Hey guys,

New to this thread and only bought my truck two weeks ago. This forum has already provided a ton of insight and hopefully provide assistance in the future.

Aster reading a few of the threads on installing the remote start keys/kit I decided to order them. They are coming in tomorrow and it is pretty straight forward. The only portion I can't do is the ability to get in the computer settings to activate. I've called two dealers in the Atlanta area who want to charge an hour labor to activate which ranges from $110-$130. Does this seem high? Seems I may be out of luck. One of the service techs said last time he did it they had to change a bunch of settings in the computer and it took forty five minutes. He said if it took only ten minutes he would not charge me that much. Any ideas to get around their high cost to activate?

 

My dealer only wants $90 to do the entire install! They're raping you. There shouldn't be any settings for them to change other than turning on the remote start activation. I'd call around to a few more dealers.

 

It is a process that takes 2 minutes assuming the dealer knows what they are doing and they are only doing the activation.

 

Three dealers called and they've all said at least an hour labor. They said they don't do a lot of these.. I wonder if there are any dealer specific install instructions I could provide to show them it's not that complicated

 

Finally found a dealer who cut me a "deal" for fifty dollars.. case closed! Let's hope it goes well..

 

Here's a trick for future installs... Go to Ford Accessories website and select the accessory you purchased (as if you're going to purchase it there). In small print under the product listing it says, "Get local pricing". Insert the zip code and select your preferred dealer and the labor to install price is listed. I showed this to my dealer and what a shocker!! He says, "Ok so if Ford says that's what it costs then that's what you'll pay". I could tell he wasn't happy. In my region the whole install and programming and key cutting is $78. LOL

 

I called the dealers in my area. Ranged from 60-120.

 

That is a great piece of advise!! May try it now and see if any of the closer dealers show a lower cost through Ford's website and then ask them again what their cost to activate and/or install are..

 

If you have it with your kit you bought. Bring the instructions with you. I had to do that even though the service manager said the tech knew how to activate it. The tech didn't and was shock to see how easy it was to do. They charged me $75 but other shop wanted $96

 

I must be lucky. The parts guy I bought my stuff from didn't charge me anything to activate the remote start and cut the keys. He said he includes that when you buy from him. And yes, his cost to me for the parts was the same as any other reasonable dealer, just no additional labor