Review on 🔑 Enhanced EasyGO (AM-UNIVERSAL-R) Universal Smart Key System: Remote Start, Proximity Entry, and Advanced Vehicle Security by Brian Whitmore

Let me start by saying that I have wanted Smart Fob technology installed in my car for many years and while there have been quite a few kits of parts I have been less than impressed with credit card sized remote controls and I wanted something more original. And here's EasyGo with the Universal-R, which combines a proximity sensor with remote start, a start button, and a trunk button (don't be fooled). with their AM UNIVERSAL kit with credit card key fob and no remote start). I did a little research and found that the company has been operating since 2012 and their seller/supplier is from China. I was quite skeptical because their website never seems to have been updated. He didn't even mention AM-UNIVERSAL-R as an available kit. Also their list of EasyGo dealers is far from the truth. It looks like the web designer just took a list of Ford/Honda/Toyota/GM dealers and pasted it into his site. This is why you really need to find an installer BEFORE you buy this kit as many installers will be reluctant to fit it to their car. Installation: My car is a 2006 Acura TL and my installer was quite reluctant to agree to install it on my car. However, after checking the installation guide (which he found unhelpful), he charged me just under $400 for the installation, which is about half a day's work. My installer had problems several times and had to mess with EasyGo. They don't give a number, they give an email address, which made my installer angry because he always had to wait for an answer. Finally, after numerous exchanges, he received a number and proceeded with the installation. Note. As a consumer, if you ever have questions about a product, try to get the company to respond to your email. I contacted them twice and never received a reply. Anyway, it took my installer about 7 hours to fully install the kit. I provided him with a spare key (about $3 from a local locksmith) to use in my ignition. If your car has a steering wheel lock like mine, the spare key is placed in the ignition cylinder and reinserted after sawing off the head. Without a key and immobilizer chip, thieves cannot start your car. This kit also includes the ignition cylinder key cover. Aside from the extra $3, the installer was free to use everything else in the kit. The kit includes an immobilizer bypass that requires one of your full keys with an immobilizer chip inside. It is installed and hidden along with the wiring, and as dangerous as it may seem, the thief will have to search a lot to find the key, as well as disassemble the EasyGo system to drive the car and disable the alarm. I asked the installer to put a start button next to the ignition cylinder, similar to how most cars have a button. Luckily the kit includes a drill bit of just the right dimensions to make the button as flush as possible with the interior - it really looks like the button came from the manufacturer! You will end up with four new visible pieces. in your vehicle: proximity/remote radio antenna (windshield or A-pillar mounted), parking sensor (windshield mounted), alarm LED and start button. Functionality Smart Key Fob: This remote control is probably the prettiest remote control for a second car alarm. Instead of going the credit card route, the remote looks very original. My colleague mentioned that it looks like an Audi smart key fob. There are three physical buttons on the remote control: lock, remote start/trunk, and unlock. Holding these buttons provides additional functionality such as enabling/disabling silent mode (it will not beep when the bump sensor is triggered) and enabling/disabling the proximity feature (for times when you may be some distance or distance from your car , e.g. carrying out a car wash). On the back of the key ring there is a compartment for a mechanical door key in an emergency. A NOTICE. The product page says a key is included, but it isn't. I tried to contact EasyGo to find out where to buy the key but they didn't answer. Finally, the remote control is powered by a CR2032 battery and requires a Torx T4 screwdriver (not included) to access the compartment. When your battery is low, the car will beep 5 times when you lock/unlock the car to remind you to change the battery. The smart fob button functionality (including remote start) has a range of up to 200 feet, according to the manufacturer. I haven't tested the range, but I can definitely say it's better than my standard remote. Valet Sensor: I have yet to test this, but this sensor is used in case you forgot to change the battery in your key fob or if the key fob stops working (didn't happen to me). It uses a low frequency and behaves similarly to an NFC system when you hover over a sensor to gain access and similarly to start a car. Proximity Sensor: The proximity sensor detects the