Anyone have a remote start installed on their RX8?
 

Has Anyone had a remote start alarm installed on an RX8 Automatic trans?
I spoke with my installer and he said he would get back with me on installing a remote start alarm (Viper 550) he doesn't know if possible due to the Rotary engine, previously had one on my Eclipse AT. Just wondering if anyone had had this done yet?

Thanks

JCX:

I have not done this yet but want too. Let us all know how you make out.

Thanks...

It's very possible. I have a Viper 790VX installed. I love it. I just hit the button while I'm brushing my teeth in the morning and by the time I get out to the car, it's all warmed up and ready to go.

(and my car's a manual as well....)

I'm having the 790VX installed on Saturday. Aren't those awesome?!

Where can I buy Viper 790VX?

What is the cost of Viper 790VX plus installation?
Is it installed by dealer, if not, any warranty concerns?
Thanks

No it's not dealer installed. Yes there are warranty concerns, but only if you're careless and try to remote start your car while it's in gear. You can get it installed at just about any alarm shop that sells Viper alarms. Mine was about $650 installed. It's sweet because it's also got the 2-way paging system that alerts you up to a mile away if your alarm goes off, a door opens, the trunk opens, etc.

As far as the remote start is concerned, I had a switch wired down near the fusebox that allows me to disable the remote start (when a friend is driving the car or it's in for service or something). The remote start will shut the car down after 10 minutes unless you put the key in the ignition. For theft prevention after remote starting it will shut it down the car when the clutch is disengaged, the accelerator is revved over 3k RMP or the brake is tapped without the key being in the ignition.

Does it shut down if the parking brake is released too?

---jps

man this is awesome. i want one!!!

rotormotor where did you get it? you get it online?

I wasn't sure so I had to go check... Nope. It doesn't.

No, I just bought it and had it installed at a local alarm shop but I'm sure you could find it on eBay....

Well, one should be able to use a relay and connect it to the brake pedal wire so that both scenarios will cause the engine to stop if the key is not inserted.

---jps

On a vehicle that has remote start, if you start the car and get in and try to drive off, when you hit the gas pedal or try to put the car into gear, the engine dies. You have to have the key installed to keep it running. Don't worry about someone walking up to your car when you aren't looing and driving off. Unless they stole your key, they can't.

If an installer tells you he isn't sure if he can install it because of the rotary engine, tell him he can't because he is an idiot and then go elsewhere. An engine is an engine.

This is obviously a mod intended only for an automatic car. Anyone who wants to do it to a standard will probably have a hard time getting it done unless they know someone or can do it themselves. Shops don't do it for liability reasons. We did many years ago but too many stories would come back about how they left the car in gear when parked (which you should do anyways!) and the started it. Many other cars and garage doors have been hurt this way. The way this country works is they would probably try to sue the installer for their issues. It was just safer to not install them on standards anymore and I don't recommend it regardless. Trust me, EVERYONE who has one installed on a standard car will forget at least once that the car is in gear. Whether or not the car lurches forward into anything is a different story. I highly recommend against it on a standard. Remember tha I was an installer for many years. I got to see all kinds of horror stories.

Yes, if you do install this on a manual, you absolutely must make sure that you do not leave the car in gear when you plan to remote start it. That said, there are very few cases that I use the remote start and am always very conscious of how I left the car. If you're not absolutely sure you left it in neutral, don't start it, period.

There are relays that can be wired into the remote start to detect the state of the gearbox (in gear, in neutral) and enable/disable the remote start accordingly. I got the alarm installed 2 weeks after the car came out in the US and there weren't any relays/wiring diagrams available yet. If available now, the peace of mind would be well worth an additional $50 to get this wired up as well.

I am using a compustar 2WSS system. http://www.compustar.org Man this thing is a beauty. We spent about 8 hours because my 8 was the first that Compustar knew of to get remote start (and mine is a manual). Call Auto Sound & Security in Chino, CA they will hook you up. And they only charged me around 570 installed!

909-364-0494

Install was super clean, and the guys were extremely careful and took the extra time to get everything working EXACTLY as it should.

Slavearm

I would agree if the system relies on the driver to leave the car in neutral, especially if there are multiple drivers using the car ("Honey, did you leave the car in neutral?" "I always do, don't bother asking me again!").

But there are versions out there that use one of a couple of methods for ensuring that the manual tranny is in neutral before starting the car. There is also a good chance that the manual tranny in the RX8 has a lead that will indicate whether the tranny is in neutral or not, negating the need for other means.

---jps

Hence the kill switch in case anybody but me will be driving the car. Is it dangerous? Yes. Is remote starting while in gear completely avoidable? Yes. Like I said, if I'm not 100% absolutely sure that I left the car in neutral, I don't do it. I did that this morning in fact and ran out to peek through the window in my bathrobe just to be sure....

slavearm - I was told that it's very easy to hit one button and accidentally start your car with Compustar. Is that true? I'm trying to decide between the Viper VX790 and the Compustar. Any help is appreciated. Thanks much!

Hey, guess what.

Our 8's have a NEUTRAL SWITCH!!! YAY!!!


I have not visually checked this out yet (tonight!) but it goes into the PCM in the engine compartment behind pasenger headlight.

Enjoy!

Yeah, the switch is there, I just wasn't able to take advantage of it at the time of installation. Viper = hold 2 buttons down for 2 seconds to remote start.

Thanks RotorMotor. I knew about the Viper and I think it's a very solid method.

I was told that, on the other hand, the Compustar is a single button for 2 seconds. I'm trying to get confirmation.

Thanks though. :-)

Yah its hold 1 button for around 3-5 seconds. I have had a compustar for the last couple of years (on my integra before my 8) and have yet to get an accidental start. The buttons are pretty firm, and don't get pressed accidentaly. That's my 2 cents anyways.

Got it. Thanks.

One last question, I know that both the Viper and Compustar have a timer, such that after the engine is remote started that it will shut down again after some time. Can you manually shut it down from the remote?

My buddy just got the full Viper 791 + GPS installed on his Audi TT for $1300 and he loves it. Big $$$ though.

I wish the Compustar had a GPS/locator service like that. Ah well...

You can with the Viper....