compustar remote start confirmation lights not flashing

Not sure if this is the correct spot to post this, but I have a question and I don't trust my local installer.

I had a pretty basic one way compustar remote starter installed a few weeks ago and i've noticed some odd behavior. when the light switch (on the turn signal stalk) is turned off, the parking lights flash when I lock or unlock the car. However, when the switch is turned on (but the lights are off, which is what happens after the door is opened) the parking lights don't flash to confirm the doors are locked or unlocked. so i have to make sure i manually turn off the lights or else i won't be able to tell from a distance if the signal went through to lock or unlock the doors.

I complained to my installer about this and he basically said it has nothing to do with the wiring on the compustar and that it is the way the computer module in the tacoma works. I don't really trust this guy because he has been completely full of shit on some other issues.

does anyone know? is it possible to have the lights flash to confirm lock/unlock status even when the light switch is turned to on? if so, do you know how to wire this?



thanks for any insights

 

Your installer is correct, if you leave your light switch in the on position, when you open your door, your computer shuts off that circuit which is the same circuit that your installer tied into to perform the lights flash. Have your installer install a nite light dei 545T auto lights which will allow your lights to become auto and will not need your light switch on so your alarm light flash will always work.

J

 

It's because his installer was lazy and decided to tap off the incorrect wiring. Instead of coming off the stalk, he should have tapped off the wiring at the fuse box. This would allow normal operation of all lights and the remote lock/unlock would flash the parking lights regardless of the light switch on the stalk.

There's no need to install any other modules. Just correct the wiring and you'll get your auto headlights back.

 

In my opinion as a former-retired installer, his installer did the correct install. He tapped into the negative control wiring that controls the parking light relay. The other way is tapping into the positive side of the relay output. This will work but draws more current thru the alarm brain since the brain is directly supplying the lights instead of a low current relay and also allows the possibility of a thief to short the alarm easier.

I am not saying either way is totally correct as all installers do it different and still can be effective.

Calling a installer lazy based on this particular wire hookup is ignorant. Not soldering wires and not hiding the brain can be called lazy but that has not been mentioned.

Good luck
J

 

And by the way, leaving the stalk with the headlight in the on position is not auto lights, the opening of the door kill switch is a safety feature to ensure you don't kill your battery.

Auto lights, automatically come on when the windshield wipers r used or when the light outside gets dim/dark and go off when not needed. Unfortunately my 2008 did not come with auto lights.

J

 

It's lazy because he should have spent the time to go over the specific vehicle diagram to find the correct wiring to tap from. If it had been wired correctly the first time, this thread wouldn't exist.

I was referring to the auto shut off feature. You telling someone to spend more money installing another product when not necessary is what I would consider ignorant.

 

It is the right wire. It is also the best option to not have your alarm brain subject to higher amperage and more chance of a thief shorting your brain out.

There are many ways to skin a cat and still not be lazy as long as the cat is skinned.

Also with this setup, if your main battery is disabled, your backup battery will last longer before being depleted.

J

 

It's simple logic. If the current wire that's tapped does NOT flash when the system is armed/disarmed, then the wire is not the correct wire. For other vehicles that don't have the shut off circuit, the wire would be acceptable.

Any installer worth his money would cater to the customer's needs and not simply brush it off unless he knew for a fact that it's not possible. In this case, the installer didn't want to spend the time to correct the wiring.

 

I will leave it at this, I will agree to disagree, I would not advise anyone to use a safety feature of the truck as a normal practice, if you want true auto lights buy a ridgeline or have the proper module installed to get auto lights.

Using negative input control wires is what is taught in master certifications as these are low current which extends the life of the alarm brain and the brain is protected by a relay form theives being able to directly short the brain.

Now if this was discussed with the installer prior to installation and the customer let the installer know that he wished to use a safety circuit but still wanted his lights to flash than I put it on the installer.

The other issue is if the installer used a communication module which communicates with the computer bus line to provide the input and outputs then this option may not be available unless customer wanted to pay the cost to hardware the wires directly.

I have been out of the certified alarm/audio realm for some years so I don't know if there is a bus line communication module available for the Tacoma, I hard wired mine.

Anything is possible in this world, we don't know if he paid for a anything is possible install or just a slam bam thank you mam install.

I never installed compustar alarms, dei alarms have selectable positive/negative light flash output, but some alarms are only negative output and to enable a positive output would require a relay and additional wiring which may cost the customer more money to have it hooked up that way.

J

 

didn't mean to start an argument.

thanks for all the details though, thats helpful. good to know my installer didn't completely screw it up.


thanks again

 

Just had the Compustar Pro T11 system installed in my 2015 Tacoma Double Cab. So far not very pleased with this system. I have had a few compustar systems in the past, and everything was great. Thinking the installer took too many shortcuts on this thing (im also a "retired" installer)

a few issues:
the lights do not flash for acknowledgement of locking or unlocking.

The "chirp" also does not work when locking or unlocking

the domelight does not come on when unlocking the doors.

 

I have arctic start.. I think it's the same as compustar.. Mine has all bells whistles, options and features... Even drone... My installer is genius and everything works perfect...so it's possible.. Couple of your complaints are in settings

 

Yes, arctic start is a compustart model. My truck is going back to the dealer on Tuesday. If they dont get it squared away, im having them remove the entire system.