Info on Remote Start Alarm Combo???

[jdoherty]

I'm looking on putting in a remote start/alarm in my 03 Tundra. I was going to get one from Circuit City or Tweeter or something but I really didn't want some highschool kid pulling apart my dash, I figure Toyota will do a better job.
My question for anyone that has info is: How is the quality of a Toyota alarm? How far away does it work? Is it the typical 6 tone alarm sequence?
Installed it is $525, I know I can get one cheaper but I was thinking of keeping it all Toyota....should I?
Any info please.

[nhparrot]

Go aftermarket from a quality shop/installer. DEI products (Viper, Sidewinder, Clifford) are top notch. I would go to a Tweeter over a Circuit City or Best Buy. But check out WHO will be doing the install - an alarm no matter how good it is electronically is only as good as the installer.

[jdoherty]

I was leaning towards Tweeter if I went aftermarket....are they that much better than Toyota? And finally I know that an alarm cannot void the warranty but can a remote starter void any part of the warranty?

[nhparrot]

Aftermarket alarms/remote starters offer many more options than Toyota. Also if the dealer is installing a remote/start - it is some aftermarket brand, as ther is not a Toyota remote/start option.

The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (15 U.S.C. 2302(C))

This federal law regulates warranties for the protection of consumers. The essence of this law concerning aftermarket auto parts is that a vehicle manufacturer may not condition a written or implied warranty on the consumers using parts or services which are identified by brand, trade, or corporate name (such as the vehicle makers brand) unless the parts or service are provided free of charge. The law means that the use of an aftermarket part alone is not cause for denying the warranty. However, the law's protection does not extend to aftermarket parts in situations where such parts actually caused the damage being claimed under the warranty. Further, consumers are advised to be aware of any specific terms or conditions stated in the warranty which may result in its being voided. The law states in relevant part:

“No warrantor of a consumer product may condition his written or implied warranty of such product on the consumers using, in connection with such product, any article or service (other than article or service provided without charge under the terms of the warranty) which is identified by brand, trade or corporate name....” (15 U.S.C. 2302(C)).

[akauth]

Originally posted by jdoherty
I was leaning towards Tweeter if I went aftermarket....are they that much better than Toyota? And finally I know that an alarm cannot void the warranty but can a remote starter void any part of the warranty?

Substitute parts are acceptable. However, the warrantee can be voided if the cause of the failure was soley due to a substituted part that cannot be shown to meet oem standards. This is a little bit hard to prove.

For example, not that you could actually do this, but if you were to replace the fuel pump with an aftermarket pump (I dont' know why, you were in the middle of nowhere and that's all the mechanic could get) and your fuel pump then went out you would not be covered. However, if you replaced your fuel pump with an aftermarket pump (doubt one is made) and the injectors went out, you'd be covered unless they could somehow show that the aftermarket pump caused the problem. Would be kind of hard to prove unless something is very obvious.

Alan

[jdoherty]

Thanks for the help guys, I'm looking at the Viper 790 with the page feature that pages ur keychain within a 1/4 mi of ur car if the alarm is going off. Plus it shows on a display if the doors are locked, the engine is on etc.
I'm about 70/30 on getting the viper and not getting it at Toyota. This one just seems like a much better alarm for the $. I spoke to the guy that would be doing it and he seems to know what he's doing and told me that he has done a lot of Toyotas. Correct me if i'm wrong but I don't think these types of things malfunction very often causing vehicle damage. I think i'll take my chances. Too bad I can't get Toyota to install the viper...

[ROCKT67]

In regards to the alarm, I think that aftermarket is good...but only
if its the upper end type units. Fujitsu makes a good end unit as
well as an Audiovox Securikey 5 unit. I agree on getting the unit
installed at a quality type of outfit. We have fixed many a blotched
wire job here where I work(Toyota Service). Factory units are only good when installed portside. There is only one unit from Toyota that offers remote start and that is from Audiovox, and I
have had good results from that system.


Darrin...

[akauth]

Originally posted by jdoherty
Thanks for the help guys, I'm looking at the Viper 790 with the page feature that pages ur keychain within a 1/4 mi of ur car if the alarm is going off. Plus it shows on a display if the doors are locked, the engine is on etc.
I'm about 70/30 on getting the viper and not getting it at Toyota. This one just seems like a much better alarm for the $. I spoke to the guy that would be doing it and he seems to know what he's doing and told me that he has done a lot of Toyotas. Correct me if i'm wrong but I don't think these types of things malfunction very often causing vehicle damage. I think i'll take my chances. Too bad I can't get Toyota to install the viper...

