Compustar 2 way remote starter or OEM Acura remote starter?

[gitchies]

Been debating over what one I should go with...anyone with experience with either or with your 07+ mdx? I have an 08, was leaning towards the factory one...nice feature with climate control...but weak on the range...200 feet?
I had a compustar in an 05 pilot before...seem to work well, good range...

Will going with Compustar void any type of warranty? I was planning on buying Acura Extended care.

[hondas]

I just went thru this exercise. Looked into the Viper remote start with the Iphone APP. Two things made me choose the OEM Acura remote starter:
1: the additional cost per month to use the APP
2: the hacking of the wire harness

The OEM is plug and play. My son did the install. Had it programmed at the dealer.

Downside is turning it off to unlock the door and then restarting.
I chose not to go after market because I didnt like the idea of splicing up the wire harness on a brand new 50k vehicle.

The range on the OEM is pretty good.
I can start it up in my office without even getting out of my chair, and I don't have a window.

[gitchies]

Originally Posted by hondas

I just went thru this exercise. Looked into the Viper remote start with the Iphone APP. Two things made me choose the OEM Acura remote starter:
1: the additional cost per month to use the APP
2: the hacking of the wire harness

The OEM is plug and play. My son did the install. Had it programmed at the dealer.

Downside is turning it off to unlock the door and then restarting.
I chose not to go after market because I didnt like the idea of splicing up the wire harness on a brand new 50k vehicle.

The range on the OEM is pretty good.
I can start it up in my office without even getting out of my chair, and I don't have a window.

Turning it off to unlock the door? is this on the factory unit?
I would think a bypass is needed?
I had to buy a bypass module for my pilot, but never had to stop it and restart it...unless your talking about the oem one...

[hondas]

Since the MDX already comes with a security system all i wanted to do was add a remote starter.
The aftermarket remote starters come with security systems, so its redundant.

A bypass is required with an aftermarket unit. The OEM unit does not use a bypass unit.
The OEM unit you have to shut the engine off with the remote in order to unlock the doors.
Honda and Toyota both have this 'feature' with thier OEM units. Stupid, but thats the way
its designed.
The OEM unit automatically turns the A/C on if its above a certain temp.
if its below 40(?) degrees it automatically turns the heater on to 72 degrees, turns the defroster on,
turns the rear defogger on, turns the heated mirrors on and turns the wipers off (in case you left
them on) so they dont break in the snow.
if you leave the seat warmers on they work too.

If you want a simple and clean installation its the way to go. If you don't mind cutting into the wire harness
then theres some good aftermarket units available.

I really wanted to go with the Iphone APP so I could start it anywhere and not carry another remote, but gave my reasons why not above.

[gitchies]

Yes I had thought so....

So with oem unit, you gotta shut it off, unlock the car then restart again with key?
Strange...with so many tech things, you would think the oem unit would be able to keep running....
Hmmm, that kinda would eurk me if i had to do that.
I'm gonna double check with my neighbour, he has a factory unit too. Or I wonder if its a programming thing, where they have to add a feature etc...

[hondas]

it is a little annoying to have to shut it down and restart it, but its only hitting two buttons then hopping in and its nice and warm. I didnt want to lose the functions of being able to roll the windows down with the OEM remote.

[gitchies]

Hmmm....part of the reason I wanted OEM unit, was the clean install...not hacking up wires...
But, just not sure if I could be bothered with turning off the engine, and then restarting it again...
Would like to get one thats for sure!!!
I wonder if you got a aftermarket bypass for the security system, and use the oem remote starter...cause basically that bypass is to disable the security system for a moment to unlock the doors and hop in....

[hondas]

not sure how you could wire up a bypass to the OEM unit.
I noticed your from Canada. Maybe the Canadian version works differently becuase the USA remote has a start and stop button and the Canadian remote has a lock and unlock button. Both remotes look exactly the same.

[concepts99]

The factory remote start is huge, but if thats the look you like...
Also, there is range. Which do you think will have better range? A long range designed aftermarket unit or an OEM unit?

As for wiring: Yes, an aftermarket unit wont have plug in harnesses, but I've done work for 10 years at car dealerships, and sometimes they request factory units installed (they rather pay outside people a cheaper rate than their own mechanics), and I can say, most of the units are overkill, they have more loom and wires and more things than you can shake a stick at. I havent looked at an Acura OEM remote start contents, but I can say for some cars, an aftermarket unit will have less bulkiness and less wires.

When it is done, are you going to be looking under and behind your dash board everyday to admire the wiring? This stuff is all stuffed away anyway, and any good installer will tidy up their install correctly.

Here is my personal 2012 ACURA TL SHAWD TECH install from a couple of days ago, I think the wiring is quite neat (it is shot in the video).

ACURA TL REMOTE START 2012 SHAWD TECH, Code Alarm, IDATALINK, AutoToys.com (HOW TO) - YouTube

ACURA TL REMOTE START 2012 SHAWD TECH, Code Alarm, IDATALINK, AutoToys.com (HOW TO) - YouTube

[fremaneler]

The OEM unit does not use a bypass unit.

[concepts99]

Originally Posted by fremaneler

The OEM unit does not use a bypass unit.

The bypass is also the data module that controls the factory alarm, doorlocks etc.

