I got a Valet 552T for free from my ex. I just realized I still have it, and its gettin pretty cold in GA. I want to install it on my 92 Eclipse for now, but its a manual trans. How do you wire up the neutral safety switch on a manual? I think my Camaro and Eclipse are the same in that theres a switch on the back of the clutch pedal. But what good would that do with a remote start? Do I have to rig up soemthing, or is there another route?

 

IMHO, a remote starter on a manual transmission is like playing Russian Roulette with a loaded single shot pistol. There have been at least one company that made them but nobody is willing to install them because of the liability risks involved in doing so. Play it safe and use that remote starter for a door stop until you get an automatic that you can use it in.

 

Or at least get in the habit of cranking the steering wheel to full lock and have the steering wheel locked so the car will go in circles (like your jet ski). Then you'll be able to chase after the car and try to climb into it. Be sure to have someone video tape it so you can be nominated for the Darwin Awards.

Lon

 

Dont know why you'd chase it instead of just pushing the button again to turn off the vehicle.....

 

I always recommend against doing this. Check your state laws, in MD if you bypass a safety device and something happens, you liable for what ever happens. Here in MD there was a case of some chick getting metal legs because she walked between two cars in a parking lot as someone remote started there car, in gear. The mechanic that did the install was held liable for all medical and other bills. I wouldn't do it. Accidents happen.

 

Hmm, I guess I never thought of the non-idiot proof part of the install. oh well, if I hear of someone who wants to do it though Ill tell em about turning the wheel locked so it goes in circles. thats a pretty good idea, good for a few laughs

 

how cold at night??? 50 dgress maybe. here in Mn it is getting a bit nicer out in the early morning hours finally at about 8-10 degrees, yopu know when it feels good in the single digits then it has been REALLY cold. sometimes it gets cold enough that if you throw a cup of hot water in the air it turns into ice crystal or snow almost instantly lol, I know b/c I have done it.

 

I have a CompuStar alam with remote start installed on my 5 speed. Nice to have in the below 40* weather we occasionally get here in Western WA. Haven't had any problems with the remote start trying to start the car in gear. It WILL NOT remotely start the car unless you leave the car in neutral and set the park brake before you turn off your motor, in which case the motor continues to run until you open your door, step out and close your door. The alarm then shuts off your motor and locks the doors and arms itself. If these steps don't happen, there is no remote start.

 

I can understand the computer getting a signal from the grounding switch at the base of the parking brake. I don't see where it would get the signal that the car is in Neutral on a manual transmission equipped car. On an auto equipped car it is tied into the neutral safety switch to verify the car is in Nuetral or Park. No such switch on a manual transmission. the closest thng you've got is the clutch switch, which is why you need to depress the clutch to start the car with the key.

I suppose the alarm is inferring that you have it in Neutral because you stepped out of the car.

Lon

 

As my installer told me, it has sense lead for the tachometer as well as the park brake. As I understand, park brake set and engine running, car is in neutral, or has the clutch depressed, in which case the car will lurch and stall (if in gear) when the clutch is released, and the alarm will not enter its "reservation mode" as it is called.

 

if you drive a manual, you set the parking brake. all the time. i know i do.

good luck starting your car in gear with the parking brake set. it ain't happenin. it'd jerk and die, moving maybe 2 or 3 inches.

i have a 5-spd, and i will be installing remote start on mine when i buy the kit to shave the door handles.

 

I find it an awesome feat to accomplish, I mean setting the parking brake each and every time when driving a stick. Even more interesting is the instruction from the motor vehicle folks to turn wheels towards the curb when parked facing downhill. Ever hear of that one? Like the full lock thing. Cant imagine ANYONE so perfect as to remember all of this, all the time.

If I were crazy enough to try to bypass that clutch switch I would wire a ckt through a relay that would interupt the ignitition if the automobile were to move or lurch. This would require a little talent, because under a "normal" start you would not want to do this and you would also want to be able to use a control to reverse this ckt when really approaching the car and opening the door cause the car might shut shut down when movement was detected. Sensitivity would be a problem but could be worked on through some practice and trail and error. (Be in the car when someone "tries" it. ) A timing ckt might be useful here.

I might add that a parking brake may well be on and doing little to stop a car. Many older vehicles have a nearly useless set of rear brakes, much less parking brake.

One thing is for sure, if I were a company in the business of trying to avoid lawsuits and accidents, I wouldnt touch this with a ten foot honda.

I would not do it, myself. Heck after watch a dude with shaved handles and poppers braking his window in my driveway, I am not too sure of any of this stuff.

 

You're telling me it's an extraordinary thing to remember to set the parking brake everytime you stop? If so, you have no business driving a stick. I'm quite sure if you drove one constantly you'd realize it's second nature and requires no "thought" or "remembering" after a very short time.

 

I hope you know sarcasizm when you see it lol.

