Remote starters - blasphemy!

I know the general opinion is that remote starters are the work of the devil, and I should just send one of the kids out to start it if I really don't want to go out and do it my self. But SWMBO has wanted one for a while.

She is adamant about not wanting a car payment, which is great, so I figure a few new bells and whistles should help keep her happy.

It's a 2010 Sedona and I'm adding the Bluetooth capability from the 2011 using factory components, so that will let her stream music and keep both hands on the wheel if someone calls. It also will keep the factory look, and none of the flashy lighting or apps that the aftermarket head units have (it is a minivan after all).

I haven't been able to find a factory remit start kit for the 2010 Sedona. They have them for earlier than 2006 and after 2015, but not in the middle.

I see The kia factory kits for other models, so I'm hoping someone on here knows if another Kia models kit would work.

Anyone have any experience or inside knowledge about commonality between the Sedona and other models?

Thanks, Joe

not sure why remote starters would be the work of the devil.

In reply to plance1:

It may have been another forum where is saw negativity towards them, and the Internet is becoming blurred as time goes on.

Generally cutting into a modern wiring harness can lead to headaches and gremlins, which can be haunting when long term ownership is anticipated.

Unless I can find a factory plug in that is compatible I will probably pass on the remote start.

I don't think I've heard anything negative here about them.

I know there's a couple of Hyundai experienced folks here, hopefully they'll chime in with some help.

I had a Jeep Grand Cherokee with an aftermarket remote start years ago which was possessed. When shutting off the ignition, I could pull the key out and the engine would continue to run for a couple of seconds, shut off and then lock the doors. All on it's own. The day I took the Jeep to get the system removed, I left the keys on the dash(I know, stupid...), shut the door and proceeded to walk around the car to get my 6 month old daughter out of the back seat. Damn SUV locked the doors before I could get her or the keys out.

I will never own another car with an aftermarket remote start.

I worked for an installer that did them. Problems generally arose from bad installation. Most of the kits are pretty good and have decent technical support. Do your research and find a good local installer willing to warranty the work for a long time.

My only dislike of remote starters is that they are found on vehicles with automatics.

It was one of my favorite features of my Chevy Volt. At 4:50, I'd start the car from my phone, and it'd be at a reasonable temperature by the time I left work at 5. I might feel differently burning gas to get it done.

If I installed one on my Celica I could start it In gear and run my Celica through the garage door. Imagine my anger as sit down on the couch, my belly fat hits the button in my right front pocket. I hear "chigga-chigga, CRASH!"

I've done some more searching, since it's been raining out.

I found the this part number UV040-AY130 which some sites say is for the previous gen Sedona, others list it for my year.

It looks like I'll need to ask at the dealer when I go to order the Bluetooth microphone. Although I won't have high hopes for them being able to provide any addition info based on my parts search for the Bluetooth install.

I don't know if it's the computer system or the operator, but they said they couldn't look up a part number for a microphone for a 2011 without a vin, and even when I supplied the part number they could not tell me if it was gray or beige.

In reply to jstand:

Yeah, you're making the right move (and for the reasons you mentioned). Aftermarket remote start is to the 201Xs what aftermarket alarms were in the 1990s. Hacked up wiring harnesses, holes drilled all over to (poorly) mount components, etc. Can't believe there's no plug & play with your model year, that seems a bit weird.

T.J. wrote: My only dislike of remote starters is that they are found on vehicles with automatics.

You can install tehm on manual trans if the trans has a neutral switch.

You can't install them on carbureted cars, however. How do you set the choke?

I remember trying to talk to an installation place about keyless entry for my saab. I just wanted to walk up to the car and unlock the doors with a button. Kid behind the counter was adamant he could also add remote start and that I would love it.

Even telling him that saab's lock the car in reverse with the key out did not deter him.. "We can bypass that"

I bypassed him and continued to unlock my car the old fashioned way

I'm not a fan of remote start mostly due to the remote-ness of it. I don't like the idea of firing up an engine without any ability to hear it start or see the oil pressure gauge, etc.

