Remote car start via phone?

[bigbilltolbert]

I'm looking for a way to start my car at the airport when my plane
lands. If I wait until I get to the parking lot, it does not give the
car enough time to warm up. Basically I am looking for a remote
starter where I can call a phone number and have the car start.

There was a thread a few years ago that talked about it, but the
products do not seem to be available any longer. I did find one
product from Viper that looks like it can do it, but it also has GPS
and a lot of other features I don't need and is over $500.

Given that you can get a pager for free and only pay $60/year, it can't
be that hard to put it in your glove box and run a wire to the starter
that triggers it just like the remote that is good for 800 feet.

Anyone?

--bbt

 

[Frank Olson]

I'm looking for a way to start my car at the airport when my plane
lands. If I wait until I get to the parking lot, it does not give the
car enough time to warm up. Basically I am looking for a remote
starter where I can call a phone number and have the car start.

There was a thread a few years ago that talked about it, but the
products do not seem to be available any longer. I did find one
product from Viper that looks like it can do it, but it also has GPS
and a lot of other features I don't need and is over $500.

Given that you can get a pager for free and only pay $60/year, it can't
be that hard to put it in your glove box and run a wire to the starter
that triggers it just like the remote that is good for 800 feet.

Anyone?

--bbt

How long do you figure it takes for your car to "warm up"?? Where (what
part of the world) are we talking about here?

 

[bigbilltolbert]

I'm talking winter in Pittsburgh. It gets into the 20's in the winter
and it takes about 5 minutes for the car to warm up. The garage at the
airport that I park in is over 500 feet from the terminal. When I
land, I could call the number and since it takes about 5 minutes to
walk through the terminal to my car, it woudl be nice and toasty.

 

[Frank Olson]

I'm talking winter in Pittsburgh. It gets into the 20's in the winter
and it takes about 5 minutes for the car to warm up. The garage at the
airport that I park in is over 500 feet from the terminal. When I
land, I could call the number and since it takes about 5 minutes to
walk through the terminal to my car, it woudl be nice and toasty.

We lived in Edmonton for a few years (we're talkin' -40 degrees on more
than a few occasions). That's so cold that you might only have one shot
to get the beast started (and if you forgot to plug in the block heater,
you're "SOL"). If all you have to put up with is 3 - 4 minutes of minor
discomfort, then live with it. You pussies down south don't know cold.

 

[GregS]

I'm looking for a way to start my car at the airport when my plane
lands. If I wait until I get to the parking lot, it does not give the
car enough time to warm up. Basically I am looking for a remote
starter where I can call a phone number and have the car start.

There was a thread a few years ago that talked about it, but the
products do not seem to be available any longer. I did find one
product from Viper that looks like it can do it, but it also has GPS
and a lot of other features I don't need and is over $500.

Given that you can get a pager for free and only pay $60/year, it can't
be that hard to put it in your glove box and run a wire to the starter
that triggers it just like the remote that is good for 800 feet.

Anyone?

Auto Command did make a unit, Design Tech. They did make a remoter from a phone pager
type of devive. Dialed the phone and the car starts from anywhere. Might call them or see if
the service still exists. Well even many remotes work from 600 feet away. Some clain more.
If you hold a remote near a larger metal object, preferably of the same wavelength,
you can get much better range. I often hold a key next to it.


greg

 

[GregS]

Auto Command did make a unit, Design Tech. They did make a remoter from a phone
pager
type of devive. Dialed the phone and the car starts from anywhere. Might call
them or see if
the service still exists. Well even many remotes work from 600 feet away. Some
clain more.
If you hold a remote near a larger metal object, preferably of the same
wavelength,
you can get much better range. I often hold a key next to it.

When I installed my AutoCommand, the antenna can be placed anywher you like.
A good place is somwhere which is visbale through the windshied. The best
place is an external antenna. A poor place in under the dash.

greg in da burgh.

 

[GregS]

When I installed my AutoCommand, the antenna can be placed anywher you like.
A good place is somwhere which is visbale through the windshied. The best
place is an external antenna. A poor place in under the dash.

greg in da burgh.

My remote starter can be fine tuned so the transmitter matches the receiver.
I talked to one of the reps from Design Tech International at a CES one year.
These remotes can drift off after some time. I was able to start my car
near channel 13 TV tower, along with many other services on that tower.
At some point in time a service was activated on that tower which
desenses my receiver so my range dropped radically. The airport may have
problems.

greg

 

[jcr]

Auto Command did make a unit, Design Tech. They did make a remoter from a phone pager
type of devive. Dialed the phone and the car starts from anywhere. Might call them or see if
the service still exists. Well even many remotes work from 600 feet away. Some clain more.
If you hold a remote near a larger metal object, preferably of the same wavelength,
you can get much better range. I often hold a key next to it.


greg

Great, so someone dials the wrong number and starts your car. By the
time your plane comes in, you're out of gas. Good idea...NOT!

 

[brianlanning]

Great, so someone dials the wrong number and starts your car. By the
time your plane comes in, you're out of gas. Good idea...NOT!

You could enter a pin code or something to get around that issue. I
think it's a great idea. You could get a text message or phone call
with a picture when the alarm goes off.

brian

 

[bigbilltolbert]

Great, so someone dials the wrong number and starts your car. By the
time your plane comes in, you're out of gas. Good idea...NOT!

The remote starter I had on my last car would automatically shut the
car off after 15 minutes and I believe that you can set it to a shorter
time if you want.

