Ive been checking out remote starters for the Element. Since we have a chipped key we need to by a bypass module. All the places I have taken my Element require you to lose a key when the module is installed. I know that I will need to buy a new key since a don't want to have only one key. Well I wanted to save a few bucks and do the installation myself. I can do basic mechanical work on my car(brakes,tunup,oilchange) and Iv'e installed car stereos. My question is then have any of you installed a remote starter ,if so how hard was it?

Installing remote starters is well beyond "I've installed a couple of stereos" capabilities. The starter circuit is the one part of the vehicle's electrics that is not fuse protected. So get something wrong, and your vehicle can go up in flames.

I strongly suggest that you leave it to the pros.

Why would you have only one key after installing the bypass? You were given 3 when you bought it? Or does a spouse have the 2nd one?

I was given two ignition keys plus one valet key. I was told by every installer that I called that could not use the valet key. So yes I would have two keys left but only one that could start the Element. Well I guess i am going to have to bite the bullet and have it installed. I was hoping they weren't that hard to install!

...is that audio wiring is somewhat "pre-packaged" by car makers with the intent of making it easy to mess with after-the-fact. Starter systems get into wiring that was never intended to be modified. It takes a very thorough knowledge of car electrics and access to detailed schematics of the specific vehicle to install remote starters safely.

[quote:46127316ad=" "]I was given two ignition keys plus one valet key. I was told by every installer that I called that could not use the valet key. So yes I would have two keys left but only one that could start the Element. Well I guess i am going to have to bite the bullet and have it installed. I was hoping they weren't that hard to install![/quote:46127316ad]

The valet key will start the car, it just won't give access to the glove box...

...that's my understanding.

-brendan

The valet key will work. I used it for my install. No problems what so ever. I am going to order a second valet key so that I am back to all 3. Dealer said it was around $35.

As a little advice, if you order extra keys, don't bother saying why. You will end up in a debate over how the remote starter will void your warranty. This is not the case. One of the main reasons I got the automatic was to be able to get this feature installed.

That's bulls**t! I h've had remote start on my E for almost a year. I used the valet key. It works great. My advice- find a better installer. Sounds like the one(s) you have contacted don't know squat!

Some up-market cars have special valet keys which put the car into a "restricted" driving mode, such as limiting the top speed so it can't be taken on a joy ride (or at least it takes the "joy" out of the ride).

So the installers have started to simply say "No!" to valet keys to prevent misunderstandings. This is easier than trying to keep track of every model that has this special valet feature because they change constantly.

Mike- I was an installer for 10 years. FYI- You would be surprised at how many lazy ass ones there are out there who honestly have no clue and how much crap I have seen in my time. A lot of places simply will make up a B.S. excuse so that they won't have to acutally work on a car. We used to do it all the time. If someone brought in a car none of us had worked on before or we didn't have the diagrams for, we'd make some B.S. excuse about something so that we wouldn't waste 6 hours on one intsall, when we could do 2 or 3 more familiar cars during that same time and make more $$$. Remember, places charge per time. So, if it takes me 2 hours and 5 minutes to do your alarm, you pay me for 3, even though I've started on another car 5 minutes after finishing yours.

I had mine done by someone else simply because I wanted the lifetime guarantee on the install, a good selling point if I ever get rid of it. Took the guy 4 hours to do. Pretty good considering this was a year ago and they had never seen an E before. They took their time to make sure eveything was kosher. Now, I took the '02 Jetta in to have the same thing done by a different shop. Took them 4 DAYS!!!! They kept screwing it up, and simply would not admit they didn't know what they were doing. You should have seen the B.S. the guy was trying to feed me about it. I told him I wanted to see the shop manager. You should have seen his face when the manger comes in, recognizes me and says, "didn't I try and hire you from another shop?"...

Long story, but the point is, don't believe EVERYTHING someone tells you at face value without hearing from both sides of the fence.

But I did need to point out the changing situation on the valet key. Yeah, some of 'em may be lazy, but I'll betcha that they say "No!" now because they got burned by one of the new ones.

Long, long ago I used to install 2-way radios, so I know of what you speak, although we were paid bigger bucks to take the time to do the job right. When you're drilling holes in car roofs you have to. :shock:

I don't let the audio shops touch my cars. The local shops always give me grief about buying install parts (although I buy online now when I can), but they aren't going to ever be given the opportunity. Never, ever. The one and only time I was lazy and succumbed to a "free" install, I had to do the job all over again after the S.O.B. cut the OEM plug off the harness and did nothing more than twist the leads on the stereo and wrap 'em with tape. I wanted to strangle his sorry a$$.

:evil:

Amen brother!

GOOD NEWS!

