4 Tips For Choosing A Quality Remote Car Starter
Remote car starters are a great addition to your car, and they can add a lot of comfort and convenience to your everyday life. But if you don't know what you're looking for, picking the best one can be a confusing process. Here are four great tips that will help you when making your purchase, from knowing where to shop to getting the right features.
Shop at the Right Place
If you're not familiar with remote starter brands, it can be a little tough to know what's good and what isn't.
Most auto part stores, and even major retailers who sell electronics, have kits they sell over the counter. So you can start with asking store employees which ones they recommend. Unfortunately, they don't always know everything about the all the products they sell.
Another problem with purchasing a kit at an auto shop is that some professionals won't install kits that were purchased elsewhere. Often, this is because they can't warranty the product and they don't want to be held accountable for system failures that are related to product design.
While it may be a little more expensive, it's recommended to buy from an expert who specializes in remote starter installation. That way, they can recommend the best brands based on what they see all day, every day.
Hire an Expert to Handle the Installation
Since remote car starters involve a complex installation process with your vehicle's electronic system, you really need to know what you're doing. If you're not intimately familiar with these types of DIY projects, you might consider hiring a mechanic.
If you go this route, be sure to shop around and settle on a mechanic that has a solid reputation for handling this type of work. Remote car starter installation is a completely different world from brake repair and engine tune-ups, and a lot of mechanics simply haven't done this type of work.
Companies that specialize in car remote starter installation have been through hours of specialized training. And this is what they do for a living. Again, it may require a little more investment, but it will be worth it in the long run to have a system that is less likely to fail.
Buy a Starter with Plenty of Range
Many people make the mistake of assuming they don't need a long range with their remote, especially if they mainly use it at home or work. Therefore, they may go with a 500-foot model. But it's important to consider all the possible situations in which you'll use your remote starter as well as things that can inhibit the stated range.
For instance, when shopping or traveling during the cold, winter months, you'll probably want to be able to start your car from far away so it's nice and toasty when you get there. Being able to use the remote while you're still in the mall or boarding the shuttle bus at the airport is a must in these situations. And 500 feet simply won't cut it.
Even if you're at work, your car might be parked 1,000 feet away, but walls, doors, and objects that interfere with radio frequencies might cut that number down by 75-80%, giving you no more range than 200 feet. Consider getting a model with the maximum range so you don't have to worry about special circumstances or obstructions.
Get All the Features You Need
You may not have thought about all the features you want, beyond the ability to start your car remotely. But there are many other things they can do, like warm the seat, release the trunk, perform keyless entry, and turn on the rear window defrost. A professional installer can explain all the possible options (one more reason that going to an expert is beneficial) and how they interact with each other.
For instance, if you don't have keyless entry programmed into your remote, you may find that the fob that came with your car doesn't work, and you'll have to manually unlock your car each time you use your remote car starter.
Also, your rear defrost typically auto resets when your car is turned off. Meaning, if you left it on when you shut off the engine, it won't automatically turn back on once the car starts. With a professional installation, you can actually change this so your rear defrost turns on with the engine. For more information, contact companies like The Lock Shop.
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