I searched the 2nd Gen. RL forums, the web, and another unnamed Acura forum; but have found no concrete evidence of anyone having a Remote Start System professionally installed with a warranty.

My questions are as follows:

Have you had a Remote Engine Start System professional installed in your Acura RL, if so what is the model and where did you have it installed?

Also did you or the installer have problems with the installation? Are there any real drawbacks to having the remote start (besides carrying two remotes, and disabling the built in security system)?

Also any other information you could provided, would be very much appreciated.

My goal is to have this done by the book and not just a known workaround. If it isn’t approved or backed by Directed I will scratch the ideal all together. (FYI, Directed stated that their Remote Start Systems are fully compatible with the third party immobilizer bypasses).


Below you will find information I gather while searching for a solution:

I called several small remote start/mobile electronic install business and asked if they can install a remote start system in a 2005 Acura RL. I also make sure to mention the keyless entry and ignition that our cars use. They person helping me usually spends a little time looking everything up and they come back and say they can.

Small Shop Response #1: Yes we can but it will take all day to make sure it is installed correctly the first time. We have only done a few of these installations.

Small Shop Response #2: Yes we can install them in any automatic car… Goodbye

Big Box (Circuit City) Response #3: Yes, I don’t see why not. ME-but you do realize it’s doesn’t use a key to start it. Oh if that is the case we can’t do the install.

Big Box (Ultimate Electronics) Response #4: Yes we can install it, no matter the model. Currently we can’t get immobilizers bypasses for 2009 vehicles.

Big Box (Best Buy) Response #5: Yes we can install them in any automatic car, but I will check. What is the make and model? Please hold. 10 min later, Yes, but the install will cost an extra $200.

I’ve took it a step further and called Viper (Directed, http://www.directed.com/) and they stated that their remote starts are generic, what is different is the immobilizer bypass. The immobilizer bypass is the only vehicle specific part needed. Viper claims to manufacture most of these immobilizer bypasses; however a few are manufactured and sold by a different company.

Thanks in advance.

 

I'm interested in this, too. Now that my RL is an "outside" car (wife won't give up her garage space and the S2000 is a garage queen) I'll be needing a remote start for the frigid winter months.

I haven't heard of anyone here doing this as yet.

 

The only item thats critical to getting the remote start to work is the correct transponder bypass. I am not aware whether there is one made for the RL. Did Directed give you a specific part # for a bypass that works on the RL?

I pulled the CompuStart remote start from my '02 TL and was going to reinstall it into my RL but never got around to searching for the correct bypass since my car is garaged at home and work it wasn't a high priority item on my too-do list. I checked only once for the bypass and didn't come up with one for the RL.

I have the Acura wiring manual for the RL and would be willing to do the install on my car and document the install procedures (I used to be a pro-audio installer for 15 years) if you can direct me to the correct bypass part.

 

Called Directed back and asked again if the 2005 Acura RL can have a Remote Start system installed in it. This time I asked a few more questions.

The rep. stated that Directed (DEI) does make an immobilzer bypass.

Category: Immobilizer Bypass
Required: Yes
Type: Proximity Key
Part#: 1101T
Notes: Standard on all models.

You can search for your make and model at the following site
https://www.directedstore.com/interface.asp/

Will all the driver related memory functions stay intact?
Yes, however one of the keys will need to be permanently housed in the bypass. I stated that these RL get confused with two keys in the car at the same time. He said the other key will be essential disabled.


The above mentioned part seems to be a universal part.


All I need to do now is decide which shop to have install it. (Might have to go back to the shop I had install one in our 2000 TL and 2007 TL).

If anyone is interested this is probably the model I will have installed (currently have it in our 2007 TL)

http://www.viper.com/Products/Produc...ProductID=103\

 

Nah, I wouldn't use one of those "universal" types with the key needing to be in the car all the time. Totally defeats the anti-theft design of the car & key. And I'm not so sure the car would ever lock since the RL has an antenna that detects when the key is present and doesnt let you lock the car if its inside. If a transponder bypass was made for the RL, it would be a module that would learn the signal from the key one time and then automatically send out the correct pulse when the remote start was activated. No key would have to be left in the car all the time. Directed's response sort of confirms what I suspected, that a transponder bypass hasn't been made for our RL.

 

Have one in the Lexus, great addition and handy at times though not needed for my means.

 

Just bumping this thread back to life.

I've seen 1 or 2 people saying they had a remote start installed, but it was done by a shop that spent many hours making it work, and there still some quirks -- not to mentoin high costs.

Does anyone know if Acura has or knows of a solution that works like OEM, and is a good value?

Thanks!

 

i'm having one installed soon, will post cost etc after its all done.

 

When I was at the Acura dealer the other day, there was a brochure about available Acura branded (dealer installed) remote start. It did say the remote was basically plug and play but didn't specify what cars it would work in and didn't say if it was backward compatible or not. I should have asked a few questions but didn't.

LL

 

^^^ range on those acura remote starters are not very good.

 

Anyone with updates?

Thanks.

 

mine is getting done this week, will post when install is complete.

 

Thanks dubz -- what system are you installing?

 

As someone who has had a lot of alarms and remote starts installed in numerous vehicles, I can tell you that it is very important to find the proper installer and to find a GOOD SHOP. The product is secondary, it is the installer that is going to be taking your car apart (and putting it back together) that is the key here.

Avoid big box shops (Best Buy, Circuit City, etc) like the plague. They mostly have young kids working there who have little experience. Sometimes you will get lucky and find a big box store with folks who have 10+ years of experience, but it is very rare.

Take the time to find a small shop who has been in the business at least 10+ years and has the knowledge to back up their system. If this means paying more, DO IT! It will save you so much time and hassle down the road.

The RL is a very, very complicated car, and has very complicated electronics. Integrating equipment that was not there from the start is asking for trouble, therefore it is imperative that you find a good installer that has the training, experience, and knowledge to be able to work on this car.

I tell you this by experience. I originally bought a brand new truck and had a $2000 Clifford alarm system installed. It did EVERYTHING, it rolled the windows up + down, it had a remote start, it had a Car Jacking system, backup battery alarm, etc. Two years later I had to have the whole thing taken out because the installation was a total hack job. I drove 2 hours to Boston to a good shop who took a few days to remove the old system and install a good system that worked perfectly for 5+ years.

Just my ....

Chris

 

autostart brand in 2007 rl took about 4 hours and works great. let them know the wiring is fiber optic

 

I got one installed by my installer but now I have to shut it down and restart manually with the knob when I get into the car. How about yours, do you have to do that?

If not, do you know any details how and what they used?

 

yes that is normal, i have to do the same.

 

I feel better now. Thanks.

 

Here is the bypass that was used in my car. There is no fiber stuff to deal with, it communicates through "data" connections.

LINK

Mine on page 6.