Hi Y'All;

Has anyone in a colder clime put a remote start on one of these 6.0L diesel engines? If so, how does it work? When it is cold and the glow plugs have to cycle, is there a remote start which will take care of this prior to starting the engine? Thanks for any info.

 

Not in a colder clime, but Yes, works perfectly, and Yes, most have timers, some have a connection to the wait to start light, but as cold as mine has ever been when visiting the frozen tundra, no problems ! And actually I got more use out of it in the summer

Might want to reveiw the many threads on plugging in the block heater we see each winter

 

Yeah, I'll do a search on that too. I haven't had to plug in a block heater for a lot of years, what with having gas engined Fords, and using 0W-30 Amsoil synthetic in them. Start good right on down to minus 30-35 Celsius (25-30 below F) but this is a new ball game. I don't know squat about diesels, having never been a trucker, but I knew four years ago, when I mistakenly bought a 4.6L that I should be buying an F250 Superduty diesel. Well, I am making up for that mistake now, but it is a whole new learning curve. From what I understand tho, there must have been divine intervention going on back then, cause the 6.0 was not on the market yet.

 

I have found that my 24 year-old son is the best remote start for me; wife does not like going out to start it. The son is more than willing and even asks if he can use it for hanging out with friends. When we had a mini-van our kids did not ask to use it (one of the first Olds Silhouettes).

 

I'm having one put on my wifes SD when it arrives in Nov/Dec. Most of the SD the local dealer sells up here have the Remote Starts installed. A Local shop installs the astrostart ones from astroflex. They work great. They set a start delay of 30 seconds to allow the glow plugs to heatup before the remote actually starts the engine. The also set the run time to 36 mins. Default for diesel mode is x2 the auto mode, they just set it at the highest setting when the install them. I have a friend that has one installed and he loves it. Nice to start the vehicle at -30 or less from inside a building. Gives the beast a chance to warmup with out you in it.
Cold Climate - Interior Alaska would be that.

 

Yes, interior Alaska would be cold enough. So, I will have one installed. I would do it myself, but I just got done taking one out of my 2002 F150/7700 Supercab 4X4 and that is a nest of worms I'll tell ya. I think that remote starts are a job best left to professional installers, with tiny little hands.

 

Just make sure you take it to a shop that knows what they are doing. Also besure the unit they recommend or you purchase is setup for a diesel, not all of the remote starts can be used on a diesel. Enjoy.

 

Yes, I agree on the qualified. I think that with this one, I will have it put in by the dealership that sells me the truck, and use a remote supplied by Ford. I had an aftermarket remote put in my last new truck, and every time something had to be done at the dealership, I got the song and dance about any electronic warranty work 'maybe' not being covered because the remote might have caused it. For the extra two hundred dollars, it isn't worth the aggravation. You know and I know that threatened with court action, they would probably come good, but why save $200 and have to go through that. Besides, the normal things I do to a truck, such as synthetics front to back, may not be feasible in this truck, seeing as it uses 15 quarts of oil every oil change, and from all I am reading, the diesels contaminate their oil with fuel, so extended drain might not be a good idea. I will still use synthetic, just not the most expensive one. We'll see though. As I learn more about diesels (about which at this time I know squat) maybe my thoughts will change. Thanks for the info.

 

my Ford remote start runs the glow plugs for 30 seconds ... then cranks the engine

 

Hi PowerStroke King,, I am looking to add a remote start to my 04 PSD and have considered the Ford, I have the Factory keyless entry and door pad. Is the ford unit just a plug in module and new remotes or does it have to be wired? Some people are saying its just a new module and others are saying it needs to be wired in? Did you add yours on your own or did the dealer install it? and what's involved. Part #'s etc,, Any info would be appreciated,, thanks

 

Matt,

I added mine on at purchase. The Ford dealer mounted it. There is a small black box stuck to the windshield, mounted just behind/above the rearview mirror (about 2" square). Two small antennae come out on either side about 3" each. A wire runs up into the ceiling/roof. Beyond that I don't know how it's wired in. It comes with an alarm system, which is simply activated by pushing the lock button on the FOB or the last two buttons on the door. It alarms about 30 seconds after you lock up. A red light is added on the instrument panel which flashes when alarmed. If you still need more info, I'll look for my paperwork.

 

ok thanks,, I quesss what I'm trying to find out is the Main Alarm bounder the dash somewhere) just a plug in or do you have to actually tap into the starter wire and others just as you would if purchased a aftermarket alarm.. Reason being if it needs to be wired just like any other then I would not purchase the Ford,, I beleive the Ford alarm is made by Code alarm and I can get them cheaper then the ford branded one..however if the ford one is just a plug in and just have to run the antenna then I would go with the ford for the extra $$ to save on the time to wire an aftermarket.. Most of the dealers send them out to have them done which leads me to beleive that they need to be wired just like any other alarm but I have not been able to get a definate answer from the dealer. I am going to check with an alarm place today to see if they know or if anyone out here knows,, thanks

 

I think there is extensive wiring to be done. I have read a lot of stuff about how difficult the installation is. Ebay is filled with postings by those who bought the Ford alarm, realized how bad it was to install, then tried to resell it. In fact, they say Ford doesn't even ship installation instructions with the units because they are so hard to install. Sounds like a challenge to me, but I think it might be over my head. (I just don't want to be on my back in my 10 hour of install trying to figure out why the truck won't start after I mess something up)

 

Well, I had an aftermarket brand installed on my F150, and the unit was $69 with installation being the rest up to $200 (prices in Canadian) I waited while the unit was installed by a very qualified installer, and it took him about an hour, and when I cut the thing out to sell the truck, I saw why. I don't intend to wire one of these suckers in myself. Also, I got a hassle from the Ford Service Writer everytime I took the truck in, about how my problems might not be covered by my seven year extended warranty if they could blame the fault on anything electrical. Long story shortened - my next vehicle will have the remote by Ford, installed by dealership I purchase from, and the service writer will keep his yap shut, thereby no longer requiring that I threaten him with a call from my lawyer (of which I don't got one) I pay $1700 for an extended warranty - for the $399 for an installed remote start, I am not going to cheap out. This may avoid going to court to claim warranty. (once again, all prices are Canadian) (hear about our new quarter, with the red poppy on the back? I don't know why our government insists on making monopoly money.)

Note on non Ford remote starts: They have to use a MAPS key as part of the setup, which then defeats the security system. Fords does not do this, which retains the factory theft alarm and no start system. If your vehicle does not have MAPS keys, this does not apply. Some Superduties do, some don't. When I cut mine out, I saw how easy the truck would have been to rip off. Take off the panel under the steering column, and trace the wires till you find the ones wrapped around the MAPS chip or key. Then pull the ignition and start it with a screwdriver with the MAPS chip wrapwired to the shaft of the screwdriver. Or if the key part was not cut off - just start the darn thing.

 

If the truck is stolen w/ a Ford product having been installed, then your insurance is going to go a lot smoother too. Aftermarket screwups are often put back on you.