Installing a remote vehicle starter can be a daunting task. There are many factors that will dictate the level of difficulty including: The make, model, and year of the vehicle; The installers knowledge of vehicle electrical systems; and The product being installed.
Because all vehicles are different, and many require extra parts and interfaces to properly operate with a remote start, the focus of this article will be on vehicles with automatic transmissions, fuel injection, and no ignition immobilizers.
Locate the wires to be interfaced in the vehicle. These are the 12V positive, accessory (heater), ignition, starter, brake, parking light, and fuel injector/tachometer wires. Depending on the unit being installed, additional wires such as power locks, security, and trunk release wires may also be interfaced.
Test the wires found with a Volt Ohm Meter or a digital multi-meter. Find a place to mount the remote start once the installation is finished and make sure that the provided wiring is long enough to reach. Extend your wiring as needed.
Using a set of wire strippers, remove an inch or so of insulation from the wires you will be connecting. Solder the corresponding wires from the remote start to the vehicles wiring harness, and secure your connections with black tape.
To access the under hood wiring use a factory grommet, or drill a 1/2 hole in the firewall. If drilling a hole, use a 1/2 plastic grommet to keep the wire from touching bare metal on the firewall.
Once all connections are made, remove a small section of paint from some metal in the kick panel area of the car, and attach your ground wire using a ring terminal and self tapping screw. Mount the antenna to the windshield and route the antenna wire to the remote start. Consult the installation manual for the correct programming procedure.
Test the installation thoroughly. If installed correctly, the engine should start, the heater/air conditioner should operate, and the car should idle smoothly for the pre-programmed amount of time. Make sure that there are no ABS or check engine lights on the dash that were not there to begin with. If everything checks out, put the vehicle back together. Secure the remote start module to the vehicle with nylon wire ties.