The OEM unit also

1. Cost more, parts + service dept set straight rate for install
2. Poorer range
3. is not 2 way, does not confirm start
4. Does not have as many options to program
5. Does not stay on when the car is started, cannot put in turbo mode. In my MDX, I leave my kids inside (13),Turn on turbo mode, take the key out, leave the remote start on, they watch tv, and then i ARM THE REMOTE START ALARM while I run into 7-11. If someone opens a door, the alarm goes off and it pages me that a door opens on my transmitter, the car stays running while they are inside
6. I have a secondary alarm and remote start, passive which qualifies as a passive alarm with a siren, which is 15% off your comprehensive insurance because it also adds a secondary starter kill and an impact sensor (which the factory alarm does not have)
7. Has a wide range of remote transmitter choices
8. Aftermarket units can also add on remote start choices as start from iphones and androids
9. With the data bypasses we use, it communicates on the SAME bus data as the factory bus. It sends the same lock, unlock, open trunk signals as the factory remotes on the same can bus. We do not tap wires for doorlocks, etc. In my MDX, it was a min of wires. In my TL, I tapped maybe 5 wires (all computer wires) because the car has push to start. I never even took apart any panels and not even the steering wheel column housing.

I dont know.. If you pick OEM, more power to you. I wouldn't, but I am bias. There are people who will go to the dealer and pay $80 dollars to change to original wipers, and others who will go to an auto store and buy a better wiper for 1/4 the cost.

[lebastinian]

Originally Posted by concepts99

The bypass is also the data module that controls the factory alarm, doorlocks etc.

The OEM unit also

1. Cost more, parts + service dept set straight rate for install
2. Poorer range
3. is not 2 way, does not confirm start
4. Does not have as many options to program
5. Does not stay on when the car is started, cannot put in turbo mode. In my MDX, I leave my kids inside (13),Turn on turbo mode, take the key out, leave the remote start on, they watch tv, and then i ARM THE REMOTE START ALARM while I run into 7-11. If someone opens a door, the alarm goes off and it pages me that a door opens on my transmitter, the car stays running while they are inside
6. I have a secondary alarm and remote start, passive which qualifies as a passive alarm with a siren, which is 15% off your comprehensive insurance because it also adds a secondary starter kill and an impact sensor (which the factory alarm does not have)
7. Has a wide range of remote transmitter choices
8. Aftermarket units can also add on remote start choices as start from iphones and androids
9. With the data bypasses we use, it communicates on the SAME bus data as the factory bus. It sends the same lock, unlock, open trunk signals as the factory remotes on the same can bus. We do not tap wires for doorlocks, etc. In my MDX, it was a min of wires. In my TL, I tapped maybe 5 wires (all computer wires) because the car has push to start. I never even took apart any panels and not even the steering wheel column housing.

I dont know.. If you pick OEM, more power to you. I wouldn't, but I am bias. There are people who will go to the dealer and pay $80 dollars to change to original wipers, and others who will go to an auto store and buy a better wiper for 1/4 the cost.

Good summary...one correction though. The factory remote is 2 way. It tells me if the car has successfully started or not. If not then it beeps at me. If it does start it lights up the engine icon on the remote and tells you how many minutes it will run it for. I do hate having to kill the engin eto be able to get into the car. I am used to the remote starter on GM cars that I rent when traveling. They allow you to unlock doors and jump into the car, insert key and turn 2 clicks....all without interupting the car running a warming up or cooling down. Acura way causes unecessary wear and tear on starter and engine.

[duckduck]

Hi, anybody still out there on this thread? I'm posting another one as I just went through this exercise and settled on a compusmart starter for my 07 MDX.

Problem is there seems to be some compatibility issues and it is causing the vehicle to reset the navi and radio codes daily plus losing the seat memory function. A couple of times I have used the key to start and had no power at all for 3-10 seconds then boom all is good again.

I have an appointment with the installer to have a look at it but unless they can find something obvious I'm thinking I'll need to replace it with a viper.

Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

[concepts99]

Originally Posted by duckduck

Hi, anybody still out there on this thread? I'm posting another one as I just went through this exercise and settled on a compusmart starter for my 07 MDX.

Problem is there seems to be some compatibility issues and it is causing the vehicle to reset the navi and radio codes daily plus losing the seat memory function. A couple of times I have used the key to start and had no power at all for 3-10 seconds then boom all is good again.

I have an appointment with the installer to have a look at it but unless they can find something obvious I'm thinking I'll need to replace it with a viper.

Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

Remote starts are universal products. It is not made for any particular car. It has to be interfaced.

I can use brand a, switch it to brand b, and then to brand c. If your unit is not wired correctly, or if you are using a cheap data module , or a buggy data module, changing brands will not fix the root cause of your problem.

The best thing you should do is to UNPLUG the remote starter, and any aftermarket systems. This remove this unit from the system. If you are still having problems with the key, then it is not the remote start. The MDX requires a special install because the steering wheel column tilts up and also comes in and out. This happens every time you start or enter your car. If the installer does not prepare for this, and wire properly in the right place, the harness that moves with the steering wheel will eventually work loose any connections.

[gitchies]

i haven't had a chance to actually do it yet...but i'm prob leaning towards a compustar. i had one previously in an 05 pilot, never had an issue with it, just got another one for my family member...seems to have good range and reliable. But like concepts99 said, its also dependant on the installer. I drive 1.5 hours to the same installer i've used for years. He does good work and warranties his work for life...his experience and knowledge of cars gives me the confidence, and past work on my previous cars.