Aftermarket Security System?

[00GTP4ME]

Has anyone installed an aftermarket security system in a 97-03 Grand Prix? If so, how'd it go, what system do you have and what advice would you give to a first-timer?

[emt1134]

I have an Avital system in my 2003 Monte Carlo... I would not recommend doing it yourself if you are inexperienced, however.
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[tblake]

Aftermarket alarms are a pain to put in, often times don't interface correctly with the stock door locks and alarm/disarm system, and are as easily disabled as if not more so than the stock security system.

Really only good thing about it is some 2-way ones come with a remote that vibrates and makes a sound if the alarm is triggered. I put a crimestopper fortress fs80 touch screen remote starter in my g/f's car for her birthday in october. (I was half tempted to wrap the remotes up into a little ring box to make it look like an enguagement ring, but thought that might have been mean). The worst part was getting the alarm to interface correctly with the stock system. PITA, but I think I got it. We ended up not using the siren that came with the system because I find them annoying. We just made it arm and disarm the stock system.

I will see if I can get a video of her car on here soon for you guys to see.

[tblake]

Matt, what did you have to do to get the car to start?

Did that ondemand write-up help at all?

[00GTP4ME]

Very helpful info, thank you! I am getting a 2-way system that has a factory alarm arm/disarm.

Tim, they were able to reset the alarm and once they did it would start fine. Your provided info proved extremely helpful as the girl at the dealership was completely clueless. They put it all back together and I picked it up only to find the fog light switch, the climate control and the DIC all have burned out lights now.

[00GTP4ME]

The alarm system showed up today and it looks legit. I also ordered a microwave sensor for some additional fun. I've been hearing pretty consistently that these are a PITA so I'm going to have it installed at a stereo/alarm place. Hopefully all goes well.

[doctorhrdware]

When I had a Chrysler field service van and had an alarm installed. The place that installed the alarm burned up the bcm. Then they tried to pawn off as that the way it came in. I had to have the company attorney contact them. And they paid for a new bcm. So make sure where ever you take it that they what they are doing.

[tblake]

Sounds good to me! The bulbs aren't too hard to replace, I have a write-up in tips and maintenance on how to replace the fog light switch bulb.

For the DIC, you can try this.

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...&highlight=dic

And I am pretty sure that the climate controll bulbs will need to be de-soldered and new ones soldered in. I had a portion of my HVAC bulbs burn out last night. What is weird with GM lighting, you can sometimes smack in the are of the burn out bulb and it will light back up, and last for a long time. Don't ask me why this works, but mine came back on after a good whack.

Yours are probably burnt out because of the shock they took from someone jumping in and ripping at stuff.

Question for you. My exhaust rotted out (love the MN salty roads), the resonator has a nickel size hole in it, makes my car sound crappy. Do you have aftermarket exhaust? I was thinking about doing 2.5 inch engine back, with a cat of course, and then split off after the cat to dual mufflers (probably a stock sound), and I was looking for some tips like yours. What type are they?

[doctorhrdware]

Yes the climate control bulbs are soldered in just use some solder wick to remove the solder. Which you can get at the local radio shack. Use LEDs will for the most part will not burn out just rember to use a 1K dropping resistor if you do use the LEDS.

[00GTP4ME]

Originally Posted by doctorhrdware

When I had a Chrysler field service van and had an alarm installed. The place that installed the alarm burned up the bcm. Then they tried to pawn off as that the way it came in. I had to have the company attorney contact them. And the paid for a new bcm. So make sure where ever you take it that they what they are doing.

That's exactly what I'm afraid of and no matter where you go, you run that risk. I have a guy in mind, and before I give him the keys I'm going to interview him and find out exactly what his experience his. I really really want this done right the first time.

Originally Posted by tblake

Sounds good to me! The bulbs aren't too hard to replace, I have a write-up in tips and maintenance on how to replace the fog light switch bulb.

For the DIC, you can try this.

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...&highlight=dic

And I am pretty sure that the climate controll bulbs will need to be de-soldered and new ones soldered in. I had a portion of my HVAC bulbs burn out last night. What is weird with GM lighting, you can sometimes smack in the are of the burn out bulb and it will light back up, and last for a long time. Don't ask me why this works, but mine came back on after a good whack.

Yours are probably burnt out because of the shock they took from someone jumping in and ripping at stuff.

Question for you. My exhaust rotted out (love the MN salty roads), the resonator has a nickel size hole in it, makes my car sound crappy. Do you have aftermarket exhaust? I was thinking about doing 2.5 inch engine back, with a cat of course, and then split off after the cat to dual mufflers (probably a stock sound), and I was looking for some tips like yours. What type are they?

I love what you did with the LED's on the switch, that is just cool. Heck, I'll ship mine up to you, have you do the LED swap and then send it back! You know, if you just collected factory switches and sold them as "LED upgraded," I'd bet you'd turn some kind of a profit from losers like me!

I should be hearing back from the insurance tomorrow as to what they're going to do. I've already contacted Morad and if the insurance falls through, I won't be set back too horribly. And if I get lucky and they just replace it all for me, then all the better.

