I bought a Viper 5002 alarm system for my '85 GS project car and I'm trying to decide the best place to mount the control unit. There are a couple of requirements:

1) I don't know if it needs to be mounted horizontally or not. It has a shock sensor in it and I don't know how they work. I would assume there is something that moves when the vehicle is bumped...if so, it probably needs to be sitting flat. But I don't know for sure how shock sensors work. I'll try sending an e-mail to Viper, but they say it's supposed to be installed by qualified installers, so I don't know if they'll be willing to help me or not.

2) It needs to be somewhat accessible. There is a fuse in it, as well as a jumper to change the way the parking lights are connected.

3) I don't want to have to splice a bunch of wires onto the existing harnesses (especially the one to the antenna), so I think it needs to go somewhere between the firewall and the seats.

If I decide to leave the A/C unit (evaporator?) out when I put the dash back together, I will have plenty of space in that area, especially if I can mount it vertically on the firewall. Any other ideas? I don't have it in front of me, but going from memory I think it's about 4" x 5" x 1.5".

Thanks,
Rich

 

I would mount it under the bins (like by the stock amps/cruise control unit). You can still get to it with only a few screws, can mount horizontally, and will keep the control unit and wiring out of easy reach of would be car thives.

 

That's one place I've thought of but don't know if the included wiring is long enough to reach that area. Yes, I can always make splices and add wire, but the wiring to the antenna is pretty critical I think, so I don't want to mess with it. I'll have to measure it and see if it would reach. I could also mount the antenna on the back window I guess.

Thanks!

Rich

 

you can mount it upside down if you want. Mine is all upside down and crooked and it works fine. I mounted my antenna right above the rear view mirror where it is tinted. Harder to see it there. Also make sure and aim your siren down towards the ground where it will echo under the car and out. I mounted mine on the "framerail" by the exhaust aiming down and under the engine.

 

the box itself can be mounted in any angle. But in my experience my installers have installed the box on the steering column. They simply zip tie it around the column. I dunno...but it has always worked ok for me.

 

a lot of your wiring is going to have to tap into the ignition harness and the harness for the parking lights etc. keeping the box close to the column is a very good idea. you can catch most of your wiring there. you do however have a good amount of wire to work with. mounting the valet switch is of concern because you want that switch in a place where only you know its location. you dont want people who know alarms to break into your car and know where the valet is. i would personally mount the brain under the cluster or behind the radio(if you have an aftermarket unit. for the pin switch for the hood and the siren, run the wiring through a grommet or next to the speedo cable. no need to drill. the led can be mounted in the rectangular black plastic filler to the side of the column by the lighter. are you adding any accessories such as a glass break sensor or shock sensor? do you have a diagram of the color coded wiring that you need to tap into.