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Have to crank it 2-3 times before it starts

Tiny
MSDOLPHIN
  • MEMBER
  • 1997 CHEVROLET BLAZER
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 135,000 MILES
Aftermarket remote starter was installed.
Sometimes the remote starter works, sometimes not.
Had several occasions remote starter worked but truck died within 1 minute

Have been starting manually with key, when very cold have to crank it 2-3 times before it starts. Was told to turn the ignition switch on a few times before starting it. This worked for a couple days but the last few days the radio goes on but the dash/warning lights do not go on. This morning the truck would not start at all-it cranks solid but would not start

Tow truck arrived & we could not even get the truck out of park. Then I tried cranking it again & it started. My mechanic & I are baffled.

The establishment that installed the remote starter, also did some prior work to get a stuck key out of my ignition (so busy he can't return my call to tell me what he did)

In addition I have a new back up switch on the transmission which also has something to do with the vehicle in P, R, N, D

Going out of my mind
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Thursday, January 8th, 2009 AT 5:09 PM

14 Replies

Tiny
2CARPRO JACK
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,533 POSTS
All of this started after the remote starter was installed? I would remove it first, in case it is interfering with the system. Usually when an aftermarket electronic is installed they use "scotch-locks" which clamp down on the wires to tap in. They can ruin the connection through the wire sometimes. When the key is on and it wont start, try checking the dash fuses to see if they have power into them. Do the gauges work, but the lights dont in the dash?
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Saturday, January 30th, 2021 AT 9:35 AM
Tiny
MSDOLPHIN
  • MEMBER
  • 14 POSTS
The remote starter worked okay for a month. This actually started when the cold weather set in.

The gauges seem to work but no the lights (battery, seatbelt, etc.) Didn't come on. They did on Sunday & Monday but not Tuesday & Wednesday or today.

The problem with uninstalling that is that the repair shop it is in now doesn't know anything about the remote starter stuff and the guy at the remote starter place has been extremely busy and I will have a hard time getting in.
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Saturday, January 30th, 2021 AT 9:35 AM
Tiny
MSDOLPHIN
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  • 14 POSTS
I will attempt to call & ask about the "scotch locks" though. Thank you
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Saturday, January 30th, 2021 AT 9:35 AM
Tiny
MSDOLPHIN
  • MEMBER
  • 14 POSTS
I just found out that "scotch locks" were not used in the install. But prior he did a bypass in the steering column to get the key out.

I was also told that today the truck would not start with the key but did start with the remote. The lights in the dash were also working.
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Saturday, January 30th, 2021 AT 9:35 AM
Tiny
RACEFAN966
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,029 POSTS
I would like you to check fuse number 20 as this is what controls the park lock on the shifter and fuse 12 they should both be a 20 amp fuse check to see if they are good. If that is good then I would go back to the guy that installed the remote start and have him check the bypass module. Which type of bypass module did he use? Did he use the universal one or the GM specific one? I do not recomend the universal one it prefer the GM specific they function much better and what brand of remote start?
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Saturday, January 30th, 2021 AT 9:35 AM
Tiny
MSDOLPHIN
  • MEMBER
  • 14 POSTS
The repair shop checked the fuses. They were fine. The truck finally started when the tow guy got here so we were able to drive it on the tow truck. The repair shop could not get the the Blazer to duplicate the problem, they even left it outside all night. It started right up the next morning with the remote start. It has been very puzzling. The fuel regulator is putting out the right amount of fuel. Based on the various starting issues 1) Remote start not working when cold but the key would 2) remote start works when truck was warm 3) 2-3 attempts to start with key 4) dash lights sometimes working with key in on position, sometimes not 5) the shifter not going into gear when key was in the on position 6) remote start dying after 1 minute, etc. Etc. Not to mention that the key was stuck in the ignition in October & the remote starter dealer somehow did a jumper thing in the steering column. I decided to start the
process of elimination. I had a new ignition switch installed. If I still have problems I will then go directly to the remote start dealer. Thank you
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Saturday, January 30th, 2021 AT 9:35 AM
Tiny
RACEFAN966
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Ok have the installer of the remote start make sure to hook up the brake kill to the brake light wire that goes through the turn signal switch not the brake light switch. If the ABS sends any kind of signal at all then the remote start system will see it and shut it off and go into theft mode. Then you will need to start it with the key inorder to reset it on most remote start system. You never did say which bypass module was used or what brand the system is.
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Saturday, January 30th, 2021 AT 9:35 AM
Tiny
MSDOLPHIN
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  • 14 POSTS
He (the remote installer) never told me what he did to bypass it. The system is a Viper. He is actually very good but very busy & hard to nail down on the phone. I have an appointment Wednesday a.M. The remote start did not work this morning but worked all day yesterday. The truck did start with the key this morning. Another note: The lock/unlock feature on the(Viper)remote worked but it would not start. I started the truck with the key & the doors auto lock. So I attempted to the use the remote (Viper) unlock and it would not work while the key was in the ignition but the remote that comes with the Blazer itself worked to unlock the door. I will follow up with all results as this is very frustrating and this just may save someone else from the headache
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Saturday, January 30th, 2021 AT 9:35 AM
Tiny
RACEFAN966
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Get back to me with what info you find as with the bypass and how he hooked up the brake pedal kill as well ok. It is very important about how that is hooked up so take note of what I recomended about that. I am no stranger to the remote start systems so I will try to help where I can. I recomend the GM bypass module that has a learn feature too as it much better then the universal that requires a key in it or the code. Let me know what you find out.
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Saturday, January 30th, 2021 AT 9:35 AM
Tiny
MSDOLPHIN
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  • 14 POSTS
Ok I will try. I'll give him the info. He can be a bit arrogant and already told me he didn't want to get in the middle of explaining things to me and to have my other mechanic call him directly, but when the mechanic called him, he was short with him
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Saturday, January 30th, 2021 AT 9:35 AM
Tiny
RACEFAN966
  • MECHANIC
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Yes they can be that way it is like he is thinking the other is saying you don't know what your doing. That is not what I am saying I am just saying to double check everything. It is easy to miss something when you are busy this has nothing to do with his integrity. SO bring it up as more of a question that you are curious about that way it isn't a battle of who is better as that isn't the case.
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Saturday, January 30th, 2021 AT 9:36 AM
Tiny
MSDOLPHIN
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Ok will do Thank you
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Saturday, January 30th, 2021 AT 9:36 AM
Tiny
MSDOLPHIN
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  • 14 POSTS
Hi

1) there was no bypass module, I get terminology mixed up. He "jumpered" something in the steering column to get the key out of the ignition

2) The Viper system was originally installed on my 1999 Saturn in Dec. 2002

3) We moved the remote system from the Saturn to the 1997 Blazer in Oct. 2008

So today he reprogrammed the system. Apparently when they installed it on the Blazer they never did any program changes. He apparently upped the start time/power? Again this guy is a pain & vague

When I asked about the brake light switch vs the brake light wire to the turn signal, he said it was not wired through the ABS.

He also rechecked the "jumper' job he did and it was fine
He said that this should work but if not, I may need to upgrade the system which I believe is BS

If it happens again, I know of another remote/alarm starter installation place that can take care of it (per my client)

I guess we'll find out in the next couple days

Thanks
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Saturday, January 30th, 2021 AT 9:36 AM
Tiny
RACEFAN966
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Glad it is working now. If there is anything else let me know.
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Saturday, January 30th, 2021 AT 9:36 AM

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