You don't have to give up a key to install a remote starter on an Element. All you need is this module:

http://shop.store.yahoo.com/logjam/crimpkhontra.html

The above link tells you that it will work on an Element; but here's where you can get it cheaper:

http://www.slickcar.com/productdetails.asp?ProductID=2211

Good Luck guys...I hope to do this myself when I have some free time. My last installation (also my first) took a week. It was a keyless entry/alarm/remote start unit from commando alarms. It was installed on the truck I traded in for the Element. I bought another for my wife's car and never installed it so I hope to use it on the Element sometime.

I want to find some thin leads that will fit into the factory keyless entry and alarm harnesses. This way I can do most of the work (sodering the leads to the wires from the alarm unit) in the relative comfort of my home; then I can just plug them in. I will still have to splice into a few wires for the remote start but this should make the install much shorter. What do you guys think?

On those two links it mentions Accords and Civics but no mention of Elements.

Ive been checking out remote starters for the Element. Since we have a chipped key we need to by a bypass module. All the places I have taken my Element require you to lose a key when the module is installed. I know that I will need to buy a new key since a don't want to have only one key. Well I wanted to save a few bucks and do the installation myself. I can do basic mechanical work on my car(brakes,tunup,oilchange) and Iv'e installed car stereos. My question is then have any of you installed a remote starter ,if so how hard was it?
I didnt install it myself but i had it professionally done and yes they used the gray valet key, i still have my other two keys they both work wonderful and the remote starter is great, i have the clifford rsx 3.5. i love it

I just called the Honda dealership and they said i needed to get something else installed that would cost me $630.00 . Does that sound right to those of you that have installed them already? My Element is a 2005 if thats help.

Sherril

$630 sounds very steep for this to me :shock:

I would get a second opinion.

Have had remote start since 2003.
Used Valet key, never had problems.

Strange the things ya hear from dealers and the like.
jurn

using a key is the old way they now use a module and it has been done on Elements here for around 225.00 :)

my sister just got one for her 05 mazda 3. the way they did it with hers is they used an uncut but coded key. so it would read the key but if somehow the key was taken from the module it couldnt be used to really do anything and so she wouldnt have to give up one of her keys

I just called the Honda dealership and they said i needed to get something else installed that would cost me $630.00 . Does that sound right to those of you that have installed them already? My Element is a 2005 if thats help.

Sherril
I am wondering if they are talking about the factory alarm in this case. I got one on e bay for the element shipped for 72 bucks and works fine the seller got it from a wharehouse that was wind and rain damaged. No issues works great. it was not that hard to install follow the instructions and your all set.

You can either do a remote start using a module that replaces the key or do what I did and save some money. I was at my dealer and talked with the parts guy who told me that every dealer that makes copies of keys for customers always have screwups hanging around. He said he could code one of those for me and that can be used. I did that and gave the guy a few dollars as a thank you, he didn't charge me to code the key to match mine. It has worked like a charm. Plus if anyone tries to use the key it will never work as it isn't for my car anyway. :)

That method (stuffing a programmed key in the dash/steering wheel column) greatly compromises the security of your vehicle. If a thief were to try and steal your vehicle, the wonderful security benefit that these transponder keys provide is totally thrown out the window, since your car "thinks" that a correctly coded key is inserted since it reads its presence. This is a faster, cheaper way to install a remote start system, but it is definitely not the best.

The best shops install a module that doesn't require "sacrificing" a key in this matter. I feel much safer knowing that there is no programmed key hiding in my car's steering wheel column constantly transponding the code to the ignition system.

Just a little extra piece of mind, I guess.

umm actually it doesn't sacrifice any security. the part is only active when the bypass is powered. so unless the thief remote started your car and then snapped the steering wheel lock, then disconnected the brake wire would they be able to steal your car, and i guess after all that they would have only have as much time as the remote starter was active for to joy ride in it. the bypasses vary by what shops install what product. most small shops buy their parts from bypasskits.com. they make bypasses that dont lose the keys in most applications. bix box stores such as best buy and jerkit city use directed electronics parts and because they dont depend on mobile business to keep them going, they stock the least product they need to, so the universal part that loses the key will work in all applications. i install them for a living.

if someone stuffed a key in your dash so your car always read the key code, your car would only start if you hot wired it, because when you put your key in it, the car would read 2 codes at the same time and assume someone was using the wrong key and it wouldn't start. some cars wont start if you have 2 keys for that car on the same key ring.

DEI now offers a module that doesn’t require using a programmed key stuffed into the steering wheel column (at least they do for our E’s). I can’t recall the part number right now, but is uses a downloaded code similar to what a transponder key would use to allow the vehicle to start.

