Car Starters

[Zogman]

​My 2018 Chevy PU has a factory starter that is completely inadequate. Never runs very long and you need to be too close. Going to go with an aftermarket. But there seams to be a lot of choices. Any suggestions?

 

[1lessdog]

I had Sight on Sound in Fargo put them in both my pickups and I can be in my work area and pickup in parking lot 3/8 of a mile and will start every time.

Its a Astro brand and they claim a mile away.

 

[BrokenBackJack]

We always ran Astro brand in our vehicles when we lived in NoDak.
Never had a problem with any of them.

 

[deleted member]

do you pay for the rip off that is onstar? if so, they have an app for that. you can start it from anywhere you have cell service.

 

[Skeeter]

Astro and never look back.

 

[Zogman]

​Do not pay for onstar, however they are still with me as they send me emails regarding tire pressure and oil changes. I need to check locally on Astro start. THX!

 

[deleted member]

one thing i will say about aftermarket auto starts... at some point, they all start causing issues with the PU when they fail. maybe some are better than others. but, i don't know of a single brand that is failproof in that regard.

 

[Skeeter]

one thing i will say about aftermarket auto starts... at some point, they all start causing issues with the PU when they fail. maybe some are better than others. but, i don't know of a single brand that is failproof in that regard.

I’ve had at least 6 or 7 different vehicles with aftermarket auto starts and never had one issue at all.

 

[SDMF]

4 Astro's on vehicles between what my wife and I have had. 2 issues, in both cases the sensor that senses the hood is up and won't let the starter work needed replacement. Combined the 4 units comprised 31 years of service. 2 minor easily solved issues are completely acceptable in my book.

I've been just over a mile on GPS from my truck @ a boat ramp and been able to start it. Clear line of site over water, but, just over a mile and it did indeed work. I've started my truck in the FargoDome parking lot from the FargoDome floor several times during the sport/boat shows.

 

[snow1]

Agree astro has a good track record for many years,however onstar is $199/year vs $450 + for astro install...using onstar "my chevrolet app" to pair with your cell phone is a nice conveience.

Further Zog your factory auto start reaches 200' ,truck will run/warm up for 10 minutes,"not long enough?" re-start,youcan use your factory auto start twice 10minutes each time,that should be adequate plus if you sync your climate control,heated seats,hot/cool temps on your truck all will be set for when you depart.....After two factory remote starts you'll need to key start your truck.

just a few thoughts

 

[measure-it]

Premier Audio on Bismarck Expressway next to Dakota Tackle does Astro & others. They know what they're doing, and reasonable.

 

[johnr]

I thought anything 2018 and newer had the phone app starter.
Can start my rig from Mexico

 

[thriller1]

I've had 2 of the best auto starters ever. They grew up and moved on to college. I broke down and got the astro. Works great but not near as enjoyable.

 

[snow1]

I thought anything 2018 and newer had the phone app starter.
Can start my rig from Mexico

juanr,Gm app started with new body trucks in 2014....just wasn't pushed by dealers,so much crap on these newer trucks to learn these days,no more here are the keys,goodluck see ya type new vehicle deliveries.

 

[johnr]

juanr,Gm app started with new body trucks in 2014....just wasn't pushed by dealers,so much crap on these newer trucks to learn these days,no more here are the keys,goodluck see ya type new vehicle deliveries.

I run a 2012 F250, with a 2020 engine, as the 2012 6.7liter shit the bed at 41,000 miles. I will run this pickup for another 10 years hopefully, as it pulls a camper 6-8 times a year, and otherwise takes up garage space. It has some higher end features, but nothing like the new ones I use for work. About every 3 - 4 years I get into a new f150 with most of the high tech hoopla for my work adventures.

I love everything about the new models, but absolutely hate that GD engine shut off bullshit they seem to all have now. WTF is the advantage of your vehicle at a stop sign, stop light, or wait at the drive thru, of it shutting the engine off? Seems every time it shuts down is within seconds of me going again. Dumbest idea in a vehicle ever, and the POS that invented it should be punched in the biscuit.

 

[snow1]

Juanr,last couple years GM put a "disable switch" in newer trucks,not sure about ford?,our vehicles need to meet certain EPA fuel consumption guide lines,theory behind engine shutting off whilst stopped would save enough fuel at idel to boost EPA fuel economy #'s,fast forward in 2021/2022 this no longer exsists in GM trucks,but agree,pulling a heavy load thru stop and go city traffic,engine shut off was a nightmare for me as well,that f---ing hesitation from a stop pissed me off everytime my trailer was hooked up.

 

[BrokenBackJack]

I kick our 2019 Buick Enclave in neutral when at a stop light or fast food place. Then it keeps running.
Not going to pay $150-160 for an override!

 

[SLE]

Here’s some random reflection; a decade ago I had three vehicles with three different starter systems. A buddy and I used to install them ourselves. After some liquid ingenuity, we decided to take his truck and drive away from the house with all three of mine parked in front of my shop and see which worked the best as we drove down the gravel . The no name that I can’t remember the brand quit at a 1/4-1/3 of a mile. The Astro start in my F250 was over a 1/2 mile. The ultra start in the wife’s car was 1 1/4 miles and the two way remote reported back without issue. It might of went further but that was our longest sight line to see the lights turn on. Since then, we’ve had factory starters which all suck (Ford & GM) unless you run the cell system apps. Wife was just complaining as here Buick onstar factory app finally expired after 5 years. Not sure how long my 21’ F150 app is good for, I guess nobody told me. Not willing to pay $200 a year for onstar, I’d install a Astro or ultra start before I did that. Atleast those are good forever and when your in the boons without cell service, they’ll still work!

 

[snow1]

I kick our 2019 Buick Enclave in neutral when at a stop light or fast food place. Then it keeps running.
Not going to pay $150-160 for an override!

Interesting BBJ,never gave this a thought,thanx for the headsup....

 

[SLE]

FYI, I installed a start stop eliminator on my F150 on day one. Best $100 and 15 minutes of install I've ever spent!