smart key fob up to 15 feet away depending on the obstacle. The smart key fob will flash when you are within range. I usually approach my car from behind and when I reach for the handle, my car is unlocked. If I walk in front of my car, the car will unlock when I'm about 3 feet away. I've found that if I walk to the back of my car with the trunk open, the sensor locks my car, which can be annoying if your bump sensor is overly sensitive. The vehicle will beep to confirm the doors are locked and the alarm is on. The sensor searches for your remote for up to 36 hours before turning off to extend your vehicle's battery life. After 36 hours you will need to use the remote to unlock the doors and once your remote is back in range it will restart the 36 hour timer. I typically stay away from the car for a good 12 hours and haven't had any battery issues so far. Click-to-Run Button: It's not obvious, but the Click-to-Run button is actually highlighted. It lights up green when accessories are present, red when the ignition is switched on and white when the engine is running. You just pull the brake, push the button and off you go. To switch between accessory/ignition modes, do not apply the brake; Just press the button as you like. A NOTICE. My installer had to install a relay for the additional mode to work. Without this relay, only the ventilation, air conditioning and heated seats worked in my car. Make sure your accessory mode is working before you head out! Alarm: This kit uses your factory alarm if you don't have an aftermarket system to connect to. It also comes with a shock sensor where you can change the sensitivity. I've never been a fan of shock sensors. San Francisco-based MUNI buses created such a strong vibration that it would set off alarms among the crowds. I don't know what my installer set the sensitivity to, but my system is still in silent mode. Problems: I haven't encountered any bigger problems than the ones I've already mentioned. One thing I noticed is a ticking noise when you're in the car with everything turned off. I stayed in the car for over 10 minutes and after I got out and opened the door the alarm went off as if unable to recognize the remote. I attribute this to an anomaly as it only happened once. Conclusion: After a long search for a proximity/remote launch/click launch system, I finally found a system worth installing. All in all it cost me about $800 including labor and in my opinion it was worth it. I LOVE to leave the keys in my pocket and either push a button or remote start on cold days. I highly recommend only having this installed by a professional as it is quite a complex installation with poor quality instructions. I'm deducting one star for the lack of EasyGo customer service and the false advertising of the included mechanical key. I hope this lengthy review paints enough of a picture for you to decide if you're willing to spend the money. It is by no means a necessity, but a very pleasant luxury that I will enjoy for many years to come. For what it's worth, the install guide also includes a wiring diagram from the EasyGo brain to the SmartStart system, which is presumably a work in progress. For those of you looking for a GPS/mobile app remote launch feature, it looks like it may be available in the near future. Acura TL so I thought I'd give you all an update! My fob started acting a bit strange and sometimes had to press the fob hard to "wake up" and find a signal to disarm and unlock my car. Also, sometimes the key fob doesn't work at all. Luckily a backup RFID windshield tag works very well, apparently disarming the car and allowing the car to be started in an emergency. Since the problem seems to be related to the key fob only, I think I'll just switch to the second key fob provided and hopefully fix this issue. I really wish there was a way to turn off this system's alarm - sometimes I feel a little too cautious to use remote start when people are around because the horns are awfully loud. If you have mechanical know-how, there's probably a way to omit the horn wiring; See if your installer can do anything for you about this. I was seriously concerned about battery drain when installing this on my computer, but I'm happy to report that this really isn't a problem. I have just returned from a 9 day trip abroad and am happy to report that my engine started successfully after two attempts. I wish there was a way to adjust how long the engine should run as I have found (especially in winter) that an extra half second reduces the need to start the engine twice. Since most of my problems stem from the keychain, I'm very happy with this system. The main components of the system work VERY well and I do not regret having it installed in my car for the sheer convenience it offered me. With more vehicles offering a smart key fob system as a standard option, I don't see much competition from EasyGo either now or in the near future.