I used to work at an independent shop, and know how the DEI 555U Remote Start module works. A programmed key is stuffed inside a little black box, which must be placed in the vicinity of the ignition switch to “fool” the car into thinking that there is a key in the ignition. Buying an extra key and having it programmed will cost $50-$100.
And then you have a programmed key (whether cut or not) sitting in your car telling the computer that the correct key is inserted into the ignition. I can start my “E” with a key in the ignition and the programmed valet key right next to it.

I also realize that the chances are slim to none that a thief will actually know that there is a programmed key hidden near the ignition switch, and use that to his advantage. I’m not trying to argue here.

Like I said earlier, it just provides me with a little more piece of mind, that’s all. I have a 555U module installed on my wife’s car for remote start, and have never had any problems. But given a choice, I’d rather use the new module and keep any programmed keys out of my car. But that’s just my opinion.

the 555u isn't within the vicinity of the ignition switch. it has a relayed loop that circles the key reader, thats why they dont disable the factory immobilizer, they relay the information when the car is remote started, then shut off when not in use. the other dei part #s are a 556hw, 1100f and 1100x (with a software change to 1100ha) with any of these you dont lose a key. they work exactly the same though. you just program them as if you programmed a key and it sends key information to the cylinder/computer.

Does the Element have any quirks that make one brand/model better than others??
TIA

I had a remote starter put in a couple of weeks ago and had to give up my extra key. Actually, what they did was remove the chip and gave me the key back. The other day I tried starting my wife's car with my key (she got a remote starter too) and it started up but within a minute it went off. At first I didn't know what caused this then I realized it was the key. Now we only have one key for each of our cars that works. I, too, would like to see if I can get around this somehow. I love the remote starter but would still like to have that extra key.....:mad:

So you just walked up to the car, got in, started it, and then it shut off in a minute? Were you driving? Or did you initially start it with the remote, and then got in and put the key in?

The only way to keep all your keys is to use one of the modules dovogod listed above (with DEI units). If the installer/shop won't budge, it's because they don't want to mess with the extra work of using these new units. Don't let them tell you it can't be done. Find a shop that will give you want you want.

If you've already got a system installed using a programmed key, it can probably be updated to a new mondule, but that would cost more that buying a new key from Honda.

[QUOTE=texaselement]So you just walked up to the car, got in, started it, and then it shut off in a minute? Were you driving? Or did you initially start it with the remote, and then got in and put the key in?
QUOTE]

If I remember, I believe I remote started from inside my house, moments later I got into the car inserted my key then when I stepped on the brake it shut off. It shut off before I could ever put it in gear.

And you turned the key to the "on" position, right (just before it would normally crank over)?

Maybe you timed it just right with the remote start "run" time, where it shut the engine off automatically just as you were telling it that you were in it and to remain running like normal. I don't know.

Sounds like a freak, one time thing.

Installing remote starters is well beyond "I've installed a couple of stereos" capabilities. The starter circuit is the one part of the vehicle's electrics that is not fuse protected. So get something wrong, and your vehicle can go up in flames.

I strongly suggest that you leave it to the pros.

That is not a true statment as I have done 2 remote starter installs on different cars and both were fused when it came to the starter.

[QUOTE=texaselement]So you just walked up to the car, got in, started it, and then it shut off in a minute? Were you driving? Or did you initially start it with the remote, and then got in and put the key in?
QUOTE]

If I remember, I believe I remote started from inside my house, moments later I got into the car inserted my key then when I stepped on the brake it shut off. It shut off before I could ever put it in gear.

Actually it's working properly,since most all remote starters are designed to kill the engine when you step on the brake.This is so someone can't get in your vehicle while it's running,put in gear and drive off.If you would of used the correct chipped key,got in turned on the ignition,and stepped on the brake,you'd been on your way.:)

[QUOTE=The Rube;378679]

Actually it's working properly,since most all remote starters are designed to kill the engine when you step on the brake.This is so someone can't get in your vehicle while it's running,put in gear and drive off.If you would of used the correct chipped key,got in turned on the ignition,and stepped on the brake,you'd been on your way.:)

YEs this is a security feature they all should have.

However the one thing I always wondered was this: If you remote started the car and somebody came alogn and got in- if they knew it was a remote starter and they found the wire that hooks up to your break circuit they could yank the line out and then be on their way.... Granted the car would shut down after 12 or 24 mins of operation....

The line that goes fro mthe break circuit to the starter module is 12V (+) so if you pull it off and it never sees that + then I think you might be able to drive the car....

However thinking about this more I doubt that you would be able to put most cars into geat if the key was not in the ignition.

Well if they were able to yank off the brake wire trigger that goes to the remote starter,they could put it in gear and drive,but theres one problem,they could only drive straight,since the the steering wheel would become locked after any side to side movement.:)

Ohh and you quoted the wrong person,I wrote the quote you posted.:D