Marty86

I thought I'd throw these out there, as I'm saving for my first diesel.

A friend of mine was telling me about remote start, and how it normally shuts the truck off once you open the door (to prevent someone stealing it). When I do this in the morning, then open the door, it'd shut the truck down, so isn't that bad to be idling like that warming it up, then shutting it down?

After driving, say 30 miles (my commute to work), how long should I let it idle once I get to work, or does the 5 red lights I have to hit before getting to work, suffice?

What other type of operations like these should I know about, that differs from the gasser.

donnee

Post your signature so we can tell what your running.
If you dont have them, gauges should be done.
The egt should be at 300 or lower to be safe.
If no gauges, idling for about two minutes should be enough.

dale29

If you are getting a newer model (04.5 to present) I wouldn't worry about remote start. If you live in AK or Northern Canada you might want a block heater but that's probably not necessary either (yes I live in TX but, I spent 1/2 of this past winter in Boston, and Winnipeg, lots of 5 to -10 degree nights with no problems). I have had mine for about a year now (46k miles) and have found it to be extremely dependable.

steelblitzkrieg

Every remote start that I have encountered keeps the vehicle running, but the steering is locked to prevent theft, have they changed them?

I don't idle mine down purposefully unless I've done something other than normal day to day driving. I park in my driveway leave it running while I change from my sunglasses to regular glasses then shut her down on regular days, but that's just a habit to keep cool from the AC when it's hot out. I think my only idle downs I have done were after driving 400 miles at 85mph and when I have the truck loaded for camping or loaded with firewood.

The manuals state something like a 20 second idle down if you were driving a long distance IIRC?

Marty86

I don't own one yet. Thats why I'm asking all this before I buy.

I plan on getting either a 97, or a 02. Whichever I happen to find once I have the money. I'm asking these kind of questions because I want to know the information before I buy.

The steering lock makes sense, because you'd have to put the key in to unlock it.

DMcPherson

actually 99 % of them shut off when you touch the brake pedal which would stop yo ufrom putting it in gear. the steering lock is easy to overcome.
I love my remote start by the way.

pwirch

I've never heard of one shutting the truck down when you open the door. Sounds to me like they tapped the wrong wire and got the dome light wire instead of the brake light wire. I've got a Viper and it only shuts down if you pop the hood or touch the brakes which is required to get it out of park so the truck isn't going anywhere without the keys.

dslchk_cowgirl

I have an 01, and I will usually let it idle for about a minute after driving too/from work (20 mile commute). The only time I let it idle after that is if I've done a lot of driving and the temp has risen some. I have a pyro on the truck so I'll let it drop to at least 300 before I shut down.

DMcPherson

I have ot let my truck idle for about 3-4 minutes even from normal driving. and I dont get below 400, even after 20 minutes it wont idle lower than 375 so I shut down after a minute or 2 when it gets down to about 400

pwirch

If you get a TST it has a timer on it. My truck runs until I get to 320 and then it shuts down. I get a lot of looks when I jump out and walk away with it still running. Sometimes it shuts down in 10 seconds, sometimes it takes a couple minutes. However long it takes to get it below 320.

2500Ram

x2,

My 02 is hard to get below 400* Autometer ultra lite pre turbo while idling. So I let it get just below the 400* mark and shuter down. Sometimes 20 seconds, other times 2-5 minutes if pulling our TT.

Good luck and enjoy the shopping process.