I'm curious about remote start. I have a Viper in my 07 Tundra and it seems to do OK. I live in MN so it nice to let it warm up a bit in winter to get the windows de-iced. I guess it's also nice in the summer as well for AC. Anyways, in reference to my 02 LS, I wanted to know if there needs to be a key hidden under dash and near the switch to disable the transponder feature in the ignition key, like the Tundra? Maybe I should put it this way instead. I think the under dash hidden key's function is to provide that transponder signal without having the key in the ignition and therefore allowing the remote start to function. I have read that there is only a maximum of three keys that can be used on one car since that is the number of "Slots" for their IDs in the computer. This probably becomes a moot point when there is a key near the switch since it will be supplying a somewhat false signal to the ecm, just like if it was in the ignition. At least that's the way I understood the explanation from the remote start installers at Best Buy for the Viper they put in my 07 Tundra. If someone could verify this I would be grateful. I am planning on having a remote start installed in my 02 LS ASAP! It's near zero here now and forcast to be -20 next week!!!

 

I have a Viper 5900 alarm with remote start on my LS. I was asked to provide a key (chip) to be hidden under dash for remote start to work. I gave a chip that's in a plastic card with a valet key. Everything works great for 3+ years.

 

I wonder if a key cut but not transponder programmed would start your car? I think it would unless the transponder in the key in the ignition switch was the one being read instead of the hidden one. Obviously the hidden key (chip) is being read when there is no other key ib the ignition switch. That means the anti theft transponder signal is being supplied to the computer without a key in the switch. It would be a reasonable assumption that a key with no transponder would start and run the car. I wonder if one with an incorrect or non programmed transponder would then also do it? It's kind of a shame that the anti theft feature of the transponder ignition key has to be permanently disabled to have the remote start work.

 

If the alarm is not deactivated you cannot start the car because I've been told starter is killed and will not let you fire up.

 

I believe anything would only work for non smartaccess cars bcause if you leave a key in the car, the system would detect it and not let you lock the car. Not sure how it might be bypassed.

 

I was at Best Buy today to pick up a remote start and arrange for an install appointment. I was told I won't need to supply them with a key to over ride the system by tucking itup under the dash near the switch like they did on my Turndra a few years back. Now they have an extra box that is about $100 that they use instead. I hope they are correct that this will allow for proper and correct function of the security that was designed into the transponder key instead of bypassing it. I'll probably never know since I won't go to the trouble of getting a non transponder key made to test it. The price of the install is aprox $150 and the extra box for our cars is $100. This amount is of course over and above what ever you pay for the remote start irself. So even for a non expensive remote start plan on spending about $500 to $550 with the install. Add another $250 for the top of the line Viper, 1 mile range. There are also smart phone controlled ones that I didn't research at this time.

 

I got the car back from Best Buy on Tuesday night 1/22/13. I dropped it off the previous evening. They kept it indoors overnight for me even though I didn't request it. They were careful with the car and courteous to me. The functions of the key fob and the remote both work and They say that there is no concern for any security feature being over ridden. The $100 box that is now used instead of the hidden key has more versatility than just hiding a key. They did say that the hidden key method did not compromise the security either. They said my 2007 Tundra with the hidden key can't be started or driven with just a pick key or a non transponder key. I had the 2000 ft range unit installed It has 2 remotes one is a two way unit that has leds to indicate a response from the car to acknowledge the command for the function was recieved. The price of the unit was $300. The price for the install was $150 and the cost of the special interface box was an extra $100. Total for the install $250. Total cost with install $550. I have not tried a long range test but It works well on all functions at the normal range of within a couple of hundred feet.