Valet remote start

"Edwin Pawlowski" <esp RemoveThis @snet.net> wrote in message
news:6ATNj.20547$%41.10989@nlpi064.nbdc.sbc.com...
>
> "Mike Y" <joe RemoveThis @user.com> wrote in message
> news:R7JNj.1241$vz6.1126@newsfe07.lga...
> >I bought a used car that came with a Valet 552T remote start. Nice.
> >
> > But it seems that nothing was hooked up except for the door locks and
the
> > remote start. No lights to indicate status. No switches. No horn
beep.
> > Nothing.
> >
> > In fact, the remote doesn't even start the heater fan. It doesn't
start
> > until
> > I actually insert and turn the key. (The electric windows do work when
> > the remote start is active, but that's about it.)
> >
> > I'm going to have to really tear into the car to see what is really
there
> > and
> > maybe see if I can add features.
> >
> > But I'm wondering, since these units were installed by shops that could
> > set their own policies and prices, just how common it was for 'minimum'
> > installs? Is this something that was just hook up what they had to and
> > nothing else or is this something where stuff is going bad in my car?
>
> Sounds typical of a lot of remotes. What works and does not depends on
the
> remote options, but also the particular model car and what portion is
alive
> at different switch position. Aside from the engine running to warm up,
not
> much is needed Can the heater blower be set to be on the night before to
be
> in the "on" position? Or it is just dead? Some have additional modules
that
> can turn on a rear window defroster. See if you can get the original
wiring
> diagram to see if it is connected properly for your model
>
> Also, the engine should be killed if you hit the brake pedal if the key is
> not turned to the "on" position.
>
>

Yep, there's the 'brake' detect. Touch the brake, the engine dies. There's
also
a hood interlock switch, but that's about it. The module itself has an free
output for whatever I want like a trunk release.

Anyway, the blower is dead until I turn the key on. In the winter the car
warms up fast once I get in and turn the key since the engine is already
warm, but without the blower running I don't get that big start on ice
on the windshield. ( I know, wait till summer to work on the defroster...)

But the big rub is the remote start requires I press TWO keys at the same
time on the remote, one of which is the door lock. The door lock is a
toggle, not separate lock and unlock buttons. Without external light
flashes, I can't tell if I accidentally locked or unlocked the car when I
go to start. Also, the module doesn't know what state the door locks
are in. If I use the door button to unlock the car to get out, the remote
may think it's still locked so hitting the button unlocks it. If I hit the
button as I walk away from the car, I have no assurance that it's locked.
I have to be right next to it to see.
 >> Stay informed about: Valet remote start 

"Mike Y" <joe.DeleteThis@user.com> wrote in message
news:jo_Nj.1338$tr3.148@newsfe05.lga...

>
> Yep, there's the 'brake' detect. Touch the brake, the engine dies.
> There's
> also
> a hood interlock switch, but that's about it. The module itself has an
> free
> output for whatever I want like a trunk release.
>
> Anyway, the blower is dead until I turn the key on. In the winter the car
> warms up fast once I get in and turn the key since the engine is already
> warm, but without the blower running I don't get that big start on ice
> on the windshield. ( I know, wait till summer to work on the
> defroster...)
>
> But the big rub is the remote start requires I press TWO keys at the same
> time on the remote, one of which is the door lock. The door lock is a
> toggle, not separate lock and unlock buttons. Without external light
> flashes, I can't tell if I accidentally locked or unlocked the car when I
> go to start. Also, the module doesn't know what state the door locks
> are in. If I use the door button to unlock the car to get out, the remote
> may think it's still locked so hitting the button unlocks it. If I hit
> the
> button as I walk away from the car, I have no assurance that it's locked.
> I have to be right next to it to see.
>
>

All of that just sounds like whoever had the remote installed in the first
place, simply went for the cheapest thing they could get. You know what
they say about getting what you pay for...

--

-Mike-
mmarlowREMOVE.DeleteThis@alltel.net
 >> Stay informed about: Valet remote start 

"Mike Marlow" <mmarlowREMOVE RemoveThis @alltel.net> wrote in message
news:40003$4808b257$4528971f$18146@ALLTEL.NET...
>
>
> All of that just sounds like whoever had the remote installed in the first
> place, simply went for the cheapest thing they could get. You know what
> they say about getting what you pay for...
>
> --
>
> -Mike-
> mmarlowREMOVE RemoveThis @alltel.net
>


Well, I can't bitch, as I didn't pay for it. In fact, the dealer who sold
me
the car 'dumped' it and didn't even know there was a remote start in the
vehicle. When he pulled the vehicle packet out of the file cabinet, he was
surprised it had remotes in it to work the doors. Then he looked and
found the Valet users guide...
 >> Stay informed about: Valet remote start 

