DesignTech SHTX Users Manual

v 1.0

AutoCommand

®

Remote Control Car Starter

Models 28636 - 28638

With Full Keyless Entry
& Security Alarm Features

Installation Manual

For use on automatic vehicles only.

For gasoline or diesel vehicles.

Delux Long-Range ‘Super-het’ model

7955 Cameron Brown Court

Springfield, Virginia USA

Tel: [phone]; Fax: [phone]

www.designtech-intl.com

Congratulations on your purchase of the AutoCommand® Remote Car Starter. This
Remote Car Starter system allows you to start the car by remote control from the
comfort of your home or office in order to cool it down in the summer or heat it up in
the winter.

This Remote Car Starter system is for
extremely sophisticated system with multiple built-in safety and security features.

automatic transmission cars only. It is an

!! WARNING !!

Do not hook this remote car starter into a manual transmission vehicle.
Doing so could cause serious property damage, personal injury, and will
void all warranties. DesignTech International, Inc. will not be held re­sponsible for any resulting damages or injuries if this remote car starter
unit is installed in a stick shift vehicle.

The DesignTech Remote Car Starter:

• Will start your car by remote control, and run the heater, defroster, or air condi-

tioner to warm up or cool down the car.

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

• Will attempt to start the car for up to six seconds, but no longer (to avoid damage

to the starter motor). Should the car not start, or if it stalls after starting, the
remote car starter will make two further attempts to start it.

• Keeps the headlights on to let you know the car is running, and has the ability to

use your transmitter to light your way when walking to the car at night.

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

• Shuts itself off automatically after 10 or 15 minutes (you choose the run time -

consult your installer) if you are delayed coming to your car (20/30 min for deisels).

• Will shut off if the brake pedal is pushed, the hood is opened, or the transmission

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

• The QUICK STOP

while leaving the car running with the doors locked for either 10 or 15 minutes.

• The COLD START OPTION

should the temperature drop below either 0’F (-18’C) or if the battery voltage
drops below 11 volts.

• Lock and Unlock the doors and open the trunk as well as control security alarm

features with the transmitter.

• Comes with a built-in starter kill relay to prevent vehicle theft.

•· Comes with a plug-in Flashing status LED.

• DAILY START

the same time 24 hours later. Great if you go to or leave from work at the same
time each day.

• Using the built-in DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS feature you can automatically

turn on your lights 10 seconds after the key is turned to the ignition position or the
brake is depressed.

• Is quality engineered, microprocessor controlled, and made in the USA to provide

many years of reliable use.

tm

option using the transmitter will allow you to remove the key

tm

using the transmitter starts the car automatically

tm

feature allows you to have the vehicle automatically start up at

Tools required to install the AutoCommand® unit:

◊ Test meter
◊ Wire cutters/strippers
◊ Pliers
◊ Screwdrivers
◊ Drill and 1/4” drill bit to mount the switch & 5/16” bit for the LED.
◊ Soldering iron and solder

We highly recommend that

all connections be soldered for a long lasting

connection.

Parts list

1 Remote Car Starter module
1 Miniature 3 button transmitter
1 Control harness (10 position)
1 Accessory harness (8 position)
6 Power & Ignition wires and one short pink battery wire

with fuse holder.

1 Model 20038 includes all of the above parts plus

• shock sensor

• siren

• an additional 3 button transmitter

1 Parts Baggy

Parts kit in plastic baggy:

• Extra YELLOW Starter Kill wire

• External LED with plug-in connector

• 2 Butt connectors for starter kill.

• Control switch with plug-in connector

• 30 Amp Green fuse

• Small ring terminal for ground wire

• 2 Cable ties

• 2 Antenna clips with for mounting antenna

• Alcohol pad for cleaning windshield for antenna clips

• Pin switch, washer, nut and tab connector (for hood)

• Yellow “Warning” label

• “Protected by DesignTech” window decal

28636 - 28638 Page 3Page 2 28636 - 28638

AutoCommand Wire Harness

Color Function Type Required
Thick Pink Power(+12V) Yes
Thick White Accessory Relay output Yes
Thick Yellow Starter Relay output Yes
Thick Blue Ignition 1 Relay output Yes
Thick Green Ignition 2 Relay output Maybe - Consult Wiring Guide
Black Ground Yes

Color Function Type Required
White/Red Lock Common Relay output No
Yellow/Green Unlock Normally Closed Relay output No
White/Green Lock Normally Closed Relay output No
Yellow/Red Unlock Common Relay output No

Color Function Type Required
Yellow Lights Relay ou tput No
Blue Horn Relay outp ut No
Brown Acc. Pulse/Dome Light Output (-) No
Brown/White Alarm Disable Output (-) Maybe
White/Black Ignition 3 Output (-) No

!! WARNING !!

