Viper alarm self-install, remote start acting funny

[suprarx7nut]

Hey guys and gals, I recently installed a 5701 Viper alarm/remote start in my '90 N/A. I posted this @ the12volt.com, but figured I'd tap into the brain power here and see if anyone could help.

It works just fine 9/10 times, BUT sometimes the remote start acts up.

The system has a "Manual transmission Mode" that MUST be set EVERY time you exit the car in order to allow the remote start to function. While setting this MTM, I run into a repeating problem every 5th try or so.

This is what is supposed to happen:

While car is running, press brake pedal
now engage E-Brake
Release brake pedal
press remote start on remote (remote plays tones, lights flash)
remove keys, exit vehicle
Arm vehicle (Car shuts off, arms itself and remote plays different tones notifying you remote start is ready)

Here is exactly what happens when mine goes weird:

I hit the foot brake
Pull ebrake
release foot brake
press remote start on the remote
car flashes lights, remote plays ascending tones, all is well
get out and close door
ARM CAR ----car chirps once as the car shuts off, but does NOT arm the factory alarm and the car turns right back on 2-3 seconds later. I can turn it off with the remote by pressing the remote start, but it will turn on yet again.

The second time it tries to start the starter engages for waaaaaayyy to long. About 2 full seconds.

The strange part is that this does not happen normally, but it has happened at least 5 times since I installed it last week.

Settings:
Manual tranny turned on,
Tach reading set to Tach
All other remote start options are factory settings



Now another bad thing that happened today:
I parked it without doing the manual tranny mode shutdown.
When I went to unlock the car it tried to START!!! I left it first gear with the ebrake on. It didn't really go anywhere, but it kept trying to start and lurching forward.

It acts perfectly normal and everything functions most the time, but these strange issues are making me think the unit might be bad or something. Could this be due to a faulty wiring connection in the car?

If I can't figure it out, I may send the brain back to Directed. I bought the unit for the security, the remote start is more of a luxury/toy than anything so I could just turn it off, but it has a built in turbo timer which would come in handy when I do my turbo swap.

Thanks for reading and I would greatly appreciate any input from those more knowledgeable than myself.

-Andy

 

[shaeff]

I am certainly not an alarm expert, but it sounds to me like you've got a bad ground somewhere. I think that remote start features calculate battery voltage before they crank over the starter. If your alarm unit is picking up less battery power, it'll likely crank for longer to get the car to start, thus your 2 second starter problem.

That's my only guess. I'm sure someone with much more knowledge will chime in.

 

[suprarx7nut]

I am certainly not an alarm expert, but it sounds to me like you've got a bad ground somewhere. I think that remote start features calculate battery voltage before they crank over the starter. If your alarm unit is picking up less battery power, it'll likely crank for longer to get the car to start, thus your 2 second starter problem.

That's my only guess. I'm sure someone with much more knowledge will chime in.

Possibly... But why would it turn it self back on after I turned it off? Seems like I really need to rewire the 12V and grounds just to be sure...

 

[shaeff]

I don't know, man. I'm just guessing- trying to give you things to think about!

 

[suprarx7nut]

I don't know, man. I'm just guessing- trying to give you things to think about!

Yup, which is exactly what I'm after in this thread.

Thanks shaeff!

Any other ideas everybody?

Its a little too cold today, so I'll try to rewire the 12v and ground later this week. I hope that solves it. Meanwhile I'll track every strange occurrence in this thread.

 

[Satan]

I am getting ready to install a DEI product on one of ours... I have found that good answers to stuff like this at www.the12volt.com

They have an alarms forum with all kinds of installer's feedback and tips.

 

[gurley0916]

I posted this @ the12volt.com, but figured I'd tap into the brain power here and see if anyone could help.

^^

 

[shaeff]

I posted this @ the12volt.com, but figured I'd tap into the brain power here and see if anyone could help.

I have found that good answers to stuff like this at www.the12volt.com

They have an alarms forum with all kinds of installer's feedback.

:icon_razz

Edit: Blast! Gurley beat me to it!

