How to Install a Remote Starter With Keyless Entry
Remove starters are a great convenience for drivers in cold weather, giving you a nice, warm car to get into with all the windows defrosted. That long walk out to your car in the frigid cold will no longer be a source of dread. If you are interested in installing a remote starter, there are certain considerations you should be aware of before starting your project.
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Things You'll Need
- Remote starter set
- Soldering iron
- Wire cutters
- Digital multimeter
- Screwdriver set
- Wire strippers
- Socket wrench set
- Heat gun
- Power drill
- Electrical tape
- Shrink wrap
Instructions
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Select which functions of your remote starter/keyless entry system that you want to use. If you want to use all of them, that will require the most amount of work. If you only want a handful of the features, then you will not have to connect as many wires throughout the car. Naturally, each remote starter/entry system is unique and can have a variety of features.
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Remove the car's negative battery terminal cable. Any time that you are working on your vehicle's electrical system, the negative terminal needs to be unplugged to remove the risk of electrocution.
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3
Use a flat head screwdriver and socket wrenches to remove the panels beneath the dashboard, steering column and driver's side kick panel so that you have complete access to all of the wires needed to install your keyless entry/starter system.
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4
Locate a hollow cavity space underneath the panels just removed that can serve as the central location for the keyless system's central processing unit. Use epoxy to mount the keyless system onto the framework beneath the panels.
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Prepare your keyless starter/entry system. If there are any features that you will not be using, trim the corresponding wires on the starter/entry system to 6 inches. Consult the manual for the starter/entry system so that you know which wires to trim. Use black electrical tape to bundle the rest of the wires together that you are planning to use. Leave at least 4 inches of wiring to connect the ends of each wire.
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Use tape to identify and label the wires on your car that correspond with the wires from your starter/entry system. Consult the vehicle's wiring diagram to make sure that you are using the correct wires from your vehicle. Examples of wires that you will be looking for and labeling include the main power wire, ignition wire and starter wire.
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Use wire strippers to remove some of the covering from the wires that you are attaching the keyless system to. Also strip the ends of the bundle from the keyless wiring system.
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Solder the wires together from the keyless system and the vehicle wires. Make sure that you cover the joined wire parts with electrical tape. Also make sure that the black wire from the keyless starter/entry system is grounded to the frame of the car.
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Reconnect the negative battery terminal cable. Test your car to make sure that all of the functions from the keyless starter/entry system work correctly.
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Tips & Warnings
Consult with your dealership prior to purchasing a remote starter/entry system to make sure that you do not purchase one that is unsuitable for your car.
Modern cars have three different door locking systems. Be sure that you know which system your vehicle is using and how to specifically connect that system to your starter/entry system. In most cases, you will be able to attach the wires from the keyless system to the door lock wires of your car, i.e., a negative system. Positive and five-wire reverse door locking systems will require amp relays in order to connect the keyless system with the car's electrical system.
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