DesignTech 29922 Installation Manual

V 7.3

Congratulations on your purchase of the Secure Start® Remote Ca
The Secure Start® Remote Car Starter system allows you to start t
remote control from the comfort of your home or office in order
down in the summer or heat it up in the winter.

Secure Start®

“Add-On”
Remote Control Car Starter

Model 29922Model 29922

Model 29922

Model 29922Model 29922

Installation Manual

For use on automatic vehicles only.
For gasoline or diesel vehicles.

7955 Cameron Brown Court
Springfield, Virginia 22153 USA

This model 29922 is an “add-on” unit and must be used in co
with another remote control unit such as a remote car alarm o
entry device.

Secure Start® is for automatic transmission cars only. It is an e

sophisticated system with multiple built-in safety and security feat

The Secure Start® Remote Car Starter:

• Will start your car by remote control, and run the heater , de f

air conditioner to warm up or cool down the car .

• Is designed to start the car if it is in park, and only if the

closed.

• Can monitor the engine’s speed using a special tachometer

ing circuit, and will cut off the ignition if the car stalls.

• Will attempt to start the car for up to six seconds, but no lo

avoid damage to the starter motor). Should the car not star
stalls after starting, the Secure Start® will make 2 further
to start it.

• Will not let the car be driven without the key in the ignition

• Shuts itself off automatically after 10 or 15 minutes (user se

you forget to come out to your car .

• Will shut off if the brake pedal is pushed, the hood is opene

transmission is shifted out of park - unless the key is in the
and in the “run” position.

• Allows you to remove the key while leaving the car running

doors locked for up to 10 or 15 minutes utilizing the QUICK
option.

• Starts the car automatically should the temperature drop belo

18’C), rise above 140°F (78°C), or if the battery voltage dro
11 volts with the VACATIONTM option.

• Is quality engineered, microprocessor controlled, and made in

to provide many years of reliable use.

n

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!! WARNING !!

Wire cutters/strippers Soldering iron

Pliers Screwdrivers

Test meter Drill and 1/2” bit

Secure Start Model 29922

Color Function Type Requ
Pink Power(+12V) Input Yes
White Accessory/Lights Relay output Yes
Yellow Starter Relay output Y es
Blue Ignition 1 Relay output Yes
Green Ignition 2 Relay output May
Black Ground Input Yes

list

Secure Start® module
Baggie of Parts
Control harness (10 position)
6 Power & Ignition wires

30 A Fuse 3 Tab connectors

On/Off control switch W arning Label

Window decal Ring terminal

Hood pin switch set 2 cable ties (not pictured)

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Color Function Type Req
Y ellow/Green Alarm Control (-) 400 mA
Green/White Sensor IN Relay
Brown Accessory Pulse (-) 400 mA
Brown/White Alarm Disable (-) 400mA
Gray/Black Sensor OUT Relay

Left Button Right Button

LED

Color Function Type Requir
Red/Black Control Switch Input Yes
Red/White Remote Input Yes
Green Tach Input No
Violet Hood Input Yes
Orange Brake Input Yes

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!! WARNING !!

so as to prevent personal injury and/or damage to the air bag

!!CAUTION!!

POWER & IGNITION WIRES

The Secure Start® module will be installed under the dash once
ing has been completed. Do not mount the module at this ti

will need to check the diagnostic light (LED) as the inst
progresses. Locate (or drill) a hole in the firewall to run the V

(hood) and the GREEN (tach) wires of the Control Harness and t
wire of the Power Harness through into the engine compartme
remaining short wires stay in the passenger area. Leave about
the wire harness under the dash for ease of working and visual
the diagnostic lights.

Note: Always connect the Black and Pink wires before con

any of the other wires.)

Some installers connect a battery charger to the vehicle’ s battery

2. Black Wire (14 AWG) Gr

Connect this BLACK wire to a very good, clean chassis grou
driver’s kick panel area. Use the small red ring terminal if ne
The metal bracing around or beneath the dash board is not ad

3. Pink Wire (12 AWG) Power (

Connect the ring terminal at the end of the short PINK wire to
volt terminal of the battery. Insert the silver tab at the end of
PINK wire into the black fuse holder. They go in only one way,
will snap in permanently. Now insert the 30 amp green fuse
holder. As you connect this wire to the module, the RED LED
flash once.

