Abstract: A vehicle control system for a vehicle may include a radio frequency (RF) assembly including an RF assembly housing to be positioned within the vehicle, an antenna carried by the RF assembly housing, an RF receiver carried by the RF assembly housing, and a motion sensor carried by the RF assembly housing. The system may further include a controller assembly including a controller assembly housing to be positioned within the vehicle spaced apart from the RF assembly, and a controller carried by the controller housing. The controller may perform at least one first operation responsive to RF signals received by the RF receiver from a remote transmitter, and perform at least one second operation responsive to the motion sensor.

Abstract: A remote start system is for a vehicle including an ignition switch sequentially movable to a plurality of switch positions, and a plurality of ignition switch wires coupled to the ignition switch. The remote start system may include a wiring harness having a plurality of remote start wires to be arbitrarily coupled to the plurality of ignition wires, a wireless receiver responsive to a wireless remote start signal, and a controller coupled to the wiring harness and the wireless receiver. The controller may, in a learning mode, perform a mapping of the remote start wires to the ignition wires based upon sequential movement of the ignition switch to the plurality of switch positions. The controller may, in an operating mode, selectively activate the remote start wires based upon the mapping to remote start an engine of the vehicle responsive to the wireless receiver.

Abstract: A vehicle security system may include a vehicle controller and a first wireless communications device coupled thereto, and at least one wireless sensor. The wireless sensor may include a housing having a threaded mounting surface, a motion sensor carried by the housing, a second wireless communications device carried by the housing, and a sensor controller carried by the housing. The sensor controller is configured to determine when motion of the housing exceeds a first threshold, and send a first security alert message to the vehicle controller based thereon via the second and first wireless communications devices, and determine when the first threshold is exceeded for a predetermined time and enter a power saving mode based thereon. The at least one sensor may also include a power source carried by the housing to power the motion sensor, second wireless communications device, and sensor controller.

Abstract: A vehicle control system for a vehicle may include a radio frequency (RF) assembly including an RF assembly housing to be positioned within the vehicle, an antenna carried by the RF assembly housing, an RF receiver carried by the RF assembly housing, and a motion sensor carried by the RF assembly housing. The system may further include a controller assembly including a controller assembly housing to be positioned within the vehicle spaced apart from the RF assembly, and a controller carried by the controller housing. The controller may perform at least one first operation responsive to RF signals received by the RF receiver from a remote transmitter, and perform at least one second operation responsive to the motion sensor.

Abstract: A remote start system is for a vehicle including an ignition switch sequentially movable to a plurality of switch positions, and a plurality of ignition switch wires coupled to the ignition switch. The remote start system may include a wiring harness having a plurality of remote start wires to be arbitrarily coupled to the plurality of ignition wires, a wireless receiver responsive to a wireless remote start signal, and a controller coupled to the wiring harness and the wireless receiver. The controller may, in a learning mode, perform a mapping of the remote start wires to the ignition wires based upon sequential movement of the ignition switch to the plurality of switch positions. The controller may, in an operating mode, selectively activate the remote start wires based upon the mapping to remote start an engine of the vehicle responsive to the wireless receiver.

Abstract: A vehicle security system may include a vehicle controller and a first wireless communications device coupled thereto, and at least one wireless sensor. The wireless sensor may include a housing having a threaded mounting surface, a motion sensor carried by the housing, a second wireless communications device carried by the housing, and a sensor controller carried by the housing. The sensor controller is configured to determine when motion of the housing exceeds a first threshold, and send a first security alert message to the vehicle controller based thereon via the second and first wireless communications devices, and determine when the first threshold is exceeded for a predetermined time and enter a power saving mode based thereon. The at least one sensor may also include a power source carried by the housing to power the motion sensor, second wireless communications device, and sensor controller.

Abstract: A vehicle security system may include a vehicle controller and a first wireless communications device carried by the vehicle, and a wireless security sensor(s). The wireless security sensor(s) may include a portable housing, a motion sensor carried by the portable housing to detect motion thereof, a second wireless communications device carried by the portable housing to communicate with the first wireless communications device, and a sensor controller carried by the portable housing. The sensor controller may cooperate with the motion sensor and the second wireless communications device to determine when motion of the portable housing exceeds a first security alert threshold and send a first security alert message to the vehicle controller based thereon, and determine when the first security alert threshold is exceeded for a predetermined time and enter a power saving mode. The vehicle controller may generate a first alarm responsive to the first security alert message.

Abstract: A vehicle security system may include a vehicle controller and a first wireless communications device carried by the vehicle, and a wireless security sensor(s). The wireless security sensor(s) may include a portable housing, a motion sensor carried by the portable housing to detect motion thereof, a second wireless communications device carried by the portable housing to communicate with the first wireless communications device, and a sensor controller carried by the portable housing. The sensor controller may cooperate with the motion sensor and the second wireless communications device to determine when motion of the portable housing exceeds a first security alert threshold and send a first security alert message to the vehicle controller based thereon, and determine when the first security alert threshold is exceeded for a predetermined time and enter a power saving mode. The vehicle controller may generate a first alarm responsive to the first security alert message.

