12volt.solutions - 2016-2022 Toyota Tacoma Plug and Play Remote Start Kit (H-Key) REVIEW

Purchased this remote start kit from 12volt.solutions this last Sunday at 11pm, was shipped on Monday at 11am with DHL and received in Canada (shipped from US) on Wednesday.

Entire purchase was 466.66 CAD (342.50 USD). 45 USD of that total was shipping. Saved $50 on the order due to some ongoing October sale going on.

2016-2022 Toyota Tacoma Plug and Play Remote Start Kit (H-Key) | 12Volt.Solutions

Installation

The box includes a big yellow paper with instructions on how to access the support hub page, that has model specific videos and instructions on installing everything. I just type in my email, postal code, and I'm in. My order is waiting there for me to review install instructions. Very nice.

Only complaint about the install instructions support hub page, it's not very mobile friendly. Pulling it up on my phone was okay - just lots of zooming in/out to see everything.

TPMS luck

This kit for my specific SR5 model in Canada has a TPMS "interrupt" requirement as a step. Not a big deal, splice into a single wire and that's it. Basically 99% plug-and-play for my kit/truck combo.

I hit some luck, my trucks BCM did not have the wire they specified. They instructed that it's the forth wire, on the left side down. Picture below showing the instructions, and my own trucks BCM wire harness layout.





As you can see, no forth wire on the left side down.

Support experience

Getting a little worried, I gave them a quick call and asked what's up. They answered right away.

They confirmed some mid-year runs and late year runs of the trucks can have different BCM versions or models. I got some sort of luck that does not have this wire populated - and so it's handled by the harness already (plug and play).

Trying it out

I only got the basic version; my own trucks key is the interface. x3 on the lock to start, x3 again to stop. After confirming with 12voltS I can continue without the TPMS, got everything plugged in and programed.

x3 on the lock, it started. Hitting the break killed the engine. Lock and unlock on my fob work as expected while it's remotely started.

Downbadged good boys (lol)

Being this is the H-key truck version and not the push to start (aka the poor model), unlocking and opening the door does not interrupt the engine when remotely started. Suck on that push to start boys!

Final thoughts

I'll update thread long term with how it's performing, our winters in Northern Ontario see down to -30/40C and up to +30/40C in the summer times. So, I'm interested to see long term how this holds up.

- Cheap, very DIY friendly, 100% plug and play in my experience, I got lucky.
- Support is VERY good.
- Seems I can order extras (long range kit, and cellphone app starter box) later on and just add them in.
- Shipping from the US to Canada is expensive, but that's just a reality for everyone right now, not just 12VoltSolutions. And not a deal breaker.

Total rating: 11/10 would buy again, beats any local quote for installing a similar system by at least 50%. And only took 30-40 minutes to install. Might have taken longer if I needed to splice wire.

personal wishes / install notes:

- Wish there was more model-specific information (photo examples) given in the support hub on wire routing under the steering wheel, I made my best guess attempts and ran into some trouble with the wheel shroud not fitting perfectly back on. Took a few different tries to get things sorted and clipped back together properly.

- You may notice a 2 second period while it's remote starting where it unlocks and relocks the doors very quickly. Asking 12VoltS about this, they confirmed the module does unlock and re-lock after start to disarm any alarms within the vehicle to allow for remote start to operate. This isn't a deal breaker for me, it's very fast and I only noticed because I was inside of the vehicle testing the starting.

- Wish runtime (15 minutes) was adjustable. Maybe some tiny tiny switches on the side of the unit to add or remove 5-10 minutes. Not a deal breaker for me, but some mornings are truely -40C up here and I will legitimately let it warm up for 20+ minutes before I even bother driving it.

Updates
Will update thread post in a year or two, or if something happens, with information.

 

Thanks a lot this was super helpful! None of the instructions are clear which is the TPS wire. Unfortunately mine has the wire. Not crazy about the cut and splice as I am not experience with electrical and not much play if I mess up. Fingers cross no issue but appreciate the clarification!

 

Very nice. I’ve been looking at the n2designs one which is similar. Just been putting off buying it cause I don’t feel like installing it haha!