remote start for '08 vibe?

[tahoejeff]

took my '08 vibe to bestbuy for a remote starter install. the guy said they don't have instructions for installing on newer model cars, and it could be years before they get them.has anyone had one installed on a 2008? i asked at circuitcity, and they asked if it's the same wiring as...i think they said the '06. hell if i know.all the posts here regarding remote start are pretty old.i did have a Valet remote start installed in my '03 vibe, but that's long gone.

[zionzr2]

I dont think there was any difference from the 06 to the 08. The 03' and '04 i believe are different some how from the '05+

[northvibe]

well the drive by wire may of changed something, if not then yes they are very no smart.

[stephie27]

Did you ever have any luck with that remote starter install? Im going through the same thing with bestbuy. I found one store where the guy has been doing installs for a pretty long time and was willing to try to install it on the theory that its probably the same as '06. Did you ever get it installed? Was it the same?Any info would be much appreciated!!Thanks!!!Steph

[ragingfish]

I refuse to believe those stores take "years" to get that kinda info. I'm sure their corporate offices work diligently to get it ASAP...there ARE people with 08 (and by mid-year 09) model cars that want that kinda stuff. Sounds like those employees were too stupid for their own good and just giving you a load of BS jeff cause they didn't know any better...stephie: have either you tried a different chain, ie circuit city? wondering if you had the same problems as jeff. Also, to OP: at either store did you tell them to cross reference the 08 matrix? Sometimes they might have info for one car but not the other. Obviously, the matrix is 95% identical to the vibe...

[tahoejeff]

hello Stephie, and welcome to the board!i just found a small local shop that was able to install it. they are trained by Directed, the same place that provides the info to Best Buy (I thought), so i don't know what the problem is with Best Buy.One thing this small shop did differently, they wired the tach into the remote starter. my previous two installs from Best Buy did not wire into the tach as far as i know. when wired into the tach, the starter will sense when the engine has started and know when to stop cranking.with the bestbuy installs, when we had subzero weather, the unit wouldn't crank long enough to start my cold sluggish engine. then it would try again, wearing down what little was left of the battery. i think it was just cranking a preset amount of milliseconds.

[stephie27]

My experience with Circuit City was a joke. I spent like an hour standing there waiting for someone to help me, then the guy could barely put two sentences together and kept telling me he would have to ask his manager if they could do it and he was in a meeting and that I would have to call back. Called back the manager was gone for the day. I just gave up on them. But no, I didnt think to mention trying the 2008 Matrix... DUH, dont know why I didnt think of that... Well I will know on Feb 1st whether or not Best Buy are going to be able to do it. The guy made me an appt to install it (on the thinking it will be the same as the '06) And, he's also going to install a new HU for me, a Pioneer DEH-P7900BT, http://www.crutchfield.com/App...P790 the salesmen gave me everything I would need to get an IPod connection, USB connecton, XM Radio, and comes with buit in blue tooth!! Cant wait!! I'll let you guys know how I make out with the Remote Starter install.

[tahoejeff]

maybe if you can get ahold of that installer again, let him know that Directed DOES have the '08 instructions. he might be able to log on to their site and download them for comparison.

[stephie27]

Yeah, thats a good idea!! Will do!

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[WaveAction]

my 2 cents, never take anything to best buy for installation..1..they rip you off..2..they never know what they're talkin about..i remember when i got my deck and wanted to install it there since thats where i bought it, they told me i had to buy this huge harness to re-locate my stock stereo so i can have the door chimes and stuff, and if i didnt go that way they wouldnt do it, so i did it my self and saved about $300..they're morons at best buy, dont know how they even have installers there

[lovemyraffe]

My 3 cents.Check your local laws before installing and using a remote starter. In Utah it is illegal to leave your car running without being in it. Yes, I still turn my car on in the morning. Yes, I have received a ticket for it. Yes, it is a stupid law and I'm still pissed about it.

[stephie27]

Your point is well taken!! I did look around before settling for Best Buy. But installing it myself is sooooooooooo not an option. While I love a great sounding car stereo and want all the cool features... Im probably the last person you want pulling out a car stereo I know my limitations. And I didnt have a whole lot of luck finding someone locally that knows what the heck they are doing to install it. I have to say that most of the people i have spoken to at Circuity City/Best Buy have been complete morons, this guy actually seemed to have a clue.

[lovemyraffe]

Western edition?

[stephie27]

Hahaha... thanks for your 3 cents... I'll check it out before I have it installed!!

[stephie27]

Yeah thats what I said, Western Edition?!?! But thats what it says on the Window Sticker. Not sure what that means... but I fell in love with the car the minute I saw it... so I bought it! Its officially a week old today!!

[lovemyraffe]

Did the car come with any "special" dealer installed options? I'm fairly certain (99.9%) that the Western edition is not a Pontiac thing.

