Cars are becoming more intuitive with more interactive features that depend not solely on the manufacturer but the owner's needs and convenience. The best selling point of any product in the modern market is upgrading the product to fit arising needs rather than buying a new product altogether. You can now buy and install your remote starter if your vehicle is an old model that does not have one or if you have a preferred version of the best remote start that you would like in your car.
What is a Remote Start?
A remote start is a wireless device that sends a signal to the components in the car to start the engine or send a command to control a function that you would like. You do not have to physically go to the car and start the engine, as you can do this remotely by a simple press of a button on your key fob.
A remote car starter is important for many reasons. If it is freezing outside, you can start your car and let it heat up before you step inside. Remote car starters can also take advantage of GPS services and tell you the location of your vehicle at all times. A remote start system does not jeopardize the security of your car, as you have to insert a key for the car to be operable.
Best Remote Start
1) Avital 4105L One-Way Remote Start System
Avital 4105L 1-Way Remote Start System with 4-Button Remote
- Avital remote start system includes two 4-buttom remotes with up...
- Lock, unlock, trunk release, and remote start
- Fault-proof starter interrupt - Keep your car where you parked it...
- Dual-Zone impact sensor - Detects blows or impacts to your...
- Directed SmartStart Compatible
How far would you need to be away from your car to start it? Not more than one mile away. However, Avital gives you a one-and-a-half-mile range to work with whenever you want to start your car, making it the best remote car starter in terms of range and efficiency. In addition, Avital has lock-unlock features, together with trunk release and remote start.
Avital car starter offers nothing but safety to your car. The starter has a fault-proof starter interrupt that stops anyone from getting ideas to hot-wire your car and get away. To add to this, the car has a dual-zone shock sensor to detect an impact on the car and respond with a siren.
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2) Compustar Two-Way Remote Start and Keyless Entry System
Compustar CS4900-S (4900S) 2-way Remote Start and Keyless Entry System with 3000-ft Range
- Compustar CS4900-S (4900S) 2-way Remote Start and Keyless Entry...
- 2 4-Button remotes with Lock, Unlock, Trunk Release, & Remote...
- All-in-one remote start & keyless entry system
- Automatic Transmission only - Diesel-Engine Safe
- Professional Installation is highly recommended. Some vehicles...
It is refreshing to know that Compustar is safe to install in cars with diesel engines, unlike other remote starters. In addition, Compustar works from a distance of 3,000 feet away, making the remote system a convenient way to start your vehicle. The all-in-one remote start offers a keyless entry, gives you other features to work with and saves you the hassle of using other means.
Compustar has other features, including a trunk release, remote start and stop buttons, and lock and unlock system buttons. The 2-way remote start system is the best overall option for a diesel engine and not much to work with in terms of a remote starter.
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3) Crimestopper RS4-G5 One-Way Remote Start
Crimestopper RS4-G5 1-Way Remote Start and Keyless Entry System with Trunk Pop
- 1-Way Keyless Entry & Remote Start System with brushed metal and...
- Brushed metal 5-button sidekick remote control transmitter
- 2000 ft. operating range / 31 programmable options
- 2-Way data port for easy data module hook-up
- Mobile Start port for easy connection to Mobile Start MS-3 module
Two five-button transmitters are as many as all the options you would need in a transmitter. Crimestopper lives up to its name by giving your car the best security options with 31 programmable options to choose from. You can have the safety of your vehicle right in the palm of your hands. You can start your engine from a distance of 2,000 feet away with the strong signal that the starter has.
You use the remote car starter on multiple vehicles. With the many programmable options, this challenge is achievable. Crimestopper uses a 2-way data port for a quick and easy data module hook-up. You can further incorporate the mobile Start MS-3 module. The keyless-entry system gives a trunk-pop choice that puts more functions right in your hands.
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4) EASYGUARD Passive Keyless Entry Starter
EASYGUARD EC003N-V-1 PKE Passive Keyless Entry Car Alarm System Push Start Button Remote Start...
- EASYGUARD Smart Key PKE car alarm system with remote engine...
- IMPORTANT: This item not work with cars with double pulse for...
- With push start button can start/stop your vehicle easier and no...
- An extra bypass module(like ASIN: B07NSLPBG7 or B00MEHBVIC) is...
- Professional car alarm installer installation is required.If you...
The thing that worries you the most about your car when you are not around it is safety. EASYGUARD lives up to its reputation by offering a car alarm system and a remote engine starter all in one system. The PKE system is smart and will lock itself 3-6 feet away with the key fob and unlock itself when you get closer to the car.
Once you properly install the system, you no longer have to insert a key in the ignition, as you can now use a start/stop push button. All you need to do is add an extra bypass module if the factory OEM key fob has a chip immobilizer.
