Customer Reviews

Bulldog RS1100 Remote Starter with Keyless Entry

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(18)

 

 

I received this unit for Christmas, and installed it in my Ford Explorer. The instructions are not as direct as they could be, but the video helps organize things. I needed to call tech support for a question/clarification and after a fairly long wait on hold (two days after Christmas so I expected that) I got the info I needed by a cheerful tech. The biggest problems with any of these self-installed units (this brand or others) are (1) people who don't have any electrical experience or tools, and (2) installation on cars that have difficult to access wiring (most). The latter can make the difference between a relatively easy or relatively hard installation. The kit electronics appear good for this type of item. All parts (and a small installation tool kit) are included - - except for any small relays that may be necessary for some door locks, security bypasses, and some dome light activiation situations. They are not needed on every vehicle, but many. A couple should be included since they are cheap and these Remote Starters are not. Also, if under-dash wiring is a bit hard to get at (or not), they have plug-in T-harnesses available that range in cost between $10 and $20. Using one would eliminate almost all hookup problems. I didn't use one. My unit works great. I don't anticipate problems, but I have experience in tapping into wiring properly so the connections should last. If there is going to be a problem, it will be in that area. This thing makes getting off to work on a cold, snowy morning more bearable. It's also kinda neat, in general. Take your time or have someone who knows more about these things do the installation. Enjoy. Happy New Year!

Once installation was complete, the unit worked perfectly. However, the installation was more difficult than it needed to be.

First, the installation instruction referred to a WHITE wire that was to be connected to a bypass module. This part of the instruction was vague in a couple of ways. 1) It did not specify what WHITE wire it was referring to while other areas of the instruction were quite specific (i.e. - BLACK wire with the Blue stripe on the 16-pin harness). 2) It said that the WHITE wire was to be connected to the BLUE wire on the bypass module. However, since there are mutliple different bypass modules available using a variety of color codes, this step created confusion.

Second, when it came time to connect the various plugs to the starter unit, there was no mention of a need to initialize the unit by stepping on the brake pedal and pressing the start button on the remote. Without this information, when I plugged in the unit, it began a repetitive clicking that would not stop. I had to unplug it and call for Technical Assistance to find out what I was missing.

Third, I found the "unlimited technical support" to be somewhat limited. When I ran into the aforementioned problems on a Saturday, I tried calling the 800 number only to find that technical assistance was not available on weekends. So I had to pack it in and wait until after work on Monday. Then when I called on Monday, it took over 30 minutes on hold before I actually had a person on the other end of the line. To his credit, the tech knew exactly what the problem was and I was able to finish the install in short order.

Overall, I am happy with the remote starter, but displeased with the quality of the supplied instructions and the limited availability of the technical support.

I spent much time asking tech support questions prior to the install since it is my first attempt doing something like this. The VCR tape is worth the time to watch, and I watched it several times before and during the install. It went fairly well, except for needing some resistors (not included) and having a remote with sticky buttons, which they have agreed to replace. The actual install took about 5-6 hours on a system with no factory alarm. Overall I am very satisfied with the remote starter, and found tech support reasonably available (busy season?) and willing to help. The written manual is a bit confusing, as is online info, but tech support is very knowledgeable and answered all my questions. They helped me immensely. I love having the remote starter. I recommend it highly.

Let me start out by saying I have installed at least a 2 dozen different remote starters so far. I know how these things work and how they are supposed to work. I have installed remote starters in many different brands of vehicles with and without transponder keys. I did read the install manual from front to back before purchasing the unit and then before I installed the thing. I did solder the wires like the manual suggested instead of the wire crimp method. I even double checked that I was using the proper wires with a VOM and compared the results with the wire diagram Bulldog had on there web site. They did have a couple errors for the Honda Element 2004-2008 diagram.

So after installing the remote starter and the transponder bypass module, module 791. By the way, the 791 module is a cheap piece of crap. The key almost falls out of the thing when you finally get it open to place the key in the loop. The key can just flop around in there and more than likely short out some of the electronics. Now the starter is installed and the moment of truth arrives. I hit the start button and........... the car turns over but won't start. I double check my wires and check the transponder module. Everything is correct. I try it again. Nothing. The starter try's 3 times then quits. I unplug the thing and check my wires once again. This time the car starts. I didn't change a thing. I feel pretty good. 30 seconds later, the car shuts off. God F@#$%ing dammit POS!!!!!! Now I am pissed!!!!! There has to be a problem with the transponder key bypass to shut the car down. I put a key in the ignition. Same thing. I took it out of the car and tried to bench test it the thing just starts and stops.

