I recently installed a Crimestopper RS7-G5 in my 2005 G35x. It's been a great remote start system with a pretty simple install. After I finished it up another member here contacted me saying " I hope your RS7 2-way remote lasts longer than mine because mine is dead after 1 week " . Well now 3 weeks later my remote is dead.... Blank screen and the only thing that will show is if you plug in the USB to charge it up.

Pulling the 1 screw and cracking it open is pretty easy. Then I desoldered the lithium battery to test. It was almost totally dead. This shouldn't ever happen on a lithium setup because it can damage the battery and they will not recharge when they get too low. Either the battery is faulty or the BMS circuit does not work correctly. I'll have to cycle the battery for awhile and determine the real fault so I'll update as I find out.

So the quick fix is what I do to most tablets or any device that has this problem. I spiked the battery with a fully charged 18650 lithium about 15 times in 2 second intervals and then check the battery voltage. It was within the low limit at this point to put on an external lithium charger (soldering it back to the remote and usb charging would probably have worked too). I use a Imax B6 balance charger to work on most devices since it will work with so many battery types and it is extremely cheap for what it does. I can also charge all of my RC toys with it too haha

Battery Info - Lipo 4.2v to 3.7v (probably about 300ma capacity new) - Should only charge at 100ma

 

Just want to add, I've had a CompuStar remote system on my car for at least the last 10 years judging by the wear on the remote. The screen's cracked, missing pixels, and arming the system lights the dash up like a Christmas tree.... Still works fine! I'd buy another compustar based on my one experience.

On a system so new, I'd be PO'd that the remote didn't work and would be asking for a refund... getting a new remote in 3 or 4 years will be nearly impossible.

 

I might take your suggestion and try a Compustar on my 04' since I really don't want to deal with this on both cars

 

I'm on the fence. I'd like to install another Crimestopper in another vehicle because it will allow me to control two vehicles with the same fob. But I'm also worried how long this remote will last. It was pretty short money in the first place so I'll probably just let it ride and deal with it if it dies. It's my first remote starter and I love the range and feedback this 2 way gives. The wife's Honda oem remote start only goes about 200-300ft and line of site.

 

Maybe you could get some extra remotes from Crimestopper for free if you pretend you didn't fix your current one and act like you're going to make a big fuss and demand a refund if they don't give you 3 new remotes lol. Make up some story on how their remote failing caused you to get locked out of your car and miss some big business meeting which "might have long term consequences for your company's business plan" lol

 

I'm going to contact the company about the 2 way remote and see what they say. I'll report back when they contact me.

Edit: Also they would never know that I opened up the remote unless they follow my posts here

Edit2: Just sent a trouble ticket - "Thanks for submitting your question. Use this reference number for follow up: #190131-000033"

 

Small update on the remote. I charged it up all day at work, by the time I got home it lost 1 bar. I charged it up until I went to bed and took it off the charge showing full bars and then it was dead by morning. So I'm not sure if the battery was bad out of the box or if it was from total discharge that destroyed it. Usually a lithium can be brought back from dead a time or two but not always. If the company doesn't honor the warranty or take care of us and I have to keep the bad remote I'll hook up another brand new cycle tested battery and find out if it's the remote reporting a false charge status allowing it to go dead or just bad batch of batteries. If it's the remote itself causing the problem I'll probably make a battery with a built in BMS to shut it down before it gets to a dangerous low voltage level that can damage the new battery.

 

They responded:
So we already know that it won't turn back on since the battery is dropping to 0 volts. Emailing back and I'll see where it goes from here....

 

Well they closed the case after the last message basically saying just turn it back on. I sent another trouble report telling them that it won't turn on and the battery has just died and what are they going to do about it. They let the trouble ticket expire and never got back to me. So I'm really not going to waste any more time with them and just fix it myself. I am currently testing drain and charge cycles to see the capacity left in the battery and also testing the built in BMS attached to the LiPo cell to see why it isn't shutting down at the usual 2.54v min. Hopefully they are just shipping them with bad batteries and just needs a new cell.

 

That sucks, hopefully it's just the battery.

 

I hope so, I did a full charge and let it sit over night again. Was dead this morning but still has 3.19 volts at the cell. I think the battery was damaged after dropping to 0 volts and has very little capacity left. I have 4 new cells coming from China (because if it's coming from China I'll hopefully get 1 good cell haha) and some 1 cell BMS boards to test thoroughly.

I was going to buy another one of these remote starts for the 04' X but until I figure out why and what goes wrong with the long range remotes I'm holding off. The short range remote has been working fine. just really short range

 

https://www.adafruit.com/product/258

Read the "battery datasheet" under the "technical details" section. This manufacturer appears to have pretty decent reliability for their batteries.

I love the English names that Chinese companies give themselves.

 

I would try one but the only one close to the size is thinner and half the capacity that I have coming. I desoldered the BMS from the original 402533 LiPo and am using a 17670 cell with it right now to play around. When it gets to 3 to 3.1 volts it shuts off but I have to disconnect the load side to charge or do anything with it again. I'm going to test it with a new BMS board and see if it acts the same. Starting to think the BMS is messed up but it probably ruined the original cell capacity too. At least I should have it figured out when the new ones come in.

 

After doing capacity checks and testing with multiple batteries and BMS boards I found that the remote is beyond repair. It is drawing roughly 65ma idle. With the stock 250ma-300ma LiPo it doesn't last very long, even with a 18650 it only lasts around 24hrs. I'm not sure why the original battery built-in BMS went bad and doesn't work correctly and if it may be what damaged the remote itself or not?? Anyway at this point replacement is really the only option.

So if your long range remote goes dead and won't recharge hopefully you are still under warranty. The long range remote cost about $60-$65 - The whole RS7-G5 with both remotes is around $95.... I'm starting to see where they are making money here