Will a Remote Starter Mess Up My Car?

If you’ve fallen prey to the myth that a remote starter will mess up your car, we’re here to put your mind at ease. The truth is when people say a remote starter has, “messed up their car,” what you should be hearing is, “a bad installer or bad hardware messed with some functions of my car.” 

4 Common Myths About Remote Starters 

In this post, we’re going to talk about some of the common remote starter myths and whether or not a remote starter can mess up your car. The short answer to this question is no, but let’s talk about a few other common myths that lead people to think a remote starter will mess up their car. 

Myth #1. Remote starters increase engine wear and tear.

This is a common misconception about remote starters. It’s unclear why people are lead to believe this is the case, but it’s untrue. The consensus among mechanics is that remote starters are good for your engine, especially for people with turbos or diesel engines. 

Remote starters are good for your engine because they warm up the engine before driving. In cold weather, the oil inside your car thickens. Warming the engine increases the oils’ viscosity so it circulates properly. Thus, preheating your engine extends the life of your drivetrain.

Myth #2. Remote starters waste a ton of gas. 

It’s no wonder why we’re all concerned with saving as much gas as possible. Gasoline costs put quite a dent in the monthly budget if you’re not careful. However, people who think remote starters are gas guzzlers are misled. 

Most cars only need 3-5 minutes to warm up, which, on average, uses less than 0.015 gallons per remote start. This means you get 75 remote starts out of a single gallon of gas. Four dollars for 75 remote starts means you no longer need to rid your car of ice in winter, or burn your hands on a hot steering wheel in summer. The benefits of a remote starter (saved time and increased comfort) well outweigh the cost!

Myth #3. I will lose a key if I get a remote starter. 

Many remote starter brands require you to give up one of your car keys upon installation to make their systems work. They require a key because they have not developed a way to integrate the remote starter with the existing car security system. You might as well add $200 to the cost of your installation, because that’s how much the average vehicle key costs. Losing a key also means you likely won’t have a back-up key for emergencies. Yikes. 

In comes Compustar. For the majority of vehicles, our systems don’t require you to give up a key. Compustar seamlessly integrates with your existing car security system, without compromising valuable vehicle features. 

Myth #4. Adding a remote starter will void my new car warranty 

Car dealers are guilty of perpetuating this myth. We understand your fear, but this is absolutely not true! Vehicle manufacturers are legally forbidden from doing anything like this by a little thing called the Magnuson Moss Act. 

This Federal Law states, “Warranties, written or implied, cannot be conditioned on the consumer’s use of any article or service identified by brand, trade, or corporate name.” So, there’s no reason to hold off on getting the remote starter of your dreams!

Get Professional Installation 

This is a hot topic on our blog, and for good reason. We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: Compustar remote starters should only be set up by a well-trained, authorized installer. 

Installing a remote starter is a tedious, complex process. The average mechanic isn’t cut out for remote starter installs. Plus, for a Compustar remote starter to work properly and be kept up to date, you need access to firmware provided by us. If you’re not an Authorized Compustar Retailer, you simply won’t have access to this necessary firmware.

A last note on professional installation. If you choose to opt-out of professional installation, even after reading all about why you shouldn’t, then remember that you’re voiding your Compustar warranty.

So, don’t be silly, find your local Compustar Authorized Installer today through our website!