Originally Posted by Augster

I finally did this install about a month ago. Thanks to @Dereileak and a similar YouTube video (2019-21 Acura RDX remote start install) because like they both say, it literally take 10-15 minutes TOPs to install. The toughest part was actually mounting the receiver and finding/hooking the wires. I'll leave a couple more pointer at the bottom of this post for anyone else looking to do the install themselves.

Besides the install I did want to call out a few surprises on how the remote start works that I wasn't aware of:

1. How to use it, instructions say to click 'Lock' then hold 'Start' button, but the length you hold it for is vague (at least to me). Combine that with feedback #2 below and it not a great experience
2. Once the car starts there are no visible indications that it's on. No lights, no horn saying it got the signal, nothing. The ONLY way to know it started (besides standing near by) is the remote will briefly flash a green light letting you know.
3. Other surprise was the climate control settings. I assumed it would use whatever the settings were when I last turned off the car, but no. Instead it determines itself what the settings are based on the outside temp. So far it's the fan speed has never been higher than LOW and it does turn on the cooled seats, but that's about it.

Overall does it work, yes. Am I glad I did it, mostly. Could it be better, absolutely. Let's just say, I'm glad I didn't pay the dealership to do it, or I would have been very disappointed.


Installation tips:
If you follow the instructions mentioned above here are a few tips that would have been helpful if doing it again:

1. Wear rubber gloves & put blue tap around all your trim pieces that you will be touching.
   • The concerns is not because of scratching, but because of the black sealing paste that is exposed when you peel back the weather stripping
   • Our interior is tan and I unfortunately got it on glove and touched a panel. Luckily can use some mineral spirit to clean it off.
2. Have a big and small flashlight. Good lighting when pulling off the panels and avoiding the black sealing paste and a small light to put in the headliner so you can see where the wires are
   • The wires are taped to existing wires there so you have to very carefully cut them appear.
3. Take your time. Again, very easy install especially following the consolidated instructions so just take your time.