car alarm

[sil_eighty86]

Well my next plan for my vert was silvia front and paint but that will now have to wait. I was woken up at 4:30am lat night to a phone call from my dad. He was chasing the people that he interupted breaking into my vert. They got the door unlocked just as he walked out the front door to leave for work. They didnt take anything and they lost my dad at a redlight(I would have run it). So now I need an alarm for the vert. What kind do you guys suggest or what do you have on your 240????

[zenkii]

invest in a Lo jack system on the downlow and call the popo to bust they asses

[BOOMSHAKALAKA]

I recommend LoJack and Directed Electronics (they make Clifford, Viper, Python, etc.)

I've heard Computar is good also.

[Eikon]

A 'vert will never be break in proof... all it takes in a knife to cut through the top. So don't invest in a fancy audio system or other fancies that could be pilfered easily.

As for protecting the car as a whole from being stolen.. I really like the idea of getting creative with a kill switch. You can reroute the ignition wires to a kill switch that you hide somewhere in the car. Some people will toss a switch into the glove box or center console somewhere...

The club is a nice deterrant.. a theif who looks into your car and sees that they will need to spend a couple minutes with a hacksaw may decide to simply skip your car and find an easier target.

Even if you don't have an alarm.. get one of those blinking lights on the dash and a sticker ("protected by viper")... It's all about deterring a theif... Making them find a different car to break into.

LoJack is the next step.. a gps sensor of some type that will lead law enforcement to your car if it's been stolen.

just some ideas...

[BOOMSHAKALAKA]

A 'vert will never be break in proof... all it takes in a knife to cut through the top. So don't invest in a fancy audio system or other fancies that could be pilfered easily.

As for protecting the car as a whole from being stolen.. I really like the idea of getting creative with a kill switch. You can reroute the ignition wires to a kill switch that you hide somewhere in the car. Some people will toss a switch into the glove box or center console somewhere...

The club is a nice deterrant.. a theif who looks into your car and sees that they will need to spend a couple minutes with a hacksaw may decide to simply skip your car and find an easier target.

Even if you don't have an alarm.. get one of those blinking lights on the dash and a sticker ("protected by viper")... It's all about deterring a theif... Making them find a different car to break into.

LoJack is the next step.. a gps sensor of some type that will lead law enforcement to your car if it's been stolen.

just some ideas...

+1 on a kill switch. If you don't want to use a club, a removable steering wheel can help.

Anybody know of a motion sensor device of some sort? It would be nice if they made something that could detect when the top has a hole in it or something.

[Eikon]

A motion sensor is a nice idea. I know that some of the high end alarm systems come with pressure sensors... but with a soft top.. I wouldn't trust the pressure sensor to work properly.. a strong gust of wind could possible move the cloth enough to trigger a pressure sensor... maybe??

Anyhow.. I bet a motion sensor could work.. but it would have to be limited distance.. wouldn't want it to be set off by something outside the car..

Anyone else have experience with high end alarms??? I've never gotten one..

[nissanconvert]

Word form the wise.The club does not work, all it takes is a bic pen cap and 5 second to open it.Also it is a pan in the a** to use every time you leave the car.Pressure sensors get set off by every passing loud vehicle and nobody pays any attention to the alarms when they go off. My friends had one and his was stolen right off the street in front of dorms. People in the dorm told cops they didn't bother looking when the alarm went off because they go off here all the time.

I had a motion sensor in my integra..bad bad idea. Every time the temperature got cold or hot quickly the alarm would give a warning beep every couple of seconds, even on the lowest setting. People near the lot got pissed and the cops told me to disconnect it.

My thoughts, there are two kinds of thieves.1. opportunity takers, dudes looking for an easy joy ride or new radio and will go after the cars that appear unprotected. I suggest getting the blinking red led for 5$ and putting it in a visible location. Its cheap and gives you the same protection as a real alarm from these guys. My integra was never bothered while a crx, caravan and caprice were stolen off the same row of cars last year. None had any visible anti theft according to the cops.2. Pros, they will not be bothered by any fancy alarms, disconnects,clubs etc and lojack is your best bet. Cars on campus have been stolen that have had all these items. One particularly funny incident was an accord with a club that was left after its motor,interior and wheels were stolen and "tank you" *sic scratched on the hood.

That being said, I've never been able to find out the cost of a lojack system, does anyone know for sure? I've always guessed it was too costly for the kind of cars i've owned.

