Car starters

[dwvw]

Re: Car starters

Hey all, I work for FS in Medicine Hat and have quite a bit of experience with pretty much every model of VW in regards to car starters.

First of all, I have never heard of a properly installed remote starter, starting in gear. Every case so far has been some douche putting an auto tranny starter in a manual car. For example the Mustang that was referenced earlier was a few year old Viper starter that is not manual transmission capable. If you read the 40 page thread on the Mustang forum, the owner of the car self installed the starter and bypassed every form of safety built into the unit.

As for how hard they are to put in a MKIV, they are not that hard. I have probably done about 40 or so MKIV's and they are not that hard, and only slightly more time consuming than most cars.

I have also experienced hit and miss on TDI's as far as them heating up. I have only done about 15 or so TDI's but not one client has come back complaining, but I do warn them that the heater might not get real warm until they start driving. All of them did have heated seats though.

A few things to keep in mind is that you will need to sacrifice the valet key, and the factory remote doesn't work while the car is running so if you get one installed make sure to get at least the door locks hooked up as well.

If you have any more questions I would be happy to answer.

Oh and besides myself a few places I would for sure recommend would be Mobile Solutions of Calgary, and Shaughn Murley at Visions Red Deer.

[CGDoig]

Re: Car starters

My car has a hell of a time starting at -5. After that stupid glow plug recall it hasn't been good since. I need to call them back and find out what thru can do Noe that it's supposedly figured out.

[Benjamin]

Re: Car starters

My car starts fine and along with our Christmas lights my electricity bill is lower

Well most Calgary homes now have two circuits, one for lights, one for outdoor plugs. The cost difference for electricity following this forumula, 10 days @ -30`C (typically how many of those nights a year) 4 hours turn on before you start = a massive $3.00 total in extra power used for all 10 nights. Considering you will probably save $30 by getting it local, you have 10 years of a warmer car before that extra $3 will really hurt you.

Here is where you get this

http://www.greggdistributors.ca/catalogue.htm

Part Number
330-8003

If this is plugged in at the university you won't even notice the power bill.

In terms of having your windows defrosted, you just need to leave the heater controls on full defroster with full heat. Car off, but the heat from the circulating heater will heat the core and hot air rises which hits your windshield.

[CGDoig]

Re: Car starters

Either the frostheater or the zerostart are the best options. 90% of residential and commercial parking spaces in Calgary have plugs. Your window will defrost in 2 minutes and because they have a small pump in them sometimes it will circulate enough to prevent frosting. Best option bar none. No need for fancy dancy car starters.

[thegooddie]

Re: Car starters

First off, thanks everyone for your inputs. The biggest reason why I wanted a car starter was so that when I'm at the university studying until 2am I want to be able to start the car a few times through the night to make sure it ends up starting when I want to leave. It'd also be nice for the windows to be defrosted when I get to the car.

That thing is a waste of money. Grab a 1500 watt Zerostart from Gregs. It's $60 and your car will start up with full heat at -40. Much better block heater.

The TDIheater, or whatever they call it now is only 750 watt, I had one in my car till about a few weeks ago. Did a few winters with it, but the 1500 watt one is where it is at.

Ben

Are you guys talking about the same thing here? I'm pretty much only concerned about the car actually starting in the middle of winter and would be nice if the windows were already slightly defrosted.

[popp]

Re: Car starters

I did not read all of the above so if this was mentioned already then deal with it. Their is a series of steps you have to take in order to engage a starter on a standard transmission. If you press the start button and the car is in gear, it WILL NOT start. Unless the installer disabled the bypass which will never be done by a shop ( only if he installed himself ). I've had starters in all my standards and never had any issues. The MK4 jetta is a hard one, and most places won't do it but there are some that will. 600-1000 is ballpark for one way or 2way starters. Starters are great for winter, summer (AC) and for turbo timers.......

[CGDoig]

Re: Car starters

Agreed. Even with a frost heater or equivalent after starting the car your temp will drop and you will lose heat anyways. Best part about them is you can hop in start and drive. Hot air blows from the vents right away.

[P Arkus]

Re: Car starters

Sorry, my statement was to explain about the cars crashing through walls. I understand for a diesel it might not quite be worth it because it wont heat up at idle. I just wanted to make it clear that those stories about cars accidentally being turned on should not scare people away from gettin remote starters if it is worth it for their application.

[CGDoig]

Re: Car starters

It's a diesel, I've heard of people having them in diesels before and I've even talked to a guy in airdrie about it. Said it's not practical in a tdi. With the glow plug recall half the cars don't start anyways.

[P Arkus]

Re: Car starters

All that crap about cars smashing through garages and starting accidentally is just owner stupidity. I have a remote start on my MK3, and it was a great investment. I leave the car in neutral when I want to start the car with the remote, or I leave it in first when I dont need to start it. There are certain safety mechanisms installed to prevent the car from starting in gear.

For instance:

1) to set the car to start with the remote, your foot must be on the brake, car needs to be in neutral, pull up the hand brake, let your foot off the brake, and turn the ignition to the off position. The car is still running, until you either hit the brake (wont set the remote start) or open (get out) and close the door (set the remote start). Then the alarm sounds and the car is set.

2) If you leave the car in gear, the clutch is pressed down, and most likely your foot is on the brake. If you turn the ignition, the car will shut off, and the starter will not be set.

As for giving the car to other mechanics or shops, I simply take the remote off the key chain and give them only the key. They can lock the car that way.

Anyone who's had their car crash through a wall and blaimed the remote starter, wasnt very smart in the first place and it was their own fault.

[CGDoig]

Re: Car starters

My car starts fine and along with our Christmas lights my electricity bill is lower

[Benjamin]

Re: Car starters

The TDIheater, or whatever they call it now is only 750 watt, I had one in my car till about a few weeks ago. Did a few winters with it, but the 1500 watt one is where it is at. My car started up great on the -30, -40`C days, but the heat would go half way and then drop as 20 secs of running. The 1500 watt one's I installed in my brothers car, same spot just more power, well they would start off with full heat those days and it wouldn't drop after 20 secs. Honestly, $60 for the heater and $10 for extra hose and you are set. Might need some coolant if you don't catch all that comes out, but a very wise investment.

Ben

[dJ]

Re: Car starters

http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=278764

I have one in my car, best mod per monies spent, especially here in Alberta, and my car is pretty heavily modified. Install took about 30 minutes, but I dinked around for a while, probably could have done it in 15.

That thing is a waste of money. Grab a 1500 watt Zerostart from Gregs. It's $60 and your car will start up with full heat at -40. Much better block heater.

[Vulcan]

Re: Car starters

I have the zero start coolant heater. I had my car outside in Edmonton all winter...ran the heater on a timer 35 min before I leave for work....Car starts right up and I have around 50 C of coolant temp to drive off right away.

[Khyron]

Re: Car starters

I got one in my mk4 1.8T which IS nice in the winter cause it gets hot at idle (unlike the TDI). I don't run it for 10 mins, but maybe 2-4 as walking to the car, or as a turbo timer. It also doubles as a 2way alarm with 1/2 mile+ range. And it closes the windows/sunroof.

Definately get it done somewhere higher end - mine was about 800 at Audio Concepts Mobile.

The mustang guy above intentionally disabled the clutch kill switch, and put it on his stock fob under the panic button (which parking guys use to find a car in a lot). Totally his fault.

The only way you could make mine screw up is if you were already in the car when I armed it, or I rolled down the windows and you climbed in. Otherwise it's impossible to set off.