How to Remove a Remote Starter

Removing a remote starter is easy for anyone with the basic understanding of automotive wiring. When installing a remote starter, various connections are made to the cars electrical system. This requires some knowledge and lots of testing to verify proper connections. Removing a starter requires no testing.

Things You'll Need:

• Wire cutters
• Electrical tape
• Basic hand tools (for removing interior panels)

1. Locate the remote starter

Locate the remote starter. Usually you can find it under the driver's side of the dash near the steering column, kick panel or firewall. In a typical installation, nylon wire ties are used to attach remote starter wiring to the factory wire harnesses. Use the wire cutters to remove these.

2. Disconnect the wire harnesses from the remote starter module

Disconnect the wire harnesses from the remote starter module. After disconnecting the harnesses, remove the module and set aside. The unit may be reinstalled into a different vehicle.

3. Follow the wiring from the connector to the car's wiring harness

Follow the wiring from the connector to the car's wiring harness and cut the connection as close to the factory wiring as possible. Be careful not to cut the factory wires, but just the aftermarket ones. Use electrical tape to wrap the connection. Be sure to cover any exposed metal left at the junction.

4. Examine the starter wire

Examine the starter wire. Many remote starter manufactures equip their units with a function called 'Anti-grind'. If this feature was installed, it is possible that the starter wire was cut during the original installation and will need to be reconnected. If this is the case, solder the two ends of the severed wire together and use electrical tape to seal the connection.

5. Open the hood and remove the hood pin

Open the hood and remove the hood pin. In most cases, this is a plunger-style switch that prevents the unit from starting the car while the hood is opened. Disconnect the remote start tachometer wire. This is commonly found attached to the vehicle's fuel injector wiring. Seal this connection with electrical tape.

Tips

Reconnect any wire that was severed during the original installation. This may include, but is not limited to, the starter, lock/unlock, trunk and parking light wires. Many starters use a powerful adhesive tape to secure the antenna to the windshield. Remove any residue with a razor blade. Test the vehicle for all functions after removal.

Video: How to remove remote start, how to uninstall remote start system, remote start problems

Helpful comments on this video:

• A few years back I owned a 2011 Jeep Wrangler with the V6 and 6-speed manual. Unknown to me when I bought it, it had an aftermarket remote start system. To this day I'm not entirely sure how it would've worked considering it was a stick shift and due to Daimler Chrysler's terrible engineering it had to be parked in gear because the parking break on that generation of Wranglers don't work. But anyways-one day a month after buying it while I was driving, all of a sudden my gauges just started turning on and off, the radio stopped working, and eventually I lost power and had to have it towed to the dealer where I bought it. The dealer took a look at it, and it turns out it had an aftermarket remote start on it. Whoever had installed it, did an incredibly bad job and it basically shorted out the computer of the vehicle. Thankfully the dealer repaired and replaced everything for free for me, but it's quite the lesson of why those aftermarket systems are so bad. Thanks for the video"s!
• Thanks for posting. I have to disagree on the bad engineering part though.I've had one installed (same unit) on two different Tacoma's for 19 yrs. no problems.I would agree it's all about how much the installer cares about his work.