[stephie27]

The sticker says under Options & Pricing:Western Edition Vibe:Premium Monotone PackageTransmission, 4 spd automaticPreferred PackagePower Sunroof17" Aluminum Wheels 4 Wheel Antilock Break SystemAudio System, 7 speaker premium soundXM Satellite Radio

[lovemyraffe]

That sounds like the Moon & Tunes package, but they could have included bigger wheels with it. That normally doesn't come with Moon & Tunes (but I'm not sure).

[stephie27]

This article refers to the Western Edition as well... So Im not sure exactly what its all about?http://www.shns.com/shns/g_ind...28-04

[NewNeptune]

My Vibe is also Western Edition. It's not a dealer thing, since it is in the factory portion of the window sticker.

[stephie27]

interesting.... no one else Ive spoken to had heard of the Western Edition... At least I know Im not crazy! heheheheh...

[stephie27]

interesting.... no one else Ive spoken to had heard of the Western Edition... At least I know Im not crazy! heheheheh...

[Sublimewind]

Quote, originally posted by stephie27 »Your point is well taken!! I did look around before settling for Best Buy. But installing it myself is sooooooooooo not an option. While I love a great sounding car stereo and want all the cool features... Im probably the last person you want pulling out a car stereo I know my limitations. And I didnt have a whole lot of luck finding someone locally that knows what the heck they are doing to install it. I have to say that most of the people i have spoken to at Circuity City/Best Buy have been complete morons, this guy actually seemed to have a clue.I know what you are saying here, but the install is NOT that difficult at all, and this is where I might be able to help... I happen to have a HU install tutorial in the DIY section (either that or the brake tutorial, IDKATM) I personaly would stay away from BB or CC, i'm sure you could look in the phone book and find a smaller shop, call them and decided if THEY have a clue... It's the BB's and the CC's and FleaBay that is closing all the "Mom-n-Pop" shops, they need support and tend to do a much better job because of this... You might spend a little more, because of all of that, but if you make friends with a good shop, they can be invaluable to you for "other" installs... My .02$...

[stephie27]

I'll check out the yellow pages and see if I can find something local in my area. Maybe they can get it done a little sooner too. Right now going with Best Buy, Im waiting until Feb 1st and all the equipment is sitting in my house just waiting to get installed.Thanks for the suggestion!

[stephie27]

Good News!! I happened to come across a place in Elmwood Park that installs car stereos and remote starters this morning while I was out. I called them from my cellphone to find out if they could do the installation of my remote starter and HU. They can do both, and not only that, they told me to bring it down and they would install it today!!! The place was called Untouchable Sounds. I asked around a little bit and they have a good reputation! I should be able to pick up my car in a couple hours!! I cant wait!! They said it should take about 3 1/2 hours, Best Buy said it would take them at least 6 hours... I cant wait to listen to my tunes on my new stereo!!

[ragingfish]

Good deal!!!

[stephie27]

What a friggin disaster that wound up being!!! (removed)! After telling us to come pick up the car it would be ready in 20 minutes, they had us waiting in the store for 2 hours at which point I went home with our 2 1/2 year old daughter and my husband stayed for another hour and a half... waiting for the car to be done. Then, when the car finally was finished, just as they were closing the store... They gave my husband the keys and sent him on his way, 1/2 way home he realized they didnt give him both sets of keys back, so he had to go back to get the other set of keys. He gets back into the town we live in to pick up a pizza comes back to the car and it wont start... turns out they forgot to reconnect the cable to the battery... So then he finally gets the car back to our house at like 8:30, and I go to see how my stereo looks in the car and I noticed that they gouged up the plastic in between like the Stereo and where the glove compartment is... looks terrible... soooo mad!! Tomorrow morning I'll have to go out and sit in the car for an hour or two making sure everything works the way its supposed to... grrrrrrrrrrrr... then I'll have to see what I can do about that scratched up plastic... I cant believe this place was recommended to me!!!!

[ragingfish]

That SUCKS!Sorry to hear that......definitely go after the place that screwed you over...and be sure to tell everyone who recommended the place what they did...

[tahoejeff]

ouch! how badly gouged is it? maybe you should insist that they buy you a new part. is it the panel that goes right over the stereo and heater controls? that comes off pretty easy if you were to replace it.

[stephie27]

No its actually the whole big part that surrounds the glove compartment. Yeah Im thinking Im gonna have to replace it or everytime I look at it Im gonna get really mad, but I have no idea how much the part actually costs, or even how to find one??I'll take a picture of the scratches in a little while and put it up on here. Im sooooo mad!!And I also just realized that they didnt install the microphone that goes along with the built in bluetooth in Pioneer HU. And Im deathly afraid to let them touch my car again... Im wondering if I can find someone i know to do it for me maybe? Not sure... Does anyone know if I have to pull the radio out again to install the microphone? anyone ever installed one of these Pioneer Bluetooth HU??