Note:Note:

Note:

Note:Note:

Ignition Key Diagram for Steps 4-7
The vehicle’s wires are found coming off of the key switch.

Failure to properly install the fuse holder and 3Failure to properly install the fuse holder and 3

Failure to properly install the fuse holder and 3

Failure to properly install the fuse holder and 3Failure to properly install the fuse holder and 3
fuse to the PINK wire voids all product warranfuse to the PINK wire voids all product warran

fuse to the PINK wire voids all product warran

fuse to the PINK wire voids all product warranfuse to the PINK wire voids all product warran

Lock/Off

RUN

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ACC START

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the LIGHT BLUE wire to the ignition 1 wire of your vehicle.

and is off (ground) in the “lock/off” and “accessory” position).

the WHITE wire to the accessory wire which is +12V in the

Control Harness (All wires ar e the smaller 18 AWG

8. Red/Black On/Off Switch Control Ha

The Red/Black wire from the control harness must be connecte
side of the On/Off control switch provided in the parts kit (us
connectors). The other side of the switch must be connected to
When the Red/Black wire of the switch is resting at ground (in th
position), the Secure Start® will not start the vehicle.

Note: Mount the control switch so that the colored dot is

upward (“ON”). Connection of this switch is mand

. This wire will power the heater/air conditioner (in most cars).

eam connection of the headlights or to the parking lights. Do not

the YELLOW wire to the starter wire. This wire is hot in the

9. Violet Wire Hood Pin Switch Control Ha

The hood pin switch MUST be installed with the Secure St

prevents operation of the Secure Start® when the hood is open.
the VIOLET wire to the hood pin switch using the red conne c

Note: If you already have a hood pin

switch which is being used by
a car alarm system, you may
share the wiring -- but be
sure to diode isolate each
wire going to the hood
pin switch with the
bands of diodes point­ing towards the pin
switch as follows:

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the alternator kicks in. This feature automatically takes into
voltage, temperature, and the time since the vehicle was last r
“No-Tach

TM”

starting is preset at the factory and you can skip ste

you would like to use it. Note that if the vehicle is hard to
option #3 (page 14) for “extended crank.”

when the brake pedal is pressed down. Any +12 volt input on

will shut off the Secure Start®. In some cars, the ignition must

critical safety feature. This hook-up is also required for other

A. The Secure Start® requires the installer to press and hold

the brake pedal

B. While depressing the brake (with the engine off) turn the

ignition key to the “RUN” (not “start”) position.
C. Put the car in gear from the “PARK” position.
D. Put the car back in “PARK” and release the brake.

initialization by turning the ON/OFF control switch “OFF” and

hods before deciding which one to use. Normally you should

TM

” method first.

TM

” Starting

T achometer sensing

If the vehicle is generally hard starting (requiring a cranking time
than 1 second) you will get more accurate starting with the tac
sensing starting method. This method starts the car by reading th
speed (tach) information from a wire under the hood. If you ch
chometer sensing, connect the GREEN (18 awg) wire to the c
wire under the hood. After you have connected the GREEN w
need to teach the Secure Start® the vehicle’s tach rate. Procee
12A.

Note: You must have already initialized the vehicle.

12A. Tach Rate Learning

Note: Only use if the tachometer sensing method is chosen.

A. Connect the GREEN wire to the car’s tach wire under the hoo
B. Turn the On/Off control switch to the “OFF” position. W ait 5

onds for the flashing of the red LED to stop.

C. Push the button to the left of the red LED once and you will see

red LED flash. Now push the button on the right side for a sec
until you see the red LED flash again. You are now in TA
mode. (If the LED flashed twice -- simply push the right bu

again until you get only one flash).
D. Wait 5 seconds for the red LED to flash 3 times.
E. Turn the On/Off control switch back to the “ON” position
F. Start the car and let it get to a normal idle. Do not press on

gas pedal.
G. Push the button to the right of the red LED.
H. Watch the red LED. It will turn on (solidly) after 3 or 4 secon

indicating that the idle rate has been learned.
I. Turn the key to the “Lock/Off” position.

