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Remote
Starters
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The first BIG mistake we see is that people always ask us how much remote starters cost, but never what brand they are! As in all things, there are bargain basement cheapies and all levels above that. This is a device that controls all the systems in your vehicle without you there to monitor it. Price should not be your first concern. Who makes it and how good it is should be! A good example of this is in the safety precautions supposedly built into remote starts. They are supposed to monitor vehicle voltage, tachometer readings and other systems. Basically, if any strange readings come up on any monitored system, the unit is supposed to shut down rather than risk damage to the vehicle. Good idea, right? DesignTech International, a leading manufacturer of remote starts did a study several years ago and found that MANY of the bargain basement units claim to have these safety features, but in fact they do not work! The Ultimate Edge thoroughly tests and confirms the quality of every remote start brand we carry before it is ever installed in a customers car.
Which leads to the next concern; Adding a remote start to a leased vehicle, or your own vehicle WILL NOT effect original warranty. This is a federal law-The Magneson/Moss Warranty Repair Act. In fact, we install remote starts for many dealerships in our area.
The next most popular issue is range. "How far away from my car can I start it?" Our standard unit gives up to 1000'. We also offer models with 1500' and 1 mile range. We even offer one with UNLIMITED range. True! It activates your system via a cell phone call!! The important factors here are; How much range do you actually NEED? and Where will you be using it? The greater the range, the greater the cost. A football field is about 900' long. For most people, the standard 1000' model is sufficient. One factor to keep in mind about range. All stated ranges are maximum under ideal conditions. Like a wireless communication, it may be effected by obstructions, power towers, weather etc. By the way, these remotes are NOT line of sight. You need not point them at the vehicle or even be able to see the vehicle.
The next thing to mention is the new 2 way remotes. These allow a user to remote start (or any other remote function) a vehicle and get a confirmation signal on a small LCD screen on the remote to tell that user that the vehicle has started upon command. This also tells the user is the vehicle alarm has been set off or triggered...if your unit also does security functions.
The last issue is perhaps the MOST IMPORTANT! The installation. All installations, like remote starts, are not alike. Are the people installing your remote start factory trained? Are they MECP certified? How much actual in-car experience does your installation tech have? What are the shops installations policies and warranties? DOES THE SHOP INSTALL ALL OF THE FACTORY RECOMMENDED SAFETY PRECAUTIONS? This is a major issue. To our knowledge, The Ultimate Edge is the ONLY shop in Central New York that installs all of the factory safety precautions on every install. These include a pin switch under the hood that prevents the vehicle from remote starting when the hood is open. These include getting main power for the remote start at the battery for accurate voltage sensing. These include soldering connections for security interfaces and more.
The skill, experience and knowledge of your installation tech has much to do with how long your remote start will work and how trouble free it will be. It is our policy at The Ultimate Edge that no installer will install a remote start until fully checked out by our veteran installers. You can count on a thoroughly professional job and years of trouble free enjoyment.
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