If you are working on a newer car, you may notice bright yellow tubes or
harnesses underneath the steering column area. These are the “SRS” or AIR
BAG wires. DO NOT tamper with these wires in any way, since this could
result in personal injury and/or damage to the air bag system.

Battery gases are explosive. Do not smoke while working near the car’s
battery.

!! CAUTION !!

When fishing wires through the car’s firewall, be sure to protect them from
sharp metal edges and from hot surfaces on the engine.

NOTE: Some installers hook a battery charger up to the vehicle’s battery
during the installation. This is fine, but it must be removed before running
the vehicle under remote car starter control.

INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

Optional Shock Sensor Jack

Plug In Switch

Plug In LED

Color Function Type Required
Red/Black Diesel “wait to start” Input (+/-) No
Red/White Remote Input Input (-) No
Green Tach Input No
Violet Hood Input (-) Yes
Orange Brake Input (+) Yes

Color Function Type Required
Gray Alarm Trigger Input (-) No
White Ground out while armed Output (-) No
Green/White Trunk / Carburetor Output (-) No
Gray/Black Door Pin Switch Input (-) No

For vehicle specific wiring information -- consult the Blue Sheet
for general information and consult our Web sit for more specific
information. www.designtech-intl.com.

1 BEFORE YOU START

Take this time to read through the entire installation manual. Reading
the manual now will save significant time in the long run. ALL STEPS

ARE CRITICAL.

The installation information section or our web site www.designtech­intl.com is available 24 hours/day to provide you with up to date vehicle

wiring information for your particular vehicle if needed.

Wire Harnesses: Always check your wire harness before installing to
make sure that it matches the list/drawing on page 4 of the manual. You
can use the BLUE WIRE COLOR SHEET to help determine the col-
ors of the wires in your vehicle -- but be sure to always check these using
a volt-meter since vehicle wire colors can change from year to year in
vehicles.

When you have read the entire manual, and paid close attention to every
step, start the installation by putting the Yellow WARNING STICKER
under the hood. Pick a surface that is readily visible with the hood open
and will not be easily covered with grime. Make sure that the surface is
clean and grime free before applying the sticker.

28636 - 28638 Page 5Page 4 28636 - 28638

All dipswitches should be OFF (up position) during the installa­tion.

POWER & IGNITION WIRES

The AutoCommand® module (large black box) will be installed under the dash,
once all wiring has been completed. Do not mount the module at this time

because you will need to check the diagnostic lights as the installation
progresses. Locate (or drill a hole) in the firewall to run all of the long wires (12

AWG PINK, 18 AWG YELLOW, VIOLET, GREEN, and BLUE) through the firewall
to the engine compartment. The remaining short wires stay in the passenger
area. Leave about a foot of length at the harness end under the dash for ease of
working and visual access to the diagnostic lights.

(Note: Always connect up the

any of the other wires.)

Black and Pink wires before connecting up

Ignition Key Diagram for Steps 4-7

Lock/Off ACC

RUN

ACC START

4 Thick Blue Wire Ignition 1

Attach the Thick BLUE 14 gauge wire (Ignition 1) to the ignition 1 wire
coming off the key switch behind the steering column. This is a wire which
shows positive (+12v) on the test meter in the run and start position, but is off
in the lock/off and accessory position.

2 Black Wire Ground

Optimum ground connection is critical for proper operation of this unit, as well
as transmitter range. Connect this BLACK wire to a very good clean chassis
ground in the driver’s side kick panel area. Use the small red ring terminal if
needed. The metal bracing around or beneath the dash board is not adequate.

3 Long Pink & Short Pink Wire Power (+12V)

The LONG PINK wire goes through the fire wall and connects to the SHORTER
PINK wire with fuse holder. We recommend getting power directly at the
battery +12V terminal. Connect the ring terminal on the SHORT PINK wire to

the +12 volt terminal of the battery. Strip back some insulation and then solder
the two ends of the PINK wires together, or use the Yellow Butt connector to
connect these. Either way, you must have a very good connection.
30 Amp green fuse.

