Alarm install

Ok, I am a complete newbie when it comes to installing alarms and probably should have paid someone to do this, but curiousity got the better of me - so I am trying to install a fairly advanced alarm by myself.

Unfortunately I do not have an expirienced hand to ask these questions, so I am posting them here in hopes that someone experienced can point me in the right direction.

1 - The alarm includes remote start, so I was trying to tap into the ignition wires. What is the best place and way to tap these? The little T-Taps I got are way too small for the gage of wire used

2 - What's the best place on a 97 civic to install the siren? And on the other hand, how reasonable is it to just use the car's existing horn?

3 - I am having trouble getting the trunk open switch to work. The pinout I have marks it with a * for "requires security system" however what does that mean? It's just a switch to ground, and I know it is there and functional since the trunk light works. Do I have to short some wires on that "top secret" security system connector?

and lastly, are there some books I can read on best practices for such installs?

Thanks a bunch

-M

first off do you know how to use a multimeter? or a logic probe? Either way to find out what the trunk switch needs test the wires and find out which one changes when you press it. The security system it mentions is the factory alarm brain where the wire is probably accessable due to keyless/trunk pop capabilities of the factory peice.
Next fuck t-taps only hacks use em soldering the wires is best but unless experienced it's also the best way to burn some interior so do a western pigtail which is stripping back some wire off the one you want easily done with line stripper aka automatic strippers push the tip of your logic probe or a small screw driver through the now bare wire now you have a hole in the center twist about an inch of bare wire on the end of the wire you wih to connect it with insert in newly formed hole twist it around Tape it up and poof a tight connection.
hhmm horn siren well that's up to you since you're going to have to run wires through the firewall might as well utilize the siren. remote starts require a hood pin and tach and unless available in the underdash a trigger zone needs connected to the hood.'
If this is a Dei setup i can help with specific colors otherwise they would need to be told to me for specific help. Dei brands are any snake viper rattler python or hornets cliffords.. I hope this helps and not hinders... any questions??

Thanks for the reply,

The alarm is "CrimeStopper" brand, but I do not need help with wire codes on the alarm, the documentiation is actualy very clear.

I have no problems using a multimeter, which is how I know the trunk switch wire is not working. I was hoping I would not need to hunt for it, since it is in the pinout diagram, however the * in the diagram makes me wonder if I should be looking to tap into the wire elsewhere. I am not sure if there is anything more to installing the OEM alarm than installing the module under the radio, which is why I asked the question. I wanted to know why would trunk switch be dependant on the alarm being installed. If there is nothing other than the module, that means that either trunk switch should work and just not usefull without the OEM alarm (as per Honda) or one of the wires in the alarm harness somehow loops to the security (keyless) harness (which is where I tapped the switch wire) and another wire in the alarm harness is the real trunk switch wire. Or it maybe something more complex than that. I was hoping someone knew more about it.

BTW, I do not think there is a stock OEM trunk pop capability in my Civic. My understanding is that it manual only, unless you replace it with the aftermarket latch. I could be wrong though.

As for running wires through the firewall, it is very easy as there is already a large easily accessable and unused hole there, but the issue remains that I am still not sure where to actually bolt the siren. For now I hooked it up to the horn (the alarm has a horn output in addition to siren out) But that means no chirping. (horn seems to only be used for the alarm noise, and even that with a small time delay)

Lastly, (and this will definatly show my lack of knowledge,) but what is the connection between hood pin switch and remote start? Why is that switch more important in this case than any other? Just curious.

Thanks again

-M

The hood pinswitch is important on Remote starts due to the idea that if the hood is open which means someone is prolly working on it the remote start cannot accidently be activated which would apparently be a bad thing.

Good point. I was thinking security, but this is more like common sense.

-M