 

[bigbilltolbert]

I think that I found something that will do it. It is made by Audiovox
and plugs into their starters. You can then call a phone number and
put in your pin and it starts the car. Looks like is it an extra $150,
but comes with the service for the life of the product. SInce my last
starter lasted seven years and was still working when I traded it in,
that would have only been $1.78 a month.

http://www.audiovox.com/webapp/wcs/...10001&storeId=10001&productId=13462&langId=-1

http://www.audiovox.com/manuals/owners/1286916.pdf

I'll post back here if I get one installed and let you know how it
worked out.

--bbt

 

[Matt Ion]

We lived in Edmonton for a few years (we're talkin' -40 degrees on more
than a few occasions). That's so cold that you might only have one shot
to get the beast started (and if you forgot to plug in the block heater,
you're "SOL"). If all you have to put up with is 3 - 4 minutes of minor
discomfort, then live with it. You pussies down south don't know cold.

Yeah, "20s" is pretty weak... I grew up in the BC Interior, not quite as cold
(or far north) as Edmonton, but still gets pretty damn cold.

Get a block heater and find somewhere to plug the car in when you park.

Or pack a scarf and a pair of gloves in your carry-on.

 

[Doug L]

Don't tell me I don't know cold, let me tell you, it gets as cold as 58
degrees here sometimes at night, have to wear a sweatshirt its so chilly

Doug

--

 

[Paul Hovnanian P.E.]

I'm talking winter in Pittsburgh. It gets into the 20's in the winter
and it takes about 5 minutes for the car to warm up. The garage at the
airport that I park in is over 500 feet from the terminal. When I
land, I could call the number and since it takes about 5 minutes to
walk through the terminal to my car, it woudl be nice and toasty.

Nah. I bet you work for the mob and you are just running out of people
to start your car in the morning. ;-)

 

[Bob M.]

I'm talking winter in Pittsburgh. It gets into the 20's in the winter
and it takes about 5 minutes for the car to warm up. The garage at the
airport that I park in is over 500 feet from the terminal. When I
land, I could call the number and since it takes about 5 minutes to
walk through the terminal to my car, it woudl be nice and toasty.

No it wouldn't be. Idling cars don't warm up that much, and by the way 20
degrees is not cold. (I'm from Buffalo NY, saw those temps often) The only
way to warm it up is to drive it. Make sure the antifreeze is properly
mixed with water too.

 

[Vivek]

Sometime we frown on people posting off topic or crossposts sometime we do
not. Is it because of all the World war going up in RAC and there is nothing
left to discuss here. I have been just looking on RAC and people here are
getting very angry for no reason at all. Patience, respect for others is not
valued anymore. This seems to be an obvious process. Are there any very very
senior posters here who can let all of us know how long do they predict when
a turnaround of ethical values will occur in RAC.

| I'm looking for a way to start my car at the airport when my plane
| lands. If I wait until I get to the parking lot, it does not give the
| car enough time to warm up. Basically I am looking for a remote
| starter where I can call a phone number and have the car start.
|
| There was a thread a few years ago that talked about it, but the
| products do not seem to be available any longer. I did find one
| product from Viper that looks like it can do it, but it also has GPS
| and a lot of other features I don't need and is over $500.
|
| Given that you can get a pager for free and only pay $60/year, it can't
| be that hard to put it in your glove box and run a wire to the starter
| that triggers it just like the remote that is good for 800 feet.
|
| Anyone?
|
| --bbt
|

 

[GregS]

Great, so someone dials the wrong number and starts your car. By the
time your plane comes in, you're out of gas. Good idea...NOT!

No. It doesn't work like that, and car starters only run for short times.

greg

 

[GregS]

No it wouldn't be. Idling cars don't warm up that much, and by the way 20
degrees is not cold. (I'm from Buffalo NY, saw those temps often) The only
way to warm it up is to drive it. Make sure the antifreeze is properly
mixed with water too.

Idling cars do not warm up nearly as fast, but they do warm up.
I also find it starts warming the transmission and shifting is more crisp after
at least 7 minuites, the time my starter is set for. i can always start a new
7 minuite interval, or shut one down. Yes it burns gas. If the windshield
defroster is on, the warming process also starts defrosting it
before you get to the car, and scraping may be unneccesary.

greg

 

[Frank Olson]

I think that I found something that will do it. It is made by Audiovox
and plugs into their starters. You can then call a phone number and
put in your pin and it starts the car. Looks like is it an extra $150,
but comes with the service for the life of the product. SInce my last
starter lasted seven years and was still working when I traded it in,
that would have only been $1.78 a month.

http://www.audiovox.com/webapp/wcs/...10001&storeId=10001&productId=13462&langId=-1

http://www.audiovox.com/manuals/owners/1286916.pdf

I'll post back here if I get one installed and let you know how it
worked out.

--bbt

In Vancouver, if you idle your engine for longer than 3 minutes while
parked anywhere, you're subject to an $80.00 fine. This has something
to do with lowering emission levels. This, of course, never even
crossed your mind. Having a "warm and toasty" car is far more important
after that long plane trip...

 

[Bob Worthy]

In Vancouver, if you idle your engine for longer than 3 minutes while
parked anywhere, you're subject to an $80.00 fine. This has something
to do with lowering emission levels. This, of course, never even
crossed your mind. Having a "warm and toasty" car is far more important
after that long plane trip...

Just out of curiosity, while the car is idling, is the steering wheel and
gear shift unlocked?