 

Lets see; seems I learned what happens to those that park with the parking brake ON in the wintery north. Being a true New Englander and also now living in much warmer climes, I still have a bad (unless you are in true COLD weather) habit of NOT setting the parking brake on stick cars.

Does anyone up there in cold weather remember what happens to a set of brakes that has gone through a nice salty puddle and then a foot or two of snow and spent the next couple of hours sitting in the cold? Oh, those drums are so well set and ever soooo frozen. Thats ok, the car was probably locked anyway and the key wont turn the lock cause its frozen shut. So what if the brake is stuck?

Guess it'll probably be fine down here in the warmer climes, but just last nite I reminded my son not the EVER set MY ....... parking brake if it were wet out and it felt like a freeze was on the way.

Yeah some of the original comments was being sarcastic, but many of the drivers in states with no inspection do not have parking brakes that work and to speak so confidently about EVERYONE is also dangerous. Its just a well known fact that nothing EVER applies to all people, no matter how much we would like to think that anything requiring common sense ought to.

In mass produced devices its impossible to predict what the owner-operator of the vehicle will do. I am sorta glad were not robots though.

Oh, remember, if you ever get a smoking sensation from your rear brakes and the car wont go too well, it might have gotten cold last nite!!

 

I have lived in Minnesota for 36 years and never once did I ever have a parking brake or drum brake litterally freeze on me. I am not saying this is not possible but it is not typical. I only have one car that has all wheel disks and that car in in storage for the winter, all my other cars have drum brakes on the rears, just my good luck I guess.

 

I'd say you are a person that believes in good brakes and keep them up in good shape. Thats where the problems stem from. No-one can predict wether a person owning a system like that will 1. use the parking brake. 2. Have a parking brake that is adjusted to actually work. 3. Have rear drums that do not have a small ridge big enough to hold a slight amount of water and freeze stuck (so they dont use). 4. live in an area that also has puddles and freezing at the same time. 5. Remembers to actually leave car in nuetral when old timers like me were always trained (BY THE DMV) to leave it in low gear and wheels toward the curb because EMERGENCY brakes were not meant to be used to depend on for parking.

The problem being discussed is the ability of the maker of a product to predict its use in a safe and sane manner. The police govern the way you drive, but cant (hopefully) watch how you modify your automobile. Laws are coming into existence for more and more of what you can and cannot do TO your own car and this is beyond smog and inspection issues. TV screens are an issue. Cell phone use is becoming more and more an issue. ETC.

If what we want is more and more rules, all we have to do is lose track of our common sense. There is no common sense in a remote start on a stick shift car. What will happen is a newfangled device added to the vehicle that decides you are actually sitting and have your seat belt fastened. A weight sensitive system has already been in the automotive news circles, though I cant remember where I saw it. Sorta like blowing air into a device that checks for alcohol before you start the car. There is ample reason for this device.


Why in the world would we want to give anyone reasons for another device in our cars? The powers that be always seem too intent on protecting us from ourselves and what is really happening is that they are protecting us all from a 2 percent minority that wants to be foolish.

I can see a day in the not too distant future where bypassing of safety devices will become a reason for tickets and lawsuits. All we have to do is press forward with ways to try to beat the system.

 

One, breaks on my old truck would lock up any time it was under 40* out. It was because of the cables. If the break where properly maintained this would not be a problem. Still don't like remote starts in a stick.
Two, if you're going to talk about the law, just remember that using (not having) a remote start is illegal in most states. But this is almost never a problem. I know Howard County was righting tickets for a bit but stop enforcing it unless you're being a 'D'. In MD they'll get you for having an un-attended vehicle running. But like I said, almost never a problem. Just stirring the pot.

 

Yeah, you ought to see an old fashioned bug (VW) in the northern regions. You'd think the Germans would be smarter than that but they built it with cables as well hidden as possible. Trouble is the darn cables get full of snow, water and freeze constantly. Also a matter of maintainance, BUT it was a yearly thing to maintain that part of the car. Yet all of them were sticks and using the handbrake for parking was a choice you made with considerations to getting stuck.

Best little car in the snow, but darn gear**** and brake cables all ran through places they could freeze up.

You're right though, its all a matter of taking care of your car.

There is a darn good reason why many American cars are still working with those open and unsightly, even CHEAP looking OPEN cable systems. They work, they are hard to get stuck and they are easy to service.

Like you said, those laws are creeping in there. If we give them a reason; they will protect us......??

I figure it this way, if anyone wants to do it, they will anyway. its impossible to stop anyone from doing what they want. trouble is, it will also be impossible to stop them with all the rules and regulations in the world.

Only those who have the good sense to not do unreasonable things have the good sense to follow laws. Its too bad.

It's like leaving the car running with the air on and the baby in the seat, or perhaps a dog. Now who would do that? I mean, leave your child sitting in the car with the darn thing running? You bet, lot of people. A dog? If its too hot for a dog, why did you bring the dog? Laws are being written as we speak.