Thanks captchasJust re-read my post. Hope I didnt come across wrong. Just trying to relate my experiences.

Nice site. Only one very small gripe, I like forums that use a tree, makes navigating easier. But thats just me.

DOH! Must be all the sun I got today...

Found the tree! I can be such a dork sometimes........

 

welcome again man. enjoy our site .
as you install as a pro i'm sure many guys will ask you for help and advise.
personal note i'm a bigger dork at times . have fun fte is great

 

The Astrostart sounds great. Do you have a suggested retailer where I can purchase one. I have a 2001 F-350 Diesel. Thank you for the info. Good stuff!!! I can tell you have been around these things.

 

I've had a problem with my astro on a PSD - it sometimes will quit woking all together - door locks and remote start. Other times the doors locks will work but not the remote start. Confusing.

 

Will these non ford remote starts/alarms work with the keyless entry pad? I have the ford alarm, would like to add remote start, but do not want to lose the entry pad feature.
steve

 

I contacted Astroflex. They do not want to work with the do-it-yourselfer. They prety much blew me off. They do not have harnesses for various vehicles. I like the product but they do not seem to be customer commited. (Bummer)
http://www.astroflex.com/index.php?m...&id=22&page=22

 

They probably deal with distributers

I also installed the Hornet 564T

 

Mill,

when the unit doesnt start, press unlock & start simultaneously while watching the park lights. The lights will flash a specific number of times. Count those flashes and look in the manual for the problem.

Usually 2 no start conditions.

1- most common, on/off switch in OFF position.
2- Hood pin switch misadjusted or broken.

Does the remote still chime and the LED flash? When did you last replace the batteries?

Sometimes problems arise from poor installations. Scotchlocks, "T-Taps" and the like do not belong in a vehicle, period. Every connection should be soldered and taped. I even solder my "solderless" ring connectors to the wire. ( After I remove the vinyl boot of course ) The ground should be on the firewall or kickpanel, with all paint removed. Just a few things to check for.

Bolt,

Astroflex products are "supposed" to be sold as installed units by authorized dealers. A couple of local "dealers" sell them over the counter on a local basis. We either get asked to install them or asked to sit on the phone for an hour trying to help the guy install it. Free advice? Is anything truly free anymore?

We refuse to sell them OTC, as we believe proper installation is imperative to the name and performance of a product. I'd check around, might be a dealer somewhere that might help ya.

As far as your truck, it shouldnt have slam lock. There should be an 18 gu green/white wire in a small bundle of unterminated wires taped to a heavy harness running from the firewall to the fuse block. This wire is also unterminated an the tip is covered in heat shrink. This wire works for a tach signal- 6 cyl.

 

Super Steve,

Is your alarm system OEM installed? If it is any remote start kit should work with it.

If it's a dealer installed add-on, remote starts can't disarm the alarm system if it is armed with the alarm remote.

Just read your profile. I personally havn't seen a 250 or 350 with the factory installed security. Heck, they don't even have PATS keys. Im guessing that your system is a dealer installed add-on.

There may still be options tho.

 

I am not sure now that you mention it. The remote says ford on it and it was already on the truck although the dealer charged 700 extra for it and wouldn't take it off.

 

Let me update you with my progress. I put in the BullDog 62I. It went great. It is the same as the 22I but it also has the security. I also put in the electric acuators for the automatic door locks. That was an easy install. What made this job easy was the T-Harness for the ignition wireing. I did not have to cut any wires. Just pull the ignition harness appart and plug this hanress in each connector. I wired everything else up and it works great and it is very reliable so far. It took me about 5 hours to install but I realy took my time and did the job right. I looked into the other remote starters here but they would not work with me like BullDog. The wanted me to become a dealer then the tech department could talk to me.

 

I had an Astrostart remote starter installed in my Expy in October of 1998. Never had any problems and it still works perfectly to this day. I would definitely buy another for my next vehicle.

 

Astrostart may be a good starter but they will not work with the do-it-your-selfer. If you had it installed I can see why you are happy. But try to put one in yourself and get help. Well, forget the help. Those guys from Canada where very clear that they were not going to support the product if I installed it myself. Glas to see you are happy with the product.

BullDog will work with factory alarm systems. As long as you purchase the 22I of 62I version. Besure you buy the (I) version. It's works on diesels.

 

From a professional standpoint of someone who installs over 600 remote start units a year, including 95% of a FoMoCo dealer's units, and over the last 13 years has installed about every brand and model of remote start including:
Bulldog, UltraStart, Crimestopper, All varieties of DEI, Ungo, Clifford, Avital, DirectStart, La-Z-Start, AutoPage, Vantage, Audiovox, AutoStart, AutoCommand, Omega and others, I stand firm by AstroFlex's products and decision to sell only to specialists. Their reasoning for only selling to dealers is that it keeps their producs reputable. If DIYer's who didn't know what they were doing installed the product, then had troubles or poor performance, usually they'd blame the product first. This in turns begins bad word of mouth and is soon followed by a bad rep and poor name recognition. As with all automotive electronics, proper installation is the key to performance.

However, i do understand that many DIYer's have the ability to install products correctly, and many do. I've seen some pretty decent DIY installs, and i usually give the customer due credit. Unfortunately I've seen many more shoddy, unsafe installs than good ones. Imagine yourself as the techline guy who has to try to explain to a DIYer who has no electrical knowledge the proper method of interfacing with single-wire lock/security systems, transponder systems, GM passlock systems and other that require multiple relays and resister values. On some vehicles if the correct ignition wires aren't powered up in the correct order you'll set codes and the check-engine light. There's many vehicles where i spend more time removing panels to access wires (Volkswagon Beetles come to mind) than i do actually wiring anything. I could go on, but i wont.

I'm glad your project went smoothly, and I'm willing to help any member attempting their own installation the best i can. I was once a DIYer myself. I just wanted everyone to understand why some Manufacturer's have the policies they do.

 

Astrostart 4204. Hook up anything you want with all those programable outputs. Heated seats,high idle, etc. And the best part, plug in a timer or use the cold start feature.