So let's fast forward 4+ hours of troubleshooting. Conveniently the DIY kit tech support is not available on the weekend. There hours are like 9:30 to 5pm. How convenient, a DIY kit with tech support with normal hours. Because all DIY people install stuff during the normal work week hours. I write them a long email about the problems and what I did to troubleshoot the thing. They write back, yup it's bad please send it back with a $25 check. That's it, you pissed me off. I packed it back up and returned it to Amazon.

So my advice is stay away form this thing like the plague. It is a piece of crap. I wasted at least 5 hours with this thing. I can normally install a car starter in a hour or so. I was trying to install this without my wife knowing so that Xmas morning she could have a remote start key fob in her stocking to just start her car and be on her way. To late now. Thanks Bulldog for building a total piece of crap. Now I have all there wiring tied into the car that needs to get taken out for the new one and it's too late to reinstall a new one to make it a surprise. So I now have to wrap up another one as a gift. That just sucks. I mean seriously, does your wife or significant other want to open up a remote starter that isn't installed? No, I don't think so. Then they have to wait to get it installed. I have done this type of thing for other were it gets installed before xmas and it is awesome to see the look on there face when the car starts. So I will never purchase a Bulldog product again or ever recommend it. I will be sure to recommend other brands as they actually DO work.

Seriously disappointed

Got two of them 2 month ago and set it up through a whole day. It really took me some time to figure out the right wire, because the diagram on their website is not so accurate for one of my car.(for 1996 avalon, the color of the wire for the door is not right). But once I set it up, it worked perfectly. I can control it at about 100 feet away from it. although it's not 400 feet, it is good enough. I gave it 4 stars only because it is not as easy as what I thought to set it up, but maybe it is different in your case, depends on how good you are at electrics. :-)

Bought this for my son's 05 Corolla. Buying the wiring harness easily cut the install time in half. Make sure to check Bulldog's web site to see if they have vehicle specific instructions for your car. Even with pictures from the web site, took longer than anticipated to install.

Got the damn thing working, only to quit. Began re-checking all the wiring. Put a paperclip to bypass the fuse and everything worked. Blew two of the supplied fuses.

Once installed, we're pleased with the functionality.

As far as the negative reviews go, people posting reviews where it should have been their instead of there and so on...well...you should not be installing this unit, take it to a professional.

The posts that state all the unit does is click the relays, you forgot to initialize the unit, the instructions are right on the website, you could just google Bulldog security RS1100 relays just click. Did you? Obviously not.

Am I a paid by Bulldog Security shill? Nope. What I am is a more than happy customer that had their very first generation remote car starter that I bought off of Damark back when there was no internet and you would get a (gasp!) catalog. Damark back in the day would sell things that were "re-conditioned" from manufacturers, many times, just RTV's (return to vendor) from places like Wally World or the big orange giant (back then, there was Home Depot, Builder's Square and HQ...Home quarters).

I installed my unit and it lasted 14 years. The car finally died to the point, after three engines and two transmissions that it didn't make sense to keep fixing it. So I had no problems with my original unit.

Why did I buy another one? Well the first unit lasted 14 years and I was impressed that in 14 years, the DC migration issue that will normally plague relays (oh...did I mention I am a degreed electrical engineer?) happened somewhat on the original unit, but BECAUSE PROPER electronic design techniques were used, the issue was minimized. I could talk about the microcontroller that was used on that unit and how we marvelled at it, and poked it and got the source code, but I digress. Good use of a Microchip part BTW...

So, unlike so many mind numbed robots, I didn't shuffle on down to the local big box, plop down money, let some who knows who trained them disillusioned twenty something 420 fan install one in my "new" vehicle (a 1994 full size Chevy Truck (sorry GM, but I am not buying into your marketing hype about having to call it a 'Chevrolet'...Chevy will always be Chevy)).