 

[Justin]

I am certainly not an alarm expert, but it sounds to me like you've got a bad ground somewhere. I think that remote start features calculate battery voltage before they crank over the starter. If your alarm unit is picking up less battery power, it'll likely crank for longer to get the car to start, thus your 2 second starter problem.

That's my only guess. I'm sure someone with much more knowledge will chime in.

The DEI remote starts can use either voltage or a tach signal. THe tach wire is purple/white.

WHen it uses voltage I believe that the brain picks up voltage difference, so as long as it has enough voltage to crank then the brain will know what's going on.

 

[Satan]

Sorry... missed the the12volt reference when trying to scan the thread at work. If them guys can't help ya...

 

[SupraBro]

i install these alarms every day......on older cars the voltage does not work well..and another thing bypass the factory alarm they always act up

 

[suprarx7nut]

i install these alarms every day......on older cars the voltage does not work well..and another thing bypass the factory alarm they always act up

I will rewire the grounds and possibly the 12V soon. I could also try to clean my chassis grounds. Couldn't hurt. :dunno:

As far as the factory alarm, it has been working fine with the factory alarm. It locks and arms and unlocks and disarms every time. I'll keep the bypass in mind if other items start to act up, but I'd like to keep the factory alarm active and in use if at all possible.

 

[sneakypete]

as mentioned... use the tach signal instead
if that doesnt work try calling up Viper for tech support. i would hope they can lead you in the right direction.

 

[suprarx7nut]

I JUST LOST ALL REMOTE FUNCTIONALITY!!! WTF?!?!

So I was trying to recreate my problem and I remote started it, got in, and let it idle for about a minute. Then I tried to initiate the remote start routine and the remote gave me the out of range response. I shut the car off, and tried to lock/unlock it. "Out of Range".

Now neither of the remotes do anything and I can't re-program the remotes in because it appears the system is locked an the only way to unlock it is to use a bitwriter. :1zhelp: It seems as though it will only move in and out of valet mode because the status light will turn on and off every time I try to re-program.

Can anyone offer any advice?

I called Car Toys because they have a bitwriter and they said it would be $75!!!!

as mentioned... use the tach signal instead
if that doesnt work try calling up Viper for tech support. i would hope they can lead you in the right direction.

On the 5701, manual mode requires the tach mode to be active. I called Viper and he listened to my problems, offered very basic advice like "Did you turn off valet mode?" and he then told me to take it to the nearest authorized dealer....

 

[SupraBro]

Make Shure the door trigger is hooked up...green is neg. Purple is pos...if the door trigger is not hooked up it won't allow u to program

 

[suprarx7nut]

Make Shure the door trigger is hooked up...green is neg. Purple is pos...if the door trigger is not hooked up it won't allow u to program

Already checked it, but I'll double check it, just to be absolutely sure.

Thanks for the reply!

**Edit, just ran out and checked it again. The door trigger drops down to 0.8V from 12.3V when the door is opened. If I do the same programming steps with the door closed, it does nothing. With the door open, I get a one second wail (wee-oh-wee) and the LED lights solid upon release. If I do it again, the LED goes off.

The system seems to recognize when the door is opened.

Any ideas why the remotes would all of a sudden stop working? Both remotes do nothing to the brain. It's as if they got cleared some how...

 

[Satan]

Did you have the brain and remote synched via bitwriter? I thought tey could do that, but it will lock the remotes out if they ever un-synch. When you checked the power/grounds, could you have removed all power to the unit and reset that feature somehow?

 

[suprarx7nut]

Update:

I took the car to the backside of the local Quality Auto Sound and the guy in the garage grabbed his bitwriter and was a little bewildered to find that the system had no programmed remotes and that everything was locked. He had never seen it before.

He reset the system and I reprogrammed the remote and all is well now.

I added a 12V line feed and I now have 3 ground locations to ensure that the system sees as close to a constant 12-14V as my car has to offer. All seems to be fine, though I haven't used the remote start much at all.

I'm still not sure if the brain is bad, but it seems to be working well now. I tested all the alarm triggers and all work well. Time will tell.

Thank you very much to those who offered any advice!

-Andy