Stereo equipment, Alarm systems, and Insurance for your aftermarket stereo...

[rjdmmfl1]

Hey guys, after my recent run in with criminals, I thought I'd share some helpful tips with you, and maybe save you time, frustration, and money in the future!

STEREO EQUIPMENT & INSURANCE:

If you guys have ANY aftermarket stereo equipment in your vehicle, please ask for and purchase the additional stereo equipment insurance from your car insurance carrier. I have $2500 coverage, and my premium is only $78 every 6 months, or $13 a month. The deductible is $100 per incidence, but I think this insurance is well worth it! Just be sure to take photos of your stereo equipment, and keep them in a folder with your insurance stuff. Also, it would be helpful to keep the receipt of the equipment as well as any fees you were charged for labor when doing the install. All of this helped me out tremendously after my car was broken into and my dvd player was taken. All of you guys with aftermarket navis, cd players, monitors, etc should really consider doing this.

ALARM - Factory vs. Aftermarket

Well, needless to say, I think factory alarms suck a**!!! The problem with them is that 1. they are limited to vehicle intrusion, not vibration, 2. no one even looks at a car when the alarm is going off3. if you're in your house, and your alarm goes off and you can't hear it, it does you no good!

I know what I'm suggesting is expensive, but for folks with nice aftermarket stuff, it would really benefit you... CONSIDER GETTING A PAGER ALARM! There are some really good pager alarms out there that will page you up to a mile away if your car alarm is triggered. The alarms have OLED screens that show you which zone was triggered, i.e. trunk, window breakage, door trigger, hood trigger, or just a simple vibration!

Here are a few good ones...http://images.google.com/imgre...US238Audiovox XRO9100

http://www.clifford.com/Produc...D=700Clifford 70.5X

Viper 7900http://www.viper.com/Products/...D=102

AUTOPAGE RS-1000http://www.autopageusa.com/t_i...a12be

I purchased the autopage alarm, and I love it, but it ran me $680 out the door! It would have been less, but I asked them to install the can-bus module so that I wouldn't need to give up my factory fob, and that module costs about $80 alone!

I will say this, these systems can be really expensive to install. Average price will run you about $250 - $300 for the alarm itself, and $400 - $500 for the install labor. But for the piece of mind if you have any aftermarket equipment, I would say its definately worth it! Hope this helps some of you out!

[rjdmmfl1]

Oh yeah, and for anyone that gets the viper system,or any system from DI (Clifford, Viper, Hornet) you can get the add on GPS online tracking system that will allow you to track your car at any time. You can even remote start your carright from your computer!

http://www.viper.com/Products/GPSTracking.aspx

[mcheddadi]

Oh yeah, and for anyone that gets the viper system,or any system from DI (Clifford, Viper, Hornet) you can get the add on GPS online tracking system that will allow you to track your car at any time. You can even remote start your carright from your computer!

http://www.viper.com/Products/GPSTracking.aspx

here's another one: http://www.scytek.net/product_....html

It can take pictures of the criminal remotely, even has night vision!

[stsxcrle]

RJ: Great write-up as usual, lots of useful info.

Why would you want to use your factory fob if you have to carry the pager anyway? So you have the option of using it?

[rjdmmfl1]

RJ: Great write-up as usual, lots of useful info.

Why would you want to use your factory fob if you have to carry the pager anyway? So you have the option of using it?

Thanks, in regards to the factory fob, its not that I want to use it, I just don't like the idea of having to leave it in the car... i can't remember exactly how it would work, but he (my installer) mentioned something about if an individual could get into your car, and they get a hold of the factory fob, they could then just use the valet switch to override the aftermarket alarm. Then, since they now have the fob to your vehicle...bye bye car!

I don't know how accurate that is, I mean usually they hide it, but still, I absolutely did NOT wanna give up my factory key fob.

[tertius]

I was very interested in this and luckily some research has been done for me. Thanks. I'll just review the ones here and see what best suits me. Honestly after spending the money on a new car I don't feel like any amount here will be too much for an alarm after I read that post where someone actually got into your car.

[dangeris]

Thanks for the write up Doc! Very Helpful! I have to agree that there are decent alarms out there but the install costs can double the amount of the unit itself

[quick_shift]

I'll probably end up getting one of these. I'll have to check with my inside sources at Circuity City about some of his direct manufacturer discounts he gets. I got a $500 Python alarm for $200 and then paid $50 to one of the Road Shop guys to install it in my Eclipse.

I doubt I can get a great deal on one of these alarms but hopefully I can pay someone to put it in again on the side.

[Serkle K]

Hey Doc, I was wondering... The stock security system has a kill switch (IIRC, for the fule line) built in... and now-a-days systems like these have them as well... So, when getting one like these installed, would it be a secondary/back-up kill, or bypass the factory or the aftermarket kill switch?

[rjdmmfl1]

Hey Doc, I was wondering... The stock security system has a kill switch (IIRC, for the fule line) built in... and now-a-days systems like these have them as well... So, when getting one like these installed, would it be a secondary/back-up kill, or bypass the factory or the aftermarket kill switch?

well, with the system that I got, they told me that for the 2007/2008 Nissan and Infinitis with Aftermarket remote start systems, the alarm companies recommend that you DO NOT connect the starter kill to the vehicle!

