5 Things to Know About Remote Starters

Common FAQs That Come Up Prior to Install

Here at San Diego Car Stereo, we love our remote starters. We especially love it on hot days when it’s over 90 degrees and our vehicles need a little extra time to cool off before we hit the road. Remote start is a great little feature that every vehicle owner should consider. It’s not only a cheap upgrade, but remote start installation takes almost no time at all to complete. And the benefits of it last as long as you keep the car. It’s a true win-win scenario. However, we still get folks who have questions about remote start and how it actually works. To break this down, we’re going to give you the top five frequently asked questions about remote start along with the answers.

1 – “What is the range on remote start?”

We all know that the main benefit of remote start is that you can start your vehicle remotely from a certain range. However, not all remote start kits are created equal, which means that the range you can start your car from is going to vary. Some kits advertise around 500 ft. while others boast a range of close to 5,000 ft. Each remote start kit should very clearly tell you what their range is so there’s no confusion. When it comes to selecting a kit based on range, you only need to go with what you actually need. 500 ft. gets the job done for most people.

2 – “Does remote start pose any potential risk of damage to my car?”

There’s this little rumor going around that remote starters can potentially cause vehicle damage or cause a shortage in the electrical system. Just so we’re clear, this is absolutely NOT true. Trust us on this. If there was any possible way that a remote start could potentially damage your car, we wouldn’t be installing them here at San Diego Car Stereo.

The only possible way that a remote starter can cause damage to the car is if it’s installed improperly. If you don’t know how to do it yourself, bring it to the professionals here at San Diego Car Stereo and we’ll do it for you. We have years of practice.

3 – “If I remotely start my car, couldn’t a thief just drive off with it?”

Nope. No way. No how. The point of remote start is to get the car going so you can either heat it up or cool it down. The doors, however, will be securely locked and stay that way until the person with the keys accesses it. So, unless you hand your car keys over to a thief, you’ll be in good shape.

But just for good measure, let’s say a thief breaks through the window and accesses the car that way. You can rest assured knowing that as soon as the brake pedal is pushed, the engine will turn off. That thief won’t be going anywhere.

4 – “Will a remote start void my warranty?”

Some people believe that getting remote start or other similar accessories installed in their vehicles will make their warranty null and void. Yet again, this is another rumor. Your warranty will be just fine. The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act of 1975 protects vehicle owners from a voided warranty based on adding after-market products. So feel free to add on remote start, speakers, subs, and window tint.

5 – “How much is remote start?”

Now we’re getting to the nitty gritty. So, for remote start you’re looking at two main charges. The first is the cost of the kit. Most remote start kits run as little as $100, but there are other more advanced ones that will run $300 or more. The more expensive ones give you more range and more features.

The second charge is for the professional remote start installation. This can run anywhere from $150 to $500. It really depends on the complexity of the job and the year, make, and model of the vehicle being upgraded.

Get Your Remote Starter Installed Today

Now that we’ve run through the most common FAQs about remote starts, it’s time to get one installed in your own vehicle. The quickest and easiest way to do that is by stopping by the shop here at San Diego Car Stereo. We’ll help you pick out the remote start that suits your needs and give you a detailed estimate on how much the job will cost before moving ahead with your professional install. We also do car stereo installation in San Diego if you’re looking for a little audio upgrade.

The best way to see our stock of aftermarket stereos, subs, and speakers is by visiting our shop at 4220 Convoy St. in San Diego. You can also give us a call at (858) 527-7194 to make an appointment or reach us via email using our contact form.