I'm considering getting a remote starter for my car ('00 Accord) for Christmas. Is there anyone here who has one or knows anything about these things? What brands should I look at and which ones should I stay away from. How easy are these to install into our cars? Thanks!

 

DEI Valet is a good one. I just installed one in a '99 Solara, and it works great. You will probably need the coded-key bypass module and an extra master key for your car to integrate with the remote start. DEI also makes this part, and it's required in any application where the vehicle uses a coded key in order to start your car. I beleive this is on most newer Accords. Without this module, your car cannot be remote started...... I would inquire with a local shop.

 

There are several different brands of remote start on the markets. My favorites are DEI (the maker of viper alarm) and audiovox. I would stay away from the ebay no name brands. They are known for tearing up starter and starting in the middle of the night for no reason at all. If you don't know much about 12 volt electronic and have never installed any kind of alarm before, then I would not recommend that you take on this project by yourself. Go to a reputable car stereo shop and let them install it. I know that some newer accords come with transponder keys (keys with the computer chip in it). If so, you will need to go to the dealer and have them make a spare key for your car. The remote start brain will need the spare key to fool the cars computer to make the computer think that there is a key in the ignition switch. (Basically how it works with out going in to a whole lot a detail)
Just my two cents…..

 

Is CodeAlarm any good? I was just looking at the CSI-400. It looked pretty nice.

 

I installed code alarm before and my only complaint about them is that it like to hold the starter too long during crank. But beside that I don't have a problem with them.

 

I have no complaints from my Compustar system

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Shinbo &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I have no complaints from my Compustar system</TD></TR></TABLE>

I loved my compustart, didnt have any complaints.

 

Viper make a nice remote start system. I have a few friends who have it on their cars and if mine wasn't a stick I would go and get it too. Starts up flawlessly and does it without holding out with the starter on for too long. Viper also makes a nice alarm

 

clifford intellistart

 

I've installed for over 9 yrs, and I'm particular to anything DEI, and the audiovox starts. Code Alarm is now owned by audiovox, so if you buy a code, you are essentially getting an audiovox. And as maroonaccord said, you'll need a transponder bypass module too.....