Note: Once this step is complete, the red LED should remain

when the engine is running (at up to twice the learned

-above this rate the LED light should shut off). T
CRITICAL. Confirm this by running the engine (with t

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the ignition) and pressing the gas pedal to raise the idle rate to
twice the normal rate. The red LED should turn off. If it does
not turn off, repeat the tach rate learning step and check the
GREEN wire connection and location.

another negative pulse will cause it to stop.

tem. Or, hook it to the lock or unlock wire of your vehicle and

the optional steps require a relay to be hooked up. The most

relay used for this type of application is the Bosch type automo-

not used for these applications. The diagrams below are typi-

d for applications such as headlamp or parking lamp connec-

14. Yellow/Green Wire Alarm Control Cntrl

The YELLOW/GREEN wire is specifically designed to control
tion Input of the remote control alarm system which is trigge
Secure Start. Connect this YELLOW/GREEN wire to a rela
supplies +12 volts to the Ingnition Input of the alarm. This yel
will turn this relay on anytime it sees +12 volts on the Secur
BLUE IGN 1 wire from the key. Thus this output follows th
status. The only exception is that when the Secure Start is pow
the vehicle this wire will not activate. Thus the alarm remain
tional during Secure Start control -- but not otherwise when
alone is controlling the igntion. This is a 400 mA transistor
output which MUST drive a relay (not included).

Page 11

15. GREEN/WHITE Sensor Loop IN Cntrl
GRAY/BLACK Sensor Loop OUT Cntrl

This GREEN/WHITE wire is the input to a normally closed rela
the Secure Start is running -- this relay opens. Thus if you
external sensor such as a shock sensor -- you can pass this sens
put through the Secure Start. When the Secure Start is runnin
sensor is opened -- or bypassed.

Cut the sensor output wire in half. Connect one side to this G

WHITE wire and the other side of the cut sensor wire to the
BLACK wire.

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On most vehicles, this wire can be connected directly to the
factory alarm/disarm wire which is usually located in the driver's
kick panel.

ar is taken out of park, the hood is opened or the brake

19. Trouble Shooting with the Self Diagnostics

The Secure Start® contains a built in diagnostic routine that w
cate why the unit turned off the car the last time that the unit w
To activate the diagnostic mode, simply turn the On/Off contro
to the “OFF” position. In a few seconds, the red LED on the mo
flash 1 to 6 times to identify the problem. See the chart belo
explanation of the flashes:

1 flash 10/15 minute time out/unit should be fine
2 flashes Brake or Hood activated
3 flashes No Tach or Stalled.
4 flashes Received another remote input signal
5 flashes Transmission was shifted into gear
6 flashes Low battery voltage, or may be missing an

wire which powers up the alternator

In order to get an accurate diagnostic, allow the unit to go thr
complete starting cycle(s). The unit may only try to start once
try 3 times. In order to get an accurate reading, please wait 45
after its last attempt to start.

20. Special Programming Options

The Secure Start® unit has 8 special options and features. You
need to use these special options in most situations. The factory
will operate most vehicles. You must turn the On/Off contr o
to the “OFF” position to program any features. Note that wh
ing off this control switch, the red LED will flash a few times, g
diagnostic code described in Section 20. Wait a few seconds
finish before programming your new Options.

