How to connect a remote starter

Have you ever walked out to your car on a cold winter morning and wished the windows were already defrosted? With the remote start kit, you can start the engine from home while you finish your coffee and…

Have you ever walked out to your car on a cold winter morning and wished the windows were already defrosted? With a remote starter kit, you can start the engine from your home while you finish your coffee and the car will be ready to drive by the time you get there. While not a standard item on most vehicles, aftermarket kits are available that can be installed to add this functionality.

The main thing to keep in mind in this job is to do the research. When choosing a remote start kit, make sure all information about your vehicle is correct. In particular, look into what type of security system your vehicle has, if any, as the kit should have the right tools to bypass them.

Along with remote start, many different functions can be set, including unlocking the doors and even remote trunk release. This guide will only cover remote start installation. If your kit has other features that you would like to install, please refer to the instruction manual for proper installation of these systems.

Part 1 of 5 - Presetting

Necessary materials

• Digital voltmeter
• electrical tape
• Phillips screwdriver
• ratchet
• Remote starter or starter kit
• Protective glasses
• Socket set
• Solder
• Soldering iron
• test light
• Nippers
• Wire Stripping Tool
• Wiring diagram for your car
• Wrench (usually 10mm)

• Lightning

• FunctionsA: Some remote start kits come with circuit testers, so you can save some money by purchasing one of these kits.

• Attention: Although soldering the joints is not absolutely necessary, it strengthens the joints and makes them very strong. If you don't have access to a soldering iron or are uncomfortable with soldering the joints, you can get away with just duct tape and a few zip ties. Just make sure your connections are very secure - you don't want them to break and short something out.

• AttentionA: There are several ways to get the wiring diagram of your car. You can buy a manufacturer's repair manual for your specific vehicle which lists all the wires we are going to use. While somewhat pricey, this will bypass everything in the car and is a good investment if you plan on doing more work yourself. You can also check the ignition switch chain for your car online. Be careful when doing this, as they may not be completely correct, so be sure to check your wires throughout the installation.

Step 1: Remove all plastic panels around the steering wheel.. Some vehicles have screws, while others require a socket set to remove these panels.

• AttentionA: Most cars with some form of anti-theft system have a second panel that needs to be removed before you can access the wires.

Step 2 Locate the ignition switch harness.. These will be all the wires coming from the lock cylinder.

With the panels removed, start looking for a place for the remote starter. There might be room somewhere under the steering wheel - just make sure all wires are clear of any moving parts.

• Functions: Storing the remote starter under the steering wheel will hide the wires, leaving the car clean and tidy.

• Attention: It is recommended to fix the remote starter so that it does not move while driving. The kit may include tools to attach it, but you can use Velcro tapes to attach the remote start box anywhere with a flat surface.

Part 2 of 5: How to Strip and Connect Wires

Step 1: Disconnect the battery. Every time you make a connection, make sure your battery is disconnected.

Loosen the nut holding the negative cable to the battery and remove the cable from the terminal. Hide the cable somewhere so that it does not touch the negative terminal during operation.

• AttentionA: When you check the wires, make sure the battery is connected again as you need voltage.
  
  

Step 2: Remove the plastic cover. You will need to expose one to one and a half inches of metal to make sure your joints are strong.

Always be careful when cutting plastic so as not to damage the wires.

• Functions: A box cutter with a sharp blade can be used to cut plastic if you don't have a wire stripper.

Step 3: Create a loop on the wire. The wires are twisted together, so carefully pry and separate the wires to create a hole. Be careful not to damage the wires.

Step 4: Insert the new wire. Insert the new stripped wire into the loop you made and wrap it around to secure the connection.

You want a lot of contact between the wires, so make sure everything is wrapped tightly.

• AttentionA: This is when you'll be soldering the connection, if that's your plan. Be sure to use safety goggles to protect yourself.

Step 5: Tape the Bare Wire. Make sure there are no exposed wires. Pull on the wires and make sure nothing is loose.