My guess would be apparently the original selling dealer installed the
lowest cost, to acquire and install, after market remote start and charged
the customer the price of a full mode. He could then advertize "remote
start" and earn a bigger profit on the sale. MAWB see a Valet dealer and
price an upgrade to the full remote type

"Mike Y" <joe RemoveThis @user.com> wrote in message
news:R7JNj.1241$vz6.1126@newsfe07.lga...
>I bought a used car that came with a Valet 552T remote start. Nice.
>
> But it seems that nothing was hooked up except for the door locks and the
> remote start. No lights to indicate status. No switches. No horn beep.
> Nothing.
>
> In fact, the remote doesn't even start the heater fan. It doesn't start
> until
> I actually insert and turn the key. (The electric windows do work when
> the remote start is active, but that's about it.)
>
> I'm going to have to really tear into the car to see what is really there
> and
> maybe see if I can add features.
>
> But I'm wondering, since these units were installed by shops that could
> set their own policies and prices, just how common it was for 'minimum'
> installs? Is this something that was just hook up what they had to and
> nothing else or is this something where stuff is going bad in my car?
>
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: Valet remote start 

"Mike hunt" <mikehunt22.DeleteThis@lycos.com> wrote in message
news:8_SdnVv5TNlhepXVnZ2dnUVZ_sKqnZ2d@ptd.net...
> My guess would be apparently the original selling dealer installed the
> lowest cost, to acquire and install, after market remote start and charged
> the customer the price of a full mode. He could then advertize "remote
> start" and earn a bigger profit on the sale. MAWB see a Valet dealer and
> price an upgrade to the full remote type
>

That's a lot of guesses, considering there is nothing in the thread to
support any of it. It's just as likely that it was a DIY project gone wrong.

Dave
 >> Stay informed about: Valet remote start 

"Mike Y" <joe.DeleteThis@user.com> wrote in message
> Anyway, the blower is dead until I turn the key on. In the winter the car
> warms up fast once I get in and turn the key since the engine is already
> warm, but without the blower running I don't get that big start on ice
> on the windshield. ( I know, wait till summer to work on the
> defroster...)

IMO, the heater is the big reason to have a remote start. If you can't find
the problem, you can replace it for about $129 or so with a better brand.
In my case, the lights flas when it starts and the doors lock. I can also
set the heated seat in the "on" position the night before. Many cars don't
let you do that as the engine must be running.
 >> Stay informed about: Valet remote start 

"Hairy" <hairy RemoveThis @hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:66t3caF2m2l2pU1@mid.individual.net...
>
> "Mike hunt" <mikehunt22 RemoveThis @lycos.com> wrote in message
> news:8_SdnVv5TNlhepXVnZ2dnUVZ_sKqnZ2d@ptd.net...
> > My guess would be apparently the original selling dealer installed the
> > lowest cost, to acquire and install, after market remote start and
charged
> > the customer the price of a full mode. He could then advertize
"remote
> > start" and earn a bigger profit on the sale. MAWB see a Valet dealer
and
> > price an upgrade to the full remote type
> >
>
> That's a lot of guesses, considering there is nothing in the thread to
> support any of it. It's just as likely that it was a DIY project gone
wrong.
>
> Dave
>

Thanks for the comment Dave, but my gut on this was that it was a shop
install.

If it were another brand of starter, I would suspect that. However, the
people I talk to indicate the Valet systems are not common for the DIY
market. And while it wasn't impossible, I had to search the web to find
an installation manual for the Valet. Other brands seemed to have all
kinds of DIY aids right on the home pages for those devices, including
harnesses to cut installation time. I actually bought a Bulldog system
and was about to install it when I smashed up my other car. I bought
the current car as a quick replacement and found the remote already
installed. The Bulldog is still in the box, with the extra harness and the
security module and some extra goodies. I may end up eventually
installing that in my Intrigue.