# Factory Setting (2 flashes) Option (1 flash)
1 “No-Tach” Tach Mode
2 10 min. run time 15 min. run tim
3 Normal Crank Extended Cran
4 Normal Crank Super Crank
5 Normal Voltage Metering Ignore Voltage M
6 Gasoline vehicles Diesel vehicles
7 “Enable” feature No “Enable”
8 Normal Trigger Double Pulse T

(Channel Creat

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sets the starting method. The factory setting uses “No-Tach”
starting. If you wish to use the tach to start, follow the instruc­tions in 12A.

is for the choice of run times.
will add 50% more crank time to “No-Tach” starting.

adds 100% more crank time. This is necessary on many deisel
and hard to start vehicles. Options #3 and #4 can be added
together for even more cranking time.

is used in the “No-Tach” starting method for some diesel ve­hicles.

option must be activated when installing on a diesel vehicle.

cancels the Enable mode safety feature. The Enable mode re-
quires that the driver toggle the ON/OFF control switch “OFF”
then “ON” in order to “enable” the vehicle for Secure Start®
control. This feature guards against undesired starting of the
vehicle by remote control.

ing at which option you are (press it once, the LED fla
once. Press it again and it will flash two times. Pre
again and it will flash three times, etc., to show what op
you are at).

B. When you are at the option level you desire, push the

button for a second and the red LED will flash once for
tion setting and Twice for Factory setting.

C. You can choose the next option by pushing the left bu

again to index to the next option. When you get to the
option you want to change, simply repeat Step B above.
ter six seconds, the Secure Start® automatically exits the
gramming mode (Three LED flashes).

D. Turn the Control Switch back ON and confirm that the L

flashes once as the switch is turned ON.

SPECIAL CASES

Normal Trigger will start and stop the Secure Start with a single
quick ground pulse to the Remote Input wire of Step 13. Double
Pulse Trigger mode will not activate the Secure Start until it
has seen two pulses within 3 seconds time. Thus if you hook
the Remote Input wire up to the Door Lock wire of your keyless
entry module -- you can lock the doors with just one push of the
transmitter’s Lock button. If you push transmitter’s Lock but­ton again within 3 seconds -- you will lock AND start the ve­hicle.

Page 15

1) VATS system (for new GM cars with special PASS key).

If you have a GM vehicle with a factory anti-theft system (a r
the key), you need to follow these directions:

Measure the resistance of the key. It should be between 392 o
11,800 ohms. To do this, put the ohm meter probes on each si
key pellet. This value should be close to one of the following (a
in ohms): 392, 523, 681, 887, 1.13K, 1.47K, 1.87K, 3.01K, 3.74K

6.04K, 7.5K, 9.53K, 11.8K. Purchase a resistor with a value w
of this measured value and a 30 amp BOSCH type relay.

Page 16

ut ONE of the VATS wires and connect the key-switch side to

other VATS wire to NO pin 87 with the selected resistor sol­line as shown here:

2) New GM Pass Lock System

For 1995 and 1996 GM has introduced a new version of their old VATS se
tem. This new PASSLOCK
Cavalier, Pontiac Sunfire GT only , 1996+ Pontiac Grand Am, Oldsmobile A
the Buick Skylark, Chevrolet Cavalier and Pontiac Sunfire. Y ou can determ
vehicle is equipped with this system by checking for a “Security” or “Theft” l
dash panel. Basically what they have done is taken the resistor that was part
on the original VATS and moved it to inside the lock cylinder of the steerin
They have also set additional parameters to make this even more compli
bypass this system, use the following diagram and instructions. Follow the
tions very carefully and remember that the resistance must be within 5% of
measured value.

®

system will only be found in the 1995 Che

c

LLOW sleeve that is labeled “Air bag wiring” -- do not cut this Yel-

both white, OR both yellow, OR both black.

When installing a GM vehicle with a V A TS bypass system, the GREEN
IGN 2 wire must only go to the VATS relay. If you need IGN2 in the
car, simply supply power to the IGN2 wire of the vehicle by jumping
power from the BLUE IGN1 wire. (Thus BLUE will be powering up
2 wires behind the key -- and in some cases 3 wires).

Page 17

1. Remove the top and bottom halves of the steering column shroud.

2. Locate the small three wire harness (with White, Black and Y ellow wir
down from the ignition key cylinder on the top right hand side of th
column into the instrument panel.

3. Cut the Yellow wire in half and bare back the Black wire.

4. With the ignition key in and turned to the “ON” or “RUN” position, m
resistance between the key side of the Yellow wire and the Black w
several measurements to verify that you have a consistent resistance.
need to change your test leads around. You will find that you get tw
readings. So far we have found that the higher of the two readings is
resistance.

