Geniune Mazda Remote Start Accessory Questions

[torquelover]

Time for a remote start for the '12 MZ5. I am looking at the OEM accessory remote start from Mazda, and as warned by my dealer, if you remote start the car it shuts off as soon as any door is open, requiring a second start once in the vehicle. I don't like the extra wear, tear, and hassle of this and this is also why my local dealer steers people to the local car audio install place for aftermarket remote starts.

I prefer to have the OEM unit, and after looking at the installation instructions, I am wondering if I don't hook up the door open trigger wire I can get around this "feature" of the OEM remote start. (I am looking at a Subaru Outback for a 3rd vehicle, and Subaru is set up the same way BTW).

Any thoughts on whether or not this would work, and any negative aspects of this?

 

[njaremka]

Why do you think its an issue for the car to shut down? Once the car is running, oil is being circulated. If the car shuts down when you open the door, the oil is still coating all the wear parts so a starting event wouldn't wear on anything. I would also like to have that added security against joy riders.

 

[torquelover]

It is twice the wear on the starter and associated components. As far as joy riders as soon as the brake pedal is depressed the engine will die. I suppose if you override the brake interlock you might be able to get moving, but at the first application of the brakes the engine will die.

 

[Silentnoise713]

It’ll be the starter that takes most of the abuse but they are not hard to replace. It is a simple remove stuff so you can get access to the starter and a parts replacement job.

You should check with a dedicated audio forum where folks do alarm install. My best guess is that disabling the door trigger wire will disable the shut off BUT you will prob loose the alarm trigger as well. I guess you can possibly work around it by just disabling the trigger for the driver door (aux pin or doom light trigger) but you still won’t know if even with the key inserted and turn to on, if the alarm may still shut off when the “other” doors or opened b/c it might be programed to expect a sequence where it must shut off.

Does anyone here have the factory remote start? If someone can answer this, then we will know:
Q: Leave the window open and remote start the car. Jump into the car via the window (do not open doors) and insert the key into the ignition and turn it to ‘ON’. Open the and close the driver door. Does the car stay on? Can you drive off from here on?


BTW, why do you prefer the OEM unit? You’ll need to carry around a 2nd key fob and it has limited range and capabilities. With an aftermarket setup, you get a consolidated and multi function fob and extended range.

 

[rodslinger]

.... as warned by my dealer, if you remote start the car it shuts off as soon as any door is open, requiring a second start once in the vehicle. ...

From what I know your dealer in incorrect. I've installed two factory remote start systems on my cars. One on a 3, the other on an older 5.

1) Part of the remote start process requires you to lock the doors with the keyfob first.
2) When you do remote start, the car will run up to 10 (maybe 15) minutes before shutting down automatically.
3) The car will not shut down when you unlock and open the door. It WILL shut down if you press the brake pedal before turning on the ignition with the key.

That was the trigger to the system. When you get in the car, do NOT press the brake pedal. Put the key in the ignition, turn the key to the run position and at that point the remote start security is disabled.

 

[torquelover]

BTW, why do you prefer the OEM unit? You’ll need to carry around a 2nd key fob and it has limited range and capabilities. With an aftermarket setup, you get a consolidated and multi function fob and extended range.

Good call on the sequencing. This is my wife's car, looking for unquestionable reliability and integration. Would be different if it were my car and something goes wonky or fails, I can get around it, or fix it on site. Too many local places have done hack jobs installing these things so it has given the aftermarket ones a bad rep with some people she knows. Range is not a big deal for her, most starts will be within 50 feet. She has a switchblade key, so she'll have a fob and the big honking switchblade key anyway.

I was disappointed by how much of an afterthought the system appears to be going by how much needs to be done. Price is a little high on the OEM unit so it may still get an aftermarket one after all. The seat heaters possibly going in will be aftermarket anyway.

From what I know your dealer in incorrect. I've installed two factory remote start systems on my cars. One on a 3, the other on an older 5.
1) Part of the remote start process requires you to lock the doors with the keyfob first.
2) When you do remote start, the car will run up to 10 (maybe 15) minutes before shutting down automatically.
3) The car will not shut down when you unlock and open the door. It WILL shut down if you press the brake pedal before turning on the ignition with the key.
That was the trigger to the system. When you get in the car, do NOT press the brake pedal. Put the key in the ignition, turn the key to the run position and at that point the remote start security is disabled.

From what I read on the Mazda instructions for the remote start, it seemed the dealer was correct in the complaints they got on the OEM 2012 MZ5 remote start. I have not seen a 2012+ MZ5 with the OEM, but after looking at a Subaru Outback with the OEM remote start and seeing it shut down on door opening it seemed plausible to me. Take a look at the install instructions:

http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/yhst-24809172479195/mazda5remote12.pdf

Does it look like the 3/5 you did? The function testing on page 23 clearly states that opening any door will kill the engine. However I didn't see anything on having to lock the car before using the remote start.

 

[rodslinger]

That does look like a different process on install and operation on the 12+ cars. I certainly wouldn't want it done that way. The door opening thing may be a new regulation put upon us for safety and security. But fortunately it looks easy enough to bypass. It seems the door ajar switch is there to do nothing more than make sure the car will not start with a door open or that it will shut it back down if a door is opened while in auto start mode. Seems easy enough to just not connect the door ajar switch (or permanently ground it depending on the signal type). You still have the normal security mode by killing the engine if the brake is depressed before inserting a key.

 

[hibern8r]

BTW, why do you prefer the OEM unit? Youll need to carry around a 2nd key fob and it has limited range and capabilities. With an aftermarket setup, you get a consolidated and multi function fob and extended range.

I have the OEM remote starter on my 2010 MZ5. Everyone at my job asks what type of unit I have because no matter where I park it in the lot, it will start even if it is around the corner of other buildings or otherwise not in my line of sight. The furthest away that I've had to park it was a little over 700 feet from the building where I was working. I just stand at the window. Limited range? No problem here. My only problem is that I bury my car so far to the back of the lot(to avoid dings) that sometimes I can't find it until the parking lights come on.