OEM or aftermkt remote start

[Dr. Dyno]

Laura,
I'd recommend you have a two-way aftermarket unit installed. They have a much longer range than the OEM FOB and give feedback of the car's state right on the new FOB.

This isn't for Toyotas but is the type I'm talking about: http://www.ebay.com/itm/360537144625

[laurabw]

Originally Posted by Phrede

My 2012 can with the OEM remote start. It works fine every time from inside and 100 feet away. The engine does shut off when the door unlocks. It really doesn't bother me as much as I thought it would and the range has not been a problem. The flashers run for about 30 seconds after the car starts as an indicator it started. If you have a lot of building and walls between you and the car it will effect the range.

I suspect any aftermarket unit that uses the OEM fob will have about the same range. If you don't care about having to carry multiple fobs all the time, I suggest going with an aftermarket unit from other than this dealer.

Thanks. When you say "inside," how far inside the building? Can you see the car?

When I said defroster, I meant the front one, and also just starting the heat. I hadn't thought of turning off the auto lights the night before, that's a good point, why have them on when they don't have to be. I only want it during the winter and if there's bad weather overnight, really, but the challenge is having it go through my building (or around, whatever it is it does, I have no idea).

Do we think there is only one OEM unit for the Rav4 or do different dealers use different ones?

[laurabw]

"install" and "myself" are not two words that go together in my world!!!

[Dr. Dyno]

The dealer is feeding you a line of various versions of BS. You need to check around to other installers such as Best Buy or independent shops. If they have an issue with the pushbutton or bypass or can't do a two-way unit go to the next one. They should explain the different units available and your options. If all they give you a sales pitch, move on.

All units will warm up you car for you (or cool it off in summer). Mine has a 5 minute run time. It does the job nicely. I don't like the 10 minute ones for all the extra gas they use.

Your "install" and "myself" will be installing $$$ in their account yourself!

[Phrede]

Originally Posted by laurabw

Thanks. When you say "inside," how far inside the building? Can you see the car?

When I said defroster, I meant the front one, and also just starting the heat. I hadn't thought of turning off the auto lights the night before, that's a good point, why have them on when they don't have to be. I only want it during the winter and if there's bad weather overnight, really, but the challenge is having it go through my building (or around, whatever it is it does, I have no idea).

Do we think there is only one OEM unit for the Rav4 or do different dealers use different ones?

In my case I am maybe 15 feet inside my house sometime I can and sometimes I can not see the car. I have had it work at the checkout of grocery store (glass front) and parked near the door. The radio wave goes thru the building. Walls can have a great impact on how far away you can be. There are many variables that effect how far as well, construction type, other electrical interference, number and size of windows, etc etc. There is just no way of saying for sure ahead of time if it will work in your circumstance.

Personally, I always turn off the wipers when parking, except on my car with auto wipers. If I know bad weather is coming I pull them up off the windshield. I leave my headlights in auto. Most of the time it is daylight and none of the lights are on during the warm up after the initial 30 seconds. I don't see the big deal about if the headlights are on for that short period with the engine running. Why have auto lights if you are going to turn them on and off manually? Besides, it lights the walk to the car if it is dark.

I never set my parking brake in the winter. A lesson I learned years ago after having parking brakes freeze and not being able to release them.

[laurabw]

Originally Posted by Phrede

In my case I am maybe 15 feet inside my house sometime I can and sometimes I can not see the car. I have had it work at the checkout of grocery store (glass front) and parked near the door. The radio wave goes thru the building. Walls can have a great impact on how far away you can be. There are many variables that effect how far as well, construction type, other electrical interference, number and size of windows, etc etc. There is just no way of saying for sure ahead of time if it will work in your circumstance.

Personally, I always turn off the wipers when parking, except on my car with auto wipers. If I know bad weather is coming I pull them up off the windshield. I leave my headlights in auto. Most of the time it is daylight and none of the lights are on during the warm up after the initial 30 seconds. I don't see the big deal about if the headlights are on for that short period with the engine running. Why have auto lights if you are going to turn them on and off manually? Besides, it lights the walk to the car if it is dark.

I never set my parking brake in the winter. A lesson I learned years ago after having parking brakes freeze and not being able to release them.

Thanks for the details!! This is just a crapshoot, really. And since I don't understand how they work, that doesn't help me any. Is there a better chance of it working if I'm outside, like on my terrace? I still have the building in my way, (it's an L shape) but it's not that tall.

Oh, I wouldn't leave the wipers on either, too much could happen.

[Phrede]

Originally Posted by laurabw

Thanks for the details!! This is just a crapshoot, really. And since I don't understand how they work, that doesn't help me any. Is there a better chance of it working if I'm outside, like on my terrace? I still have the building in my way, (it's an L shape) but it's not that tall.

Oh, I wouldn't leave the wipers on either, too much could happen.

It really is hard to say. The transmitter will work the longest distance with a clear line of sight with no obstructions. For this discussion it is safe to say they do not bend or go around buildings. Some frequencies do bounce or reflect off of buildings or other things.

A fair test would be to see if you can lock/unlock your doors now from where you want to remote start from. If the door lock works the remote start will also work. Try the panic alarm if you are by yourself.

Range is always a big selling point with the aftermarket units, but is always subject to the surroundings. I've known some that would not work near as far in a downtown area with all the interference and tall buildings.

There are some range extenders being sold, but I have no idea how effective they are. They appear to basically move the receiving antenna to a more visible point in the car.

HTH

[Dr. Dyno]

Any of the aftermarket ones are going to have far greater range than one that works with the OEM FOB. As long as you don't mind an extra FOB, that's the beauty of getting a two-way unit. It gives you the feedback right in your hand that the car is running w/o needing to look at the car for confirmation.

At this point you need to go talk to some installers to "edumicate" yourself.

[Phrede]

I agree with the Doctor. Just FYI, my OEM fob has a range of 250 ft outside with a truck parked next to me and a few trees in the way.

[laurabw]

I did what you suggested and started the panic alarm from different places - I'm at work. There are windows, but I tried to get away from them and go down the hall and stuff, and it worked from a decent distance away. Then I tried it from a closet and it worked, which was encouraging. (Everyone got tired of hearing the beeping.) I'm getting the OEM, partially because if it screws up at least it's still under warranty, as opposed to if I got aftermarket somewhere else and something happened to some other part because of the installers screwing something up, and then Toyota would say we won't fix it.

All theoretical, I know, but I don't have any connections for installation and wouldn't know who to trust or where to go.