[Glyph]

Generally, with a convertible it's recommended you get what's called a proximity sensor (a fancy word for "motion sensor"?). It triggers the alarm whenever anyone gets as close as you determine when setting the sensitivity control. They can be difficult to adjust but once they're dialed in I've found them to be quite effective. I also recommend the upper level alarms made by D.E.I. (the viper etc.) as they now come with a two-way pager to alert you to problems. The sound of alarms has become so commonplace that I feel it's pretty much ignored these days so having a pager alert you to intrusions seems to me to be the only way to go that makes sense and might actually prevent something bad from getting worse. If money's no object, they have alarms now that have built in gps and that you can control remotely from the phone. Imagine calling your alarm and telling it to shut down the engine, lock the doors, and then telling the cops exactly where your car is lol. Well, you get the idea. Plus I always recommend a well hidden back-up battery so simply cutting or disconnecting the visible battery cables won't affect it. I also suggest looming all the alarm wires so it looks oem making it much more difficult for a thief (even a pro) to locate and cut them and buying an secondary "extra loud" piezo siren and mounting it in the cabin of the car under the dash. You'd be surprised how painful they can be.

[Eikon]

Great info you guys!!!

Keep it coming. I'll add this to our sticky FAQ's as this will certianly be very helpful info for lots of 'vert owners.

[ishkabibble]

What I did was put the stock stereo deck back in and I also don't keep anything of value in the car. There are much higher value cars on my street, so hopefully that's enough to keep the crackheads and youth going elsewhere to get money for their fixes.

[sil_eighty86]

I dont have a very high priced system, but I do have a good headunit and some good 6.5 all the way around. I do stop buy a local audio store that is about two blocks from my house. I have seen the suv they were driving up there before. I think that they knew where I lived and assumed I moved the subs from my s14 into the vert.

[ishkabibble]

Or they just knew you put good audio in your car and assumed your vert had a comparable system.

[nissanconvert]

Run a positive wire from the windows or locks to a bare strip of metal and put it just behind the weatherstripping in front of the window so when they try to slim-jim the lock it grounds out and shocks em good! I found an antique alarm at a garage sale that i thought was creative. It was a smoke flare that goes off when 12v is applied across it so if they start the car with out it being disabled it makes a loud bang and then makes a lot of smoke which would be hilarious to see coming from under the hood or even better filling the cabin.

[wirelessalpha]

Chi's 2 cents:

Combination is always best:

1. Yeah, get a sticker on put it on your window glass. This does work in deterring.

2. Have a real alarm installed - it will even lower your insurance rate.

3. Make sure the alarm light is visible.

4. Kill switch - most important.

5. Get a detachable hub + steering wheel.

6. Offer to be on the lookout for theft around the places you often stay long (your home for instance). Make sure your neighbors know. People don't like that sort of stuff - so they will be on the lookout for you as well.

For the next few days, be cautious - and be on the lookout. You can't believe how cocky some people are. In my experience, its often that the same group of people will come back again for another attempt soon.

[sil_eighty86]

yeah Im getting an alarm asap and I have been looking on the net for a good looking wheel( I think momo fighter) and quick release hub( not sure what is good). I work untill 2A.M. on friday and saturday so I will be up all night and I will be on the lookout sunday. Thanks for all the help. Next time I will have the 45. waiting.
Modified by sil_eighty86 at 10:17 PM 1/25/2007

[cmkelly]

I have a pet copper head I keep in my car. Last time it was broken into we found the body 100 yards away. Old West Justice!

[mrk442]

Run a positive wire from the windows or locks to a bare strip of metal and put it just behind the weatherstripping in front of the window so when they try to slim-jim the lock it grounds out and shocks em good! I found an antique alarm at a garage sale that i thought was creative. It was a smoke flare that goes off when 12v is applied across it so if they start the car with out it being disabled it makes a loud bang and then makes a lot of smoke which would be hilarious to see coming from under the hood or even better filling the cabin.

LOL love the slimjim idea but filling the cabin with smoke would be great until you realize you car smells like A** for the rest of eternity under hood would be classic though unless it starts a fire

Best bet go for the copperhead

[signalpuke]

GPS through the use of a prepaid phone. What you do is go to http://www.mologogo.com and: 1. order a starter kit (includes phone with tracking application, two chargers, usb cable, and $10 prepaid credit) make sure you pick the Mobil Data plan. 2. create 2 accounts at mologogo.com, one for the phone, and one for the person tracking it. In each account, add the other as a Friend. 3. Set up the Mologogo software on your new phone through Main Menu>Java>Apps>More>Mologogo. Enter account information from the web site.