I'm not a fan of them because they are wasteful. Why would I want my car running when I'm nowhere near it?

ProDarwin wrote: I'm not a fan of them because they are wasteful. Why would I want my car running when I'm nowhere near it?

Preheat the car in the wintertime. No matter what, you have to wait five-ten-fifteen minutes for the car to warm up enough for the heat to be effective enough for the windshield to not fog/ice over as soon as you start moving.

As a bonus, remote starts will kill the engine if you apply the brake pedal without the key in the ignition. This is much more theft-proof than going outside, starting the car, then going back inside while the car warms up.

(And for some STUPID reason, Volvo programmed my car to ignore the key fob with the engine running. So I can't start the car and lock the doors behind me)

In reply to ProDarwin:

You have not had to walk out to a frozen car very often I imagine. It's nice to have the defroster getting a head start on things before the wife heads out to scrape the windows.

Japense cars have the same fob programming. I've made that mistake with my Subaru.

I get the preheating thing. I used to do it. But now I see it as wasteful. I clear off the windows with a scraper/brush, then get in the car, start it, and drive it.**

**When I am somewhere cold. Garage in NC means car is never below ~55 or above 75 in the morning

I found it funny that GM included remote start on the Cruze "Eco". So the "Eco" version is the only version that allows you to burn fuel without even leaving your house :)

That only works here if your neck is long enough that you can stick your head out the window to see. Most of the time, the humidity and temperature is such that a clear windshield will ice over as soon as you start moving fast enough to make wind. The rest of the time, the windshield just fogs on the inside from breathing.

Driving with the windows down helps with that last one, but you can't do that if the windows are frozen stuck.

(And now I not-so-fondly remember a little Japanese car I had years back with an engine that took forever to build heat. It would start blowing lukewarm air at the end of my 20 minute drive to work. This in stark contrast to my European cars which almost universally could roast a turkey inside of two-three minutes)

It seems like more than half the time when I actually need some heat to keep the windshield clear, I also need to brush / scrape snow / ice off the outside of the car, so it can warm up a bit while I'm brushing. Otherwise, if I can keep the windshield clear (even if it needs defrost on without having heat yet) without letting it warm up, I'm not burning the extra gas.

I went to the dealer today to order the BT microphone for that install and while I was there I asked about the remote start.

There is a factory kit for mine that is available. It's $318 and includes the key fobs and plug in module. That avoids needed multiple key fobs to keep power sliding door functionality.

Now to decide if the convenience is worth the cost.

I would think it's worth it simply based on not having to hack up the wiring loom.

I detest having to fix wiring looms hacked up by "professional" alarm installers.

Knurled wrote:

T.J. wrote: My only dislike of remote starters is that they are found on vehicles with automatics.

You can install tehm on manual trans if the trans has a neutral switch. You can't install them on carbureted cars, however. How do you set the choke?

When I park my cars, I leave them in gear and set the parking brake, but yes I guess if I wanted to park in neutral it would be possible. When I lived in MN, I understood the desire for remote start. When you park at work, work 12 hours and then walk a half mile out to the parking lot in -20F getting into a frozen car is not nearly as nice as getting into a (even slightly) warmed up car.

I'll gladly burn five minutes of gas to have the ice softened when I walk out to my car at 3:30 in the morning. The Buick came from the factory with one and The wife has been after me to get one for the Fiat. Thanks to this thread I realize that adding a factory one is a possibility. I think I know what she's getting for her birthday.

Dad had always been a bare bones car kinda guy, more stuff to likely break ya know. He didn't need to learn the remote start on his '14 Verano. Nope, don't need it. Once hooked he never looked back. Same w/ heated seats, who needs 'em. He musta told me 10X... check out these heated seats, why didn't I do this before. Welcome to the fold. Dad is 93 BTW.