How Does the Security System Work? (EX got broken into today)

[BROUDIE]

So I stepped out of my EX for 30 minutes to have some ribs at Wes' Rib House in Providence, RI a couple of hours ago. When I came back, my driver side window was smashed, and my GPS stolen. Didn't hear an alarm. What gives? How is the alarm system supposed to work? How do I test it?

[zarar]

I believe like any other car, if not better? I would make a police report and complain to the dealer that your alarm didn't when it should have. If the car didn't make the least bit of noise, that means the alarm wasn't working at all. Only way to test it would be to (might really not want to do this to your car but..) rock it back and forth or have someone play a REALLY loud music with their sound system (with like heavy sub woofers.) to see if even chirps. I would throw a fit, paying as much for a car and knowing the most important part, the anti theft device doesn't work, might as well have a sign on it that says Open House lol. But I would definitely look into it, even if you can't hear a two way remote go off, it should be going off until you deactivate it from your key fob. Unless you manually lock your car by hitting the lock buttons and exiting your may not properly activate the security system, that could but a big factor, but I doubt you do. The alarm system automatically activates when you lock the doors with the remote or by pressing the button on the door.

Sorry about happend, I know how it feels. I actually had someone smashed my window and took my gps in front of me (in my mercedes suv) with groceries in my hand running after them, I got the place number and the cops never did anything about it. The lady watching said "Oh, I thought it was there car", who smashes their own window?

[JCL622]

you guys DO know that the alarm in our car.....is i believe 2 stage or something.

and if memory serves me correctly, this is true for all vehicles.

your alarm will only go off if a DOOR opens/force open. but there is no impact sensor on the car...unless you add one. ~ or at least that's what i was told when i bought the 335, because BMW, Mercedes, both have the option of impact sensors for the windows.....and i assume that's what it's for.

i'm sorry to hear about ur car, call the cops, file a report, let insurance + 5-0 handle it

[ramprun]

you can apply security filmds that would slow down the thief long enough to deter him/her

[BROUDIE]

OK, insurance put in new glass with no deductible. Got the car detailed so there's no evidence of it being broken into.

Now, how does that impact sensor work? If I bump into the car, it will alarm?

[Poyzinous]

theres an impact sensor from the dealer available for the G and FX, but I don't know if it will fit the EX. I'll look into it. If there isn't one, there should be.

[D.I.E.S.E.L]

thats horrible. I know its too late to do anything now but its nothing new...over here in Jersey you read about this kind of stuff in the newspaper all the time, the motive for breaking into someones car being the gps. The best thing you can do about that is put the gps away in the storage, if you forget then your asking to be robbed. The police probably won't do much but help u file a report but don't expect to get your gps back.

[EXceptional]

So do you wish you spent more and got the Journey (comes with GPS) package, now ?

[D.I.E.S.E.L]

i think it still costs him less because the Journey with GPS is about another 3k, maybe more. The repair of the window and loss of gps would probably still be less.

[BROUDIE]

So do you wish you spent more and got the Journey (comes with GPS) package, now ?

Maybe you should look at my listed cars, you know, right under my handle? Says 2008 EX35 AWD Journey?

[BROUDIE]

Ac

i think it still costs him less because the Journey with GPS is about another 3k, maybe more. The repair of the window and loss of gps would probably still be less.

Actually, everything was free. Car insurance had zero deductible for the glass, and the homeowners insurance covered the loss of the GPS.

But that's not the reason for not getting the in-dash GPS. In 2 years that in-dash GPS will be obsolete, while I could buy a new top-of-the line Garmin for $200-$300. I don't want to be stuck with obsolete electronics.

[EXceptional]

But that's not the reason for not getting the in-dash GPS. In 2 years that in-dash GPS will be obsolete, while I could buy a new top-of-the line Garmin for $200-$300. I don't want to be stuck with obsolete electronics.

Your Car is gonna be obsolete, too. I bet in 2 years, you won't be owning it, either.

[wxman]

Ac

Actually, everything was free. Car insurance had zero deductible for the glass, and the homeowners insurance covered the loss of the GPS.

But that's not the reason for not getting the in-dash GPS. In 2 years that in-dash GPS will be obsolete, while I could buy a new top-of-the line Garmin for $200-$300. I don't want to be stuck with obsolete electronics.

There is absolutely no comparison between the ease of use and utility of an in dash GPS versus a portable. I have used both systems over many years (I'm a tech geek), and I will never buy a car without an in dash unit again. A few years back where you had to pay (effectively) 2-4K or more for an in dash, there may have been an argument for a portable device, but not anymore. Also, the most important update of any GPS is the maps, and you can update the in dash maps...and with the HDD system in the EX you probably can update the firmware as well if that ever becomes needed.

[sg77]

Some things I like better about the in-dash navigation vs. a portable GPS: don't have to mess with clipping it on the vents or putting it in awkward locations on the windshield; don't have to worry about it being stolen and constantly removing it/reattaching it; integration with the car's other systems like voice recognition initiated on the steering wheel, and automatically lowering the stereo volume when giving directions.

(And I definitely wanted the Around View Monitor, which required the Nav package anyway.)

Things I like better about a portable GPS: doesn't have annoying restrictions on what can be done while moving; better feature implementation in some cases like when viewing a list of nearby Points of Interest that updates as you move.

[KJ911TT]

Ac

Actually, everything was free. Car insurance had zero deductible for the glass, and the homeowners insurance covered the loss of the GPS.

But that's not the reason for not getting the in-dash GPS. In 2 years that in-dash GPS will be obsolete, while I could buy a new top-of-the line Garmin for $200-$300. I don't want to be stuck with obsolete electronics.

Haha, I bet you this is your first claim ever.

Yes, the glass deductible was $0 and yes the home owners insurance covered the loss of the GPS, but the next time you make a claim, you risk your rates going up afterwards. So personally, I would not be silly enough to use my homeowners insurance to replace a $200-$300 portable GPS (maybe even cheaper). Save your "claims" for major stuff like your house being robbed, not for small stuff like this. As for the glass, it also counts as a "claim" and for the cost of maybe $200-$300, it's also NOT worth it to claim.

Also, the Navigation system on the EX35 is actually quite good compared to other cars. It's not perfect, but I'd rather have the integrated system instead of some nasty portable unit hanging on the window with the power cord cluttering my dash. So much so that I bought the EX with the integrated Navigation even though I own a Garmin Nuvi 760.

And I have to say, the amount of people who have had their cars broken into and their portable GPS units stolen is actually a VERY HIGH amount. Portable GPS units seem to be a major theft target. This happened to a few of my friends who forgot to take the unit off when they parked.

- KJ

[EXceptional]

Also, the Navigation system on the EX35 is actually quite good compared to other cars. It's not perfect, but I'd rather have the integrated system instead of some nasty portable unit hanging on the window with the power cord cluttering my dash - KJ

After-all, we bought an Infiniti, not a Dodge Neon.

KJ - you made some very GOOD points about Insurance.