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It's beyond me why anyone would want to start a car before they got into it, but if you're looking for an interesting aftermarket mod for the next car show, this prepaid wireless remote car starter is just the thing. [via engadget]
Prepaid wireless remote car starter
Posted by Adam Flaherty |
Jan 22, 2010 04:00 AM
Arduino, Cellphones, Electronics, Mobile, hacks |
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Why would anyone want to start their car before getting in?
how about 15˚F, don't for get your booties its' cold outside.
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The aim of starting a car before getting in is just security. In countries with terrorist groups (like Spain, Ireland, etc...) attacks with bombs beneath the car are usual; bombs explode with the movement of the engine starting. With this you can "check" it before getting in.
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Doubt it's for "anti-bomb" countermeasure....it would be too easy to wire a bomb to trigger off motion, or a "break-circuit wire" through a u-joint/drive-axle, or the brake lights, etc.
Car starters are for convenience in certain climates/circumstances.
D.
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Sorry,
But this method IS the way "they" now set off car bombs as the unsuspecting victims drive through to a more crowded civilian area for more collateral damage.
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When it's really cold (-35 C), you can't even really drive until the car has warmed up a little bit. The windows can fog/frost up as soon as you exhale (depending on humidity) and pose a real danger, and most cars don't start to produce any degree of defrost heat for several long minutes.
I also had a good reason with my last car...at the end of it's lifespan, the automatic transmission was a little dodgy and would stick gears when it was cold after a winter night. Basically, it needed 2-3 minutes to stir up the transmission fluid or there was a serious risk of stalling when sitting still in gear (i.e. at lights or exiting driveway).
I always tried to limit the amount I used it (since it was wasteful on gas and emissions). I see a lot of people who use their car starters for comfort though, and that annoys me (such as using it on a day that's only just below zero).
D.
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Sounds great until random telemarketer call starts up your car. (yes, I get them on my cellphone from time to time even though its illegal in my state to telemarket to cellphones and I'm on all the DO NOT CALL lists...)
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