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posts about #vipersmartstart more → Start Your Car With Your iPhone
Detroit, 1:53 AM
Thu Nov 26
22 posts in the last 24 hours
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Start Your Car With Your iPhone |
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10/13/09
Then I started carpooling to work and my pickup sat idle through most of the week. It became hard starting, weak. Soon it wouldn't start at all. I had to put it on the trickle charger overnight if I planned to use it the next day. Not a huge deal, but I was having trouble pinning down the electrical drain.
A short while later the wife and I got a new car. Now I had two vehicles sitting most of the time. Soon I had the same trouble with the ol' reliable Honda. What could it be?
I pulled out the old multimeter and set it up to measure the current draw... Truck went first. I just started pulling fuses. One by one, out they came... no change. I got to the remote start unit fuses, current dropped to nothing. Hell, I got keys... I need to start my truck before I need to start it from elsewhere, I got my priorities. So the remote start and keyless entry are no more. The poor car got the same treatment, same result, same conclusion.
I didn't put the fanciest stuff in my rigs, but I did get DEI units... This Viper job falls under the same corporate umbrella.
New car came from the factory with all sorts of fancy gizmos. Keyless entry, I don't even have to push the buttons, the FOB's RF signal from my pocket unlocks the door when I grab the handle. Keyless start, same as the doors, I just push the start button.
The question came up over the weekend, what if I'm out fishing and drop my key in the river and it fries the electronics? The old fashioned way it wouldn't hurt a thing, key in the door handle unlocks it, key in the ignition starts it... I'm on my way.
There's something to be said for having a warm (or cool, depending on your climate) car when you get in it... but when that convenience gets in the way of the vehicle's intended purpose it's time to re-evaluate priorities.
$499 + subscription, plus iPhone with the monthly fee that accompanies it? I like gadgets and gizmos, but I'll pass on controlling my car with my phone.
10/13/09
What possible reason could there be to start your car from a "virtually limitless" distance? The only realistic scenario I can see is being able to KILL your engine from anywhere. Would be a perfect complement to GPS tracking. Plus, Jamie and Adam, would then have an emergency stop for their remotely-piloted test cars after they get out of range of the RC transmitter.
10/13/09
Starting your car and letting it idle produces little engine warmth when it's cold. It really needs a load placed on it, and the heater/alternator don't count.
10/13/09
I refuse to buy an iPhone until they come out with a rotary dial one.
10/13/09
While I have one, I didn't buy it...it's owned by the place I work, so I spend -0- on any thing for it.
I had a rotary telephone as the primary phone, actually, my bonehead father did, until at least 1995, so I don't miss it.
Still have one, but it's in storage.
10/13/09
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10/13/09
I'm sure your neighbors love listening to your Evo car burble for 5 minutes.
every.
single.
day.
10/13/09
10/13/09
If you don't understand why this is crucial, don't ever buy a boosted car.
10/13/09
sure, a stock car with the stock maps on the ecu - will probably run fine on a 20 degree day by just starting it and taking off. i won't take that chance with mine.
10/13/09
10/13/09
Sorry, typing too quickly while avoiding promotion of nytmare's comment.
z0iid knows all!
10/13/09
A warm car and clear windshield is good when you have young children.
10/13/09
10/13/09
Heatclick for you! (Shoulda done it long ago anyways!)