So I bought this unit and as with the first one, it was EXACTLY as described. A well written manual was included. This is not the type of mindless icon type of crap you get with a printer or computer. Duh...it is a little more complicated.

My install took exactly three hours from the screwdriver hittting the first screw on the dash panel to being completed. Now...this comes with a caveat. I agree with the install manual about NOT using those splice terminals. Vibration, humidity, and oxidation can cause major problems. So if you installed this way and wrote a review, go back and do some simple troubleshooting and withdraw your obviously flawed review. My issue is that having been in the field for 24 years now, as I was taught early on, under the CORRECT circumstances, nothing solders like solder. Yep, I soldered every single connection. All ten of them.

Next, I CAREFULLY chose a mounting area and mounting METHOD for the control unit. Once that was determined, I cut all wires that were not needed, but I did not cut them flush with the connector, I left about 2 inches, and used HEAT SHRINK tubing to seal off all unused connections. Why? It should be obvious, I WILL without a DOUBT move this starter to my next vehicle. The only reason I let my first gen go was that it was not compatible with "newer" vehicles.

Then, I did a crazy thing and FOLLOWED the instructions for routing the antenna wire. After three hours it was done and I knew it would continue to work correctly. Or did it? Wow, I plugged it all in and all I got was flashing relays..on..off..on...off...whoops, pop the hood (you did install that pin switch didn't you?) to ground the pin switch wire, press the brake (screw that brake wire...who needs it? YOU DIDN'T TRY AND CUT CORNERS DID YOU?)and follow the instructions and "initialize" the system.

I get 560 feet (open air...) with no problem out of the unit. I am so completely happy that Bulldog Security is still around. An AMERICAN company, EMPLOYING AMERICAN WORKERS, based in AMERICA, PAYING LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL TAXES. Not some cheap Chinese crap where they do a Mad Man Muntz (go google it). This thing WORKS REALLY WELL. If I had a shop, I would install ONLY BULLDOG SECURITY PRODUCTS. Did you see their website? Did you click the factory photos? Wow...injection molding and electronics assembly being done in America...go figure.

Lets see... Home Depot (Still around but Lowe's and Menards are better IMHO). Builders Square was owned by K-Mark and we know what happened to BOTH of THEM. HQ? Long gone... and I will even throw in one more...do you remember Code Alarm? Mismanaged and the product became crap when it was moved off shore.

I will continue to install these awesome products as long as I am not in a walker, wheelchair, or otherwise immobilized. Support and PROPERLY report your UNBIASED reviews.

(BTW, I designed garage door openers, gate operators, and security systems for years and I can't tell you the number of RTV's we had dealing with the big box boys because of the lack of intelligence of the "average" installer. We were told to reduce the number of fasteners and tools needed because about 10% of the people that bought it thinking it was DIY would look at the bag of hardware and return it.) Stop bashing a great American company, pick up a book, read and think. Or at least don't have such dillusions of grandeur that you think you are a DIY GOD when, in fact, you are not.

Warm and toasty in the land of snowmobiles, shrinking daylight, and deer hunting. THANK YOU BULLDOG SECURITY.

