Author: Matt Blesi

6-2-17  It seems like it’s been a long time coming but summer has finally made an appearance.  The Memorial Weekend weather was nice but we needed to get to June to see some actual heat.  We are fielding calls this time of year for both air conditioning service and remote car starter installs.  Just as we don’t like getting in a cold car in the winter, we also don’t like getting in a hot car in the summer!  Give us a call if we can help with either issue.  In the meantime, HAPPY SUMMER!

3-22-17  Good news for owners of German vehicles!  We now offer the industry’s first complete solution designed to enable remote start directly from your factory key fob using the 3x Lock feature on select Volkswagen and Audi models from 2006 and up.  This is done through a plug and play t-harness for seamless, no cut installation.  Just select your favorite remote pack and we’ll do the rest!  These systems no longer require the loss of a key in the installation process.  Please contact us to see if you vehicle is compatible!

Happy spring!  

1-13-17  Our beautiful fall turned into a very cold winter.  We’ve certainly experienced below zero temperatures and wind chills before but my question is:  How did we survive before remote car starters?  I know my winter blues would be much worse without my remote starter.  Scraping windows and pushing snow are not my idea of fun.

We continue to add new vehicles to our remote start lineup on a weekly basis.  The 2017 model year is in full swing and technology has improved to allow us to install remote starters in more and more BMW’s and Mercedes Benz models.  Check with us if we didn’t have an application for your vehicle in the past.  We may have one now.

Most of all:  Stay warm and carry on!

Happy New Year!

11-10-16  It’s been quite a year!  The Cubs won the World Series and the Twin Cities metro area hasn’t had a hard frost as of November 10th.  Crazy!  While the warm weather has been nice, I can’t help but wonder if we will pay for it in a few months?  There’s no question that the beginning of remote start season has been delayed but living in Minnesota we know the season will eventually come.  Needless to say, it’s best to be prepared.  Call us now if you want to be ahead of the weather!

In the meantime, have a wonderful Thanksgiving and a Happy Holiday season!

4-27-16  Good news!  We now have a solution for installing remote starters in the 2015 and 2016 Nissan Rogues.

Previous installations for this vehicle required the customer to supply an extra key/key fob for the vehicle that had to be used in the installation and could not be returned to the customer.  That is no longer necessary.  Standard installation will now integrate into the vehicle without using a losing a key or key fob.

Please  contact us if you’ve been eagerly awaiting this improvement and we will get you taken care of.

Technology truly changes on a daily basis.

3-2-16  Many customers have purchased DroneMobile remote start systems from Dealer Automotive Services.  For that reason, we wanted to pass on to you the information we have received on the retirement of the older models of the DroneMobile units.  Here is what we know from Firstech/Compustar:

In an effort to focus on faster 3G and 4G networks, AT&T will fully retire 2G in the U.S.A. by January 2017. DroneMobile by Firstech/Compustar is offering free hardware upgrades for qualifying U.S. customers affected by this network shutdown.  If you or your business is located in the USA and uses DroneMobile hardware that is powered by AT&T’s 2G network, you will be affected by this sunset.

The following DroneMobile models are powered by AT&T’s 2G network:  DR1000 (sold from 2009-2012), DR2000 (sold from 2011-2014), DR3000 (sold from 2013-2015).

Firstech/Compustar is committed to making sure that its customers enjoy the benefits of their DroneMobile systems.  Unfortunately, that will not be possible with AT&T 2G hardware in the USA.  For this reason, Firstech/Compustar is launching its DroneMobile Swapout Campaign, which will provide customers in the USA with a free DR3400 hardware upgrade when they subscribe to a new 1 year premium, 3 year premium or 3 year basic subscription.  

Click this link if you would like to take advantage of this offer from Firstech/Compustar:  

http://www.dronemobile.com/2g-sunset/

Once you receive your new hardware from Firstech/Compustar, please contact our sales staff to schedule an appointment for us to swap out your equipment.  There is a $50 charge for installing the new hardware.

