Remote Starter is in!

[scooter70]

Ok, it only took ~5 hours including slacking off and coming in from the cold.  The Bulldog instructions were pretty good and the wiring color chart from their website was right on.  I had some doubts half way through, but now everything works.

 

I know that there were some people who wanted feedback on it, so if you want, I could put a webpage together with some notes and tips.  I don't have a digital camera, so there's no pics.  I can scan the manuals if you want.

 

My degree is mechanical engineering, but I've done my share of electronics too.  (I did have my friend with a MS in EE over for a little while though)  I'd say that if you've installed a stereo system (but not just a plug and play head unit), you could probably handle this.  You do have to understand how the electrical system of your truck works.

 

After installing the Bulldog, I would recommend it to anyone who wants one.  The installation process was pretty well documented.  They even included a video.

 

If someone wants more details or needs help, let me know.

[duplantisjj]

Yes, Please post any good or bad points you incurred during the install.  I'm particularly interested in that Passlock module which you had to order separately.  Were there good instructions on what to tap that one into?  

 

You said that midway through you had some doubts,,, what kind of snag caused those doubts?  I know that tapping into that wiring harness has to be intimidating.   :0  :0

 

I've connected many stereos in my day (not the plug and play variety) and I steal have a few doubts about jumping into my new rigs harness.  But dang those Bulldogs have good prices.  

[scooter70]

One thing that I noticed is that the instructions tell you not to cut the wires that you're tapping into, but splice into them by peeling back the insulation.

 

The only wire that had to be cut was the one for the Passlock module.  What you do is locate the Passlock wire coming from the key switch and cut it in two.  Then insert the module between the two ends.  Then the module just gets a power and a ground wire, and one wire to the Bulldog unit.  The 791 module learns the code that your key gives the Passlock module and when the remote starter is triggered, it just sends the appropriate signal.

 

Cutting this wire is where I got a little scared.  But I jumped the two wires with a paperclip after I wired in the harness and the truck started, so I was happy.

 

All in all, I'm happy with how the install went and with the final product.  I was a bit leery about doing it, but now that it's done, I'd have no problem doing it again.  Bulldog has great support, but the most helpful thing was the sire color chart which contains locations of where the wires were. Without this, I don't think I would have had the patience to do it.

 

As far as things to note....  most of the wires can be tapped into right underneath the steering column.  There is the BCM (body control module) there which controls most of the interior functions of the truck.  That's where you get the wires for power locks and the Passlock wire.  For the parking lights, I had to pull the switch out of the dash and get into the wire right before the connector that goes to the switch.

 

Hope this helps.  Let me know if I can help more.  I'll consider this my major contribution to the Forum.   ;)