Starguard - worth keeping? Or just a draw on the battery?

[Testa_Rossa_]

Recently got a new FL5 type R, dealers got star guard on it somewhere, luckily I did not end up paying for it.

my concern is if it’s worth keeping as thrift protection or is it just gonna be a parasitic negative draw on my battery; what do you guys think?

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[Chilly613]

Most of the 3rd party dealer installed alarms/GPS are junk. Half of what they promise you can do, you can't. If you did not pay for it, there is no reason to keep it in your car. They are usually low impact to your battery, but I'd get it out either way. The problem then if you decide to remove it is, how bad of a hack job did they do wiring it and can you fix and rewire what they spliced?

 

[Testa_Rossa_]

Most of the 3rd party dealer installed alarms/GPS are junk. Half of what they promise you can do, you can't. If you did not pay for it, there is no reason to keep it in your car. They are usually low impact to your battery, but I'd get it out either way. The problem then if you decide to remove it is, how bad of a hack job did they do wiring it and can you fix and rewire what they spliced?

Hm, well, first I can’t seem to find it….yet. Checked under both seats and the dash the best I could, also engine bay, haven’t spotted it.
that being said from the images I’ve seen online it looks like I could just unplug it? No?

 

[Cueyo]

Unrelated, but did you get a new one because of the steering issues?

 

[Testa_Rossa_]

Unrelated, but did you get a new one because of the steering issues?

Lmao! My dude! Thanks for keeping up with my journey. YES, I recently swapped my CW for this new 2026 RR. Long story short I knew in my gut I’d always be wondering what it had going on with it and my lease was up this Dec, so, buy the car or trade. I found this RR and a dealer who would be fair at MSRP. Out the door I got a brand new car for less than I was paying for the 23. I took my emotion out of it best I could and it seemed like the most obvious and practical decision for my circumstance.

New car feels great, still in break in but I love it just as much already; and thanks again for your feedback on my previous R.

 

[Cueyo]

Lmao! My dude! Thanks for keeping up with my journey. YES, I recently swapped my CW for this new 2026 RR. Long story short I knew in my gut I’d always be wondering what it had going on with it and my lease was up this Dec, so, buy the car or trade. I found this RR and a dealer who would be fair at MSRP. Out the door I got a brand new car for less than I was paying for the 23. I took my emotion out of it best I could and it seemed like the most obvious and practical decision for my circumstance.

New car feels great, still in break in but I love it just as much already; and thanks again for your feedback on my previous R.

Is the steering different on this? I know you mentioned how much you liked that harder direct feeling, and getting the rack changed made it too soft. I'm still in the same boat where I love the direct feeling, but my car never had the recall.

 

[Chilly613]

Hm, well, first I can’t seem to find it….yet. Checked under both seats and the dash the best I could, also engine bay, haven’t spotted it.
that being said from the images I’ve seen online it looks like I could just unplug it? No?

That kind of stuff is usually placed on the driver side around the OBD2 port and fuse box, so they can tap into that harness. Sometimes and very rarely, possibly somewhere in the engine bay. Sometimes you can easily remove those 3rd party GPS systems/ alarms, but if its anything like KARR, then its gonna be a shit show.

 

[Testa_Rossa_]

That kind of stuff is usually placed on the driver side around the OBD2 port and fuse box, so they can tap into that harness. Sometimes and very rarely, possibly somewhere in the engine bay. Sometimes you can easily remove those 3rd party GPS systems/ alarms, but if its anything like KARR, then its gonna be a shit show.

I see. I’ve reached out to my sales guy to see if he can speak to whoever installed it for its location. I’m also right that you can call star guard themselves to potentially find the location. May do that as well.

 

[Testa_Rossa_]

Is the steering different on this? I know you mentioned how much you liked that harder direct feeling, and getting the rack changed made it too soft. I'm still in the same boat where I love the direct feeling, but my car never had the recall.

so far it does feel a bit more firm than the previous car. That being said I’ve also not really ragged on it or took it around a corner with passion yet, still in that first 600 miles.

it’s interesting, it feels like a solid mix of my old steering and the ease of the steering post recall, the car overall feel way more solid. For example, the car doesn’t vibrate nearly as much as the old one and the clutch is considerably lighter, which after some homework, seems to be the standard. The clutch in my old R gave a lot more resistance. It’s weird. But at least I know where the baseline is now, if that makes sense, I also know the car is unmolested and not screws around with by some Honda grease monkey trying to bang out an 8 hour job in 3.

likes I said, im happy with my decision and believe it was the best move for me, given my current standings.

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