Remote Starter

[b1chmonkey]

Hi all!

My wife's car has a remote starter/keyless entry (Viper I think).

Recently it began having two problems while starting. The first is that it will turn the starter over, but after it starts, it will keep going (like you turned the key to start and held it there). The other problem is just the opposite. Once it starts, it shuts off right away. The system defaults and will start it again, just to shut it off...so on and so on.

I'm thinking it is the remote unit itself, not the car. Your thoughts? FYI, this a 98 cutlass, no a GA.

[rixGAphx]

You should have gotten two remotes.

First, try a new battery in the current one.

Then, 're-program' the second one to the internal settings of the 'current' one (instructions in 'viper' manual, prolly downloadable from their site).

*Might* be as simple as the touch-switches in the remote being dirty or otherwise sticking, but personally I think it's gonna be inside the vehicle unit.

Other than that, DON'T MESS WITH IT!!.

This unit interfaces with the ignition and the PCM. Farting with one can f-up the other.

Take it to a 'Viper' dealer or other really competent shop; cheaper in the longrun than burning stuff.

My PCM fried after the remote lock/alarm (no remote start) started acting up.

Good luck.
-Rick

[Colin]

The passlock system doesn't like remote starters .

[Matt95GT]

It's not passlock, nor the remotes. Sounds like a case of bad tach learn programming.

What brand/model remote start? What does it use to sense engine start? Tach wire or otherwise? What engine does the cutlass have?

The 2.3 and 2.4 both have an odd tach signal (wasted spark) most remote starts that use tach wire sensing are very touchy about programming. I had the exact same issue on my 95 using a Prestige remote start unit... would either overcrank or crank short but start and then shutdown. Took me months and a new starter :doh: to get it just right.

[b1chmonkey]

I'm pretty sure the brand is Viper, but I have no idea what they use to sense the engine starting. The starter has been on the car for a number of years and this is the first time this has ever come up...

Bad tach learn...would the remotes need to be reprogrammed to solve this as rixGAphx suggested or is this a different resolution?

With your 95, what did you end up finding out as the solution?

[Quantum]

No, you have to 'teach' the remote starter to read the tach again. This happened on my dad's truck. The reason it shuts off is because if the vehicle doesn't start after 5 secs (approx) of turning over, then it stops and tries again. Since your starter keeps turning over, obviously the remote starter isn't reading the tach. Goto vipers website, or find a manual on your starter. Its usually a combination of using the hood pin switch and the brake pedal to get the remote starter into 'learning' mode. I have a prostart remote starter, so I don't think I can be of any help in telling you HOW to program yours.

By the way, I have never figured out why my dad's remote starter messed up the way yours did. It was fine one day, and then the next it acted EXACTLY the way yours does. Its now been fine since I relearned the tach.

Regards,