5 dangers of remote engine start
Remote engine start is one of the favorite options for motorists. In winter, when you want to leave the house and sit in a warm car, you simply cannot do without it. Today there are a lot of alarms that provide such a function. And even some automakers, albeit belatedly, still picked up the trend by offering this option in their cars from the factory. However, when talking about the pros, sellers deliberately do not mention the cons.
The AvtoVzglyad portal found out what should alert drivers before they install a remote engine start on their car.
Alas, not all car options are equally good, useful and safe, no matter what manufacturers of cars, auto components and tuning may tell us. Take, for example, the option loved by most motorists - remote engine start. Its advantages are certainly obvious. When there are bitter frosts on the street, not every owner will kick the dog out the door, and even more so he will not go out himself. But the circumstances are such that people need to go to work, take their children to schools and kindergartens, perform household duties and provide for the family. Therefore, no matter what the weather is outside, we all have to leave warm houses and apartments. And to minimize the discomfort of moving from home to car in freezing temperatures, car alarm and vehicle manufacturers have figured out how to start the engine without leaving home.
Sitting at home with a cup of coffee, the car owner just needs to pick up the key fob, press a combination of buttons, and the car starts up - the engine heats up, warming up the coolant, and then the car interior. As a result, you get out and sit in a warm car that does not need to be warmed up, before you move off and warm air comes out of the air ducts - not an option, but a dream (for some car owners, by the way, still). However, few people know that behind the obvious advantages of remote engine start, there are equally obvious disadvantages that the sellers of alarms with this option will not tell you about.
One of the most annoying disadvantages is that the car is much easier to steal. To do this, criminals just need a device that amplifies the signal from the key fob. And then one of the robbers needs to be next to the owner of the car, and the other directly at the car. The cunning device reads the key fob signal, and then, attackers can easily unlock the doors and start the engine. The device works over long distances, and transmitting a signal for a kilometer or two is not a problem for it.
The so-called grabbers are widely used by car thieves. These devices are able to read the data that the key fob exchanges with the control unit. With the help of these devices, it will not be difficult for robbers to make a double key, and it is easy to take the car away from under the nose of the owner so that he does not notice anything.
Another disadvantage of remote-controlled alarms is false spontaneous operation. This can be caused, for example, by electronic interference or wiring problems. As a result of this operation, the car unlocks or locks itself. Or even start the engine. And half the trouble, if the car with the “automatic”, which the owner has set to the parking mode, the car will simply start up and remain standing still. But if the gearbox is “mechanics”, and the owner has a habit of leaving the car by turning on one of the gears without tightening the “handbrake”, then expect trouble. When starting the engine, such a car will definitely twitch forward, due to which it can damage the car in front. Or even leave until she comes across an obstacle that could stop her.
In addition, due to wiring problems, after starting the engine, the car may catch fire. Whether the owner is nearby or in the cabin, a fire can be prevented by turning off the ignition and, if necessary, using a fire extinguisher. And if the car started up, the wiring “short”, and there was no one nearby, then you can expect a beautiful video from an eyewitness to the fire in the “Emergency of the Week” program.
Battery consumption with such alarms increases. If the battery is not fresh, then leaving the car in a parking lot, for example, at an airport, the alarm will quickly empty its charge. And it’s good if this is not detected by the attackers, who can remove the wheels and “undress” the car when the alarm is not working. And it will be unpleasant for the owner of the car who has returned from vacation to find out that he will not start.
Alarms with auto start are certainly good and convenient. However, when installing them on their car, drivers should be aware that along with comfort, they can also make problems. Before installing such security devices, you need to study the technical documentation, make sure that there are various certificates, and read reviews. Then you need to install such a system in a certified center, which guarantees that the alarm is installed in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. But even in this case, you will remove only part of the problems from yourself. Therefore, the most profitable, today, is the purchase of a car with a factory start system, developed and installed by the automaker itself. Such systems are guaranteed to have been tested, have all the approvals and certificates, and most importantly, have a factory warranty.