In a vehicle without push start, when you remote start, you get in the vehicle, put in the key, then switch the car to the on position, then you hit the brake. If you hit the brake without turning the key first, you will trigger the kill switch and turn the car off.

In vehicles with the push button start, if you set it up like that, when you remote start the vehicle then get in and press the push button to turn the car on, you confuse the car and get a set of warning lights etc. If you get in and press the brake before pressing the pushbutton, you cut the car off. Then you have to release the brake and press it again and push the start button.

Right now, I have my car setup the way the alarm company suggests. the starter kill is disengaged. So, if I turn the car on via remote start, I can just get in the car and press the brake. When I press the brake, the car switches to ACC and then to ON automatically, then I can just shift gears and go!

[LongBeachCoupe]

Feelgood... can you post the MSRP or ebay/current prices on those? im considering getting one...I dont have this alarm yet, but i hear the PITT is the alarm of the 19th century... you know if someone is tampering with your ride by finding a trail of blood...

[niztec]

what happens if you have MT?? can you just by pass the clutch switch to make it remote start?? or do you have to do something else to bypass the push start???

[rjdmmfl1]

what happens if you have MT?? can you just by pass the clutch switch to make it remote start?? or do you have to do something else to bypass the push start???

funny, the installer was really worried when he thought I had a manual, and relived to know i had an automatic. For some reason, most installers are reluctant tp install remote starts in manual vehicles... I'm pretty sure it can be done, but I know there's the issue of vehicles jumping forward on remote start... anyone else care to chime in?

[Serkle K]

It can be done... i dont know details, but i know it can be done... I knew a guy that had it on his MR2 Turbo, as far as I know, it didn't jump... IIRC there's something about not leaving it in gear when after you shut it off... again i don't know details especially on new cars like the Altima, but from what I've been told from the one shop I know, It can be done, and you keep all your fobs, and you can just get in and drive... they have done it on the 07 sedan, but i dont know if they've done it on an A/C yet

[maxentropy]

Remote start on a push button start vehicle- can it be done?

[rjdmmfl1]

Remote start on a push button start vehicle- can it be done?

umm yes, sis you read the entire thread? I have the autopage remote start, pager alram system installed on my vehicle... also, there are about 4 threads on this forum dealing with remote starts

you can do either an aftermarket remote start or a factory remot start where they program your car and your factory key fob.

[maxentropy]

umm yes, sis you read the entire thread? I have the autopage remote start, pager alram system installed on my vehicle... also, there are about 4 threads on this forum dealing with remote starts

Missed that bit, apologies.

you can do either an aftermarket remote start or a factory remot start where they program your car and your factory key fob.

Factory remote start? I asked my dealer and they told me it was impossible to remote start a push button vehicle... I figured the guy was simply an idiot.

Right now, I have my car setup the way the alarm company suggests. the starter kill is disengaged. So, if I turn the car on via remote start, I can just get in the car and press the brake. When I press the brake, the car switches to ACC and then to ON automatically, then I can just shift gears and go!

So you press the remote start from inside your house or whatnot and your car's engine does start, however when you get in the vehicle and are ready to get moving, you depress the brake and the vehicle has to run from ACC to ON again?

Sorry, just trying to clarify here. I have the 3.5 CVT A/C.

[Cali 2 Balti G]

There is no way to have auto start on a Manual transmission AND have the car remain in gear when parked - as many people do. Leaving your manual in gear when you park your car is an extra measure of safety if your e-brake should fail.

You can install the auto start on a manual - you just wont be able to leave it in gear when you park. No installer wants to deal with the headache of blaming runaway, starter, gear etc damage on the installer.

[rjdmmfl1]

Missed that bit, apologies.

Factory remote start? I asked my dealer and they told me it was impossible to remote start a push button vehicle... I figured the guy was simply an idiot.

So you press the remote start from inside your house or whatnot and your car's engine does start, however when you get in the vehicle and are ready to get moving, you depress the brake and the vehicle has to run from ACC to ON again?

Sorry, just trying to clarify here. I have the 3.5 CVT A/C.

in regards to factory remote start...your dealer is an idiot! yes you can do factory & aftermarket remote start on push start vehicles

in regards to how it works, what they suggest is that you disconnect the starter kill switch when installing a remote start on a push button vehicle...

in this case, you remote start, get in vehicle, push the brake, and the vehicles then switches ---> ACC---> ON in a matter of .5 seconds... then you shift gears and go... this is in an automatic, not sure about manual!

[niztec]

There is no way to have auto start on a Manual transmission AND have the car remain in gear when parked - as many people do. Leaving your manual in gear when you park your car is an extra measure of safety if your e-brake should fail.

You can install the auto start on a manual - you just wont be able to leave it in gear when you park. No installer wants to deal with the headache of blaming runaway, starter, gear etc damage on the installer.

i know its not safe to have remote start on an MT car, but its possible by closing the circuit to the clutch switch so you wouldnt need to push in clutch to start your car....ive done that before on my 85 hachiroku