The biggest benefit of a remote starter is the comfort of having a car that is warm or cool before you get in. By leaving the heater or air conditioning in the "On" position, a driver can activate the remote starter then wait several minutes, during which time the climate control runs. Because the car is operating without the keys in the ignition or the driver present, most remote starters also include controls for locking the doors to secure the car remotely.
There is also a safety benefit to having a remote starter. By allowing an icy car to warm up before driving, it is easier to scrape or defrost the windows, resulting in greater visibility for the driver. Warming the car also melts snow and ice that can obstruct the headlights or brake lights, making your car more visible to other drivers, especially in snowy conditions.
Warming the car, before driving, is also beneficial for the engine. For the car's climate control system to start producing warm air, the engine must first warm up as it runs. Because the car idles for several minutes before being driven, the engine oil becomes more viscous and provides better lubrication once the driver is ready to go. This warm up period is especially beneficial for cars or trucks with diesel engines, but gas engines also benefit from this feature.
The main purpose of a car alarm is to prevent the theft of your personal belongings within the vehicle and to prevent the theft of the vehicle itself. That said, not all car alarms are the same. Some are triggered by different actions and have different features. OEM car alarms tend to have basic features compared to aftermarket systems.
OEM car alarms typically come with basic car alarm features. These features are usually limited to 1-way remote door locks, 1-way remote start, starter/injector kill and horn trigger. Most are designed only to prevent vehicle theft and are not designed to protect your belongings.
Aftermarket alarm systems offer a wider array of components and features that can be added on to beef up your security. The addition of an aftermarket car alarm using just the basic features can significantly increase your vehicles security.
Features
