Remote car starter/security system for 99

[Auggies'Blu]

I searched and searched but could not find anything close...

Has anyone installed or had someone install a remote car starter/security system on their Cruiser? I now reside in a part of the country with lots of snow, though not so much recently and would like to have something installed on my 99 TLC.

The Cruiser is my wife's DD and she normally has the kids with her and I figure she can use this "luxury"!

I am concerned by stories of cars bursting into flames due to bad wiring jobs when these systems were improperly installed but I'm not sure how much of this is urban legend crap.

Anyway, any suggestions/comments are greatly appreciated! Thanks!

 

[hoser]

The only complication I see is bypassing the transponder key. It is possible. A reputable installation shop should have no problem.

But, IMOP, engines don't like cold starts. With no load, an engine takes extra long to warm up and during this time there is increased wear (not to mention increased pollutants). If the cruiser is garaged, perhaps an engine block heater would be better?

 

[Dandon]

Sorry if it's something obvious, but can you explain the purpose of a remote starter in a normal, familly DD? How is this related to snow?

 

[EdsCruisin]

Sorry if it's something obvious, but can you explain the purpose of a remote starter in a normal, familly DD? How is this related to snow?

Easy - When you shut down, you set the defroster and seat heaters on and then while you are having breakfast, you point your remote out the door, it starts and you have 10 minutes of run time to warm it up and thaw out before you go out and finish the job.

I have had this before and it works great, when working. I would like to do it again, but without losing the functionality of the OEM security system and selective door locks.

What is the best system for an LC?
What is the best system for a 4runner (which has a different security system than the LC)

 

[cruiserheadrat]

I installed a Bull Dog remote start, I bought it from Northern Tool. Had to have a valet key cut and programed to install in the transponder bypass box under the dash. My 98 did not always start right up with it. It seemed like the programed crank time was a 1/2 second to slow to always start my rig. There was a tach start feature, where you ran a wire to a ignitor coil, you could then program in the crank time with that function however it would never stay running for more than two seconds using that feature. Bull Dog tech support could never get that solved for me. Most of them are programed to retry starting if it fails the first time. You can also set them up to automatically start if the outside air temp drops below a certain point. The rig will warm up and then shut down. This is for sub-zero, no garage, no block heater conditions.
If you can find one installed for around $200.00 go that route, rather than the DIY. A complete setup with wiring harness specific to the rig can run over $100,that extra key is going to cost also. Its best to have the Toyota electrical FSM handy also.

 

[Dandon]

Easy - When you shut down, you set the defroster and seat heaters on and then while you are having breakfast, you point your remote out the door, it starts and you have 10 minutes of run time to warm it up and thaw out before you go out and finish the job.

I have had this before and it works great, when working. I would like to do it again, but without losing the functionality of the OEM security system and selective door locks.

OK, thank you. Always a good time to learn something

 

[Auggies'Blu]

Cruiserheadrat,
Thanks, I figured on taking it in to get done professionally. After doing a little research, I found that it takes some cutting and soldering of wires throughout the truck to do it right! Not that confident in my electrical/wiring skills!

Hoser, what do you mean by:

"With no load, an engine takes extra long to warm up and during this time there is increased wear (not to mention increased pollutants)."

Does a remote starter make the engine do something it normally wouldn't under "regular" starting?

Thanks again!

 

[Dandon]

Cruiserheadrat,
Thanks, I figured on taking it in to get done professionally. After doing a little research, I found that it takes some cutting and soldering of wires throughout the truck to do it right! Not that confident in my electrical/wiring skills!

Hoser, what do you mean by:

"With no load, an engine takes extra long to warm up and during this time there is increased wear (not to mention increased pollutants)."

Does a remote starter make the engine do something it normally wouldn't under "regular" starting?

Thanks again!

What he means is that it ain't good for the engine to run on idle while still cold. I'ts much better to warm it up by driving than by staying put. Most user manuals recommend to start driving immediately after firing up, instead of the common feeling that it's better to wait a minute or two.
In some countries (e.g Germany) it's even unlawful to do so, unless it's really cold.

 

[hoser]

Yes, remote starting does nothing different than regular starting. It is the warm-up time that is different. Start your car one morning and let it idle (no engine load) till it reaches normal operating temperature as indicated on the instrument cluster. Record the amount of time it took to warm up. Do the same thing tomorrow but this time, only wait 15-20 seconds for the oil pressure to build up and then gently drive it. Record the time it takes to reach normal operating temperature. The second method will have significanly shorter warm-up times.

My point is, the engine is designed to run best within a certain temperature range and anything near freezing is not within that optimal range. Extending the time it takes to "warm up" is more harmful to your engine and also more harmful to the environment as a cold catalytic converter is non-functional catalytic converter.

The reality is your cruiser engine will probably last a very long time which ever way you decide to warm it up. But this could be the difference between your engine going 300k miles vs 310k miles--who knows.

 

[Auggies'Blu]

OK, I understand. Thanks.

I guess its going to come down to prioritizing: Do I care more about the engine lasting an extra 10-20k+/- miles vs the potential damage to the environment vs my wife & kids sitting in a cold truck for a few minutes?