Please let us know if you have any questions. 

1-13-16  After a warm start to the winter we sure have cooled down.  It certainly makes me glad I have a remote starter and many other people are feeling that way too.  Our phones are steadily ringing with calls for information about remote starters.  The Smart Phone controlled remote starters have been very popular this year as well as the 2 Way One Button systems.

We’re now seeing a higher number of 2016 vehicles and our manufacturers are working hard to stay up to date with their wiring diagrams.  New vehicles are added each month so check back with us if a remote start wasn’t available for your vehicle previously.

As we head into 2016 we extend our wishes to all of you for a safe and prosperous new year!  Thank you for being a fan of Dealer Automotive Services!

12-9-15  We sure have had mild weather for November and so far this December.  It’s been nice not to have to break out the heavy winter coat but it sure feels strange.  Our chances for a white Christmas seem pretty low at this point but let’s face it:  This is Minnesota and the weather can change on a dime.

Even with the mild weather we’re still seeing demand for remote car starters.  It may not be snowing but scraping windows in the morning is still a chore. Many customers are taking advantage of having the rear defrost on their cars turn on automatically when the car is remote started and the outside temperature is below 40 degrees.  This is an optional feature that can be added to any Compustar unit for just $50.  It sure comes in handy.

As Christmas approaches we also want to remind our customers that we have gift certificates available for any denomination and product we carry.  A remote starter is a great gift for that special person in your life.

We are grateful for your business and wish everyone a very Merry Christmas!

10-19-15  As we head into the 2015/2016 remote start season we decided it was time to update the look of our web site.  We wanted to provide you, our customer, with an easy to navigate site that laid out products in a clear and concise manner and we think we’ve done that.  Look around and let us know if you see something you’d like changed or added.  We are always open to suggestions from our customers.  Use the Contact page under Company Info to email us at any time.

Our remote start line up continues to include all levels and types of remote starters.  From base model units to the top of the line, there’s something available for everyone.

There’s no way to know what our El Nino weather is going to bring this winter but being prepared with a remote starter is the first line of defense.  Heated seats, heated wipers and heated windshield washer fluid can’t hurt either!  We look forward to fulfilling all your automotive accessory needs.

Once again, welcome to REMOTESTARTPROS.COM!

7-15-15  It’s that time of year again:  back to school sales have started and we’re dreading the end of summer.  Other than a few humid days, it’s been a nice year.

As we look to the fall, we are currently reviewing all of the new vehicles for 2015 and 2016 and evaluating remote start products for them.  While the basic concept of remote starters is the same, the features and technology with them do change each year.  We will stay on top of the new products and post the new ones as soon as they are available.

Enjoy the rest of your summer!

5-8-15  Backup safety systems are becoming more and more popular and once again the manufacturers are taking a cue from the aftermarket industry by equipping more and more new cars with backup systems.  They are now doing what we’ve been doing for many years!

Keep in mind that not all backup systems are the same.  Some offer camera systems, some offer sensing systems.  The picture from camera systems can be viewed on a screen in the dash or in the rear view mirror.  Some can also be viewed in side view mirrors.  Sensing systems require sensors to be installed in the bumper and they will beep as you approach an obstacle.  Both systems have their pros and cons.

Call us at 952-933-3575 and we will discuss the benefits with you.

4-8-15  As we wind down the remote start season, we are on the look out for new products to offer our customers.  One new product that we are currently introducing is Blind Spot Detection Systems.  These systems aid drivers by sensing when it’s safe to change lanes and alerting you when it’s not.  This product has been available on new vehicles for the past few years but this is the first time aftermarket systems have been available.  We are installing them for $699.50 and have them in stock.  Please contact us if you’d like more information.

We’re hoping for some heat as we head into spring and summer and put the winter cold behind us.  Remote start season will be back again before we know it.

