Alarming Thread!

[jaymar]

Rifling through the archives, I don't see a lot on security systems. Dunno if that's because people don't bother, or prefer not to talk about their own DIY setups. I was wondering whether folks might care to weigh in on security systems / alarms--including ready-made products; thoughts, experiences, etc.

Two questions that come to mind for me are:

1) Do insurers require "professional" installation before applying any discounts?

2) Assuming you have a ready-made system professionally installed--do they hand you a wiring diagram that shows the work (so you can actually check it), or are you just left to guess (and maybe track down a resulting electrical gremlin several years down the line, while rolling (or NOT rolling) through Death Valley)?

 

[Wermz]

I ordered a keyless entry system for my truck a while back, still havent installed it yet. I keep trying to convince myself to install a proper alarm system. I would not hook up an immobilizer simply because i dont trust any non factory parts getting in between me and a running truck. That said it leaves thieves with the upper hand if theyre going to steel my truck. Pros and cons, ya know..

as far as insurance goes, **** them.

 

[Irish Reiver]

I ripped the factory fitted (albeit a port install) Rostrov (or something like that) alarm/mobilizer/keyless entry system that failed and left me stranded- thankfully not in death valley. I installed an Avital alarm/immobilizer/keyless entry and remote start. That was 5 years back and i have been extremely happy with it.

 

[BILT4ME]

Confirm in writing that an insurance company will give you a discount for an alarm system on your truck. It will probably amount to $5/year for a $1000 system. Not worthwhile IMO.

If you live in a high crime area and you feel it's important, do it because you want to. Get a quality system installed by a quality installer. That does NOT mean Best Buy.
I have seen s***ty installed expensive systems and same for cheap systems. I've also seen highly detailed installs on both, but you NEED to look at real time examples of their work area and the vehicles they are in process of installing.

But, you still need to know what you're looking at. Blue crimp splices are NOT a professional install job.

 

[Irish Reiver]

My concern would be if the insurance company refused to pay out if the truck was stolen because i removed the factory immobilizer.

 

[jaymar]

I ripped the factory fitted (albeit a port install) Rostrov (or something like that) alarm/mobilizer/keyless entry system that failed and left me stranded- thankfully not in death valley. I installed an Avital alarm/immobilizer/keyless entry and remote start. That was 5 years back and i have been extremely happy with it.

You put it in yourself?

 

[jaymar]

Confirm in writing that an insurance company will give you a discount for an alarm system on your truck. It will probably amount to $5/year for a $1000 system. Not worthwhile IMO.

If you live in a high crime area and you feel it's important, do it because you want to. Get a quality system installed by a quality installer. That does NOT mean Best Buy.
I have seen s***ty installed expensive systems and same for cheap systems. I've also seen highly detailed installs on both, but you NEED to look at real time examples of their work area and the vehicles they are in process of installing.

But, you still need to know what you're looking at. Blue crimp splices are NOT a professional install job.

Yeah been planning to do it anyway; just read today that insurer may discount and am waiting to hear back on conditions. Could be inconsequential, as you say. Not a fan of Worst Buy for anything, really. Good advice on taking a peek at the shop!

 

[clx16]

@Irish Reiver i can't see that happening. But maybe if you have super cheap insurance that has lots of stipulations. I put in an alarm in my taco when i had it. It was not that hard, and I got it nice and clean and hard to get to. Even took advantage of the "trunk" open channel to turn on lights in the bed of the truck for 10 mins at a time so I could easily load kayaks, fishing, camping gear in at night. My insurance company didn't ask anything about who installed just asked if i had a system that got installed after it was broken in to. I told them it now had an alarm. my insurance didn't change but then again i also didn't make a claim as i fixed the damage for a couple of dollars.

I don't think i would let anyone else install an alarm for me. I will just read the directions.

 

[BILT4ME]

Yeah been planning to do it anyway; just read today that insurer may discount and am waiting to hear back on conditions. Could be inconsequential, as you say. Not a fan of Worst Buy for anything, really. Good advice on taking a peek at the shop!

I asked my insurer, State Farm, and the discount was so negligible that I forget what it was but it was between $5 and $10 per year. So not worth it to me.

 

[clx16]

$5 and $10 per year. So not worth it to me

even if it was 300 dollars cheaper a year it wouldn't be my deciding factor to get it. every year my 80 isn't stolen saves me more than 300 in replacement and stress. having the 80 costs a fortune in gas alone. if money was a deciding factor, i would let it get stolen and get me a ford ranger.

 

[jaymar]

I asked my insurer, State Farm, and the discount was so negligible that I forget what it was but it was between $5 and $10 per year. So not worth it to me.

Holy cow; I saw someone mention 23%, so thought I'd look into that before doing it myself. Maybe they were full of sh*t?

 

[Irish Reiver]

You put it in yourself?

Nope. I thought about it but erred on the side of caution and had a professional outfit do the install.

 

[clx16]

When you do the install yourself. you can add things like a full on rats nest of dumb wiring harness that you got from the pull apart to snake all around. the worse it looks the more the thief is going to think exactly what you do when you buy a used car and realize someone has chopped up the wiring...

 

[devo]

Can’t I just use The Club?




devo

 

[Outsane]

I purchased and installed a compustar with GPS tracking. I don't think the alarm will keep it from getting stolen,,but I would like to be able to find out who stole it and where they are taking it.

 

[jaymar]

Nope. I thought about it but erred on the side of caution and had a professional outfit do the install.

Did they give you a wiring diagram?

 

[jaymar]

Can’t I just use The Club?




devo

You mean, like, to hit them with if you catch them in the act?

 

[mingles]

I second installing whatever you decide to put in yourself. That way you know it is done right, how it is wired, and gives you a head start on troubleshooting any issues.

When I got my 80 several years ago, it had no fobs and therefore no remote locks. I found the local installer that had the best reviews and seemed to know their business. I had a Clifford remote lock and remote start system installed. The system worked great for a few years but then the fobs stopped working in cold weather. The installer is out of business and I am left to clean up an absolute nightmare of a hack job under the dash . I have cleaned up most of the mess, but still have the cold weather/no function issue as the crimps they used were cheap and contact isn’t made when wiring shrinks in the winter. It is on my list to fix, but the older I get, the less appealing working upside down on my back contorted under the dash is.

99% of the times I have let someone else work on any of my vehicles they come back with more problems than they went in with. At this point, no one but me works on the 80. At least if I screw up a job, I know who to blame and who to get to fix it .

 

[clx16]

@mingles i hope you do yourself a favor and remove the seats.

 

[mingles]

@mingles i hope you do yourself a favor and remove the seats.

I have and I do. But even that is a PIA. Those seats are heavy and my back isn't what it used to be .