A relay is an electro magnitic switch. It takes a very small amount of current to switch the relay on. When the relay is switched on, it pulls a set.of points over that make contact to allow a conection to another set of contacts. Once you understand how a relay works, it is easy to wire them up. There are also good videos on you tube that explans this. The reason Viper, and any company that makes these alarm, remote start systems will not warrenty the system if you do your own install, is because people think that you can just hook up whatever (door locks or anything else) directly to the control box. If you do this, it will fry the ECM. Anything you hook up to the ECM, has to go thrpugh a relay. DO NOT hook up anything directly to the Viper control box, except for the ground for the unit it self.All positive out puts have to go to a relay before going out to whatever they control, door locks, whatever. As for remote start, I cant help much there. I dont have that. I have had a Viper.alarm in my truck for about 10 years. Mine got so old that the key fob faild. I ordered a new sysyem on line and replaced it about 2 years ago. Love my alarm, and keyless entry.