Remote Starter Questions

[livelyjay]

Car:2007 Toyota Matrix XR, automatic, with keyless entryBackground:I've done a lot of electronics work, wiring, etc so I'm not a newb, but I am not familiar with how these systems are configured. I've wired in piggyback fuel computers and turbo timers.Questions:I want to add a remote starter with keyless entry and an alarm. I have read that these cars have a passive immobilizer, is that true? Would I have to buy the immobilizer bypass? Can I just tap into the existing keyless entry system, or do I have to bypass that as well?

[MotoAce51]

They are relatively easy to install. I think you will need the bypass for the imobilizer (if its in there not sure), but everything else is pretty much plug and play. You need to tap into a few wires but its not bad. Then you just program the remote once its all hooked up. I did a crime-stopper remote starter and alarm on my old car, but the Vibe already had the starter so I didnt need to do anything to it. But its pretty much self explanitory.

[livelyjay]

What is the immobilizer? Do you have to bypass it, or can you just remove it completely? Do you have to bypass it when installing remote start, keyless entry, or both?Also, if I bypass the immobilizer, should I get a remote starter that has an alarm system built in?

[MotoAce51]

Typicaly the imobilizer is a resister or a computer chip. Its designed for he car only to start when it goes through the chip and reads a code. I am pretty sure it won't work removing it. It needs to be bypassed. As for the alarm, its all up to you. I had the alarm remote starter when I had an expensive stereo setup but I also had breakins before that. The vibe has only the remote start and I had no issues.