As for the exhaust I went with 2.5" stainless pipe - cat back with resonator delete and I have been really pleased with it. I wish I would've done the U-bend delete at the time, but I didn't really know about it when I did the exhaust.
My mufflers are just cheapies I got off ebay. They're stainless steel dual tipped Otto mufflers and while they're obviously nothing to brag about, I really have no complaints with them. They sound and look good despite the fact I have done a horrible job of keeping them clean and polished.
You remember how I put those vents in my bumper? Well one of my "some day" projects when I get a garage is to make a whole new bumper where I will get a Corvette muffler and tips and have them come up through the middle of the bumper. So just imagine the little slots in the rear bumper being moved to the center and combined to one big slot where the four tips would be. It might be a little much so I'm going to have my sis do some photoshopping before I actually start any work on it to make sure it doesn't look stupid.

[tblake]

Originally Posted by 00GTP4ME

That's exactly what I'm afraid of and no matter where you go, you run that risk. I have a guy in mind, and before I give him the keys I'm going to interview him and find out exactly what his experience his. I really really want this done right the first time.



I love what you did with the LED's on the switch, that is just cool. Heck, I'll ship mine up to you, have you do the LED swap and then send it back! You know, if you just collected factory switches and sold them as "LED upgraded," I'd bet you'd turn some kind of a profit from losers like me!

I should be hearing back from the insurance tomorrow as to what they're going to do. I've already contacted Morad and if the insurance falls through, I won't be set back too horribly. And if I get lucky and they just replace it all for me, then all the better.

As for the exhaust I went with 2.5" stainless pipe - cat back with resonator delete and I have been really pleased with it. I wish I would've done the U-bend delete at the time, but I didn't really know about it when I did the exhaust.
My mufflers are just cheapies I got off ebay. They're stainless steel dual tipped Otto mufflers and while they're obviously nothing to brag about, I really have no complaints with them. They sound and look good despite the fact I have done a horrible job of keeping them clean and polished.
You remember how I put those vents in my bumper? Well one of my "some day" projects when I get a garage is to make a whole new bumper where I will get a Corvette muffler and tips and have them come up through the middle of the bumper. So just imagine the little slots in the rear bumper being moved to the center and combined to one big slot where the four tips would be. It might be a little much so I'm going to have my sis do some photoshopping before I actually start any work on it to make sure it doesn't look stupid.

If only I had the time to work on things like LED conversions, LOL! All my time is spent on keeping my things together and running good. I am sure you could handle it! Heck you installed your sound system!

Thanks for the info on the exhaust. I like the look of the dual tips and was just curious what you had since my stock exhaust has seen its better days (the norm for a 10 yr olf car in MN I guess)

Good luck on the quest for a reputable remote start installer. I would stay away from best buy. They have teenager losers like me working there and just want to get the cars in and out as quick as possibe. I could recommend a place around here where three brothers own it and do all their own work. Very good quality work done.

Old Skool Kustoms http://www.unionspeedandstyle.com/Un...yle/Icons.html

[00GTP4ME]

Originally Posted by tblake

If only I had the time to work on things like LED conversions, LOL! All my time is spent on keeping my things together and running good. I am sure you could handle it! Heck you installed your sound system!

Thanks for the info on the exhaust. I like the look of the dual tips and was just curious what you had since my stock exhaust has seen its better days (the norm for a 10 yr olf car in MN I guess)

Good luck on the quest for a reputable remote start installer. I would stay away from best buy. They have teenager losers like me working there and just want to get the cars in and out as quick as possibe. I could recommend a place around here where three brothers own it and do all their own work. Very good quality work done.

Old Skool Kustoms http://www.unionspeedandstyle.com/Un...yle/Icons.html

Yeah, well your write-up was pretty good, I'm sure I could figure it out. I just need to get a soldering iron first.
I actually didn't install my sound system. I paid for that to be put in.

I actually checked out Best Buy and I agree with you. They were ridiculously overpriced as well. The place I have my eye on is run by just one guy and he's a little older so my hope is that he has been doing this for a while. I'm going to go talk to him once my microwave sensor gets here.

[doctorhrdware]

Originally Posted by 00GTP4ME

I just need to get a soldering iron first.
I actually didn't install my sound system. I paid for that to be put in.

I actually checked out Best Buy and I agree with you. They were ridiculously overpriced as well. The place I have my eye on is run by just one guy and he's a little older so my hope is that he has been doing this for a while. I'm going to go talk to him once my microwave sensor gets here.

I did worked at bad buy in the geek squad. Let me tell you, if you want your computer to run properly don't bring it there. You will end up having to buy a new computer. The kids that they get to work there have no clue what so ever. The prices are outrageous, to test memory modules it is $70.00 per stick memory.

[00GTP4ME]

Originally Posted by doctorhrdware

I did worked at bad buy in the geek squad. Let me tell you, if you want your computer to run properly don't bring it there. You will end up having to buy a new computer. The kids that they get to work there have no clue what so ever. The prices are outrageous, to test memory modules it is $70.00 per stick memory.

Yeah, Best Buy is a joke.

[tblake]

Originally Posted by doctorhrdware

....to test memory modules it is $70.00 per stick memory.

Yikes, I could just buy a new one for that!