I am trying to get my girlfriend to buy me a remote start for my 06 250 SD with the 5.4. I know a basic remote start is like $199 installed but thats out of her price range for a gift. How bad is it to install them yourself? is it just a plug in type deal or do we have to re-wire the whole ignition?

Id say I have moderate, maybe advanced skills working on cars.

 

After going to school, I think they are pretty easy. As long as you have someone to answer your questions you should be able to do your first one over a weekend.

Which model are you looking at and what kind of features do you want?

Basic install would be a hood switch, tieing into the dome light, triggering the lock/unlock, then you get into the RS, ign1, Accy1, starter kill/wire. Of course you have the siren and new power wire. If you take your time and pull things apart, the job is easy enough.

 

PASSIVE ANTI-THEFT YES TRANSPONDER SEE NOTES
12 VOLTS Yellow Ignition harness +
IGNITION Red/green Ignition harness +
IGNITION 2 Blue/green
This wire is only required on the V-10 Gas engine.
ACCESSORY Red/black Ignition harness +
ACCESSORY 2 Gray/yellow Ignition harness +
STARTER Dk.green Ignition harness +
KEY SENSE Black/pink In airbag plug on right side of st. column -
TACH SIGNAL Use an injector
DIESEL TACH SIGNAL Green/white SEE NOTES
Look below the relay box under the dash for a large loomed harness. There are some wires taped to the harness terminated with heat shrink tubing. You will find the green/white among these wires.
LOCK White/red In harness above gas pedal +
On 4 door models, these wire are negative trigger. Vehicles with no keyless entry, colors are Pink/yellow for lock and Pink/green for unlock in 5-wire reverse polarity. They will be found in either kickpanel.
UNLOCK Black/white In harness above gas pedal +
On 4 door models, these wire are negative trigger. Vehicles with no keyless entry, colors are Pink/yellow for lock and Pink/green for unlock in 5-wire reverse polarity. They will be found in either kickpanel.
DRIVER LOCK MOTOR Pink/black In harness above gas pedal +
DRIVER UNLOCK MOTOR Red/orange In harness above gas pedal +
PASSENGER UNLOCK MOTOR Pink/orange In harness above gas pedal +
GLO-PLUG SIGNAL DATA ONLY USE DELAY TIMER
DOORPIN Black/blue Above parking brake in DKP +
The vehicle’s computer sends out diagnostic pulses on this wire every 15-20 minutes. This may cause an after-market alarm to false. It is suggested that you add a relay to this wire when connecting to an alarm system. See the appropriate diagram for exact wiring instructions.
FACTORY ARM Yellow/black Above parking brake in DKP -
This is the driver’s doorpin wire. Pulse this wire at the same time as lock to arm the factory alarm.
FACTORY DISARM Dk.green/purple In harness above gas pedal -
BRAKESWITCH Green At switch above brake pedal +
PARKLIGHTS Brown At light switch harness +
HAND BRAKE Lt.green/red At plug above handbrake lever -
HORN Dk.blue In airbag plug on right side of st. column