Viper 5301 2-Way Remote Start System

• Remote starter lets you warm up your car in cold weather and cool it in hot weather for added comfort and convenience
• Compatible with most vehicles That are equipped with the correct bypass, including both manual and automatic transmissions
• Allows you to start your car at the touch of a button
• TempCheck using GhostLights, Checks the vehicle temperature using the hidden LEDs on the remote
• Extreme 2,000' FCC legal 2-way range For expanded connectivity

I received this remote start unit as a Christmas present (installed it in a 2010 Ford F-150) and have been using it for the past month or so. While I agree that the buttons on the remote are a bit too sensitive, I did not have problems with a lot of accidental activations when putting my keychain in my pocket. I did, however, accidentally start my truck a couple of times when I was carrying my keys along with other items (groceries, etc.). So a little redesign on the remote is in order (take note, Viper).

However, there's a way to make this issue go away. The owner's manual describes a "Button Auto Lock" mode that must be configured by an "authorized dealer". This is complete nonsense, of course -you can do it yourself. What you need to do is hold down the Function (bottom) button for 10 seconds or so, until the amber transmit LED lights up. Then push the Unlock button for 2 seconds until the remote beeps. This puts you in the remote's configuration mode. Push the Lock button so that the LED next to it lights up. (If the LED is already lit, then the remote is already in auto lock mode.) After the Lock LED is lit, let the remote sit for 30 seconds or so.

With the remote in this mode, you can start your engine by pushing the Function button and then the Unlock button (to unlock the remote), and THEN the Start button. So essentially you start your engine with 3 button presses instead of 1. This is a compromise that I'm willing to live with.

The range on this unit is actually pretty impressive. I work in a large building with a large parking lot, and I routinely park way in the back. I can remote start the engine from a distance of almost a quarter mile, which is about an order of magnitude better than the range that you would expect from the Ford factory remote start option. I have not personally had any issues with the unit not functioning in cold weather -the past couple of nights we have gotten down to the teens below zero and my truck starts just fine.

All in all, I'm very happy with this unit, and it has made my winter morning routine a lot more pleasant. The issues with the remote button sensitivity are real (and it's why I have to knock off a star) but can be worked around with relatively little overall impact to the unit's utility.

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I had this thing installed in my wife's car as a Christmas present. Cost me $350 for the unit plus $100 for an adapter to work in her car and another $100 for installation. The buttons are way, way too sensitive. I carried the starter fob on my keyring in my pocket and every time I moved, the car would start. Although the engine would shut itself off after 15 minutes, this would happen multiple times all day and night -very hard on gas consumption. The other problem is that the headlights turn on when the engine starts, but do not turn off when the engine shuts down -very hard on the battery. I finally removed the starter from my keyring but figured at least my wife would be OK, since she carries hers in her purse. I was wrong. I noticed one day her starter fob was sitting on her desk, not on her keyring. She was having all the same problems carrying the starter in her purse. She put her old factory remote fob back on her keyring -it doesn't have a starter function, but she can at least lock, unlock and open electric doors with the factory remote. So now we have a $550 Viper remote starter that we don't use. What a waste of money. It really angers me that companies that design gadgets like this do not TRY THEM OUT before they put them on the market.

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The remote control for the Viper series is poorly designed in that the pushbuttons stick out beyond the face of the remote and are super sensitive. You can not carry the remote in your pocket or purse without inadvertenty unlocking, starting, etc your car. There is a lockout feature associated with the remote that is not mentioned in the manual nor do some of the installers know about. The installer has to set this feature on the remote and it requires you to push the function button and then the unlock button before using the other buttons to perform a function. You only have 60 seconds to do your thing, then the remote relocks itself.

Even worse, there are complaints all over the web for another problem that I have. The "main brain" for the Viper 5301 system fails in extreme cold weather. Duh!, why do they think people buy these things in the first place. If my engine and Odessey van interior are still warm, the remote will start the van. If the engine and van interior are cold the remote will not start the van. Go figure. There were several people sitting in the installers waiting area with the same problem when I went to get the unit fixed.

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The remote is so poorly designed for this remote start system, that I can never keep the keys in my pocket without it randomly unlocking my truck or starting the engine. The button auto lock feature does not really work, it only works to prevent one mistaken button push, if a button is accidentally pushed again, it will preform that function. Because of the ease of mistaken button pushes, your remote battery will not last very long at all. Best Buy installed the system in my 2011 Dodge Ram. Buyer beware! I suggest a different manufacturer if you want remote start.

Lost both battery door within a month of owning due to poor design. My carbon monoxide detectors have gone off twice in my home only to find the car running inside my garage due to accidental button press while in my pants. Dealer says theres a function to lock the remote to prevent this. BS! Simple countersunk buttons would have dont the trick. Now instead of one button to lock and one to unlock I half to press three (function, unlock, unlock or Function unlock lock) What a pain. Came out of the mall during Christmas shopping to find my car loaded with gifts completely unlocked due to inadvertant button pressing. Thank goodness nothing was taken. By the time I have it de-installed I will have lost $250 because the labor is not refundable and you half to pay to get this junk removed. I have no faith that Viper will make any attempt to remidie this poorly design product. But more importantly Best Buy should never have sold the junk!