Remote starts for trucks ?

[Randy Hart]

Hello, It's been 10 years since I bought my 97 1500 Dodge pickup.. 174,000 + miles later and it's still ticking BUT I feel I'm on overtime< with it so now the painful process of buying a new one.. Any good or bad feedback on remote starters on GM or Dodge gas trucks ? Both at home and work I have close access to the truck from inside and a remote start would be ideal to cut the chill 15 min. before drive time.. getting a little older and creature comforts are value added items.

FYI: for the record, this is the small V8 318 type and the only problem was it sucked an intake gasket at around 65,000.. I've talked to dozens of guys at the gas pumps and it is a common problem.. The automatic tranny has not been touched and pulls 5,000 lbs several times a year, < that is uncommon I'm told as many have replaced the tranny more than once..
Thanks! Randy Hart Ohio

[sparkplug54]

I've never heard of the intake being sucked in before. I owned a 94' 2001 and now I have a 2002 Ram Sport. The trannys had problems in the 94 to 96 models I have heard. I have 94,000 miles on my 2002 and never had a problem. My 1994 had about what you have on yours now, no problems. The Chrylser mini vans or trannys with the 3.3 liter have had prblems usually around 120,000 miles. I have remote starting on my van and I like it. I think it would be good for you to have to.Nice to get right into a warmed up vechicle. DAn

[Ackman]

HOWDEE RH!!! I have a '96 FORD F-150, w/ a remote start & I absolutely LOVE it!!! Sure comes in handy for these cold WI days!!! (It's supposed to lock/unlock the doors, too, but that doesn't work, anymore. )

[JKWidener]

I own two remote start units and i park about half a football field away and mine still works great. Mine has a little antenna that mounts to the inside of the windshield and this helps for starting at a farther distance.. You just have to remember to turn the heat on high before you get out of the vehicle the night before.

[Patrick McNallen]

O! The EMISSIONS! THINK OF THE EMISSIONS! YOU'RE GOING TO MELT THE ICE CAPS AND DROWN EVERY LAST POLAR BEAR IN CANADA!

[sparkplug54]

Well Patrick thats just stupid. My van is E85 remember.All I ever said is that people can at least try to help the situation. I mean all Americans don't need to go out and buy a big SUV and use it for just metro commuting. People don't need to go out and buy their big ole steaks and throw have of them in the garbage because they neglected to cook them in time. See I'm not a wealthy guy and don't waste things because of neglect. But I think history will show someday that it was the lower class and middle class that helped clean up the world because the folks with alot of cash really don't care.DAn

[Randy Hart]

Dan, when I first discovered the problem the oil light came on and I shut it down and coasted to the birm.. checked the oil and none on the stick.. Lucky for me my Dad always kept a few qts of oil in his truck and so did I as well.. Made it home and had the garage fix it.. The mechanic said he was an expert on them after dozens already done.. And of coarse Chrysler did not have a fix as fail policy This old beast still gets 19-21 mpg and managed 20.2 on my 561 mile run a while back..
I took it on vacation last summer to NC with the family but the title was in the glove box just in case it wanted to lay down while away from home..
Randy Hart Ohio

[MoRo]

Randy, knowing Chrysler products the way I think I do, that engine is the last thing that'll totally lay down on you. Headgaskets...maybe, but I bet it still runs good as new and doesn't use any oil.

AND I'm A GM MAN!!!!!!!

[Kenn K]

You're married aren't you???? There's your answer !!!!

[BDMelon]

Randy.. on remote starter control,, WE here at GM shop
have found, that a few remote start systems have cause , the vehicles sometimes not to start , because of the modules in the new vehicles 2003 on up are not
reading the remote set up as a gm programmed unit & have different values it looks at for thef learn , just a couple not many,plus depends how good they are install, connection must be perfect,, & if you are like me, new stuff is out of are budget
anyhow,,,,but if it is in you liking for a NEW one, some
GM trucks & SUV have remote start in them from factory

Brian goodluck Randy
I still have to make time to come over to the house ,soon
& visit

[Randy Hart]

Well Melon, I seem to have good luck with finding deals on everything but trucks... All the good used ones I find are close to new price with 60-80,000 miles..
I try to keep mine up and run them 10+ years.. Same with cars.. The 80 chevy went to the scrap yard in 97 when I bought the new truck. I'm not much into the new truck for the "see what I have thing".. it's just I like something new now and then and like knowing what I have when I head out onto the road.

