![]() Remote-start fuel use: Our 2018 Nissan Kicks SV test car used 0.06 gallons of fuel for 10 minutes of idling before the system automatically shut down.Make sure the remote starter fob isn't in a pocket or a location where the start button could be hit accidentally.The potential for carbon-monoxide poisoning could lead to injuries or even death. Never remote-start your car in an enclosed area, such as a garage.A Connecticut installation shop we spoke with said that, for safety and liability reasons, it won't install remote starters in manual-transmission cars, period. The reason is that the car could potentially try to start when it has been left in a gear, and not in neutral, which could cause the car to jerk forward and hit whatever is in front of it. Ibbotson strongly recommends against this, though, even if the remote start has the built-in fail-safes that come on better systems. Remote starters aren't available on new cars that have a manual transmission, according to Mel Yu, CR's automotive analyst, but some aftermarket systems can be added to cars with a stick shift. What About Cars With a Manual Transmission? (No need to worry about theft-your car's doors are typically locked during the remote start process.) Other features that can drive up the price include a longer-range remote (handy if you usually park a long way from your workplace), the capability to remotely lower the windows to cool off the car, and the ability to control the remote starter with your smartphone. "Stay away from cheap remote-starter systems you can find online, and definitely don't try to install one yourself-you're just asking for headaches," he says.Īftermarket remote-start systems typically cost $200 to $330, including parts and labor, but systems for European cars with transponder keys can run as much as $800 because of their more complicated electronics.Īdvanced features, such as a two-way remote that can notify you when your car has been started, will cost more, according to an installation technician at Best Buy. "If you go the aftermarket route, have it professionally installed at a national chain such as Best Buy or at a reputable local shop to help ensure this tricky job is done right," Ibbotson says, adding, "you'll also get some level of warranty against failures." Your dealer can figure out whether your car is able to use remote start.Ĭars built before 2005 will probably need an aftermarket starter. If a remote starter was available for your car's model, trim, and transmission when the car was new, you should be able to have one added to your car, Ibbotson says. "Your safest bet is to get a system from your car's manufacturer," says John Ibbotson, chief mechanic at CR's Auto Test Center.Ĭars built after the mid-2000s can probably be fitted with a dealer-installed remote-start system from the automaker. Remote start is a nifty feature that lets you start your car's engine from afar, cooling the interior on a scorching-hot summer day or warming it up on a brutally cold winter morning.īut even if your car didn't come with this feature, don't sweat it-in most cases it's never too late to install a remote starter.
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