I know it's cold but...

[03bluP5]

I know this shouldn't be under Idle Chatter but I wanted to get the most exposure and answers if others have this problem. My apologies for "misposting" if it offends anyone.
For the last two days, I can only get my Power Start to respond to the first remote command ie. either unlock the doors or remote start. Sometimes I have to hit the button several times before the signal picks it up, even when it is successful (battery is not low). If I remote start, I have to wait until it shuts down automatically before unlocking the door. Using the secondary remote makes no difference.
I checked the manuals on gitsecurity.com for my 7100 model but there's nothing on "outside operating temperature". I assume this device should work even in -40 degree northern climates but the obvious question is, is it just too damn cold out and it's malfunctioning? Never had this problem last winter and this defeats the purpose of a remote starter.
I'm more than a little uneasy about this as I can't afford to be locked out of my car, or set off the alarm @ 6:15 AM on my way to the gym if I unlock the door with the key. Is anyone else having this trouble?  I haven't bothered Jeff with this in case anyone is wondering...

Thanks in advance.

Mark  http://msg.toprotege.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

[kiwee]

i have the same system as you.
this happened to me yesterday after work.
sitting at my desk i started my car (about 150 feet away, in a building), walking to my car (clear visual site, 20 feet away), tried unlocking the car and it gave me the "out of range" signal, had to hit it 3 times and the third time it worked. today i have had no issues. probably the damn cold and bad weather?

[Scooter]

Hmmm,...sort of like a problem I'm having with my Code alarm.

Lately since it's been really cold, I have to sometimes hit the button a few times to get it to work. Even if I'm reight beside the car. And it's weird, but sometimes when I'm dissarming, it works better if I arm it again, and then dissarm. Or vice versa if I'm trying to arm it.

I don't usually get this problem and have only had it a couple of times lately (never last winter). But I do also find it to be super moody when downtown. I've actually had to set my alarm off to get in the car before. It's like there's too much interference on the frequency in the downtown core.

http://msg.toprotege.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif

[ALS-protege]

I have been having that problem for a LONG time until my last visit with Jeff...
He totally replaced the brain and the antenna previously but still wouldn't work properly and the range sucked.

We thought it was the tint causing it...But Nope...
I would litterally had to be five feet from the car or in worse cases, had to touch the car with the remote over the antenna...

So what he did was Changed the cable between the antenna and the brain of the alarm/remote starter.

And NOW...the Signal is great and I love this Unit now..

Thanks JEFF.....

[03bluP5]

Some interesting and helpful info so far - thanks guys. I'll ask Jeff what he thinks.

Mark

[Fhemto]

I have the same system. I was going back to my car this afternoon and I tried to remote start but it didn't work. I was next to my car and it still wouldn't work. I couldn't even disarm. I unlocked the car using the factory keyless entry. Turned the car on, I tried disarming while I was in my car and it still wouldn't work. I was able to disarm while I was driving on the road 3-5mins later.

[LOCKDOWN]

Hey Guys

These range problems occuring with the PL-7100 could have to do with a number of different variables, but I have a strong feeling that the extreme cold temperatures occuring has something to do with it. I agree that having a remote starter that does not work when it's cold defeats the purpose of having one, BUT these temperatures occuring have been the extreme and not the usual norm. My suggestion for the time being is continue to use the systems and note any problems and symptoms ( when it's happened, where it's happened ) during this cold spell we are having. Once the weather breaks and the temps rise a bit then note if these problems are still happening. If they are then give me a call (416)-919-1538 and we will book a time to bring the vehicles in to diagnose exactly what is going on with the system. I do however believe once these extreme cold temps go away that these issues should be gone as well.

Regards

Jeff Bates
LOCKDOWN Enterprises Inc.

[Scooter]

Hey Jeff - Any suggestions on my Code alarm going wonky whenever I'm downtown. It works everywhere else, but tends to be moody when I'm downtown. It just doesn't respond. Could it have to do with the frequency. Can they be re-programmed to another frequency.

Any ideas?

Edit - FYI, it's the Elite 1100 model

[LOCKDOWN]

Hey Scooter

Downtown is notorious for alarm range and frequency problems, especially near the CN Tower. Most alarms won't work at all near the Tower due to the extremely high powered radio signals coming off it. The other issue has to do with the high volume of tall buildings and radio interference from these buildings which can make your code alarm not work properly. Unfortunately there is nothing that you can really do to get around this problem other than trying another brand of system which may or may not have the same exact issues. As I said, most alarms will not function to their highest range and capabilities when used downtown.

[03bluP5]

Thanks Jeff, and everyone else, for the info.
So I'm hoping for milder weather and will let you know Jeff how the system behaves when the temps return to normal (like -10 I guess for this time of year).
I wonder how our northern and western friends are doing with these or similar units? It gets -40 in their part of the world this time of year (although earlier this week it was 9 degrees above and balmy in Cowgary). You'd think the manufacturer could make these to work to as low as -40/50 to accommodate - I mean this IS Canada after all.
I knew it was really cold this morning when I turned on the kitchen faucet and it took a few seconds before the water started running. First time I've seen this since I was a kid living near Peterborough, but we would go days without water there due to total pipe freeze up.

Cheers, Mark

[Scooter]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (LOCKDOWN-P5 @ Jan. 16 2004,02:45)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Hey Scooter

Downtown is notorious for alarm range and frequency problems, especially near the CN Tower....[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Thanks for the reply Jeff. And I think you're exactly right,...now that I think back, the times that I've had problems downtown have been when I was parked right near the CN Tower.

Again, thanks for your help http://msg.toprotege.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif

[kiwee]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Scooter @ Jan. 16 2004,11:26)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (LOCKDOWN-P5 @ Jan. 16 2004,02:45)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Hey Scooter

Downtown is notorious for alarm range and frequency problems, especially near the CN Tower....[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Thanks for the reply Jeff. And I think you're exactly right,...now that I think back, the times that I've had problems downtown have been when I was parked right near the CN Tower.

Again, thanks for your help  http://msg.toprotege.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
my buddy had parked right by the cn tower and couldn't get into his car, he had to have it towed 5km down front street and then disarm it. cn tower sucks for that! hehehe!

[Scooter]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (kiwee @ Jan. 16 2004,8:47)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">my buddy had parked right by the cn tower and couldn't get into his car, he had to have it towed 5km down front street and then disarm it. cn tower sucks for that! hehehe![/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
that sucks man.

Well as mentioned, I actually had to set my alarm when parked downtown, just to get in (on two occasions, both of which were right by the CN Tower). Luckily once I opened the door and the alarm activated, I was able to dissarm it with the remote. I was hoping that would work,...otherwise I would have been screwed, 'cause it was pretty freakin dark out and I would have had a hell of a time trying to get to the brain and de-activate it.

[03bluP5]

I have proven this issue to be cold weather related, as best I can. Last week during the slight &quot;warm spell&quot; the unit performed as it should. Now that it's cold again, it's retarded once more.
I think the company making these should take ownership to ensuring they can endure CANADIAN winters, not some California temperatures. This is really pissing me off and looks ridiculous to friends and co-workers who say &quot;what's the sense of having a remote starter that doesn't work when you really need it???&quot;

Mark http://msg.toprotege.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif