Hello, first I'm new to the forum. I have a 2010 armada platinum edition and have been thinking about installing a remote starter. I was curious what folks experiences have been with the dealer installed starter. They're asking $600 with a 36k/36 month warranty on labor and lifetime on parts. A bit steep from the price perspective but am I better going through the dealer or through a third party installer? Thanks.

You probably can get the dealer to throw it in because his cost is probably less than half. Play two dealers off one another.

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Welcome to CA baumri!

Aftermarket would probably be a better deal and give you much more options.

I had my dealer do it for $275


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i had my dealer show me their pricing list when i went in the other day to purchase my '12. cost is $580. said theyd do it for $500 then wound up being free for me. aftermarket is always better for more options but nothing like oem integration.

do the 2012s have push button start now?

on the 2012 (and 11) qx they have push button start and they can program the stock fob to remote start the car. sadly this is a 5-600 dollar service which im sure is not worth that.

nope. the 2012s have the turn key with the usual key fob. nothings changed unfortunately. the reason they said its so much (as far as i can tell) is that they need to have a third key made and buried in the dash which obviously costs some dough.

that $585 option is what you were offered. i mean of course theres no added security with the system but there are viper starters for over a grand...i like being oem. thats just me.

hey 12plat,

thanks for your follow up.

in terms of the remote start on the QX using the factory fob, there is no key that needs to be made. there is some provision in the ECM with push button start cars (the nissan max and altimas can do the same thing) that the consult can activate. its more to it but there is no key that needs to be made. i know this is an armada thread and i apologize for stepping on toes here. just wanted to clarify it a bit....

oh im more likely to believe you, an actual enthusiast, than the dealer who knows squat! i was just reiterating what the dealer told me. it had to be BURIED in the dash. maybe just to make me think it was worth the price more? who knows. i hope its that easy. i dont want them digging into the dash on such a new car :D

I haven't done it yet myself, but I have been looking at the Directed Electronics (Viper, Python, Clifford) series and was considering the SmarStart option as well for my 2008. So far, I'm leaning toward the Python 1601 with the SmartStart, now SmartStart GPS. I like the aftermarket remote start for the additional features, and if done, right can be intergreated nicely.

I have the Viper SST vehical alarm/remote start with a few other options and would purchase DEI over OEM any day of the week. But that's just my opinion.

oh im more likely to believe you, an actual enthusiast, than the dealer who knows squat! i was just reiterating what the dealer told me. it had to be BURIED in the dash. maybe just to make me think it was worth the price more? who knows. i hope its that easy. i dont want them digging into the dash on such a new car :D

The key isn't actually "buried" into the dash, it is just hidden away somewhere. Some remote starters require the immobilizer key to bypass the immobilizer to remotely start the vehicle. Which in my opinion defeats the whole purpose of having an immobilizer key system to prevent theft of your vehicle. You have to remember that you are essentially keeping your car key in the ignition, so your remote starter can work. I have always been skeptical of this type of remote starter. Other systems include an alarm that activates if it isn't dis-armed, or will automatically shut off the engine once the brake is depressed.

The immobilizer key is roughly about $80 plus programming, however the intelligent key is about $280 plus programming.

That's why I have LowJack


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Well i had my oem remote start installed and its either installed incorrectly or im a moron. It starts and operates fine but when i get in the car and go to turn the key when the engine is started the key is locked. I cant turn it to on like the direction book says to..i have to turn the car off and restart...is that how its supposed to be for nissan or no?

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You have to keep your foot on the brake when you put the key in


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thats the thing...the brake pedal kills the engine. then i NEED to restart it. i tried to do it simultaneously (brake and ignition) but nothing. the key is definitely locked in the off position :(

That's wired I turn the key and press the brake that's it


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I just had the viper 5902 installed on my 2010 platinum armada. The installer used the DBALL interface, which allows me to use either my intelligent keyfob or my viper remote to arm or unarm the vehicle. Using the DBALL, I did not have to have a key hidden in the vehicle for the key bypass. I liked the intelligent key and not having to put the key in the ignition or door to unlock the vehicle, but I didnt like carrying around 2 keyfobs, so I thought that I could just use the viper keyfob and use the real key to start the armada. It works ok but I found that when using remote start without the intelligent key you cannot put the key in the ignition and turn the key on, so you have to either carry the intelligent key or turn the car off then put the key in and start it again.