Remote Start, ...on a manual tranny? Options

[draysniro]

So my question is...can I get a remote start to work with a manual transmission even though it won't start without pushing the clutch in. I guess I'm asking if there is a bypass for this problem...

[SteveHall]

You do get bypass solutions, either integral to your remote start, as a plug in kit for your remote start, or something you need to fabricate yourself. I don't know the wiring for the clutch switch, but it most likely provides a ground when the pedal is depressed. You can either permanently ground this switch (The UK celicas never have this safety check anyway) or your remote start may have a wire that goes to ground upon start up. (more likely if it's a remote start / alarm / imobiliser).
If all else fails, you can wire up a relay that switches (connect relay coil to ingintion wire, or first wire to go high when you activate remote start) and wire up the relay switch to ground the clutch switch.

To be honest I would just render the clutch switch obsolete, I don't know what it's like over there, but in the UK only Saab and some Merc's and BMWs have reverse gear and / or clutch in ignition protection.

You may need to get a transponder bypass kit as well, these cost about £15 and require a spare key, as your Celi is a '99 this is most likely. If you want to get a new key cut, don't go to Mr T (£100), you can get transponder keys cut by independant companies for about £25, despite what a lot of people will tell you (not here, at your dealer).

[azian_advanced]

there are ways to bypass it...

or you can spend more on a better one that's meant to work for manual cars which include a neutral safety switch so it won't start if it's in gear..
i'm currently using a CompuStar PRO P2W9000FMR and is perfect imo. it has unbelievable range ("12 mins of walking distance" range) and tons of features.

[hurley97]

if you look under your dash at your clutch pedal there is a little button the pedal pushes in when you put the clutch in. connected to that button is a harness plug, that is your neutral start switch. if you cut those two wires and connect them together you will never need to push the clutch in to start the car. that being said, you can wire in the remote start somehow to those two wires to make the car think the clutch has been pushed in when you start it with the remote.

but that way you have to just remember not to leave it in gear when you park.

[thespacepanda]

but that way you have to just remember not to leave it in gear when you park.

Couldn't you run a kill switch to the remote start and set it up so that it only works if the car is in neutral?

[draysniro]

I figured out that I just have to toss a 5 contact relay in the clutch switch. It's a couple bucks, but that's how to bypass the switch.

[hurley97]

there are ways to bypass it...

or you can spend more on a better one that's meant to work for manual cars which include a neutral safety switch so it won't start if it's in gear..
i'm currently using a CompuStar PRO P2W9000FMR and is perfect imo. it has unbelievable range ("12 mins of walking distance" range) and tons of features.

how does it know it's in gear? the shift linkage in our cars are mechanically operated. the only thing I could think of is hooking it to the reverse switch but that only works if you're in the habit of parking with it in reverse. I would actually really like to know how that is wired in to know when its in gear.

[Hanyo]

how does it know it's in gear? the shift linkage in our cars are mechanically operated. the only thing I could think of is hooking it to the reverse switch but that only works if you're in the habit of parking with it in reverse. I would actually really like to know how that is wired in to know when its in gear.

It keeps the car runing after you take the key out and arm the car. If your car is still running when you leave, then it must be in neutrel; so the car alarm will allow itself to remote start. Its a pretty smart idea, probably will be my next car alarm.

[azian_advanced]

if you're using such brands like Clifford (now by Directed Electronics) you'll need to get a module for it that allows it to work for manual cars.. i had a Clifford Matrix RSX and the problem was the technician who installed it couldn't find which wire he needed for the neutral safety switch wire to go to. i know there's some sort of neutral safety switch on the tranny which leads to the cruise control module but he couldn't figure it out.

so instead i went with the Compustar PRO series since most CompuStar models are already manual transmission compatible. basically as mentioned by hanyo, you need to set the e-brake on which tells the module the system is in 'neutral' when leaving the car and the car stays running when you pull the key out. as soon as all doors are shut, the engine shuts off and automatically sets the alarm and puts the starter module in 'ready' mode. but as soon as a door opens, it can't be pre-started unless you pre-set it again.

