Viper Remote Start and Future Mod Compatibility
 

Hey guys, first time posting! Looked a little bit but didn't see anything on what I'm curious about.

I'm looking into getting a Viper Remote Start system. I was told by an authorized dealer that it was not possible to install if you aren't a dealer. Obviously, they want as much business as possible, but is that true? My understanding prior to this is that it was a fairly involved process, but it is possible. So, if you have any information for me on that front, that would be fantastic.

Secondly, is it transferable? For example, I have a possible engine swap planned for the future and I'm curious how the system will take to being swapped, or if it's possible to swap it like that.

Any and all information on this topic is helpful, thanks for your help everyone! :thumbup:

First, no it is not dealer-only install. Anyone can do it, but some things (such as programmable bypasses and flashes) can be tricky (also warranty probably wont hold if something goes wrong).

Secondly, a remote start doesn't care what engine you have. All it realistically wants is for the dash harness to be the same.

@sharpsicle

That's kind of what I figured as far as install is concerned. He was telling me that for some of the bypasses you HAD to be a dealer and that just didn't seem right.

Secondly, thank you for the second piece of information. I was a little worried that if I did something like that, that it may not work after because of a new wiring harness in the vehicle.

Last, do you know if any helpful guides to installing these? I'd like to do it myself and the online guide I found last night while I was in class ended sort of abruptly. It was almost as if they forgot to finish it. It was weird lol

You have to have the ability to reprogram the ECU and BCU so it will work with the remote. This can be tricky. We had the dealer install the Viper in my wife's Impreza when we bought it since it was much cheaper than the OEM system. Worked fine for months. They reflashed the ECU with an update and all of a sudden the system would lock us out of the car half the time. When I say lock out I mean LOCKED out. Even the manual key in the door lock would not open it up. They ended up pulling it out and putting the OEM system in.

In regards of getting a remote start system in a FRS/BRZ/86 it's best now to get a compustar if you are installing yourself. Yes you can program yourself but it will take time. I work at bestbuy as an autotech installing and from my experience installing a remote start system in my FRS the compustar was easier to follow and install.