Installing an alarm system??

[airFS]

Well since my car dosent have an alarm I thought it would be a good idea to get one since I love my dsm so much. I was wondering how long and complicated it would be to install an alarm system. I'm pretty confident if I were to get one it would be this one because of all the awards they have won and I like the features that are included: http://cgi.ebay.com/COMPUSTAR-2WSS-S...QQcmdZViewItem

[l_eclipse_l]

Basicly installing shit like alarms comes down to this...are you good with electrical stuff and are you comfortable messing with the electrical system in your car?

Something that complicated is not going to be easy unless you have experience doing it. The general rule is to avoid problems and get it done professionally, because so much can go wrong and if you fuck up the electrical system in your car you will forever hate yourself because of all the weird problems you might come across.

[rock0134]

definately have it done professionally wiring sucks its so much better to not have to deal with the headaches and problems with wirings

[gthompson97]

My buddies dad installs remote starts/alarms on his free time for a local car dealer and if you know electrical stuff it doesn't seem too hard, but then again he's an actual electrician and makes it look really easy. I wish Viper sold theirs outright instead of having to get them installed at an authorized dealer because I can get them installed for free from him, and around here they charge you an arm and a leg just to install an alarm/remote start.

[david-b]

It's really not hard. You can get diagrams and all for free from Circuit City or Best Buy. They have really easy instructions there with exact locations, harness locations, and such. I did my alarm. Very easy to do, however I'm pretty good with electrical work IMO.

But, get it done. You'll be much happier wth it installed.

[SilvrEclipse]

Damn, it has a built in turbo timer

[ponchonutty]

Yeah, get a Compustar unit. I sell both those and DEI stuff and I prefer Compustar. Their units actually will do as advertised and have a lot more user features plus they will SAFETLY work on manual trannys.

I love it when a DUY'r calls me to fix their hack job. I add another 30-60% to the cost of fixing it over having me install it in the first place.

[gthompson97]

Compustars are badass too, I'm either getting that or a Viper.

[ponchonutty]

You'd like the Compustar line much better than a Viper. Plus, they are usually cheaper in price to boot!

[Nayr747]

If you want an alarm that you can install yourself and has almost all the features of the 791xv or Compustar go here: http://members.tripod.com/alarmtek/REMOTESTART.html?
Get the Galaxy 5000rsw 2w (about mid page). It's $165 shipped (about $20-25 more than on other sites but you don't get the install support). The alarm has remote start, turbo timer, etc. and has TWO 2-way remotes (Viper and Compustar have one). It doesn't have a tilt sensor or glass break sensor which I dont think the other two have either, or some of the convenience features of the other two though. When you buy the alarm from this site you get unlimited support, wiring diagram, etc. to install it yourself. It also works on a manual trans. ($50 extra to do it safely--have to follow procedure when getting out of the car to make sure it's not in gear. With the clutch start switch disabled it's not relly needed). I just bought this alarm from them and will be installing it soon. They were incredibly nice and answered all my questions.

As for having it profesionally done, I think it depends on the installer and your amount of $/time and experience. I've heard it costing anywhere from $100-300, so it may be worth it at the lower end. I have almost no electrical nohow, and I've looked at the install a little bit and it doesn't seem *too* hard, but not easy at all either. Lots of testing with a multimeter and finding the correct wires to tap. The site I bought the alarm from rated an Eclipse as 2 out of 5 stars for difficulty so I guess DSMs are on the easy side of alarm installs. I think because most of the wires you need are in the driver's footwell.

But according to this guy:
http://www.honda-tech.com/zerothread/1794938
http://causeforalarm.thecarthing.com/index.html
the effectiveness of an alarm is mostly the install. And according to him most installers don't do a good job. They will just install it as quickly as possible not hiding their wiring or where wires are tapped on the steering colum, not hiding the "brain," installing the siren in a way that the wires can just be cut, etc, etc. He says between a $600 alarm installed at Cercuit City and a $5 alarm installed right, the $5 one is much more likely to keep your car safe. And an improperly installed alarm actually makes is EASIER to steal a car since the blatent tapps on the steering colum gives them an easier time hotwiring it. I'll sum his rant up:

You need:
-alarm
-backup battery - DEI 520T ($9(ebay) to $25)
-additional siren (piezo siren--high pitched small siren for interior - $9)
-starter kill AND kill switch
-sensors: tilt (DEI 507M), glass break (DEI 506T)
-hood switch

Install:
-hide sirens (not just mounted to engine bay)
-hide brain
-hide wiring (inside looms, no exposed wires--make factory-looking)
-hide starter kill (not on steering column)


order:
-5000 rsw m 2 2-way ($149)
-anti-grind for mitsu ign.
-maybe software package for clutch bypass/park. brake ($50)

Gthompson, you can get the Viper 791xv on ebay and other websites for under $200 used and new.

