JScullin Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 So for Xmas I was gifted a remote start for my '13 Fusion. I did some looking around and it would seem there are 3 options available. • Your basic short-range model for $400 installed • The bi-directional that tells you the car started w/out seeing it, and has longer range ($500 installed) • Mr. Fancy Pants option that lets me use my phone to start and lock/unlock and alerts me to a tripped alarm ($800+$50/yr) I called a couple Ford dealers around me to ask some questions and all steered me away from the factory kits because people were unhappy with them. They said they go with an aftermarket guy who comes in and it ranges from $500-600 installed. But from what I could understand, they were unsure if this lets me configure the remote-starter options that are opened in the drivers info screen in the gauges (set warm-up time, rear defrost, seat warmers 1 or 2, etc). In fact, one told me that the bi-directional option was a pain to install and the cost would be more. WTF?? A cursory Youtube search shows them installing the bi-directional model in an F150 in 5 minutes. It literally plugs right in behind the glovebox and a tech programs the system after. Is this just some local kick-back thing or are they really having issues with the kits Ford says are compatible on their site? My next call is going to be Ford customer care on Monday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hermans Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 I had the Ford bi-directional installed by the dealer after my FFH arrived for a total of $350. Works great-no issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YT90SC Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 The F-150 kit is totally different from the Fusion. All add on fob RMST kits from Ford are reboxed from Audiovox. True "factory" kit where the RMST is in the keyhead (like F-150) is a simple install, the Fusion kit is not. Most dealers lose money in the long run on Audiovox units as they are on the hook when they malfunction, so it is easier to farm it out and let the aftermarket take the hit when they break. Most techs are the same way. Don't want to lose money on the install, don't want to be on the hook when they break. Personally, I don't want to be on the hook when the customer is P.O.ed that the Ford kits are MyKey tolerant and the customer gets mad at me because they are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
92merc Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 I've always been a big fan of the Viper brand remote starters. But I haven't seen a model yet that works with the factory push button start. Not sure if the aftermarket companies have figured out how to interface to the new connector or what. But living up here in the frigid tundra of the USA, I need a remote starter with page back and decent range. As long as I can do that with a push button start car, I can live without some of the other features. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bucky919 Posted January 6, 2014 Share Posted January 6, 2014 I had the Ford bi-directional installed by the dealer after my FFH arrived for a total of $350. Works great-no issues. I have it also, ya the range isn't a couple miles, but it works. It was the only remote start I could get when I first bought the car so its better than nothing. It took my dealer less than a half hour to install it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theoldwizard Posted January 6, 2014 Share Posted January 6, 2014 Is this just some local kick-back thing or are they really having issues with the kits Ford says are compatible on their site? My next call is going to be Ford customer care on Monday.Yes, the aftermarket has a higher profit margin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JScullin Posted January 6, 2014 Author Share Posted January 6, 2014 This is the most frustratingly drawn out process... I called Ford Cust. Care and they confirmed that the bi-directional kit offered works with my car (they checked by VIN) no question. The dealer now says, or clarified rather, that they use a 3rd party installer to install factory kits—but only the Bronze level starter because the '13 Fusion requires extra parts that Ford hasn't provided yet. The dealer has no problem with me getting confirmation that the kit offered works, me buying it myself and them trying to install it. Just so long as Ford or whomever will take it back if it doesn't. But I also don't want some hack job installation if their installer is this confused over it. It's probably easier at this point to take the parts from a wrecked Ti with keyless entry & remote start and install that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quix Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 What is the option that comes standard on the Titanium? Can't those parts be ordered? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JScullin Posted January 9, 2014 Author Share Posted January 9, 2014 It's the bi-directional style but integrated into the keyless entry fob. It would be great to go that option and have a keyless/push to start kit based off the Ti trim but it's more integrated than a simple ordering of parts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JScullin Posted January 9, 2014 Author Share Posted January 9, 2014 Ordered the bi-directional kit myself and it should be here Monday. Tried calling to make an appt. and nobody is answering or returning my calls. Why am I not surprised. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quix Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 It's the bi-directional style but integrated into the keyless entry fob. It would be great to go that option and have a keyless/push to start kit based off the Ti trim but it's more integrated than a simple ordering of parts. Ahh okay..well best of luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JScullin Posted January 13, 2014 Author Share Posted January 13, 2014 So I've called 4 local dealers and all say they don't install the starters themselves and go through someone else (and those installers "sell" their own kit for $500). And when I called Ford Cust. Care to ask them to find one for me that does she couldn't help me. Best she could do was call the dealer I bought the car from and get an explanation. Service told her the same thing and sent her to sales who deals in the actual ordering and writeup for the customer. They just put her on hold and didn't get back so she hung up. How. The fuck. Is this so difficult to get done? It's a factory fucking part that's made to work with the Fusion (says so right on the fucking box). I want a dealer to install it so it's under warranty through them in case things go wrong. I don't want them passing the buck to some other installer AND saying my warranty is voided. This whole thing wreaks of working on a kickback system that lets the dealer wash their hands of any potential issues and fuck the customer. At this stage I'm looking at driving out of state to find another dealer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JScullin Posted January 15, 2014 Author Share Posted January 15, 2014 Done with this shit. Returned the starter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
broncosCA Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 Honestly man, you're better off without one. I pre-ordered my FFH back in 2012 before they were even out, and it ended up taking forever because they had to install the remote start option. Flash forward to today, I've had the car for just over a year/12k miles and I've already had to have it towed to the dealer TWICE because of a no crank/no start. What does that have to do with the remote start? Well, some BS in there intereferes with the Fusion's start codes. The remote start feature eventually interferes with it, and your car becomes absolutely useless until someone at Ford resets your computer. This time, they told me they installed a BCM software update from Ford that came out about a month ago. We'll see what happens. But if my car shuts down again, that's three times in the shop without being fixed, making it grounds for a lemon law. Bottom line - don't bother. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bdegrand Posted February 12, 2017 Share Posted February 12, 2017 So, let me get an update. We are looking at buying and then add a remote start to a 2017 Fusion SE with push button ignition. Is it still a headache to get dealer to install and what is the cost? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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