I figure the only issue would be batterylife, but it should last 36-72 hours on a charge, charge it while you drive too. If someone just steals your phone you can track them. Hiding it in your interior should be no problem. Price it out, it is really cheap compared to the other alternatives for tracking a vehicle

[Eikon]

GPS through the use of a prepaid phone. What you do is go to http://www.mologogo.com and: 1. order a starter kit (includes phone with tracking application, two chargers, usb cable, and $10 prepaid credit) make sure you pick the Mobil Data plan. 2. create 2 accounts at mologogo.com, one for the phone, and one for the person tracking it. In each account, add the other as a Friend. 3. Set up the Mologogo software on your new phone through Main Menu>Java>Apps>More>Mologogo. Enter account information from the web site.

I figure the only issue would be batterylife, but it should last 36-72 hours on a charge, charge it while you drive too. If someone just steals your phone you can track them. Hiding it in your interior should be no problem. Price it out, it is really cheap compared to the other alternatives for tracking a vehicle

Brilliant idea.. does the phone need to actually pick up your call though in order to work? Or can you activate the sensor somehow remotely?

[BOOMSHAKALAKA]

http://www.compustar.org/

Check that out also.

[signalpuke]

Brilliant idea.. does the phone need to actually pick up your call though in order to work? Or can you activate the sensor somehow remotely?

It has been a year or two since I came across this, but if I remember correctly the phone just needs Java. other than that you just follow the directions on the site.

[ftl900]

I like the idea of putting the alarm speaker in the interior of the car. It'll make nearly as much noise as it would mounted outside since it's a vert, and make it REALLY hard to try to drive the car anywhere. If it's well hidden behind the dash with the wires out of sight, then it's harder to disable quickly.

I've also been kicking around the blinking LED idea... with or without the alarm, it's still a good idea.

The smoke bomb sounds good til the first time YOU forget to disable it, or ask someone to get something out of your car for you.

The voltage/slimjim/shocking idea would probably get you arrested. I know setting house traps will, and I expect the same would happen with a car. I'd hate to see someone get sued by a car thief.

Removeable faceplates are a great deterrent, except everyone knows that everyone leaves the faceplate in the center console. I do that when parked at home (low crime area and cheap HU), but otherwise I carry it with me.

[EW]

The BEST proximity sensor on the market is the Clifford G5 model that is included with the Avant Guard5 or can be added to the Concept 450 and up models. Digital dual zone remotely adjustable sensor that can have the warning zone or trigger zone defeated on the fly. Works GREAT! No problems or issues when installed properly.

Also, the Clifford Concept450 has an impact sensor, glass breakage microphone, normally open starter kill, normally open ignition kill, and a coded valet switch. Much more secure than your average $99 alarm.

[ishkabibble]

How about this security system:

http://www.flickr.com/photo_zo...ize=o

[zenkii]

How about this security system:

http://www.flickr.com/photo_zo...ize=o

[donmeca2020]

i for one will have to say DEFINETLY NOT about the viper alarm, when we purchased our vert from a fireman that was selling it because his daughter no long wanted it, we didnt know but it came with a viper alarm, over the course of a few months we had one too many problems with it, the car wouldnt start, when we tried to start it, the alarm would sound for no apparent reason at night, and frankly we got tired of it, then when the car was no longer running due to ecu problem that we later found out about the guy who was checking it told me he disabled it, i for one will be removeing it now and possibly later on getting a clifford alarm or something, but as is right now the car doesnt need a alarm.

[BOOMSHAKALAKA]

but as is right now the car doesnt need a alarm.

Mine does. You have no idea how paranoid I am. A club and parking it as close as possible to where i'm at just doesn't cut it.

[gp_says]

How about this security system:

http://www.flickr.com/photo_zo...ize=o

I belive that my TRUNK MONKEY work better and harder!

[4cedkoop]

I just found an auction on ebay that was an LED with 3 wires hooked up to it. They had the LED's in Red or Blue, I chose Red. The 3 wires are 1, a constant power, 2, an accessory power, and 3, a ground. When the car is on, the led goes off, as soon as the ignition is turned on, the LED has a diode in it so it starts blinking. And it is supposed to be a "Super Bright LED" lol. At $7.00 a piece I bought 2 of them, one for the vert and one for the coupe. So, we'll see how they look. When they get here, I'll post up some pics. I like this setup beause you don't have to mess with a switch.

This is how I feel. If a professional wants to break into your car, he's going to do it, alarm or no alarm. The idea of this LED is to make just an amateur, or some stupid *** kid move on to another car.

[ishkabibble]

If I were a thief and I saw a blinking LED, I'd say to myself "self, there is probably something in this car worth stealing".