Remote car starters are, basically, what they sound like: a wireless, radio-controlled tool that starts your car’s engine from a certain distance away.
Car Starters
What Is A Remote Car Starter?
- Most often, these gadgets come in the form of key fobs, or little remote controls with buttons for engine ignition and, sometimes, other functions.
- The distance from which one will work will usually be listed on the item’s packaging. Some models will work within a distance of 500 or 1,000 feet, while more robust starters come with ranges stretching as far as a mile.
- In addition to starting your car, some models will also let you lock and unlock the doors, turn on the heat, pop the trunk, warm up your seats, or even control things from your phone…
- …but not every model will. Many models include extras like keyless entry, but be sure to read your device’s specifications to be totally sure about what all it can do.
How Does A Remote Car Starter Work?
Remote car starters work via radio frequency. A box is connected to your car’s ignition switch and other basic startup mechanisms. When you press the ignition button on your key fob or remote, it sends a signal to the box to turn on the systems that start the engine. The radio signal is unique to each model, so you don’t need to worry about pressing a button and accidentally cutting the ice cream man’s engine.
How Much Does A Remote Car Starter Cost?
A good price range you can expect for a remote car starter is somewhere around $349 to $1500. There are a couple very important notes you should keep in mind here, though:
- That usually does not include installation. The installation process can run as high as a couple hundred bucks more, so be sure to (1) do some research on how much it’ll cost to get one installed on your car and (2) factor that into your budget.
- Brand and extra features will make things pricier. If you only need to start your car and warm it up from inside the house, do a little digging to find a model with those basics only—it’ll probably help you save.
How Do You Install A Remote Car Starter?
In short: you shouldn’t. That is to say, you should probably get a professional to do it. Remote starters might seem basic in a sense—some models even come with instructions on installing one yourself—but remote starter installation is best left to someone whose job it is to do it. Why, you ask?
- Older makes and models can complicate things. Most newer cars come off the line better equipped for add-ons like remote starters, but the ’72 Chevelle in your garage wasn’t made with these in mind.
- Even still, the alarms and built-in theft deterrents on most cars today often need to be bypassed (more on that below) when installing a remote starter. Unless you’re a highly skilled auto technician, you probably won’t know how to do that.
- Do you have a European make, hybrid, or stick transmission? Those are other issues only a pro should be tasked to navigate when installing a remote starter.
What Are Bypass Modules, And Why Are They So Important?
In short: a bypass module is a device installed in your car that allows a remote starter’s signal to start the car. And odds are you’ll need one on your vehicle if you plan on getting a remote car starter. So bottom line: bypass modules are important, and they affect how much you’ll end up paying in total for your remote starter. Here’s why:
- Many of the anti-theft modules mentioned earlier require a specific, physical key to be in the car’s ignition for it to start. Since the point of a remote car starter is to, you know, start it remotely, a bypass module is required to “trick” the engine into thinking there’s an actual key in the ignition when you press the button on your key fob.
- Beware services that don’t explicitly include a bypass-module installation. If it turns out your car needs a bypass module (over 95% of cars on the road do, FYI), that service can cost you up to an additional $175 after the remote starter has been installed—not a very fun surprise.