If you have never hard wired a car stereo then you should let a professional install this remote start system for you. It is not a simple install. It requires you to splice into your cars factory ignition system, electrical and door locking system. If you don't know what you are doing you can render your car useless. If you have any doubts, by all means have a professional install it. With that said, it is also not the most difficult thing I have ever done and I think most Do-it-yourself people that know a little about wiring and electrical can do this. It took me 3 hours to install. The hardest part of this install is knowing what wires you need to splice, their color codes, and their location. Mind you I also have a degree in electrical.
The first thing that should be done is to find out what wires you need to splice, which is conveniently posted on the manufacturers web site. To get the remote start to function you need to splice a minimum of 8 wires. After the wires are known then the location of them should be found. For my truck, the manufacturers web site had pictures which also made this easier. Check the website BEFORE you buy this product to make sure the pictures are there, if they are not, you may have to search the internet, or buy a repair manual to find the location of the wires you need. Next read the instruction book so you complete understand what each wire does and where it goes. It is informative. It also tells you at the end if you need to buy an additional unit to bypass your anti-theft system. I did not have to install one. You can download a version of the manual at their website.
When you have the product at home make sure everything is there, then make a list of all the wires that are coming off the unit, their color codes, where they go to the vehicle, and the vehicle color codes. Again, this information can be found at the website, or a repair manual. What makes it hard is that the color codes of the wires off the remote car starter, and the color codes of the vehicle wires that you are attaching them to, are different. After you have all the knowledge and information its time to begin splicing.
All of the remote starter wires are almost always located under the steering column of the vehicle. They are quite easily reached and involve removing some plastic pieces of your vehicle. The hard part is using a utility knife to cut away an inch of the wire insulation, NOT CUTTING THE WIRE. After that you wrap the wire around the factory wire. This process is explained in great detail in the instruction manual. The wires for the door locks are most likely found in the drivers side kick panel. Splicing the ignition wires is simple to do, and should not take much time. There are 2 wires that can be hard to splice. One is the brake input wire. This wire is needed so the unit knows when you are pressing the brake. In most vehicles after 1996, a switch is located up above the brake pedal. It is a very small wire and very difficult to splice. With time and patience it can be done in half hour or so. Another wire is the parking brake lights, sometimes located in the side panel near the seat. The wire is sometimes hard to locate, not to splice. After that plug in the unit and test its operation by following the manual. When that tests good I hooked up the door trigger wires. Not that hard, now all basic wires are spliced. (there are more optional wires)
Surprisingly, finding the space to put the unit was the hardest part. I had to tuck wires and wire tie them (buy more wire ties) and make room for the panel to fit back correctly. After that I was done and the unit worked fantastically. The truck starts up every time, and door locks work great. The distance is good, at least 400ft without obstructions. I couldn't be happier with this remote car stater.
Bottom line: If you have hard wired car stereos or hooked up alarm systems before, or have knowledge in electrical systems, this won't be difficult for you. If you have no experience with this sort of thing it will be difficult and you will want a professional to install it. Even if this unit (which has a one year warranty) fails, you can just swap the original with a new unit without rewiring anything. This is the best $60 I think I have ever spent.

*****UPDATE******

It has been 2 years later and I used it everyday during the winter and it has never let me down. Great product!

I have had this remote installed and partially working for about 1 month now. If you are planning on buying this item, I highly recommend checking out the wiring diagrams on the bulldog website before purchasing. This may show you how hard your install will be or how many more items you need to purchase to make it work. This is located under "Vehicle Wiring Diagrams" at http://bulldogsecurity.com

If you find your car on their and the diagrams don't have special notes or alternate wiring diagrams attached then I suggest buying this and installing it yourself if you are so bold. I was able to install the starter portion within about 3.5 hours on a Dodge Stratus '98 with no special security bypass requirements. If you see a lot of additional notes, additional wiring diagrams, and the need for what they call a P791 security bypass, you may want to look into how much additional money you will have to dish out to make this product work.

I'm still having troubles with the parking lights, Horn, and door locks. The reason I'm having trouble with the parking lights is because the unit that I received does not have a brown wire that I can use for the lights. The manual references a brown wire that does not exist. After calling support they stated they had never seen this and I would have to call Customer Service to get another wire harness to fix this. This is just the first of many questions that the technical support person should have been able to answer.

For example I asked him if the wires went in order according to the order they are listing in the manual so I could figure which one should be the brown wire. He stated that they are not, but if fact after double checking they are in order. It appears that my unit has 2 black ground wires. Now it's up to me to figure out which one should be the brown light wire. I also asked about which guide I should reference for the resistors used for the door locks and the answer he gave me was way off base and I would have to be an idiot to not follow the special notes on the wiring diagram which spells out the special resistors for the door locks.
Hope this helps your decision process!
-Ben

I'm an electrician so installation was pretty easy - about 2 hours (no T harness). Once you have your vehicles wiring diagram, just match up colors and away you go. Works fine but the transmitting range is no where near 400', more like 60' from inside a house with car in garage.

One other note: I got this for xmas 2008 and wanted to use a "T" harness for my 2003 GM minivan. The model # is GM1-T harness. Absolutley NO one has this particular harness in stock and some companies say it's discontinued. This harness is the most widely used for GM vehicles and it's discontinued? Splicing was the only option which does take longer.