Questions and Answers
Remote Controlled Starters
Q. I am pretty mechanically inclined but have never really seen how a remote controlled starter works on a car. Does the ignition switch say off? Please explain if you have the time.
Thanks.
A. I've only personally install two remote starters and I always thought they were a neat idea. For those who don't know what a remote starter does, it is a system that allows a car to be started by remote control. In this way a car can be started from inside the house and it will be warmed up and ready to go when the owner comes out. Really nice on a cold morning.
Now the two I installed were made specifically for a Nissan vehicle but I'm sure the general principle is the same for all of them.
Basically they "hot wire" the car, the same way a car thief would start a car to steal it. There is a control module that, for all intents and purposes, replaces the ignition switch and allows power to go to the fuel and ignition system. The control modules usually have a timer, about 15 minutes, where the car will shut off if the ignition key is not turned on. The ignition switch sends a signal and the module and is disabled when it sees it.
I have only seen remote starter kits for cars with automatic transmissions. The company that makes the Nissan kits says they do not make a kit for manual transmissions due to the possibility of the vehicle being left in gear. Makes a lot of sense to me.
Additional Information provided courtesy of ALLDATA
