Remote Starters

camper guy · Post by **camper guy** » 03 Nov 2003, 07:35

I just purchased a 95 850 Turbo. The car only came with one key fob and I asked how much another one was at the dealer and he told me $110 for a pair. I said I would wait because I might have a remote starter put in. The salesman at the dealership told me Volvo doesn't recommend remote starters because of the complex electronics involved. Does anyone know anything about that or have remote starters without any problems?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 16 Nov 2003, 23:46

Funny those dealership. I work for Autostart, a manufacturer of remote car starter in Canada. 95 850's Volvo are are breeze to install car starters. I installed one in my previous 740ti, 940ti, my brother's 1998 S70T5 and one in my "new" V70T5 2001.
The only reason "they" dont like car starters is that there is some "hacker" installers who will cut corners when installing those systems. Lots of time, it is due to people shopping around for better prices. Competition is hard but I never understand a consumer who will trade a cheaper price for quality of work. You are dealing with a device that will interact directly with the vehicle's engine and electronics. Shop around and choose some reputable shop who has been in the business for years and has experience in those type of install. They will, most likely, warranty the installation for as long as you own the car They will take the extra step in making a clean installation, soldered all connection, and you will get years of trouble free service from your car starter. Do not shop according to price but according to the reputation of the installation shop.
JF

camper guy · Post by **camper guy** » 01 Dec 2003, 07:33

I had my remote starter installed yesterday, this morning my window was totally frosted over and with the push of a button, my car was up and running!

I had an Astro Start installed. When I push the start button, the doors unlock, the car starts, the doors re-lock and the alarm sets until I open the door and turn the key. Works great and didn't loose the OEM alarm or any functions.

Downfall is some of the nifty functions of the remote can't be used because of the way the Volvo works. There is no audible alarm set or car finder because the horn on the Volvo only works when the car is running. Trunk doesn't work independantly, but that's fine too. I'm glad that I can start my car from my kitchen or my office.

Another benefit is when the key is in and running, you can push the start button on the remote, then remove the key and the car will continue to run and you can lock the door. This is great with the turbo because if I need to make a quick stop, I don't need to sit and idle for the turbo to cool. Since my office is right off the highway, I can do the same thing, not sit in the parking lot waiting for the oil to circulate in the turbo. I leave it running, go to my office, put down my stuff and then push the stop button and the car shuts off.

Also gives greater range with the remote than the OEM remotes.

s40-owner · Post by **s40-owner** » 03 Dec 2003, 16:25

Did you install the remote starter your self or did you have some one do it?

camper guy · Post by **camper guy** » 03 Dec 2003, 16:38

I had it done by my friends son who has been installing them for almost 10 years now. He said the Volvo's are tricky which is why they don't recommend them at the dealership. He told me that an inexperienced installer, (actually he said a hack from a discount chain), installs it then yes there can be trouble. He had to set it up to unlock the doors/disable the alarm, start the car, relock the doors and then reinitiate the alarm. Took him 5 hours to do the job.

My wife's Grand Cherokee came with one of those $49 specials from Best Buy or one of those places and it starts the car fine, but there it has a seperate remote so she has two fobs on her key ring and if you start the Jeep, you can't use the OEM fob to unlock the door, you have to use the key. It works, but it's cheesy and the two remotes are cumbersome. The Astrostarter this guy put in the 850 he was able to program the new remote to start, lock and unlock the doors. Bigger remote, but also much better range, it's supposed to be 150 feet, but it's better than that. I can start the car from inside my office inside a metal building with my car 150 feet away. Sweet especially when it was 14 degrees tonight when I left work.