I didn't realize that I had a remote starter until about a month after buying my used 04x. The dealer never mentioned it and I didn't figure it out until I started messing with an after market key fob that came with the car. Of course the first heavy snow fall came last night and this morning, my remote start no longer works. I believe the battery in the remote itself is dead; green LED is just barely visible. Which brings me to my questions:

1. Does anyone know what type of battery I need for my remote? It's a DEI RPN471T.

2. I am unsure if this system is just a remote start or an alarm combo. The fob locks/unlocks the doors and also has a feature (which I don't really know how to use correctly) that prevents you from starting the car, even with the key. All I know about alarms systems has been acquired in the last 20 minutes of searching, aka I don't know anything. How can I identify what system is in my car?

 

Just pull out the battery. Any local store (walmart, radio shack, etc) should have one.

What do you mean it is a remote start or not? When you messed with it, did the car start or not?

Your oem fob will still work with an aftermarket alarm.

 

Does it look like this?

http://cgi.ebay.com/DEI-471T-VIPER,P...130115008r2995


If so, from all the years I dealt with Viper/Python systems none of the remote start remotes (or spare remotes) looked like that.

 

Yes, that's the one. It seems to be a fairly common remote. It's definitely a remote starter. My question is basically, how can I figure out if there is also an after market alarm installed? I don't believe I have ever set off the alarm. Should it sound different than the factory alarm? I would also like to know how I can figure out what type of remote starter and/or alarm is installed (brand, model etc.)?

 

If you have remote start you have an aftermarket system installed. That DEI remote is not oem at all.

Alarms can be wired to just your oem horn or to an external siren or both.

To get the model you would need to pull down the brain. Most likely it will be up under your driver side dash area.

 

Yeah, I know that it's not OEM, but wasn't sure if all remote starters also include an after market alarm or just the remote start, if that makes sense.

Thanks for the info on the location of the brain.

 

You can buy just stand alone remote start systems.

 

Pop your hood and look for a siren


Chances are, if there is no siren, no alarm. I have a feeling that if that's what your remote looks like, you just have a remote start or remote start/keyless. It's been a long time since DEI made an alarm/remote start combo that uses that remote. You probably have the equvalent of a Hornet 561 or something similar.

 

Most common place for the siren would be near the front of the motor or around the bumper area.