Advice wanted

[Colin]

I'm looking to have a good alarm immobiliser installed. Something a bit flash with central locking remote start etc. Any recommendations? :D

[Adam W]

I know most Clifford alarms are compatible with remote start.

[Colin]

I know most Clifford alarms are compatible with remote start.
I fancy the remote start for those freezing cold mornings. It would be nice to get into a ready warmed car and not have to scrape windcreens :D

[Lofty]

I fancy the remote start for those freezing cold mornings. It would be nice to get into a ready warmed car and not have to scrape windcreens :D

Allowing a cold engine to idle is not a good idea. Most engines run rich at idle and the petrol can condense on the cold bores and wash away the lubricant causing premature bore/ring wear.

If you are really serious about defrosting your car Kenlowe make an electric heater that pre-heats the engine coolant before you start your engine. Alternatively buy a house with a garage. ;)

[Colin]

Allowing a cold engine to idle is not a good idea. Most engines run rich at idle and the petrol can condense on the cold bores and wash away the lubricant causing premature bore/ring wear.

If you are really serious about defrosting your car Kenlowe make an electric heater that pre-heats the engine coolant before you start your engine. Alternatively buy a house with a garage. ;)
Ive got a garage. well I think its supposed to be a garage. You open the doors and stand well back or get flattened by all the junk that falls out. :)

[supratoy]

Be Careful mate!!!!!!!!!!!
if you have remote start a lot of insurance companys will say insurance is void!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! after all if the engine is running how long does it take to smash window jump in and disappear with your pride and joy?
thats what happened to a mate of mine and the insurance refused to pay out !!!!!!!!!!!
regards Graham

[Adam W]

I read somewhere that remote start only keeps the engine running if the gearbox is in neutral. As soon as the scrote tries to put it in gear the engine will cut out and be immobilised again if there is no key in the ignition.

[Tony Donovan]

I read somewhere that remote start only keeps the engine running if the gearbox is in neutral. As soon as the scrote tries to put it in gear the engine will cut out and be immobilised again if there is no key in the ignition.Beats me.. :D

[adi]

Allowing a cold engine to idle is not a good idea. Most engines run rich at idle and the petrol can condense on the cold bores and wash away the lubricant causing premature bore/ring wear.

I've always wondered about this.. personally i let mine idle for a bit, as even if i drive it i only go to 2500 rpm or so.

[MKS]

i usually let the car idle for abotu a bit then drive off slowly like :)

[Lofty]

I generally start the engine without using the accelerator, wait for the oil pressure to rise, drive off straight away and keep the revs/boost down until the engine is hot and the oil pressure has dropped to normal. I can't see the point of adding stress to a cold engine. Idling when the engine is hot is not considered a problem.

[Adam W]

Spot on Lofty, I used to sit there like a lemon letting the car warm up ully for two or three minutes before driving off in the mornings, but I heard from a lot of different sources that does much more harm than good. You need to get the enigne up to temperature as quickly as possible, without giving it so much stick that you cause wear because the oil is cold. I just stick to under 50% throttle and about 2500rpm until I feel the engine start to loosen up and rev more easily.

[mr_pink_78]

Just so you know, the Clifford remote start will not allow the car to be pulled away without the key in the ignition. It automatically cuts out if the car is moved either forwards or backwards.
When setting the alarm (if you have a manual gearbox) you must press a button before taking to the key out of the ignition to confirm to the alarm that the gearbox is now in neutral. otherwise remote start will not work, in case the car has been left in gear.
Also if the alarm has been set off, remote start will not work in case a thief has knocked the car into gear.
All of this is not applicable if you have an automatic, as the car should know what gear it is currently in, so you don't have to tell it anything.
Cheers

Mr Pink

[torque of the devil]

I've always wondered about this.. personally i let mine idle for a bit, as even if i drive it i only go to 2500 rpm or so.
:agreed: same here! god knows why its always breaking down :)

[adi]

wow this an old thread :D who dug this up !

Anyway, just recently i've been starting it and driving it.. until my idle problem came back that is..

[Bryank]

Allowing a cold engine to idle is not a good idea. Most engines run rich at idle and the petrol can condense on the cold bores and wash away the lubricant causing premature bore/ring wear.

If you are really serious about defrosting your car Kenlowe make an electric heater that pre-heats the engine coolant before you start your engine. Alternatively buy a house with a garage. ;)
or get an Eberspacher one... brilliant, but not cheap:

http://www.eberspacher.com/Car_Heating.html