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5) Viper SmartStart Pro GPS Module
Starting your car from a mile away is one thing and knowing where your car is, is another thing. Viper takes the future and places it right in your hands with their unmatched technology to ensure car safety. Viper is your worthy assistant when it comes to your car. For example, you could lock the doors remotely if you left them open mistakenly.
Viper allows you to check the alarm system status to know whether it has been triggered or not. It would be impossible to tell from a great distance whether your alarm went off or not. The module gives you basic engine diagnostics to keep you in the know at all times.
You can create and monitor a smart fence and get alerts every the fence is violated. Apart from just knowing where your vehicle is, you can get a turn-by-turn direction to your vehicle if you get into a parking lot full of cars and can not seem to locate your car.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Remote Starters?
a) Are Remote Starters Bad for the Car Engine?
There are two schools of thought, and neither dismiss the importance of the remote car starters but rather express concern over the engine safety when using a remote start.
The first school of thought states that warming up the engine before actually driving causes a significant amount of wear to the engine during winter. This is because the engine works the hardest when it is cold, and according to some people, the best way to warm up the engine is by actually driving the car.
The other group argues that the warm-up time warms the engine oil, making the car start smoother when you start driving. However, when you start your vehicle in cold temperature conditions, the engine oil is cold, and the vehicle might need a minute to warm up.
b) Do Remote Starters Damage the Battery?
The remote car starter has received this backlash from critics: the battery gets wasted when you use the remote start system. However, it is important to note that the process of starting a car does not change with the fact that it is done remotely or manually.
The only challenge that will arise if your car did not come with remote start systems preinstalled. If you loosely install the system, the battery could face some challenges that lead to draining. For example, if one of the wires grounds out, the battery could be easily drained. Therefore, have your starter installed professionally by your mechanic to avoid any grounding or short-circuiting.
c) Does a remote Car Starter Turn on the Air Conditioning?
The best remote car starters will have the capability, through a mobile app, to regulate the temperature in the car. However, for a normal remote starter, switching on the battery turns the systems in the car on, letting the car self-regulate by using its automatic climate control.
Some remote starters can turn on heated seats if installed correctly. After all, you are taking a system and introducing it into your car's electronic system. If you know what you are doing, you can achieve many things.
d) How Far Away from the Car does a Starter Work?
A remote car starter can work anywhere between 80 feet and one-mile range, depending on the manufacturer and the quality of the remote starter system. However, some environmental factors can affect the remote starter's range by obstructing the signal making it weaker or preventing any connection.
e) Does a Remote Car Starter Work Through Walls?
Yes. A starter will work through most obstacles. However, over a long-range, obstacles end up making the signal weaker.
f) Can Someone Steal My Car Once I Remote Start it?
You can not drive your car without the key, meaning someone else will not be able to steal it without having your key. The car engine and battery will be on, but the vehicle will only be operable once you insert the key.
A car with a keyless entry can, however, be stolen using relay equipment. People are smart, and they will always try stealing your car in different ways.
Factors to Consider Before Buying a Remote Starter
i) Range
The range is quite obvious as you will not be starting your car remotely right next to it. The plan is not to get out of the door, definitely not when it is snowing. When looking at the range in the remote starter specifications, keep in mind that the range does not include any obstacles like buildings or trees. Therefore, before installing a remote starter, ensure that you look at an online review to determine whether the range is accurate or not.
One tip is always to have the remote car starter installed where you buy it from.
ii) Security System
Remote car starters come with a lot of questions. While we are trying to convince you that they are indeed safe, security starts with you. Ensure your car is always parked in a secure place that is visible from where you are. Keyless entry cars are the target of most hackers who want to steal your car. Look for a starter that enhances the security of your car rather than sabotage it.
It is important to note that the remote starter can connect to the alarm system and the shock sensor to start the car without triggering the alarms.
iii) Engine Speed Sensing
Starting your car remotely means that you are not in control of a lot of things. One of the things you can only hope goes right is the engine revving. The best remote car starters will have features that sense when the engine is over-revving and shut the system down. In addition, a good remote starter will have an RPM monitor to ensure the car starts properly.
iv) Other features
Some automatic remote car starters can do more than turn on the engine. Some starters integrate more of the car's functions to make it easier to use one device within your convenience. The best remote car starter will have extra features like trunk release, keyless entry, heated seats, and window defrosting systems. In addition, a remote start system can run basic diagnostics like the engine RPM.
v) LCD Screen
The remote can flash a notification through the LCD screen. This feature comes in handy when using the remote starter at night or in the dark. An LCD screen can show you basic things like the battery levels, time, and whether the car is locked or unlocked.
vi) Price
You need to consider whether a remote starter is within your budget range or not. Also, you need to consider that you might have to pay for installments once you have bought the product. Hopefully, you will have the system installed where you bought it to make everything easier in case of a malfunction. Finally, look for products with a warranty on them to have confidence before you buy the system.