Remocon remote starter

[gadget]

Hello everyone,

My first post - got a new shape Bongo from Mike at Wheelquick. I fully agree with comments made elsewhere about their excellent attitude to customer service and very competitive prices.

With the Bongo came a Remocon type III remote starter device, which is basically a key fob with a little aerial on and a start and stop button.

Does anyone know how these function, is there something which needs setting in the vehicle before it will work?

I've put a new battery in the remote and tried pressing the buttons for various lengths of time, but nothing at all happens.

Not too important really, but if it did work, then I thought I could rewire it to fire up the Webasto pre-heater instead of the engine.

Best regards

Steve Foste

[francophile1947]

Welcome to the madhouse
No idea, because mine doesn't work either
Don't forget to put your location in your profile - it really does help us to help you

[teenmal]

Hi Gadget,I think Mike is the solution to you problem.

Cheers Mal..

[Ron Miel]

Hi Gadget

Got a Japan-fitted remote start on our new shape Bongo - sounds the same system by your description. Also had a Hornet Max 1 alarm/immobiliser fitted during conversion, and the guy who did that seems to have wired the two systems together fine - it all works a treat. As the motor is icing up well tonight, tomorrow morning might be the first time I use it in earnest!

The way ours works is to first remotely clear the previously set alarm/immobiliser, using the Hornet key fob. Then, a long press of the forward button on the remote start fob until you hear a single bleep from the fob. After that, wait 5-10 seconds, during which you can hear a relay or three operating in the van, and then the engine starts, plus the heater/air conditioner, I think running as last set by you (although it might be smart enough to go straight to full defrost, regardless - haven't checked).

While the engine runs, the steering lock remains locked (and, in our case, there's a Disklok on the steering wheel) but the door has of course been remotely opened by the Hornet blipper. If anyone opens the door, however, the engine immediately stops. Otherwise, stop it whenever you want by pressing the rearward button on the remote start blipper.

[dreamwarrioruk]

just a point but in the uk it is illegal to have a vehicle running unattended. its great fun starting up remotely in a supermarket carpark when someones walking by and watch the reaction by them. then casually walk up, climb in and drive off.
my transit van has a mannix alarm in it which you could actually programme to start the engine at a specific time or at a timed interval. it was great to get up on a morning with a lovely warm van. i would put one of these on the bongo but unfortunately i cant find a supplier for the uk anymore and ive already fitted a sentinal alarm which does the same except you cant programme the times on it.

http://www.autoaccessorystore.com/mannix_alarm.htm

[teenmal]

http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/news/arti ... -home.html

[Ron Miel]

just a point but in the uk it is illegal to have a vehicle running unattended. its great fun starting up remotely in a supermarket carpark when someones walking by and watch the reaction by them. then casually walk up, climb in and drive off.
my transit van has a mannix alarm in it which you could actually programme to start the engine at a specific time or at a timed interval. it was great to get up on a morning with a lovely warm van. i would put one of these on the bongo but unfortunately i cant find a supplier for the uk anymore and ive already fitted a sentinal alarm which does the same except you cant programme the times on it.

http://www.autoaccessorystore.com/mannix_alarm.htm

It's not illegal on my driveway, where I use it, or anywhere else off the public highway.

[mikeonb4c]

Hi Gadget

Got a Japan-fitted remote start on our new shape Bongo - sounds the same system by your description. Also had a Hornet Max 1 alarm/immobiliser fitted during conversion, and the guy who did that seems to have wired the two systems together fine - it all works a treat. As the motor is icing up well tonight, tomorrow morning might be the first time I use it in earnest!

The way ours works is to first remotely clear the previously set alarm/immobiliser, using the Hornet key fob. Then, a long press of the forward button on the remote start fob until you hear a single bleep from the fob. After that, wait 5-10 seconds, during which you can hear a relay or three operating in the van, and then the engine starts, plus the heater/air conditioner, I think running as last set by you (although it might be smart enough to go straight to full defrost, regardless - haven't checked).

