How much of a pain is it to do one? Just autostart, not security system.
I like the Vipers they have at BB but dont really want the guys out back doing the install.

 

I do them at the Ford Dealership I work at. We used to do Autosoft aftermarket remotes, but stopped a few weeks ago(the service advisors kept bringing in none ford cars and charging the same for them even though they take longer and need more parts so my manager put a stop to that). We do still install the Ford remote start though. They aren't terribly hard. I use a power probe to verify every wire I hook up. I've had a few cars/trucks that the wiring from the remote start wasn't correct with the actual wiring in the car. Had to revert back to the cars wiring schematic for verification. They are pretty straight forward if you can find your way around a cars wiring. Just find the wire, verify what it's suppose to do, and connect the wires. Then set the modules up and your good.

Ford system are pretty straight forward, you have your ignition switch wires(Accessory, Ignition, Power and Start). Then you have your Lock/Unlock(which on ford are ground activated, probe the wire in the car and supply a ground. The doors should lock or unlock) Parking light, Brake switch, Module ground, hood switch and tach wire. Then connect the PATS bypass module to the Transponder and set that up for your key(you will problably need 2 keys to do this). Thats it.... Most directions are supplied with the remote start.
If you aren't familiar with car wiring though, you could really wreck your engine. I take no responsabillity for anything that happens!

 

Do you still have to open the steering column cover and wrap a wire around the ignition key cylinder? I did a Ford system in a Ford 500. Was OK but not real fun. Worked perfect but more work than I want to really do. Trying to figure out what to do for my wife's 08 Escape and my 08 Expedition.

 

I've got a horror story for ya:

The previous owners of our 2004 Explorer had installed a remote start on it. We had no idea it was on there. Last summer, we went on a road trip to visit the in-laws in Illinois. The whole interior electrical system shorted out. No gauges, power windows, mirrors, A/C or interior lights. We were 600 miles from home. Had to limp it to the local Ford dealership. It had just turned 36,000 miles on the way to Illinois, so it was out of warranty.

The Ford dealership had it for 4 hours. They had to tear the whole left side of the dash out. The remote start wiring had shorted to the A-pillar. The previous owners had halfway installed it, then stopped. The Ford tech said that it was a rats nest of wires and that they had used the dome light power for non-switched power.

They must of had pity on us because they fixed it for free.

I still want one, but I want to have a reputable electronics shop install it. I don't trust myself enough LOL.

With that being said, they are not terribly difficult to install. Just make sure you trust your ability or it could come back and haunt you later.

 

Wilber15 since you have done installs at your dealership I have a non f-150 question, is it true that the Escape Hybrid cannot have an alarm installed. This is what our dealer told us.

 

I had a Crimestopper unit on my '05, and when I bought the new '08 I had the dealer install a Ford remote start. Why? Because the dealer told me that if an aftermarket unit is installed and there is a problem, it could void your warranty. With the Ford unit I had installed at delivery it is covered for the 3/36 like the truck. The Ford actually cost less to buy and install and is a better unit in my opinion as I can start the truck from longer distances than the Crimestopper unit. Has never failed. Just my .02.................

 

I went to my local dealer not long after buying my 08 4.6 Screw and inquired about them installing a remote start. They told me they were a real pain and big job and lot of hours to do it. They said they had done one once before and took about two days. I had already priced an installation at a local auto elect. shop and they quoted me $350 installed, said it would take most of day. I told the Ford service man this and he said that's where I should go. Said for them to do it, would probably be $500 or more. Needless to say, I had the aftermarket shop do it and it works great. No problems so far.

 

It all depends on there current techs. If they have a tech that likes doing them they will push them. If they are light in this area or have older techs that don't want to learn the new electronics and crawl under a dash then they tell you go elsewhere. And GM, they just put them in at the factory, how novel.

 

i have installed about 9 units now..... and my favorite is the crimestopper ! they have great features, and i have never had any trouble with them. i take my time to install, and solder every connection. i just installed one last night in an 08 explorer, and it took about 7 hours.... hardest part was finding the trunk pop wire, since the directions said it needed a ground pulse activation, but it really needed a positive. anyhow, they are great units in my mind.... and i LOVE the 2-car capability of them. FORD doesnt offer that !!!

 

I just installed an Astrostart in an 2006 F150 Lariat, 2way that works up to 3500ft away. it is wonderful Highly recomened and works great with the Ford factory alarm

 

what brand and what was the cost?

 

IT is an ASTROSTART, model AS-2461TW-FM
and "house of chrome" in Winnipeg, Mb installed it 1.5 hr and $350.00CAD installed.

 

X2 for Astrostart, the model I had installed on my 05 is the top of the line 5224, it is a two way with a range of 1 mile, I dont know how much it costs because I told the dealer I would not buy the truck until it had an autostart installed.