Questions regarding Spyder

Hey everyone, haven't posted in a while. Well, I got rear ended last tuesday and my '96 eclipse is totaled. I was at a stop waiting to make a left turn and the guy hit me from behind at about 50 mphs. Anyways, I've gotten over it because I just went out this weekend and got a '98 Spyder. It only has 36,000 miles on it! I'm completely in love with the slightly newer styling of the 97-99 eclipses. I need some help though. I didn't realize it at the time I bought it, but it didn't come with the boot cover for the top. I called the dealer and he said one would cost $600!!!! I couldn't believe that, I mean there's not much to that boot cover right? I tried going to dsmtrader.com, but they are down. Anyone know where I could get a tan cover for under $200. I tried ebay but only finding 2000 + eclipse spyder models. Maybe junk yards, but if anyone knows an aftermarket dealer please let me know.

Also, I'm not quite sure how to activate the alarm. I click the lock button, but that only seems to lock the doors and not alarm it because I reached in and opened the door from inside and the alarm didn't go off. Can someone tell me if I'm doing something wrong or if something is wrong with the alarm system. When I press the option button and hold it for a few seconds it goes into panic mode.

I'll probably have more spyder questions in the future. That's all for now and thanks ahead of time.

Sorry to hear about the news...but at least you found a new car! What are we looking at here: gs, gst, gsx? Is the alarm an aftermarket one? Because if it's not it might not have an audible alarm just locking the doors like you said.

It's a GS (I know I know, too slow) and I'm not sure if it's aftermarket or not. The alarm fob has two red buttons up top (lock and unlock) and a gray option button in the middle. But I'm pretty sure it must act as an alarm also because when I held in the option button, it went into panic mode and the lights were flashing and horn sounded for ~15 secs. I just don't know how to alarm it and the users manual is very vague on the topic. :eek7:


BTW, I decided to get a GS and not a GST because I couldn't find a GST with such low mileage. It also seems that the N/A Eclipses seem to be a little more reliable simply because...well, they don't have a turbo. Don't get me wrong, I love the turbo eclipses to death, but at this point in my life (I'm 23) I'd rather have the one which has a higher probability of not having as many problems.

Thanks for the reply. :)

I don't have an eclipse, but try pressing the lock button twice? That's how it is on the blazers..

Someone say Spyder? Hell yeah, welcome to the club bro :icon16:

That boot cover thing costs a max of $150 off EBay. Do some browsing now and then and place a bid, those things top out at around a $12o, from what I've seen.

And yeah, that factory alarm is JUNK. Get a Viper 791XV with motion detector module; if someone rips your top, you'll know when it happens.

Yeah I'll probably be looking at getting a better alarm. I still can't figure out how that thing is supposed to be alarmed. I can get it to panic no problem (it's press and hold the lock button for 5 secs. not hold the option button like I originally said). The manual also says the red LED is supposed to go off after 30 secs. of alarming it and the damn LED stays on all the time. I'm pretty sure it's probably some cheap aftermarket thing. Maybe it was disabled somewhere and all I have to do is plug in a wire somwhere?

I have another question. Do they make cold air intakes for the eclipse gs engine (2.4 L) ? I can't seem to find them.

Thanks for the suggestions.

Shpyder is right, I got my boot in great condition off of ebay for $140 if I remember correctly. It doesn't sound like you have a factory alarm. Mine goes off if I open the door from the inside when the alarm is armed. It will also go off if I pop the hood.

When you arm the alarm, is there a green "Security" light on the dash? It should come on for 5 or 10 seconds.

Nope, no green light. All I have is a red LED in the spot where the cruise control switch (on/off switch) would normally be, and it stays on all the time, doesn't even blink. I must have some cheap aftermarket alarm. Thanks for clearing this up for me guys. I gues I'll just keep checking ebay or junk yards for that boot. Maybe I'll get lucky.

Ok, I was installing my stereo from my old eclipse in the new one yesterday and I found a little push button under the dash. I pressed this with the key in the ignition and the led went from solid to blink. I finally realized this is the valet button for the alarm and someone had enabled this when they took it to the dealer. Now I have an alarm that actually works and not just remote keyless entry!!! :iceslolan

I played around with it for a while and had trouble trying to program it, until I tried calling the number on the back of the remote fob. I found out it is an audiovox Pursuit Series alarm. I found the programming manual online. Anyone know if these alarms are any good? I also found out what the little glass enclosure inside my engine bay was. It's the shock sensor, when you hit it an led inside it glows. Anyhoo, just wanted to let you know I discovered why the led on the dash was just solid.

Also, the insurance company got back to me and told me what they were going to be giving me for my old eclipse ('96 GS 118,000 miles). I'm getting $5,300 for it, which is great since I bought it 3 years ago for $4,200! Now all I have to do is find 3 extra spare tires to put on my old one so I can take my wheels/tires off before they come and pick it up and take it to the junk yard.

Also, the insurance company got back to me and told me what they were going to be giving me for my old eclipse ('96 GS 118,000 miles). I'm getting $5,300 for it

Wow, you couldnt get a better price if you tried selling it, even if it was in pristine condition! That's an awesome payment for a 96 GS!! :smokin:

Nice! Good thing you decided to put in that stereo :)

Did you get a GS-T or a GS?

By the way, welcome to the "drop top" club.

wow congrats on the spyder purchase. As they said green light would indicate the alarm is armed.

The rear boots go on ebay for around 120-130. Unless you leave the top down alot however they can be a pain. I only use it on long trips. On short trips I live in a crappy area so I can't risk leaving the top down when I park it.

Yeah, I'm pretty much in the process of stripping everything that I need out of my crashed car before they come to take it to a junk yard next wednesday. I even found 3 spare tires to put on it so I can save my old wheels and tires (it's always nice to have an extra set laying around). I'm going to put my old wheels and tires on the new 'clipse and save the ones the new car came with.

Oddly enough, the rims from my old car that I will be putting on my new car are American Racing Spyders. Check 'em out here:http://www.wheelspecs.com/specs/wheelmodels/56

I'm soo in love with my new red convertible. It's a GS. Does anyone know if there is a cold air intake I can get for the spyder? Everywhere I look I can't find any.

Shpyder, where did you get your sideview mirrors from? I'd like to get a pair like those.