While the engine runs, the steering lock remains locked (and, in our case, there's a Disklok on the steering wheel) but the door has of course been remotely opened by the Hornet blipper. If anyone opens the door, however, the engine immediately stops. Otherwise, stop it whenever you want by pressing the rearward button on the remote start blipper.

Phew! That's one hell of a system Ron. Can't wait to meet so you can impress me and the kids (the missus doesn't do impressed - ha ha!).

[Ron Miel]

Morning Mike. Yes, it's still impressing me, after a couple of weeks playing with it Even impressed our two age gap-cynical sons when home recently, gaining the soubriquet "cool Dad"

Forgot to say that I certainly don't remotely run it, even on our driveway with steering lock & Disklok on, without also watching the Bongo like a hawk out of the window. If any suspicious character and/or officer of the law, should then take an interest, it's a simple matter to immediately stop the the engine and remotely re-set the Hornet alarm/immobiliser/central locking. Exit thwarted miscreant and/or the local sheriff, or both.

[missfixit70]

I thought the issue with the law was with the keys being left in the running vehicle? as the remote start systems are keyless & the car can't be driven in remote started state, they'd have a hard job making a\charge stick I'd have thought.

[Ron Miel]

That might well be right, Kirsty. I don't really know but had always assumed that the illegal act was to leave a vehicle on the public highway (only), with its engine running, regardless of keys - and that the issue of keys was a separate, and sensible, crime prevention matter.

Mind you, I'm old enough to have driven cars that didn't have ignition keys - you just unlocked the driver's door (if it had a lock, and if you had bothered to lock it!), got in and pressed the starter button! There were also cars in those days which did have a key to switch on the overall electrics but not ignition keys as such - you still pressed a separate starter button. I expect they're both still about in the classic vehicles sector - well, I'm still about in the classic crumblies sector, anyway

Is there a policeman or lawyer in Bongo Fury, who knows exactly what the law really says? Lots of references on Google but mostly anecdotal or ambiguous, and I haven't quickly found a clear statement of the law.

(The Highway Code rule 123 says ..........

"The Driver and the Environment. You MUST NOT leave a parked vehicle unattended with the engine running ................

[Law CUR regs 98 & 107]"

[Ron Miel]

>
>
>
(The Highway Code rule 123 says ..........

"The Driver and the Environment. You MUST NOT leave a parked vehicle unattended with the engine running ................

[Law CUR regs 98 & 107]"

I originally pinched that quote from another online forum. It doesn't seem to be up to date.

The current Highway Code (full text at http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTr ... /DG_070202) says:

"Parking

239

Use off-street parking areas, or bays marked out with white lines on the road as parking places, wherever possible. If you have to stop on the roadside....
>
>
.........you MUST switch off the engine, headlights and fog lights
>
>
[Laws CUR reg 98, 105 & 107, RVLR reg 27 & RTA 1988 sect 42]"

Same difference but still doesn't mention keys.

[gadget]

Hello everyone,

thanks for the help, especially Ron, it sounds like I haven't been pressing the button for long enough, I'll try it out tomorrow.

best regards

Steve Foster

Blackburn, Lancs

[MountainGoat]

It is ruddy freezing here in the Borders at the moment so lots of people have been warming up their engines before setting off. There was a policeman on the local television news tonight warning people about leaving their cars with the engines running and the keys in the ignition. He said that not only was it illegal to leave cars on the highway unatended with the engines running but also peoples insurance would be nul and void if their cars were nicked with the keys in the ignition.

[Ron Miel]

It is ruddy freezing here in the Borders at the moment so lots of people have been warming up their engines before setting off. There was a policeman on the local television news tonight warning people about leaving their cars with the engines running and the keys in the ignition. He said that not only was it illegal to leave cars on the highway unatended with the engines running but also peoples insurance would be nul and void if their cars were nicked with the keys in the ignition.

Sounds about right - that's why my remote start is only used off the public highway, with steering locked, Disklok fitted, and me watching like a hawk (with the keys in my hand, not the ignition). Your weather's heading our way tonight, so it'll be a remote start warm up for sure in the morning - got to head off early, brrrr