by Lori Straus
With winter fast approaching, now is a good time to shop for a remote starter if your car doesn’t already have one. This can be a little tricky with older vehicles, but installing an aftermarket remote starter is possible for most makes and models. In this blog post, we’ll cover a few pointers to keep in mind as you look at buying an aftermarket remote starter.
Range
As enticing as it may sound to buy a remote starter that can start your car from over a kilometre away, generally, the longer the range, the more expensive the device. So, if you’re certain that 99% of the time you’re going to use the remote starter to start your car in your driveway and at the on-site parking facilities at work, you likely don’t need to pay for that kind of range.
One-Way Versus Two-Way Communication
A two-way remote starter means that it lets you know when your vehicle has started. It may also inform you if a car door has been opened or if your car is moving. It depends on the manufacturing company. Again, if you expect to see your car easily whenever you start it, you may not need to pay for two-way communication.
Price
Remote starter kits start around $80 and go up to almost $400. You will definitely want to do your homework when it comes to shopping for one, and remember to add installation costs to your budget.
Installing Your Remote Starter
Because remote starters have to be wired into your vehicle’s existing electrical work, you will want to have a professional install it. We’re going to go one step further and suggest that you find a mechanic with expertise in the make and model of your car. A faulty installation can lead to many electrical problems that can cost thousands to repair. Just like you need to research the best remote starter for your needs, take time to research the best mechanic for the install job.
Warranty
Whether you’re having the remote starter installed on a new or used vehicle, ask about warranty on the installation. Also read the warranty that comes with the remote starter. If you recently purchased a car and are considering installing an aftermarket starter, double check with your dealership about how installing it affects the warranty on your vehicle.
Stay Warm This Winter
Although a car only fully warms up once it’s been driving for a few minutes, a remote starter can make the car more comfortable to step into and easier to start. Nothing beats stepping into a car that doesn’t feel like a sub-zero freezer. If they could only invent a remote ice scraper, winter would almost seem like summer. Well, except for the white stuff.