For me the issue was not so much in warming the engine up, though I agree it is important. I guess in my neck o' the woods the biggest pain in the rear is scrapping the ice and knockin the snow of the windshield. I figured starting the truck a few minutes before walking out woud help defrost it some?

I can't say I'm completely dissuaded from getting one, still wondering if anyone has had it done?

Thanks for the input!

 

[hoser]

PM mobi-arc and jahmaka. They both have remote start set-ups. Let us know how the install goes.

 

[Dandon]

And plan to sell it at 290 kmiles, just in case

 

[DMX84]

Cruiserheadrat,
Thanks, I figured on taking it in to get done professionally. After doing a little research, I found that it takes some cutting and soldering of wires throughout the truck to do it right! Not that confident in my electrical/wiring skills!

To do it right will require soldering the wires….good luck finding a place that will take the time to do this. One place I know of that still solders everything is Audio Dimensions in Austin TX. They do top notch work (I have driven there from Albuquerque to have speakers installed in my 89 LC). It’s been years since I’ve talked to them but imagine they are still around, and if so you wont be disappointed with there workmanship.

The next best wire terminations would be butt-splices, the ones you want to stay clear of is the clamp on ones that cut into the wires (like the ones used at U-haul).
I recommend having them take you to the install area and look at the work that is going on now, don’t just look at the pictures of there work but get to the nitty-gritty of the install. You don’t want a butcher hacking into everything!
DMX

 

[uHu]

What's wrong with a water heater?
Combined with a remote control or timer, or both. AFAIK it can also start the defroster fan for you. This is if you can not use an electric one, which is a simpler intallation.

Re wear, one ad claims that one cold start can equal the wear of 62 miles of driving. (Check www.defa.no , see "Warm Up" > "Benefits" > "Economy")

Here are links to the two best known brands of fuel powered heaters around here, where it is a quite common gadget.

http://www.webastoshowroom.com/blueheat/blueheat_products_ttc1.htm

http://www.eberspacher.com/waterheating.php?section=waterheating

 

[EdsCruisin]

What's wrong with a water heater?
Combined with a remote control or timer, or both. AFAIK it can also start the defroster fan for you. This is if you can not use an electric one, which is a simpler intallation.

Good point. When I lived in far upstate NY we used an electric water heater/circulator connected to the heater hoses and also connected to an electric space heater inside. The truck was left plugged in when not in use, and it was very temperate and ready to run when started.

 

[uHu]

And with a timer on the electric block heater, you save more in fuel than you use on electricity + investment....

 

[1loudLX]

ok well im really interested in this block heater/coolant heater topic. Does anyone have such a setup on their 2uz-fe motor? Are they considered DIY mods or would i need a specialized mechanic doing the operation.

I keep my truck parked with an electric space heater near the front end, but it only keeps it at about 75* over the normal garage temp of 40 in the winter if the heater is off. What i dont like most is when i go somewhere and its been cold all day and my truck is freaking cooooold, i feel like my truck is crying, i dont want to move just tow me home to the warm garage.

 

[NMuzj100]

You definitely need a block heater. They are easy to install. A lot of them are as easy to install as a sticker. You just stick them on the bottom of the oilpan or splice them into a coolant hose.

They burn the electricity but not nearly as much as a space heater.

 

[uHu]

ok well im really interested in this block heater/coolant heater topic. Does anyone have such a setup on their 2uz-fe motor? Are they considered DIY mods or would i need a specialized mechanic doing the operation.

I keep my truck parked with an electric space heater near the front end, but it only keeps it at about 75* over the normal garage temp of 40 in the winter if the heater is off. What i dont like most is when i go somewhere and its been cold all day and my truck is freaking cooooold, i feel like my truck is crying, i dont want to move just tow me home to the warm garage.

One thing to bear in mind is that corrosion goes faster the higher the temperature. That is why a heated garage is not the best option, particularly if the roads are salted in the winter. (And you do, of course, clean the underbody at least once a week)

For electric block heaters you have 3 options:
1 inserted into a frostplug in the engine block (most efficient)
2 inserted into a coolant hose
3 attached to your oil pan (least intrusive, least efficient)

Any of these, with a plug through your bumper, and a branch-off to a space heater inside the car (approved for that usage), and maybe a branch-off to a permanently installed battery charger, will give a superb solution, as long as you are close to an electric outlet. You would normally use a timer or a remote control in addition.

Our national manufacturer, Defa, (no affiliation) has two elecrtic block heaters for the 2UZ-FE engine, for installation in a frost-plug hole. Estimated installation time including cable and plug is 1 hr. This is the same model that fits my 1HD-FTE engine (same size frost plug), which I had installed at a Toyota garage, beacause my LC was still under warranty. I suppose you can find something similar in your area of our globe.

Installation is otherwise an easy DIY, as long as you take care if removing a frost plug, not to push it inside the engine block.

Now, for your freaking cooooold, crying truck, after being out all day. If you have no access to electricity, you need a petrol-fueled water heater, like a Webasto, aslo controlled by a remote or a timer, or perfrbly both. That's really the best solution, but it also costs a bit.

 

[NMuzj100]

Checked with Cdan and he told me that Toyota no longer has OEM block heaters available.