[draysniro]

I'm going with the Scytek Galaxy 5000RS-2W-1FM for manuals.

[_mikeE]

I've got the same alarm as azian_advanced--it's great! but just for a heads-up, if you're going to get the same alarm, make sure you get it done by a professional or else your car is gonna be a big bunch of wires for a couple days, there's a TON of wiring for the compustar pro alarm. However, there's only one system of wiring that hooked the entire car together so you won't be able to view which part of your car is being obstructed, it'll just view as your "window" is being hit even if it may not be your window.
I have the canadian version of the alarm so i have the 1 mile range (5000ft) and a feature called Auto-mode which the US versions don't have.
Plus with this alarm, there's just so many features that could be programmed in it, and dual-stage shock sensor, so friggin sensitive i swear. Good buy.

[CelicaST_CALI]

link??????^^^

[_mikeE]

link for what? what did you need?

[CelicaST_CALI]

where i can purchase this kit,in USA...or another kit that does the same thing.

This post has been edited by CelicaST_CALI: Feb 4, 2008 - 11:37 AM

[_mikeE]

I purchased it from a guy on Ebay, his ebay username is: 0km0
The page setup will make you feel its a bit insecure and shady but i took my chances and purchased from this guy and received it a week later, he's charging 300 for the alarm and free shipping.
He currently has nothing posted for sale, so just remember that username and check every now and then, and if I see it is posted, i'll PM u the link or something, is that alright?

[SteveHall]

As I'm still working on my neutral safety switch I'll have to do this in two bits. So, this is how I made it.

My plan is to detect the left and right position of the gearstick. My thinking is if I know if the position is either:
(1st or 2nd) or
(3rd, neutral or 4th) or
(5th or reverse) or
Chances are slim that I'll park in 3rd or 4th so if I can cover left and right with push to break switches and then set it up so if the circuit is broken, the remote start is disabled.
To do this I've got two long lever microswitches which I positioned to cover the right hand (for RHD vehical) linkage. I stuck these to a sticky pad so I knew their position relative to each other (white pad in photo 1)
Photo 1
Then I cut up a plastic card to the right size and superglued this to fix the two switches as one. I also scratched up the card with a blade to help the glue. Once this was set I peeled of the white sticky pad and repeated on the other side.
The switches were wired so when neither is pressed a current can flow, but the circuit is broken if either switch is pressed. (Photo 2)
Photo 2,
In this photo, centre two wires are connected.


The light has run out here so I can't install this today. But I'll extend this when I get a chance.

[jason]

i had that idea a while ago.

but what happens when while shifting fast, you slam the shifter into gear to cut down on shift delay and knock one of the switches loose, or damage the switch. then it doesnt read the position correctly.

then the next time you remote start the car (a week or so later) you pull up into a parking space in a hurry (running late for a date) and leave it is 1st n pull the e-brake. then you go to remote start it and your car jumps front over n over because of the rev sensors and now your car smashes into something (another car costing more $$) or you just hit the side of a building etc.



best bet is to have the turbo timer setup. (which i think is legal)

park, leave car running, exit vehicle

once outside arm the alarm, it locks the doors etc, and turns off the car

then you come back and either start the car, or just disable and start the car normally.

[SteveHall]

but what happens when while shifting fast, you slam the shifter into gear to cut down on shift delay and knock one of the switches loose, or damage the switch. then it doesnt read the position correctly.

Well, that would only happen if you mounted them really, really badly.

[azian_advanced]

just want to add, i went through the wiring diagram for the cruise control ecu and i was wrong. it shows that only auto cars have the neutral start switch, not manual. so it would be easier to do this if you had an auto... or perhaps if you had a CompuStar .

[draysniro]

With the Galaxy 5000RS, it simply uses a relay (2-3 bucks) in the clutch circuit. It's a lot easier and a lot less work than adding these extra switches and so forth.