Look up MOBILISTICS smart relay, had one about four months. Just replace the starter relay and gives a small 2nd remote to start the vehicle after pushing the start button. Second remote has very short range but works every time from inside the vehicle. No wiring involved.
Pretty sure every car or truck over a few years old has several laying either somewhere on the motor or frame. After they fall off should be tons of 'em along the roads or jammed up between the tire treads
The insulation you thought it ate somehow is what's called a rag clutch disk shredding and coming apart, in the old days was some asbestos fibers included, now mostly kevlar. they shredded a lot and stunk to high heaven on h/d trucks until they went to ceramic button clutches. Still twin disk...