I was reading some of the other threads on the TSX board regarding remote starters - it appears Acura doesn't offer one factory installed. Based on what we know now about the RDX remote, what are the options?

If we want this feature, it will have to be aftermarket. Will that require carrying around two remotes since the key is built in? Or can the Acura remote be programmed to do the remote start functionality? Are there some brands that integrate better with Acura than others?

 

If someone can figure out how to get the OEM remote to remote start the RDX, I'll buy one. I don't think I'd go for a second remote however, as it is both the key/remote and the vallet key are bigger than my last set so I'm already adding to the considerable bulk that I carry around with me. I don't need yet another device.

 

I have a second remote and its not all that great. They said it wouldnt interfere with the features and it does. Once u remote start it, you have to use the key to unlock the door.. and the unlock/lock/opening of the trunk etc does not work after u remote start.

 

Is this on an RDX? What kind of remote starter did you get?

 

Actually that makes sense. With my CL, you couldn't use the remote to open the trunk after the motor had been started and I don't think you could unlock/lock the doors either.

I think in order to be effective, a remote start system would have to rewrite some of the OEM locks placed on system.

 

makes no sence, shouldnt the new system override the factory remote? with my old camry, the remote keyless entry was overrided and if i used that remote to unlock doors, the alarm would go off..

 

I would not recommend getting a remote starter that is after market. If it wasn't designed for the car chances are you'll have a glitch down the road.

I got one for my Acura Integra and two years later my car wouldn't start out of the blue randomly. I'd leave it alone for a few hours and then it would start like nothing happened. I replaced the starter and alternator because mechanics thought that that was it. It wasn't until I went to another mechanic after still having problems that he noticed that I had an after market remote start. He told me that he sees a lot of cars having problems with after market remote starters.

Yeah it's really neat to start your car from far away, have it cool in the summer and warm in the winter before you get in, but it's definitely not worth all the headaches it's given me. I'd do more research on remote starters and see if others are having problems too.

 

very interesting... thanks for sharing... which brand remote start did u use?

 

It was an Avital remote start/security system. Maybe they didn't install it properly, who knows but ever since then I've been having problems with it either draining the battery, messing up the selinoid, not starting, etc.

I never got to use it much and now I am use to not having a starter but if you feel you really want one, here are some tips before you buy or install...

http://www.ehow.com/how_11214_buy-remote-start.html

On such an expensive car I'd really think twice before installing after market stuff, after the problems I got.

 

icic thanks

 

if a remote starter is installed correctly then there should be no problems whatsoever. i have one in my tsx and rsx and both do not require 2 remotes, just one. and there has never been a problem. i used to instal them for a living so i know what im doing, and i would not be afraid to put one in my wifes rdx when she gets it. anyone that tells you you might have problems or that you will need 2 remotes has no clue what there doing. and make sure you get a DEI brand (viper, clifford Avital etc.) in my opinion they are the best, there waranteed for life, and they always work the best, best range fewer problems etc.

Landon

 

I've never had a remote starter, but I can tell you about the keyless entry system on my '95 Integra GSR. All I wanted was keyless entry but I let the dealer sell me on an aftermarket keyless entry and alarm system.

First, I found that sometimes it wouldn't unlock the doors. The dealer said that this was because of the sophisticated changing code system that was used. What I had to do if it wouldn't unlock was wait 5-10 seconds and try again - if I just kept pushing the button it would never unlock. Great help if iwas standing out in the rain or snow.

Second, one time I got into the car in pouring rain. Some water must have made it into the remote and for the rest of my trip it kept locking and inlocking the doors.

Third is most interesting. When I picked up the car from the dealer, the air bag light was on. They told me a couple of days later that it was caused by the alarm system and it had been fixed. When I picked it up, sure enought, no air bag light. But three years later the car was in a front-end collision hard enough to total the car and the air bag did not deploy. Coincidence?

BTW, I don't disagree with Landon. I'm sure that if the right system is chosen and it's correctly installed, it'll work just fine. Problem is that as consumers, it's very hard to check up on these things.

 

thats is exactly wat my friend told me, he used to install them too... he told me wat u just said, and now im more reassured.. thanks landon

 

sounds like ur dealer didnt know what the hell they were doing

 

Can't disagree with that.

 

i used to fix dealer screwups ALL THE TIME!!! im not kidding you it was a freaking joke seeing what these mechanics would try to do. just take it to a reputable place, and make sure the installer has experience doing them, and make sure they are MECP certified and you should be fine. hondas are very easy to install remote starters on, some others are very difficult and not many people can do them right. but any honda product is simple.

Landon

 

So you recommend not having the dealer install it? I thought if they installed it, then it would be covered under the warranty and if things went wrong, they would have to fix it.

What do you think a reasonable price range would be to get one of the brands mentioned installed?

 

Landon,

Do you have any specific models to recommend? I took a look at DEI's website and can't find any remote starters that don't have their own remote.

 

thanks landon.. i will do that

 

Well, in the case of my infernal alarm system, it wasn't an Acura product and Acura wouldn't warranty it. The warranty was through the outfit that installed the system -- I could bring the car to my Acura dealer, but they would call in the installers. I'm sure that if I'd have gone to another dealer, he'd have told me to take a hike.