This one should see more towing and of coarse my kids are growing so more cab space than my 1500 extended cab is needed. ( Tom is 5'11 now at 13 )

I doubt I will buy into the dream truck yet but in 6-8 years it could be the second truck here on the farm and kept for pulling a big enclosed.

Thanks for all the info on the remote starts ! Now when the ground thaws I'll try to remember where that can full of cash is buried.. Randy Hart Ohio

[BDMelon]

Originally Posted by Randy Hart

Well Melon, I seem to have good luck with finding deals on everything but trucks... All the good used ones I find are close to new price with 60-80,000 miles..
I try to keep mine up and run them 10+ years.. Same with cars.. The 80 chevy went to the scrap yard in 97 when I bought the new truck. I'm not much into the new truck for the "see what I have thing".. it's just I like something new now and then and like knowing what I have when I head out onto the road.

This one should see more towing and of coarse my kids are growing so more cab space than my 1500 extended cab is needed. ( Tom is 5'11 now at 13 )

I doubt I will buy into the dream truck yet but in 6-8 years it could be the second truck here on the farm and kept for pulling a big enclosed.

Thanks for all the info on the remote starts ! Now when the ground thaws I'll try to remember where that can full of cash is buried.. Randy Hart Ohio

well its out their about 15 paces to the east from the side garage door,, --lol i'm looking for the maple tree here to pop out with 100 bills on it this spring,,, later
Brian

[Randy L Peterson]

Hey Randy Hows it going.. I work at a Dodge and Ford dealer and have put more then My Fair Share of the intake gaskets in them there Dodges.. Its acually the plate on the bottom of the Intake manifold that sucks in.. You can look down the Throttle body and with a flash light you can see the oil and the gasket pulled in.. Thankfully the new gasket is updated and sure seems to not fail... Remote starts are a toss up in my mind... On some Vehicles they dont give any problems on some they turn into electrical nightmares.. MOST of the nightmare ones however are poor installations or really cheap units...Good luck on what ever you buy.... We have a guy in town with 265,000 miles on his 318 and the trannys never been touched yet either...
Randy L Peterson

[Randy Hart]

Gee Randy, another 90,000 miles of life would put me into 2011 or 2012
If I only knew it would last that long I would put off buying one a while longer..

Randy Hart Ohio

[sparkplug54]

I believe that it happens but it never happened to me. (gaskets). When I was young I beat the heck out of my 94 ram.I have been lucky so far with vechicles though except I had a 91 regal that doesn't run good and sets off the engine light and my Dodge Caravan has shifting issues. 133,000 miles on it so transmission is probably going to go.I do think Dodge makes a good truck though. DAn

[Patrick McNallen]

I have never had a good automatic transmission go bad, and I drove all kinds of junkyard cars for many years, and I drove a lot and still do. In years past, whenever I went around a dealer or independent shop, most vehicles were sitting on the floor with the hood up and the engine being worked on, or maybe brakes. Nowdays, whenever I go in the local GM dealer, there seems to always be a couple of cars, vans, or a pickup with the auto transmission pulled out.
Most of these vehicles are 1 to 3 yrs. old, front and rear wheel drive, and look well-cared for for the most part. Are people just tearing up transmissions these days, or are they less rugged than they used to be? I never had but one give out on me, a C-6 in a 250 K miles Lincoln, and it already had a slipping hi-reverse clutch when I got it.

[sparkplug54]

I agree Pat. Maybe its the computer controlled stuff these days. DAn

[Bryan T]

well the problem is that people want a truck to shift like a car & also their Don't want to feel the gear change,,, IF we would go back to When the transmission would shift it would jump you coffee out of the cupholder we
would not have all these new car tranny concerns......bottem line

But we have gotten off track here,, & this was about remote starters
on this post......sorry craig & harry

bryon

[Darwin Wright]

Hello Randy

I have a 2001 dodge 1 ton with cumm's diesel engine, I have found a engine heater made by espar company, it is a small diesel fuel heater tied into the engine and cab antifreeze hoses. It will heat the engine to 145 degress in about 1-1/2 hours, the cab is nice and warm 70+ at 20 below 0. It runs off the truck batterys, fuel from the truck tank, and has a clock (24hour) for preselect of time to come on. It also has a remote for starting the heater up to 300+ yards. The engine is not started cold, less wear and tear, it thinks it's summer. The best remote starter i every have use. the heater burns about 1/3 gallon of fuel per hour. Less then the engine running to warm up.

look up Espar heaters on line I think its espar.com
I think they have them in gaslione models also?

Darwin Wright
Wittepower

[Patrick McNallen]

That Espar system sounds to me like a good idea, especially for a diesel.