Thread: Starting car using computer..

Good and inexpensive mean I want a good balance between price and features/"good"ness, where spending any more or less for a different unit would be foolish.

Now if I had said cheap... :P

Hello Thunderstick,

pleased to see that there is at least on further XJS owner in this Forum.

Mine is a '90 Convertible, so there is plenty of space for the CarPuter plus a small 12AH back-up battery in the 'convenience bay' as the British say (no rear seat).

On the other hand, I have the same problem as you with placement of the display.

My present solution may be seen from the Photos (as you may see from the dates thereof, it was intended as a 'feasability study' and was intended to be supplemented by left and right side members made from wood with holes for extended axes for the heater and fan control), but alas, time is always a problem, so that it is still in the car and in daily use. The box at the rear of the display fits nicely in the DIN frame of the original head unit and houses the motherboard of the Xenarc 700TSV.

The bottom of the Xenarc frame was ground down to the minmum so that it fits snugly into the space
between the plate below the former head unit and the liner thereabove.

Would be interesting to see your solution in front of the ventilators (mine is a little bit to far down).

Best wishes from cat to cat
compucat

get bypass ie this https://www.directedstore.com/cgi-bi...ategory%3DB_IN from directed electronics ie viper clifford alarms

Using a remote start is definitely the way to go.

I have a few suggestions on that side.... when it comes to the software side, I could use a little help.

First off, I think other than "wow" factor, trying to use the computer is just making it more difficult, and in my book, a little less "wow".

A "add on" remote start (designed to be added to an alarm) will initiate the start sequence based on a (-) trigger.

The easiest way to initiate this trigger is by using an RF remote like with a "stand alone" remote starter or a car alarm with remote start.

You could also use RFID to initiate the start sequence using a stand alone rfid receiver.

The steering wheel lock is not an issue for you, but you do need to "take over" from the remote start unit as if it is installed correctly it will shut down after the brake pedal is pressed (of course you could get around this by not hooking up the wire to the brake switch, but the remote start will also time out after 10 - 20 min. If you wanted to integrate your USB or pass code, this would be the place to do it. Use the computer once the code is validated to activate a relay to power the ignition.

A much simpler way what wouldn't use the computer would be to use the wiring for the seat belt idiot light to take over the ignition from the remote start. Simply wire a relay that when grounded by fastening the seat belt powers the ignition. It's something you would do anyway if you typically fasten your seat belt.

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That said, I'm working on something very similar, but from the opposite direction. My carputer is only in the planning stages (it's been there for yours but will be materializing soon).

I have an alarm / remote start that I am looking to get the most computer integration with.

I'm using a Clifford AvantGuard 4 alarm / remote start. It is arguably the best vehicle security system available, and on its own, capable of doing everything you are looking to do. It is discontinued, but can occasionally be found on eBay. The newer and almost just as good Avantguard 5.1 is available from Clifford dealers.

The AvantGuard (AG) series of alarms have a feature called BlackJax which is designed as an anti carjacking feature. If the feature is turned on, any time a door is opened on the vehicle you must enter a code using a switch mounted in the vehicle.

One other feature of the AG series of alarms as well as the other G5 alarms is that it uses a serial data link to a PC. The software that is provided can start the engine, turn lights on and off and activate just about anything that is connected to the alarm.

The Clifford hardware gives you an incredible amount of control. The fact that you can control it with the pc gives you a ton of options if you know software type stuff (which I don’t).

If you are interested, you can download the software here . There is also an "installer" version of the software that does much more than the one in the link.

Hmmmm interesting thread.....

I currently start my car with my PC. I have an aftermarket alarm Falcon Predator with Pager. It has an Aux feature that I use to start the computer so by the time I'm in the car it's already booted up and waiting for my code. It boots straight into my own FE which has a keypad. You type in the code and it sends a command to a USB based relay* in the back. This then activates the start switches. I have two toggle ones and a lit Engine Start button. Each switch is a postion that you turn the key through. Had it in now for a little over a month and has worked perfectly. As p&g customs said, I had to use the transponder bypass module to get it to start but that's not a problem. I do have remote start on my car but I never use it. It's a manual so not really suitable....

*The advantage of this is that if the PC crashes power to the USB devices still gets through so it doesn't immbolise the car. When I was testing it I put the 'KillCar' code in the wrong bit and when I went to play my music everything in the car turned off and had to quickly pull up on teh side of the road. :-D