Spinoff to remote start

What's the difference in getting remote start from the dealer or going elsewhere? My car dealer wants $500 for the remote start. With only 2 years left on my finance I don't want to spend $500 on it so I opted not to do the remote start. What's the difference if I go to PC Richards or something?

Re: Spinoff to remote start

Nothing really. As long as it's a reputable place, it will be fine.
the dealers just over charge on EVERYTHING

Re: Spinoff to remote start

Exactly what Nell said. My dealer charged me $700 but I was almost due with my son & didn't want to be bothered so we went with it. DH got his for like $150 at a garage years before & it's worked perfectly too.

Spinoff to remote start

Does your car still have warranty on it? If not, it wouldn't make sense to use the dealer since you financed. They told us that if we use a non-dealer remote start it will void our warranty. Not sure how strict they are about that though. We just leased a new car Sunday and will be using an after market remote start.

Re: Spinoff to remote start

Spinoff to remote start

I got mine done AFTER market and my warranty was not affected at all.

Re: Spinoff to remote start

Spinoff to remote start

The only thing with an after-market remote start is that you'll have another key fob for the starter, at the dealer usually it is programmed into the main key fob.

Re: Spinoff to remote start

The only difference is $$. After-market has more options, can often be programmed into the factory remote, and is much cheaper. As long as the installer is reputable, by Federal law, it cannot void the warranty, despite what a dealer may tell you. Depending on how a lease is written, I guess they could technically penalize you for adding something to "their" car, but it definitely won't void the warranty. If you bought the car, it definitely won't void anything.

Re: Spinoff to remote start

Re: Spinoff to remote start

Re: Spinoff to remote start

Spinoff to remote start

For those saying it doesn't matter if you get an aftermarket one on a car with a warranty is dead wrong. Wait until something goes wrong with your ignition, starter or any other part that was touched or modified by your aftermarket remote start. The warranty wont cover any of those repairs. For the record, I work for a dealer and don't even have a remote start.

Re: Spinoff to remote start

Re: Spinoff to remote start

Re: Spinoff to remote start

Re: Spinoff to remote start

Message edited 2/3/2016 1:59:20 PM.

Re: Spinoff to remote start

Posted by Xelindrya

Posted by angelicd77

Posted by Xelindrya

Posted by chilltocam

Posted by angelicd77

For those saying it doesn't matter if you get an aftermarket one on a car with a warranty is dead wrong. Wait until something goes wrong with your ignition, starter or any other part that was touched or modified by your aftermarket remote start. The warranty wont cover any of those repairs. For the record, I work for a dealer and don't even have a remote start.

There is a Federal law that says adding a remote start cannot void your warranty. BUT, dealers have a way to work around that, by claiming that the remote was poorly installed

Remote Start & your vehicle warranty

Ha.. a work around. However I've never had a warranty issue. I've had TWO starters replaced and coils replaced 3 times. Never once, not a SINGLE TIME, did the remote start come up.

I just know that when I put the claims into the warranty system, if there is any idea that there are aftermarket modifications made, we wont get reimbursed for warranty repairs. That doesn't mean that service writers don't pay attention and cover things they aren't supposed to. I run into that a ton as well..

Fair enough
Also depends on the warranty. I got AAA Diamond and took it to the dealership in Huntington for repairs for years. The aftermarket cold air intake that extended down behind my driver side wheel wasn't an issue. My aftermarket exhaust welded to the car raised an eyebrow, but not much. My re-routed throttle body (re directing the cooling)... well I just never mentioned it.

Ironically, I took it to Texas and had a coil issue. Took it to a dealership THREE times and they denied my warranty claim. First they couldn't find anything wrong. Then it was the intake (which I fought and won) then it was a cap on a hose they said I installed aftermarket which I literally had to find a unmodified Mazda6 stock engine bay photo to prove they were making it up. That was a certified Mazda dealer. You'd think they'd know that cap COMES with the car.

I took it to a repair shop, confirmed with my warranty they were approved, got it looked at. All six coils were replaced - $1000 of repairs. Not a single question on the intake, or exhaust. And absolutely no question on the auto start.

So yes. I guess bottom line is, it depends on your warranty, who you take it to and how they submit it to be entirely fair.

The explanation I got was that if any aftermarket installation could be considered the direct cause of loss then they could deny but they'd have the burden of proving it and that was only after a certified and approved mechanic they approved reviewed the vehicle and damage. Since no repair was ever directly caused by a remote start, intake or exhaust, it was never an issue.

But oh how I loved my auto start. I miss it terribly. Even here.


ETA: which is why I never buy my warranty from the dealership. It opens up more options, giving me the power to choose someone OTHER than them to repair my vehicle while still leaving me the option of using them as well.