Remote Car Start - Trucktronics

  |   remote Car Start remote Starter Remote start - it's not just for winter anymore. Well, yes and no. It's a good PR spin, and yes, you can pre-cool your truck using it in the summer if you have A/C. It's also true that combined remote start security systems sell year-round - especially the new two-ways. But, the bottom line with basic remote start systems is they are still very much a seasonal and regional product. Anywhere icicles grow out of your nose from December through April, you're pretty much in remote start country. What is remote start? There are still a lot of folks who have never heard of it and will exhibit a most satisfying look of shock and awe when you press a button on your keychain remote and your truck engine starts up. Remote start starts your engine by remote control. However, it's a little more complicated than that. For one thing, it's generally intended for automatics only. In the past, the consumer would have to go to a mobile electronics retailer for remote start, but that has changed. You can now buy a remote start installed in your new GM vehicle. There are two catches to this. There are only a limited number of cars and vans that offer this option, and the other catch is range can be an issue. Aftermarket remote start products are all about range. Some of them are FCC legal, and others cheat, but they are all better than factory, and that's the point of this article. Naturally, a 200-foot range might be sufficient if you park in your driveway, but it's not going to cut it if you park a block away or in a giant, snowy parking lot. That's when you are going to be very happy with a remote start with quarter-mile or further range. The feature to ask for is superheterodyne. Don't settle for anything less because that's just what you'll get in range - less of it. The other product to ask about is a two-way starter. You'll want to know if your truck has started or whether you have just pushed some random buttons and nothing happened. That's what two-way is used for. It helps you stay in touch with your truck via the two-way security or remote start system that confirms your commands without having to trudge through the snow to check up on it. Factory remote start is going to be very educational for many people once companies start advertising them. All of the first-timers are going to come out of the woodwork. You'll see older ladies remote-starting their '05 GM crossover sport vans while you're freezing your tail off. So, go see your local stereo shop or big-box chain and tell them to start you up. And, don't forget to ask for an MECP-certified installer.