The point here is simply that if you have non-Acura parts installed by the dealer, make sure you get the terms of the warranty in very clear detail.

 

well sometimes when dealers charge to install stuff, they sub it out to other shops. honestly it takes some training to do a remote starter properly. not many mechanics understand it without training. if they need to "see a schematic" or if they use a test light instead of a digital multi-meter...RUN!!!

as far as models go ill have to check the site, but as long as it features keyless entry and at least 1 auxilery output (for trunk release).

as far as remotes are concerned, you will be replacing the factory remote and using strictly the new DEI remote. which is actually alot better because the range is literally 10 times better.

Landon

 

Thanks for the information.

If that is the case, then technically, two remotes would be required since the key is built in to the remote for the RDX. That stinks

 

what most people do in that case, if they feel the key is too bulky, is to use there valet key. that way the just have a remote, and a key, and they dont need the factory key.

Landon

 

Yeah, that doesn't work for me....I thought I saw some units when I googled that can use the OEM remote? I don't care about the range so long as I don't have to open the door and nearly pass out from exposure to the oven inside.

 

yea i dont get how the rdx has this stupid key/remote like the audi/vw... the remote has no purpose... just lock and unlock... y couldnt they just make it like the other cars...

 

They have they built in key/remote because all the other luxury brands have it and people keep demanding it. Unfortunately just using the valet key is not really a good option since it can't lock/unlock the center console or glove compartment.

 

I agree. You would think with all the "techno" stuff that the OEM remote could be programmed to do the remote start without screwing up all the other functions.

 

ther is a way to use the factory remote to interface with the aftermarket remote starter. th only thing is if your car isnt parked close to your house then its kinda pointless. next time your walking to your car try and unlock it from a resonable distance away. youll see you need to be pretty close for it to reach.

but a good installer should know how to hook it up to use the factory acura remote to remote start it, and still have the doors be able to be unlocked while its running. some installers think you cant. like if you stat your car with the key, get out with the dors locked, and try to unlock it with another factory key remote it wont sork. but there are ways around it that a good installer would know how to make it work.

there are little things that make it difficult, but i always detered people from it because of the range issue.

Landon

 

I don't care about the range Landon, but I want good quality. You mentioned the DEI brands. Do they make any that can use the factory remote? If so, what models?

Btw, does anyone know if this will void the warenty?

 

exactly... cuz i park in the streets at home... and sometimes its gotta be far away, and from school and work also... so the range has to be high...

well... authorknight.. i know that other luxury cars have it... but they also have intellikey.... which wouldve been SICK if acura had it... i think the RL has it? but i doubt it haha... if acura was smarter... they shouldve made this entire key fob smaller... its so retarded how 3 buttons and a key would be that big... its bigger then the audi/vw/benz by far... which all have 4 buttons

 

cant void warrenty unless its stated in black n white that ur remote start caused the faulty of the vehicle.. and with a pro hookin up ur system, u should have no prob

 

yes any dealer that tells you it voids the warantee is full of it. it does not void the warantee, if a dealer does not offer a factory installed remote starter, then you have the right to have an aftermarket one installed without it voiding the warantee.

ill research the models and let you know.

Landon

 

these are just a few, the first link is the one i put in my wifes TSX.

http://www.directed.com/security/viper/viper_rs.asp

the avital 4200 is a good one.

the clifford matrix RS 2.1 is also a good one.

these are just remote starters with the ability to have keyless entry with them and some other options. there are other models athat include a security system and remote start. this one is the one i have in my RSX.

http://www.directed.com/security/vip..._responder.asp

Landon

 

nice, i think im goin with a commando 6 channel one... 2 of my buddies with tsx have them and it looks like it works great...viper is way too overpriced

 

Are you kidding? The integrated key and remote is great! I miss my VW's switchblade key. It was 1 less thing on my keychain. Everyone is going to the integrated remote/key. It's about time Acura did. Even the Accord had an integrated key since 2003! I wished Acura offered the keyless entry similar to Infiniti's. So cool.



Speaking of the key... does anyone have some good pictures of the RDX key? I'm curious to see what it looks like an how it work! Thanks! I heard the 07 TL will have the RDX key.

John

 

There is a picture in this thread here

you can also see a better picture at the Acura website in the interactive showroom.

 

 

ok ur misunderstanding my point... what u show here... is the infiniti intella-key... u dont need a key to start the car... just have the remote in ur pocket or somewhere in the car... and thats a hot system, dont get me wrong, if acura had the intella-key or however u spell it... i wouldnt get a remote starter.... MY point is that this switchblade lookin thing acura finally came up with is a huge bulk of crap... as u see in the above pic... with the 2 way pager that i need to get with remote start... i gotta haul around 2 big units... and if there was just a normal key... OR the key that the 03+ accords have... that would be easier on my part... i know, its my fault for getting the remote start... but i need it... so thats what im trying to say... and if i didnt get it... the then switchblade=hotness

 

I was just checking out the Canadian Acura website posted in another thread to see the differences between the American and Canadian RDX and noticed the Canadian version offers a factory remote start as an accessory! Why not offer it on the American version too?

I also noticed the heftier price and the fact that both interior color options are not available with every exterior color option.

 

Cuz us ppl up here in Canada live in igloos and need to start the car remotely before we put on our parkas and get out into the ice tundra to get to the car