General Question

SABOTEUR's avatar

Is the installation of an auto alarm/remote starter causing my check engine light to come on?

Asked by SABOTEUR (14420points) June 23rd, 2010
5 responses
“Great Question” (0points)

Recently had an auto alarm (Viper – 5901 Responder LC3 SST Security/Remote Start System) installed on my 2001 Dodge Caravan. Alarm works great, but I’m now getting a check engine panel light. I started seeing this light soon after using the remote starter function. Can the use of the remote starter and the check engine light be related?

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Answers

Adirondackwannabe's avatar

Check engine is usually emission related isn’t it? I don’t know how the alarm was installed but unless some electrical malfunction is occurring I’d say unrelated.

MaryW's avatar

Bad electrical connection ? sometimes check engine comes on when there is not an error message for the problem.

SABOTEUR's avatar

Yes, @MaryW, I’m suspecting that myself. A brief GOOGLE scan revealed other auto alarm/remote start owners experiencing similar problems. I haven’t done any indepth investigation but it kind of looks like some electronics were installed incorrectly. Was kind of hoping a jelly had more specific information I could take back to the installer for correction.

Thanks for responding!

IchtheosaurusRex's avatar

The best way to find out is to read out your OBDII scan codes to see what the computer thinks the problem is. You can borrow an OBD II scanner at an AutoZone store or buy one if you have a few bucks to spend. Once you get the codes, you can look them up on the Internet. I would suggest you go back to the shop that installed the alarm armed with this information, so they can’t weasel out of fixing the issue for you.

SABOTEUR's avatar

Excellent advice, @IchtheosaurusRex.

There is a bit of solace with the realization that other people have experienced similar problems, so I beg to differ with you on one point. I invested 3 days and a small fortune for the purchase and installation of that auto alarm. There were no “check engine light occurances” prior to installation so, information or no, they ain’t weaseling out of correcting the problem.

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