[gthompson97]

Originally Posted by Nayr747

Gthompson, you can get the Viper 791xv on ebay and other websites for under $200 used and new.

I know, but the thing about Vipers is that they aren't avaliable unless you get them through an authorized dealer, and you can't buy them outright, the dealer has to install them. I have a feeling those may be "black market" Viper alarms and they just seem kinda shady to me. I got a quote on a brand new top of the line Compustar (the pro one) and they wanted $550. I pretty much told the guy to fuck off and I'd rather buy a used one off ebay for $300 and install it myself. God I hate places that try to rip you off like that.

[Thor06]

My alarm: lawn chair and a shot gun.

Seriously though, I really dont want to, but I may end up with an alarm on the Talon. Anyone see the thread about some guy that caught some fuckers trying to jack his whip, he chased them down, then beat the hell out of them? That makes me want an alarm, plus if someone is going to fuck with the Talon, I want any and all chance at tracking those fuckers down that I have. The only problem I have with alarm systems is they are so damn expensive. I guess a car cover, club, and the aforementioned security system are going to be my protection. I would probably get one eventually, probably in like 4 years after I get the performance stuff done, mild interior work, lowering, and get a decent coat of paint on the bitch.

[ponchonutty]

Originally Posted by gthompson97

I know, but the thing about Vipers is that they aren't avaliable unless you get them through an authorized dealer, and you can't buy them outright, the dealer has to install them. I have a feeling those may be "black market" Viper alarms and they just seem kinda shady to me. I got a quote on a brand new top of the line Compustar (the pro one) and they wanted $550. I pretty much told the guy to fuck off and I'd rather buy a used one off ebay for $300 and install it myself. God I hate places that try to rip you off like that.

Yeah well you get what you pay for. For the Pro series of the SS line with 2way remote, yeah, that's about right for the price. Dealer cost on that sucker is over $250 alone! That place is there to make money not charity work. Besides, that thing doesn't even compare to anything Directed has and especially that Galaxy POS. I installed a few of those Galaxy units and I'll say BE CAREFULL when installing it. The main power harnesses are not properly sheilded and can ground out causes hopefully just blown fuses. Once guy didn't like my $150 install quote and decided to install it himself only to lose his car in a fire a few weeks later due to a electrical short. I was a friend of one of the firefighters that responded and he told me it was something to do with the alarm. I don't know for sure if it was install error or what.

[Nayr747]

Originally Posted by ponchonutty

Yeah well you get what you pay for. For the Pro series of the SS line with 2way remote, yeah, that's about right for the price. Dealer cost on that sucker is over $250 alone! That place is there to make money not charity work. Besides, that thing doesn't even compare to anything Directed has and especially that Galaxy POS. I installed a few of those Galaxy units and I'll say BE CAREFULL when installing it. The main power harnesses are not properly sheilded and can ground out causes hopefully just blown fuses. Once guy didn't like my $150 install quote and decided to install it himself only to lose his car in a fire a few weeks later due to a electrical short. I was a friend of one of the firefighters that responded and he told me it was something to do with the alarm. I don't know for sure if it was install error or what.

Well that doesnt sound good. Are you sure about the Galaxy? I sure as hell don't want the alarm to f up and burn my car to ashes. So how aren't they properly shielded? And what exactly do you mean by be careful when installing it? I can't see a business doing something like that that could potentially injure or kill you, or destroy your property. The company would last 5 minutes before filling for bankruptcy after all the law suits.

The older Compustar is supposedly 95% the same as the new one and is a hell of a lot cheaper. So I'd go with that one.

Oh and btw, that "you get what you pay for" saying is true in *general,* but is not true in every case. If it were then why would people shop around? There would be no point since you get exactly what you pay for...

[gthompson97]

They actually wanted $650 for the Pro one, they wanted $550 for the next model down, that's what I meant to say. I will never pay over $400 to have an alarm installed, unless it comes with a machine gun that pops out and shoots whoever tries to break into it. My best friends dad installs remote start/alarms as a side job all the time and I've helped him do a few, they are not tough at all as long as you have common electrical know-how. I don't care if dealer cost on that sucker is $250 alone, they're making $400 off my ass just to install it? Bullshit. The place used to be the best store around for home and car audio, but now they lost some of their best guys, jacked the prices up, and try and gouge everyone.