Aftermarket remote starters

[JesseE1981]

Quick question....

For those of you who have installed an aftermarket remote starter, did those also require an additional key for the starter itself? I ask because, 1.) I've never owned one before and was told that was required in the past 2.) a friend of mine just gone an aftermarket starter installed in his car (not a Focus), and he said that there's some sort of device that just reads the key and that information gets stored somewhere within the starter unit, that you don't actually need another key.

[Sponsor]

[SaToX]

That is correct they put in what is called a Bypass module. There are three main companies that make them Fortinhttp://www.ifar.ca Idatalink http://www.idatalink.com and Xpresskit http://www.xpresskit.com Some of these bypass' do more than just chip key overide's they can give you all kinds of status of your vehicle provided the remote starter they are hooked to accepts the data. The neat thing about some is that they will allow factory remotes to talk to aftermarket components such as alarms. AKA arm you aftermarket alarm by hitting lock on your factory key :)

[alfack]

So no, you don't need to use an additional key :)

[PDQEagle]

I put one in my wife's 08 Escape. All it gets is another push button fob. You need an automatic trans, though

[clayton89]

When working for my uncle he had a remote start put in his 2010 F250 Powerstroke. He had a bunch of spares made for it in case keys got lost. Long story short is that with we were able to use the Walmart cut keys to start it. That was awesome so that we didn't have to find the Original Ford keys everytime we went to go somewhere or move it.

[JesseE1981]

Awesome, thanks for the info. I think I will investigate this a bit more after work and see about getting one installed.

[vegachicago]

I got a Viper system installed and they said I needed to sacrifice one of my keys or spend 100.00 dollars more for the bypass module. I went with the module. My Viper system is just one long range 2way dongle with one button. It's great with below zero weather. And no, the engine does not stop when the door is opened like some Ford dealer installed systems. Ford techs really aren't experts in this field. It's amazing how stereo car geek installers know a lot more about remote installs than Ford.