What brand aftermarket keyless remotes is best/worse?

[happydog500]

My 97 Lesabre didn't come with a factory remote. I bought the car with an aftermarket (Your Valet) key less remote. A mechanic took it out when I had problems. I thought I would just not have one, since I've never had a car with one before. Well, after several months using a key (imagine that, a Key to open a door!!) I've gotten tired of it. I want a key less entry.
What brand is a good one? Any to avoid? Not worried about alarm, just key less entry.
Also, how hard are they to install? I could get one installed locally for about $200. That seems high, so I'm looking into doing it my self.
Has anyone out there done it themselves? Can you tell me anything about the install? Thanks,
Chris.

[polarzak]

I installed a keyless/remote start in my daughter's car. It was a Bulldog brand.
Comes with a video, good instructions, and online/telephone support. Their web site is bulldogsecurity.com
The ease of installation will be based on your mechanical/electrical ability.

[ponchonutty]

That Valet unit, made by Directed Electronics is about the best one you can buy. There's nothing really that I'd recomend that you can buy out of the box for the DIY'r. Stay away from the cheap stuff you see at Walmart, Autozone and the like. Bulldog is about the bottom of the barrell. Some people have OK luck while others watch them burn.

Keyless entry isn't all that hard to do. You can look up your car's info at www.bulldogsecurity.com to see if it's something you want to try. Yeah, $200 is a lot for just keyless entry. I usually sell them for about $150 installed with keyless/remote starts at $200.

[polarzak]

Originally Posted by ponchonutty

Bulldog is about the bottom of the barrell. Some people have OK luck while others watch them burn.

.

Maybe it is the installation and not the unit. Daughter's works flawlessly, both the keyless entry and the remote start for over two years. My neighbor had an expensive unit (can't remember the name) installed professionally, and he had nothing but trouble with it. Funny you say Bulldog is the bottom of the barrel yet recommend their site for information.

[ponchonutty]

Originally Posted by polarzak

...... Funny you say Bulldog is the bottom of the barrel yet recommend their site for information.

It's not that I recomend their site but it's the only one that I've found anyone can get vehicle info from.

Last Christmas I had a guy wanting me to install 3 Bulldogs in 3 cars. One was suppose to be his, his wife's, and his inlaws.

I go to install them. The first one wouldn't do anything and even after wasting too much time with their techs, I call him. He comes back with another one and I just simply plug it in. It does something complete different and wrong. So, he then opens the trunk and pulls out a wrapped gift!!! Plug that in and all was OK. So, that was 1 out of 3 new in the box that worked.

I've also had them come in with the wrong remotes included in the kit. The biggest gripe is that people usually buy the cheapest bulldog with the little 8" antenna. The range is very poor with those units. I had one that was only about 15'.

Getting these things professionally installed is the key or at least having someone that knows what they are doing. Unfortunately, not too many installers are MECP certified. Big chain stores are terrible about just hiring any teenager for $7 an hour to hack up cars.

[polarzak]

Originally Posted by ponchonutty

Getting these things professionally installed is the key or at least having someone that knows what they are doing. Unfortunately, not too many installers are MECP certified. Big chain stores are terrible about just hiring any teenager for $7 an hour to hack up cars.

You are absolutely right, installation is the key. Regarding my experience with the Bulldog, maybe it was was beginners luck. (smile)

[happydog500]

I was told by a guy who worked at a place that installed them that whatever I do, avoid Bulldog. Almost all that came back where bulldog. He even told me of a car with remote start that the starter turned over at night and ended up burning the car up.
The "Your Valet" unit I had was the cheapest of all remotes. It was a big square thing with two buttons. I went to a site and it was the cheapest (least expensive) of the hundred or so on the site. Chris.