• Functions: Use zip ties on both ends of the tape to keep it from coming loose and exposing the wire.
  
  

Part 3 of 5: Connecting the Power Wires

Step 1: Connect the 12V DC Wire. This wire is directly connected to the battery and will always have about 12 volts even if the key is removed from the ignition.

Step 2: Connect the auxiliary wire. This wire supplies power to optional components such as radios and power windows. The wire will have zero volts in the off position and about 12 volts in the first (ACC) and second (ON) positions of the key.

• Functions: The auxiliary wire should go down to zero during startup so you can use it to double check you have the correct wire.

Step 3: Connect the ignition wire. This wire powers the fuel pump and the ignition system. There will be about 12 volts on the wire in the second (ON) and third (START) positions of the key. There will be no voltage in the off and first (ACC) positions.

Step 4: Connect the starter wire. This provides power to the starter when you start the engine. There will be no voltage on the wire in all positions except the third (START), where there will be about 12 volts.

Step 5: Connect the brake wire. This wire supplies power to the brake lights when you press the pedal.

The brake switch will be located above the brake pedal, with two or three wires coming out of it. One of them will show about 12 volts when you press the brake pedal.

Step 6: Connect Parking Light Wire. This wire powers the car's amber marker lights and is commonly used by remote start kits to let you know the car is running. When you turn on the light, there will be about 12 volts on the wire.

• AttentionNote: If your vehicle has a light control dial to the left of the steering wheel, the wire should be located behind the kick panel. The kick pad is the plastic panel that your left foot rests on while driving.

Step 7: Connect any extra wires you have in your kit.. Depending on what machine you have and what kit you are using, there may be a few more wires to connect.

These can be security bypass systems for the key, or additional features such as lock control and remote trunk release. Make sure you double check the instructions and make any additional connections.

• Attention: The kit instructions contain information to help you find the correct wires.

Part 4 of 5: Grounding setup

Step 1 Find a clean, unpainted piece of metal.. This will be the main ground connection for your remote starter kit.

Check to make sure it is indeed a ground and make sure the ground cable is kept away from other cables to prevent any electrical interference.

• AttentionA: The wires leading to the lock cylinder will have a significant amount of interference, so make sure the ground cable is kept away from the ignition switch.

Step 2: Fix the cable to the metal. The ground cable usually has a hole where you can use a nut and bolt and washer to hold it in place.

• Attention: If there is nowhere to place the cable, you can use a drill and drill a hole. Use the hole on the cable to make sure you have the correct size drill.

Part 5 of 5: Putting it all back together

Step 1. Connect the grounding cable to the starter kit.. The ground cable should be the first cable you connect to the remote start box before any power is applied.

Step 2 Connect the power wires to the starter kit.. Connect the remaining cables to the remote starter.

Before putting everything back together, check a few things to make sure the new connections aren't causing any problems.

Step 3: Start the engine with the key. First, make sure the engine still starts when the key is turned.

Step 4: Check out other features. Make sure all other features you have included in your remote start kit are still working. This includes parking lights, brake lights, and things like door locks if you have those features installed.

Step 5: Check Remote Start. If everything is in order, turn off the engine, remove the key and check the remote starter.

• Attention: Check and make sure the parking lights turn on if this is your remote start function.

Step 6: Attach the remote start box. If everything works as intended, start packing things back.

Fix the box the way you want, making sure that all the cables will not interfere with the panels that you have to install back.

• Functions: Use cable ties to tie excess cables and secure cables to other components so they don't move. Make sure cables are kept away from moving parts.

Step 7: Replace the plastic panels. Again, make sure the cables are not pinched when screwing the panels back on.

After putting all the parts together, run all the tests again to make sure everything is in order.

Congratulations! Now with a remote starter, you no longer have to wait for your car to warm up. Go show your friends your newfound magical powers. If you have problems installing the kit, one of our certified AvtoTachki technicians can help you install the kit correctly.