By now they've probably done a ton of Tundras and to be honest a good installer could probably do it better than the dealer. After all, they are specialists in installing their alarms, just like Toyota is a specialist in dealing with toyota parts.

Once an installer has done a couple of tundra installs though, they know just as much as the dealer does about installing an alarm system in a Tundra (provided nothing is changed along the way). Too, if you did it once or twice (*correctly*), you'd be kind of an "expert" at it too because now you know where the wires are (which is the hard part - the rest is just being a little handy with tools). Too, an installer knows tricks of the trade for putting stuff in that even a dealer doesn't as a dealers job is to keep it OEM. The one thing that a dealer *might* have going for them though is that they usually maintain very high standards. An alarm installer might or might not.

In fact, many installers will even uninstall the alarm they sold you when you sell the vehicle so you can move it to another vehicle. (why bother though, it's outdated in a couple years - still works the same as it ever did though).

Alan

[wacko]

Many dealerships don't even do their own installs...They farm them out to local Car Audio stores You might as well eliminate the middle man!

[akauth]

Originally posted by ROCKT67
In regards to the alarm, I think that aftermarket is good...but only
if its the upper end type units. Fujitsu makes a good end unit as
well as an Audiovox Securikey 5 unit. I agree on getting the unit
installed at a quality type of outfit. We have fixed many a blotched
wire job here where I work(Toyota Service). Factory units are only good when installed portside. There is only one unit from Toyota that offers remote start and that is from Audiovox, and I
have had good results from that system.


Darrin...

Darrin,

Does the audiovox system tie into the ignition system and the vehicle electronics?

For example. And this is why the Tundra system is both cool and "kindergarten class".

If you locked the vehicle and then lost the alarm transmitter - while skiing for example. You can open the vehicle, set off the alarm, and then turn the ignition on - off - on and the vehicle will start if you keep going until the starter engages the second time. (I tested this on my 2000, so I know it does work).

The big thing that really makes the Toyota oem system obnoxious is the minimal 50 foot range (which is a "feature"). And that's with a fresh battery.

Anyway, is the audiovox system really a Toyota system or is it just an aftermarket item that the dealer ship group standardized on that seems to work pretty well?

Where do they mount the receiver antenna? The audiovox stuff I've seen has a good range, but the antenna is pretty large from the ones that I've seen.

What dealerships offer the audiovox as the "toyota" remote start alarm system? I wish all Toyota offered that feature. Maybe in the 2004s they will. It's just one more way that Toyota could distinguish themselves from the competition. (well, other than world class reliability that is.....)

Alan

[jdc580]

If you want the best:

http://www.compustar.org

I used to be an installer. Firstech is great, they produce the CompuStar systems. I have the 2WSS Remote Starter/Alarm combo. At full power I get a distance of over 1 Mile. I can constantly monitor my truck. I have installed several different manufacturers, I highly recommend this one.

-John

[Bill R]

I have the Compustar 2W-AS. This is a full featured paging alarm system with remote start that consistantly works well beyond the 1/4 mile range claimed by the manufacturer, Firstech. I have had two of these, one in the Tundra and one in the Rav4, for 2-1/2 years without a single problem. One control works with both vehicles. The remote unit can tell me if the system is armed, whether the doors are open, if the engine is running, if the vehicle has been jarred, if the vehicle is locked, and whether the remote is out of range. I have added the Bulldog automatic window roll up module ($13.00) which also works well. When I leave the vehicle, I push the alarm set button on the remote, and the windows automaticaly roll up as the alarm is set. I have also programed the unit to arm itself 30 seconds after I leave the vehicle in case I forget to set it. Neat. Oh yeah, if you do this, carry a spare key in the change compartment of your wallet, or you may get locked out.

[jdoherty]

I like what i hear about that alarm. Are there any installers in Massachusetts? I could have emailed the co. but i dind't feel like it, i wish they just had a look-up for your area. How much was that btw. I can get the Viper equivilant of that one for $475. Also what is the diff between 2w-as and the fm

[Bill R]

I paid about $320 for each of my units 2-1/2 years ago, and opted to purchase extra remote units at the same time for about $65 each. The reason for buying extra remote units is that years down the road, when the system is no longer available, a damaged or lost remote may not be replaceable at any cost. This would make the whole system worthless. I installed the systems myself, so installation cost was not a factor.

[CJ]

Where'd ya get it from, a national chain/online?

Thanks,

CJ

Originally posted by Bill R
[snip]I installed the systems myself, so installation cost was not a factor.