The current car was a former lease car that was bought by the lessee,
then I got it from a small used car dealer. I'm not sure when the
system was installed, but I suspect it was early in the cars life when it
was still a lease car, or soon after, and that doesn't seem to be a
DIY project. Also, in checking around, it seems that the Valet is
a standard 'building block' for shops in this area, and they sell it at
various levels of 'options'.
 >> Stay informed about: Valet remote start 

I have had remote starts in all of the new cars I have purchased for the
past seven years or so. Once one gets a RS it soon become aparent it is
more usefull in summer to pre-cool ones car than it is to pre-warm the car.
If ones car does not have automatic climate control, one must remember to
pre-select the proper mode when parking their car


"Edwin Pawlowski" <esp.TakeThisOut@snet.net> wrote in message
news:%wcOj.2018$pS4.26@newssvr13.news.prodigy.net...
>
> "Mike Y" <joe.TakeThisOut@user.com> wrote in message
>> Anyway, the blower is dead until I turn the key on. In the winter the
>> car
>> warms up fast once I get in and turn the key since the engine is already
>> warm, but without the blower running I don't get that big start on ice
>> on the windshield. ( I know, wait till summer to work on the
>> defroster...)
>
> IMO, the heater is the big reason to have a remote start. If you can't
> find the problem, you can replace it for about $129 or so with a better
> brand. In my case, the lights flas when it starts and the doors lock. I
> can also set the heated seat in the "on" position the night before. Many
> cars don't let you do that as the engine must be running.
>
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: Valet remote start 

Actually a well educated guess, based on my experance, a basic system simply
starts the vheicle and may open the driver door, if the vehicle has a power
door lock.

I saw those types of systems added to hundreds of vehicles when I was in
retail, but your guess can be another, as well

"Hairy" <hairy RemoveThis @hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:66t3caF2m2l2pU1@mid.individual.net...
>
> "Mike hunt" <mikehunt22 RemoveThis @lycos.com> wrote in message
> news:8_SdnVv5TNlhepXVnZ2dnUVZ_sKqnZ2d@ptd.net...
>> My guess would be apparently the original selling dealer installed the
>> lowest cost, to acquire and install, after market remote start and
>> charged the customer the price of a full mode. He could then advertize
>> "remote start" and earn a bigger profit on the sale. MAWB see a Valet
>> dealer and price an upgrade to the full remote type
>>
>
> That's a lot of guesses, considering there is nothing in the thread to
> support any of it. It's just as likely that it was a DIY project gone
> wrong.
>
> Dave
>
 >> Stay informed about: Valet remote start 

"Mike hunt" <mikehunt22 RemoveThis @lycos.com> wrote in message
news:ov2dncpLbItUp5fVnZ2dnUVZ_sytnZ2d@ptd.net...
> I have had remote starts in all of the new cars I have purchased for the
> past seven years or so. Once one gets a RS it soon become aparent it is
> more usefull in summer to pre-cool ones car than it is to pre-warm the
car.
> If ones car does not have automatic climate control, one must remember to
> pre-select the proper mode when parking their car
>

Well, here in the northeast, the heater is valuable. Also, I work at a ski
area.
The heater is valuable...

Anyway, I had to run out today. It's in the 80's, so at the store I got in
the car and used the remote start while I was in it but without my key.
The car started, and the A/C went on (it was on when I parked the
car) but again, the fan didn't start until I put the key in and turned it
on.

I wonder... Could I have pulled a connection when I installed the CD
player? I may have to trace everything out.
 >> Stay informed about: Valet remote start 

"Mike Y" <joe RemoveThis @user.com> wrote in message news:AUkOj.2$pH1.1@newsfe06.lga...
>
> "Hairy" <hairy RemoveThis @hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:66t3caF2m2l2pU1@mid.individual.net...
>>
>> "Mike hunt" <mikehunt22 RemoveThis @lycos.com> wrote in message
>> news:8_SdnVv5TNlhepXVnZ2dnUVZ_sKqnZ2d@ptd.net...
>> > My guess would be apparently the original selling dealer installed the
>> > lowest cost, to acquire and install, after market remote start and
> charged
>> > the customer the price of a full mode. He could then advertize
> "remote
>> > start" and earn a bigger profit on the sale. MAWB see a Valet dealer
> and
>> > price an upgrade to the full remote type
>> >
>>
>> That's a lot of guesses, considering there is nothing in the thread to
>> support any of it. It's just as likely that it was a DIY project gone
> wrong.
>>
>> Dave
>>
>
> Thanks for the comment Dave, but my gut on this was that it was a shop
> install.

You may well be correct. I certainly don't know who installed it or when.
I do know that Valet remote start systems are available on eBay for cheap.
That tells me that it could have been installed by almost anyone with the
skill (or lack of) to accomplish it.

When I bought a remote start for my truck, I researched the net for
different brands and ended up buying one that reportedly (by end users) had
excellent range. I needed one that was reliable at about 300ft or more. To
get that, I had to buy one with many features that I didn't need or want.
When I installed it, I only hooked up what I needed and nothing else. Most
of the other features were either already present on the truck, or unwanted.
Maybe the installer of your system, whoever he may be, did the same.

Dave
 >> Stay informed about: Valet remote start