am considering just cutting the switch out and wiring the circuit open/on all the time just to remove the variable….
Assuming I get back to the 7 flashes – any thoughts? The alarm acts like there is some safety element not correct, as it never even sends a signal down the starter wire – it is waiting for something to be correct before trying to start.
I should mention other than this everything is fine – car starts and drives, and all other alarm functions work great.
I am stumped, open to input for sure!
Thanks!