Abstract: A key fob including: a long-range transceiver communicating with a vehicle when the fob is within range of a long-range transceiver of the vehicle; and a short-range transceiver communicating with a mobile device when the fob is within range of a short-range transceiver of the mobile device, wherein when the short-range transceiver of the mobile device is out of range of a short-range transceiver of the vehicle, information is transmitted from the mobile device to the vehicle over a short-range link between the mobile device and the fob and is relayed from the fob to the vehicle over a long-range link between the fob and the vehicle, and information is transmitted from the vehicle to the mobile device over the long-range link between the vehicle and the fob and is relayed from the fob to the mobile device over the short-range link between the fob and the mobile device.

Abstract: A remote starting system for an engine of a vehicle includes a remote start handheld unit. A remote start controller may be positioned at the vehicle for starting the engine based upon the remote start handheld unit and causing the engine to run for a run time period before shutting off the vehicle engine. The remote start controller is resettable based upon the remote start handheld unit to cause the engine to run for an additional run time period while the engine is still running and before shutting off the engine. The remote start handheld unit includes an audible indicator for providing an audible indication to a user prior to expiration of the run time period to permit a user to use the remote start handheld unit to reset the run time period while the engine is still running and before shutting off the engine.

Abstract: A remote climate control system for a vehicle includes a remote climate controller to be positioned at a vehicle for starting an electrically powered climate control system based upon a remote climate control handheld unit and causing the electrically powered climate control system to run for a run time period before shutting it off. The remote climate controller is resettable based upon the remote climate control handheld unit to cause the electrically powered climate control system to run for an additional run time period before shutting it off. The remote climate control handheld unit has an indicator for providing an indication to a user prior to expiration of the run time period to permit a user to reset the run time period while the electrically powered climate control system is still running and before shutting off the electrically powered climate control system.

Abstract: A remote starting system for an engine of a vehicle includes a remote start handheld unit. A remote start controller may be positioned at the vehicle for starting the engine based upon the remote start handheld unit and causing the engine to run for a run time period before shutting off the vehicle engine. The remote start controller is resettable based upon the remote start handheld unit to cause the engine to run for an additional run time period while the engine is still running and before shutting off the engine. The remote start handheld unit includes a tactile indicator for providing a tactile indication to a user prior to expiration of the run time period to permit a user to use the remote start handheld unit to reset the run time period while the engine is still running and before shutting off the engine.

Abstract: A vehicle remote start control system is for a vehicle including a vehicle engine, an electrical system, and a transponder reader. The transponder reader may enable the vehicle engine based upon wirelessly reading an authorized code from a transponder carried by a user and placed proximate the transponder reader. The system may include a remote start transmitter and a remote start controller at the vehicle. The remote start controller may include a transponder code bypass transmitter electrically connected to the vehicle electrical system for wirelessly transmitting the authorized code to the transponder reader responsive to the remote start transmitter to enable the vehicle engine.

Abstract: A vehicle remote start control system is for a vehicle including a vehicle engine, an electrical system, and a transponder reader. The transponder reader may enable the vehicle engine based upon wirelessly reading an authorized code from a transponder carried by a user and placed proximate the transponder reader. The system may include a remote start transmitter and a remote start controller at the vehicle. The remote start controller may include a transponder code bypass transmitter electrically connected to the vehicle electrical system for wirelessly transmitting the authorized code to the transponder reader responsive to the remote start transmitter to enable the vehicle engine.

Abstract: A vehicle security system is for a vehicle having a door lock circuit including a door lock switch, and a door lock controller responsive to the door lock switch. The security system includes a security controller for operating the door lock controller, and a multi-vehicle compatible interface module for interfacing to the door lock circuit of a given vehicle from among a plurality of different vehicles. In particular, the vehicle may include a single-wire door lock circuit having at least one of a lock resistance and an unlock resistance associated with a door switch. The multi-vehicle compatible interface module may include a circuit board carrying at least one variable resistor that is settable to match the lock/unlock resistance and thereby permit the security controller to operate the door lock controller.

Abstract: A vehicle security system is for a vehicle having a door lock circuit including a door lock switch, and a door lock controller responsive to the door lock switch. The security system includes a security controller for operating the door lock controller, and a multi-vehicle compatible interface module for interfacing to the door lock circuit of a given vehicle from among a plurality of different vehicles. In particular, the vehicle may include a single-wire door lock circuit having at least one of a lock resistance and an unlock resistance associated with a door switch. The multi-vehicle compatible interface module may include a circuit board carrying at least one variable resistor that is settable to match the lock/unlock resistance and thereby permit the security controller to operate the door lock controller.

Abstract: A remote control system for a vehicle includes a controller at the vehicle, and at least one remote device for wireless communication with the controller. The remote device may include a portable handheld housing, to be carried by a user when away from the vehicle, and a display, such as a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), mounted on the portable housing for displaying a selected vehicle style image from among a plurality of different selectable vehicle style images. For example, the different selectable vehicle style images may include a sedan style image, a pickup truck style image, and a van style image. The LCD may include a common image portion for all of the different selectable vehicle style images, and at least one other defining image portion selectively operated together with the common image portion to display the selected vehicle style image.