Remote start questions...
 

Last year I had a Clifford Matrix remote start/alarm system installed in my 1987 560SEL. The system was installed by a Clifford certified installer and everything has worked fine from day one with one exception. When I remote start the car the climate control does not come on. As soon as I put in the key and turn it to ignition, the climate control starts. While this is not the end of the world by any means, being able to warm up/cool down the interior of the car was the whole point of getting a remote start installed.

Today (finally) I decided to look into it. This was probably not a great idea, because I really don't know these systems too well.

I found a wire coming from the alarm harness going to fuse 17 or 18 (the one that the stereo/cig lighter, etc are on) and removed it. After doing so the stereo does not come on with remote start (that's a good thing, as I have no need for music until I'm in the car.) I then attached the same wire to fuse 5 (climate control) but still, nothing happens.

That's about as far as I'm willing to go without some expert advice. Does anybody know what I need to do to fix this minor problem? If anyone has access to a Clifford install manual, that would be great as well!

Thanks!

Do you know if the wire you switched from fuse 17 to fuse 5 was supplying power to the fuse or powering the remote start unit from the fuse?

Seems to me that you have to trace the wire from the remote start unit to the fuel pump relay (fuse 15) and somehow relay the ACC fuse (fuse 5) to be powered when the fuel pump relay is powered by the remote start unit. Make sure the circuits are decoupled when you start the car with the key.

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

Okay, I took care of it today.

Thanks for your reply, Sixto.
I should have been more clear...the wire I moved was energized by the remote start unit. Basically, when the car is remote started, that wire gets power.

I asked some friends and one of them had the answer. I wish that I had figured it out myself, because although everything now works correctly, I don't understand why.
I was told to put the energized wire back where I found it (fuse 17) and add another energized wire to fuse 16. It makes no sense to me at all, but it works, so that's the bottom line.

If anyone here can explain this, I'd really like to understand it.

Thanks again!

If I could read the @#$%^&! text in the @#$%^&! scans in the @#$%^&! factory CD manual I might be able to help you.

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

Don't get me started... :rolleyes:

My friend that helped me gave me a wire color code/usage chart (for Mercedes, not the alarm system) and highlighted a few wires. He's a great guy but I can never understand his English, I usually just nod.

I'll locate that chart and let you know what he highlighted. Perhaps that will shed some light on this.

Okay, I found the wiring info my friend gave me. Reading it, I think I might understand.

He highlighted the following:
pink/black-Ignition (fuse 16)
pink/yellow-Accessory (fuse 17)

So, how about this: A wire which is energized when the remote start is activated needs to be run to the accessory and ignition wires in order to power the items that are normally powered when the key is in one of those positions. The fact that the pink/yellow wire happens to go to the fuse for the stereo is merely coincidence.

Is that possibly the answer?

I have a question that's off topic. I have a Clifford Sabre II alarm in my car with the remote starter feature. My battery keeps draining. Have you ever had that problem? I'm wondering if my alarm system could be the culprit.

Here is a picture of unit:
http://img76.echo.cx/img76/3407/dsc033174cu.jpg