5. When you have correctly identified the correct resistance obtain a resist
same value.

6. Locate the Black “Bulb T est” wire on the left side of the steering colu
“D” or “E” of the Black 5-way connector, just above the main ignit
connector.

7. Wire relays as shown in the above Diagram.

Page 18

e

m

Diesel Ext. Crank Super Crank IgnoreMeter

XX X

let X X X X

the safety precautions installed and their limitations. Stress the

the user a copy of the tan colored page - USER TIPS AND NOTES

of this product. Any modifications not expressly approved by

(to work with the GM PASS key system)

ready before calling tech support

LIMITED W ARRANTY

DesignTech International, Inc. warrants to the original consumer/purchaser that this p
of defects in material and workmanship under normal use and circumstances for a perio
from the date of original purchase. When the original consumer/purchaser returns the pro
International Inc., 7955 Cameron Brown Court, Springfield, Vir ginia 22153, USA w
period, and if the product is defective DesignTech International, Inc. will, at its optio
such.

This warranty shall constitute the sole liability of DesignTech International, Inc. co
uct. DesignTech International, Inc. expressly disclaims all other warranties INCLU D
LIMITATION, THE W ARRANTIES OF MERCHANT ABILITY AND FITNESS F
LAR PURPOSE. NO PERSON, FIRM OR CORPORATION IS AUTHORIZED T
DESIGNTECH INTERNA TIONAL, INC. ANY OTHER LIABILITY IN CONNEC
SALE AND USE OF THE PRODUCT. DesignT ech International, Inc. and agents a
bear no liability for incidental or consequential damages or charges of any kind.

Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequentia
above disclaimer regarding incidental or consequential damages may not apply to y

This warranty shall be effective only if the registration card is fully completed and m
purchase to: DesignTech International, Inc., 7955 Cameron Brown Court, Springfie
USA within ten (10) days after date of purchase.

This warranty is void if the product has been damaged, tampered with, or if the
opened. In all cases of damage during shipment, a claim must be filed with the shipp
with DesignTech International, Inc.

This warranty gives you specific legal rights; you may also have other rights which
state.

OUT OF WARRANTY REPAIRS

DesignTech International, Inc. will at its option either (1) replace this product w
similar (but not necessarily visually identical) refurbished product or (2) repair th
and return it to the original consumer/purchaser C.O.D. covering all reasonable rep
charges if the product is returned prepaid to DesignTech International, Inc., 7955
Court, Springfield, Virginia 22153 USA, after the two year warranty period has ex

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------­This registration card must be returned within ten (10) days of purchase.

Name_________________________________________________________ User's Age______
Address _____________________________________________________________________
City____________________________________ State__________________ Zip___________

Phone Number: Home__________________ Office__________________
Place of Purchase__________________________________ Date of Purchase___________

Product Purchased: Secure Start® #29922 Price of Purchase:_________
Vehicle Make:__________________Vehicle Model:________________Year:____

Tel: [phone] or [phone]

Page 19

This product was purchased for: ( ) Myself ( ) Spouse ( ) Relative ( ) F
How did you first become interested in this product?

( ) Retailer Newspaper Ad ( ) Magazine Ad ( ) In-Store Displ
( ) Newspaper / Magazine Article ( ) Mail Order ( ) Friend / Relativ
( ) In-Store Salesperson ( ) Other _____________________

__________ Please send me FREE information on other innovative DesignT ech products

(over)

Page 20

a

( ) Professional Installer ( ) Purchaser ( ) Friend / Relative

( ) Yes ( ) No

total family income?
( ) Under $20,000 ( ) $20,000 - $40,000 ( ) $40,000 - $60,000
( ) $60,000 - $80,000 ( ) $80,000 - $100,000 ( ) Over $100,000

( ) Some High School ( ) High School Grad
( ) Some College / V ocational ( ) College Grad

( ) Single ( ) Married

DesignTech International, Inc.

Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone]

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