TCC Tip: Remote Control

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In 2003, General Motors announced that it would soon be offering remote starting systems as an option on many of its new vehicles. The 2004 Chevrolet Malibu was the first, with more models added each year since. But you might be right to ask, are these systems useful and safe? And what can you do if you're not buying a new GM vehicle to get the same benefits?

The GM system allows remote starting features through a key fob with a greatly increased range. The key fob uses requires pressing and holding a combination of the buttons, to prevent accidental starting. Most importantly, it integrates the security system and has a series of safeguards, including a ten-minute timeout, mechanical monitoring, and several methods that will stop the engine in an emergency.

And it’s fully warranted and supported by GM with the rest of the car’s warranty. This is especially significant because it shows GM’s confidence that such systems can finally be applied to cars reliably and safely.

The newer remote starting systems are a far cry from the simple systems that have been available for decades through mail-order catalog outlets, auto-parts stores, and some department stores. Originally, these systems were as simple as a remotely actuated solenoid switch “hotwired” between the ignition switch and the starter, and installing them was unreliable and an absolute bag of tricks. On many cars they had to be tweaked and jury-rigged to work at all. Very few mechanics wanted to install them and be blamed for the inevitable future mishaps or failures. With the sometimes-tricky cold-weather starting that persisted in some new cars up until the late ’80s, at times these systems would run the battery completely dead trying to start the car, or sometimes they just plain wouldn’t work at all.

Then there were the issues with would-be thieves wanting to hop into your warmed-and-ready car, or children potentially slipping the car in gear and taking off down the street.

In the past few years, the new generation of aftermarket remote car starters has emerged. Now, with reliable cold starting, advanced engine computers, and sophisticated security systems, these new remote starters are reliable as an integral part of vehicle security systems, and they include various safety cutoffs of their own.

These new systems include hood-hinge cutoff switches, so the remote system is disabled if the hood is open (preventing possible disaster while someone is working underhood). They also include a door interlock provision where all the doors are locked when the car is remotely started. When the driver approaches the started car, it takes another click of the key fob to unlock the doors. This keeps thieves or children from entering the started car and possibly driving away in it. If that’s not enough, if someone (like a child) manages to unlock the doors and enter the car with the key fob, a touch to the brake pedal (necessary to put the car in gear in all newer cars) will turn the engine off and it won’t restart until the system is reset. Modern systems also have a manual disable switch that’s mounted in an easy-access place.

Remote starters require you to position all the climate control settings for the morning warming-up and defrosting. In some cases, the remote starting system can be configured to automatically activate the settings. The allure of remote starting systems is just as strong in extremely hot weather, where starting the engine can activate the air conditioning’s cooling features.

The features offered by these aftermarket systems vary across the board. Some systems, for example, will even allow a programmable run time, where the engine will start once every three hours for fifteen minutes.

In all cases, though, manual-gearbox fans are left out. Remote starters can only be installed on automatic-transmission vehicles.

We asked a few shops that install remote starters to tell give some practical advice about which choices to make and which pitfalls to avoid, so take heed of the following advice:

Don’t attempt the installation yourself or have a “shade tree mechanic” install the system. The newer systems involve the installation of a “remote starter module,” which is a microprocessor-controlled switch independent of the ignition switch. The location of the hardware is specific to each vehicle and involves some electrical-system rewiring. The procedure is somewhat complex, as there a number of safeguards that need to be configured properly. Also, installation in newer vehicles especially requires an understanding of how to interface with the engine management computer, and the installation procedure; if improperly done, could damage the vehicle’s electrical system. Make sure you have the system installed not only by someone who has installed other remote starters but also someone who’s familiar with your particular model.

Price equals reliability and quality. This seems to be true for remote starting systems, according to those we asked. You’ll be better off with a high-end model that can be configured to recognize modern electronic “coded key” ignitions, or interfaces directly with the engine computer.

Get a system that integrates with immobilizer/alarm functions. It just makes sense to have a starter system and an alarm system that operate together. Get a remote starter that functions as an immobilizer should someone else—or your own child—get in the car. If you get the full deal, you’ll add useful safety interlock functions, too.

Once you’ve installed such a system, there are some especially important precautions:

Never use the remote starter if you’ve been having trouble with the car. New cars (like from GM) with the remote system will offer a mechanical check system that disables remote starting if there’s a problem. But aftermarket remote starting systems don’t have any such check, so if you’ve had any trouble with starting, electrical, or overheating don’t use the remote starter until you get it sorted out.

Always have the vehicle fully outside when using the starter. Installers of aftermarket remote-starting systems are required by manufacturers of the systems to emphasize that the features aren’t intended for use in a closed garage area because of the chance of fumes building up in the garage or a fire starting. If you use a remote starter, you need to park outside!

Use remote starting when parked along the street at your own risk! A word of caution: In some states and localities, if your car is parked on a public street, an unattended running car is illegal and subject to a ticket! Check your local laws if you rely on daily parallel parking.

Take measures to keep pets and children away from the vehicle. Remote-starting systems don’t give pets the warning that an approaching person would. If your family cat roams around outside, look for it first.

On the down side, regular use of a remote car starter is a convenient but not at all environmentally friendly practice. Idling—especially in cold weather when the engine isn’t yet at operating temperature—produces a disproportionately high amount of air pollution. Ultimately, especially if you live in a cold climate, an electric engine-block heater is better for the environment—and you can keep the car inside the garage, in from the weather.

These systems won’t do the engine any harm if used occasionally, but if the engine is frequently idling while cold and taking an extended period to reach its normal operating temperature, while your trips themselves are kept rather short, you should definitely change your oil more often; depending on the model, you might also need to have spark plugs cleaned or replaced more often, and the engine might be more prone to sludge and deposits. With frequent use of these systems, the catalytic converter might also be subject to more contamination wear than normal, as it’s not allowed to reach its effective “burn” temperature as quickly as if you started driving soon after starting the engine.

What’s cost of these systems? Count on between $150 and $200 installed for a basic remote starting system, to about $400 for one that’s fully integrated with an alarm system. You might see sub-$100 systems in department stores or for sale in enthusiast Web sites, but we were told by each of the installers we asked that those systems are unreliable and not worth it if you plan to use the device regularly.

The bottom-line advice is that if you have an experienced shop install a model they’re confident in, you’ll be able to reliably enjoy a comfortable car waiting for you year-round. And if you want to wait and get an OEM, factory-installed system, you might just be able to get one on your next new car.