Wired remote start project.

[Whosondephone]

It's starting to get cold in the northern hemisphere. I keep seeing signs for "we install remote starters". So I started thinking I could build a remote starting switch with a long cord. I would place the controller near the door or plug it into the house lol. I'm not concerned with security because my doors don't even lock.

I have no idea how the ignition system is wired. I assume there are 2 relays that need to be triggered. On the controller there would be a switch for the key on. and a button for starting. Does anyone know if this is possible? more importantly easy to implement?

I believe that the key on relay is right by the battery. I have no clue about the starting system. Thanks!

[gadget73]

All things are possible, as to whether its easy or not thats another matter. Honestly I wouldn't do this just because of the complications of dealing with a cord that has to be connected and disconnected all the time. Also consider it will be laying across the yard, being snowed on and probably walked on at some point. You really don't want that shorting out and burning the car up. The wireless things are pretty inexpensive.

Anyway, if you're set on it, you'd need to run +12v from the car out to a switch with a momentary button. The switch would operate a relay that will give power to the ignition circuits. You'd need to dig into the EVTM, but there are 1 or 2 wires on the ignition switch that need to be powered in order to get the ignition system and the ECM operating. The momentary button would work a relay to make the starter run.

[sly]

you need power for the ECM and fuel pump relays, then a start button. That should be enough to make it tick. However, making it a wired job, and making it safe for the electronics (fused lines and all that) might be a little fussy. You would basically make a tap on either side of the ignition switch for whatever goes to the ECM relay to turn it on. The fuel pump relay should always have power and get switched by the ECM and coil side power from the ECM relay. You need 4 wires. 2 for the ECM switch and 2 for the momentary for the starter. The switch will be across the BLK/LT GRN wire to ground from the ECM relay. This needs to stay switched on for things to run. The momentary switch for the starter needs to go from battery + to the small post on the starter solenoid (relay) on the fender by the battery. Obviously you will need to turn key to ON before unplugging stuff to keep the car running and not have to start it twice. There will be no safety controls on this type of setup (though it would pretty much be the same as running out there, cranking it up and running back in and waiting 15 minutes as far as safety of the engine is concerned). It will prevent someone from trying to steal the car while it's "left running" as it will die as soon as they pull the plug.

[sly]

And now that I've posted all of that... it seems a pretty easy setup. Though you would need good 5A momentary just in case and run at least 18 gauge wire. You could probably use some flat 4 trailer connector that can be capped to keep things neat. The run from there to the house might be a good idea to wrap in split loom to keep abrasions to a minimum. Makes me ponder doing this to my beater just for the few days we get stupid amounts of ice.

[pantera77]

I just walk outside and turn the key.

[sly]

My doors get iced shut.

[gadget73]

you live in the land of barely having winter. I suspect the guy who gets lake effect snow measured in feet really doesn't want to hear it. I park inside at the moment, or under a cover at least so it doesn't bother me all that much.

[sly]

I'd rather have 3 feet of snow. You don't have to pour 2 gallons of cold water into the lock and door jam to open the damn door. I'd prefer not driving the 93 during the one week of truly shit weather we get... because salt and sand. When we got the 6-8 inches of snow this past year (that was an awesome day) I just swept the stuff off and unlocked the door like it was summer. It was nice. Plowing through the fresh powder was epic too. Plow actually hit my road at lunch that day so I had pretty much clear roads back to work. Snow is soooo much easier to deal with than 4-6 inches of ice. Especially in this area where we do NOT have the infrastructure to combat it. Granted... when you get 2-3 feet of snow, you're pretty much not going anywhere unless the shit gets plowed, but when you get 2+ inches of ice that sticks, you're pretty much screwed for driving anywhere except on flat land.

tl:dr Snow is easy. Ice sucks the life out of you. We get ice most of the time and it welds the doors shut with water.

[Whosondephone]

Thank you for the Glorious responses. Lots to consider. I am reluctant to use the remote starters because of the increased parasitic load. My mother had one on her explorer and the car wouldn't start if it sat for 2 days. That was a long time ago and there may have been many circumstances contributing to that problem.

My understanding is that the SLA battery needs to be charged in freezing temperatures. If it becomes discharged the water will freeze and destroy the battery. Does this happen if the battery is partially discharged?

[gadget73]

tl:dr Snow is easy. Ice sucks the life out of you. We get ice most of the time and it welds the doors shut with water.

thats why you just keep your ass at home until it melts.



Any wet cell battery is prone to freezing if its discharged. The lower the charge, the warmer the temperature it will freeze at.

http://www.trojanbattery.com/pdf/WP_DeepCycleBatteryStorage_0512.pdf

handy-dandy chart that has the freeze temp vs charge point. Fully charged battery freezes at -92F, a 20% charged battery freezes at +19F. I expect a totally dead one freezes right around 32F.

Most of the remotes don't pull excessive current. I would expect that if you have a clock and a digital radio, they probably pull as much to keep the memory as a modern remote starter would. Also possible hers wasn't installed right, or just wasn't a good one.

[DerekTheGreat]

I love snow, hate the salt though. Love driving the car when it's covered in inches of snow and all that's visible are the glow from the lights and defroster grid doing it's thing. Didn't think they salted at all in Texas, kinda a bummer. Ice isn't any fun though. I might try making a cover for the lock key hole, might work if nothing inside the door freezes. Remote start would be great but I just go outside, turn the key and come back. At work or anywhere else is a different story, as I park in BFE and running all the way to the car and back is kinda silly.

[Whosondephone]

It's looking like the wireless is the way to go. The wire is going to cost about as much as the wireless start system and the wireless is already built. Plus the wireless will come with trunk and door lock switches. I can see myself mowing the wire with the lawn mower. Oh well! I didn't expect to see wireless kits going for $50.

[gadget73]

Electronics are cheap anymore.