1-9-15  It’s the middle of January and I feel like the winter has flown by!  Our November snow and cold temperatures jump started the remote start season and we haven’t slowed down since.  December brought the Christmas rush and the New Year came in with a bang.

We spoke to many customers this Holiday season that were referred to us by their friends and family or by their mechanic or local garage.  We are grateful to all of our customers and certainly do appreciate the referrals.  We pride ourselves on quality work and like to think that’s part of the reason why we’ve been here since 1976.

While we do the majority of our remote starters during the November to January rush, the reality is that remote starters are great year round and we install them every day throughout the year.  I heard from a number of customers that we installed remote starters for in previous years who have now sold those cars. They told me that having the remote starter in the car increased it’s resale value and helped sell the car.  Now they were back for a remote start in their new car.  We’re glad to help in both cases.

Thanks again for your patronage and best wishes for a Prosperous New Year!

11-11-14  After 2 days of hype, the first snow storm of the season came in with a bang! Here in Hopkins, MN we ended up with approximately 3″ of snow and 1″ of freezing rain.  My car was covered in solid ice when I left work last night. Fortunately for me, my remote starter was put to good use and was already melting the ice on the windshield by the time I came out to work on the side windows.  I wish I had a remote starter to melt the ice on my driveway at home!

Needless to say, yesterdays weather prompted hundreds of calls asking about remote starters.  We’re happy to help everyone we talk to and always like to remind people that the sooner you get here the better.  We just get busier and busier with each snow fall.

Happy Winter to All!

8-27-14  It seems like just yesterday we were eagerly awaiting the coming of summer and Memorial Day weekend festivities.  Now the State Fair is in full swing and Labor Day is just around the corner.  Time just flies by much too fast!

We are now in the process of putting together our line up of remote starters for the winter season.  We don’t expect our line up to change very much but we are constantly looking for new technology and new applications.  We will keep you posted as news breaks.

In the meantime, enjoy what’s left of the summer!

5-29-14  Summer is here and that means the classic car shows are getting under way.  Once again this year we will have our booth set up at the Back to the 50’s show at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds on June 20th through the 22nd.  If you’re at the show we’d love to see you.  Our booth is located on the west side of Cooper Street between Dan Patch and Wright Ave.  The show is always fun and the cars are beautiful. We hope to see you there.

Happy Summer!

4-25-14  We met with a vendor this week that turned out to also be a customer.  (I love it when that happens!)  We had installed a remote starter for him back in 2008.  He loves his remote starter and says it has always worked great.  In fact, he mentioned that he almost loves the remote starter more in the summer than the winter (he did stress almost).

He spends most of his time driving from customer to customer and is constantly in and out of his car.  He has leather seats in his car and a dark interior.  Needless to say, his interior gets beastly hot in the summer.  To beat the heat he remote starts his car before getting in.  He never sits on a hot seat and he’s always comfortable greeting customers.

That’s the beauty of remote starters.  They’re great year-round.

Let’s hope summer actually gets here!

3-14-14  The winter of 2013/2014 will go down as one of the coldest on record in the state of Minnesota.  The cold and snow certainly made it difficult to get out and about.  But having a remote car starter definitely helped ease the effects of the cold.  Many customers commented that they felt better able to cope with the cold once their remote starter was installed.  We’re glad to help!

Our vendors are slowly catching up on releasing back ordered parts and our technicians are enjoying some much needed rest.  Thanks to all for a great remote start season!

2-21-14  Changes happen often in the automotive industry.  New cars are created and old cars are updated.  Each vehicle change has a ripple affect within the industry and the aftermarket industry is constantly evolving to keep up with the manufacturers.  We are already seeing many of the model year 2014 vehicles and have installed remote starts on them.  Just recently the following vehicles were added to our list of remote start capable vehicles:

2014 Kia Optima w/ push start

2014 Kia Soul w/ push start

2014 Toyota Corolla w/ push start

2014 Nissan Sentra w/ push start

Changes happen quickly in our industry.  We are here to make sure you are aware of them.