As soon as the Pink (Power) wire is connected the GREEN LED will come on and
go out. (If the unit is already initialized, the GREEN LED will come on for several
seconds while the RED LED flashes 4 times.)

NOTE: WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND GETTING POWER AT THE
BATTERY. ALSO, FAILURE TO INSTALL THE FUSE HOLDER AND
30 AMP FUSE TO THE PINK WIRE VOIDS ALL PRODUCT WAR­RANTIES, BOTH WRITTEN AND IMPLIED!

Install the

5 Thick Green Wire Ignition 2

Most cars (especially newer cars) have a second ignition wire that is neces­sary. Use the Thick GREEN 14 gauge (Ignition 2) wire for this connection.
This is a wire that shows positive (+12V) on the test meter in the run position.
It may be best to leave this wire until the end to determine whether the vehicle
needs this wire to operate some of the accessories. Note -- setting dip-switch
option 10 (described in Step 29) will cause this wire to be off during crank.

6 Thick White Wire Accessory

Attach the Thick WHITE 14 gauge wire to the accessory wire coming off of
the key switch behind the steering column area. This is a wire which shows
positive (+12v) on the test meter in the run and accessory position, but is off
in the start and off position.

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7 Thick Yellow Wire Starter

Attach the YELLOW 14 gauge wire to the starter wire coming off of the key
switch in the steering column area. This wire is hot (+12V with a meter) in the
start position only. It is off in all other positions.

CONTROL HARNESS

8 On/Off Plug-in Control Switch

This switch must be installed for the remote starter to operate. Mount the

switch then plug this switch harness into the AutoCommand module at the 2
pin white connector. (See diagram on page 4).

Mount the control switch so that the “On” position is facing upward.
Connection of this switch is mandatory.

9 Red/Black Wire Diesel “wait to start” / PAGER Control Harn.

This wire is used in diesel vehicle applications - and is optional. This wire

can be hooked up to the “wait to start” light’s switched wire behind the dash,
or directly to the glow plug wire. The sense wire must change state when the
Wait to Start light turns on. If dip switch option 9 (described in Step 29) is
set, this wire will feed information to the remote starter as to when to begin
starting the vehicle.

This wire can also be used with DesignTech’s Nationwide Pager (model

28010). In Data-Link mode, one can control all features of the remote starter

via any telephone. If the pager is used in Data-Link mode, this wire cannot be
used for Diesel applications. Follow the separate Pager directions for instal­lation.

10 Violet Wire Hood Pin Switch Control Harness

The hood pin switch must be installed for the unit to initialize and work
properly. It prevents operation of the remote starter when the hood is open.

Attach the VIOLET 18 gauge wire to the supplied pin switch using the hard­ware provided. Be sure to have a good ground connection.

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. See following diagram:

11 Orange Wire Brake Shut-off Control Harness

The ORANGE 18 gauge wire will disable the remote starter when the brake
pedal is pressed down. This is an added anti-theft safety feature. This con­nection is usually made under or behind the brake pedal linkage at the switch.
Connect the ORANGE wire to the wire that receives +12V only when the
brake pedal is pressed down. Any +12V input on this wire will shut off the
AutoCommand®. In some cars, the ignition must be on to see power at the
brake wire. This wire must be hooked up. This is a critical safety feature.
This connection is also required for several options discussed later.

NOTE: With the Valet switch connected and in the ON position, pushing on
the brake pedal with the hood open (hood pin switch at ground) at this time
will cause the ignition wires to power up unless the unit has been initialized
as described in the next step.

12 Initializing the Remote Starter

BEFORE THE CAR WILL START FOR THE FIRST TIME, YOU MUST
INITIALIZE THE REMOTE STARTER WITH THE HOOD OPEN.

A. The Remote Starter requires the installer to open the hood, and press and

hold the brake pedal. If the unit is not initialized at this time -- this

action will cause the ignition outputs to come on (i.e. the dash lights come
on) informing you that the unit is

B. While depressing the brake (with the engine off and the hood open), turn the

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. The GREEN LED should

have flashed twice when you did this -- then 2 seconds later, the Green LED

will stay on while the Red LED will give 4 quick flashes. (The remote starter

looks at the vehicle’s neutral safety switch and checks for an automatic trans-

mission during this step.)
E. Turn off the key and remove key from ignition.

You can confirm that the unit has been ‘initialized’ — simply turn the ON/OFF
switch OFF and then ON. The GREEN LED (or dashmount LED) on the Auto­Command module will flash once immediately as the switch is flipped from the off

not initialized.

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