Ice_Wolf

Alright, so I've decided to start looking into this whole power lock and alarm thing for my car. I would like to get the stock systems for these two, but aparently an aftermarket system would be better from what I've heard. So, any ideas on what to do here guys? Thanks.

NZConvertible

Buying a new alarm and C/L system would be much smarter than scrounging around for 16+yo parts. It may cost more, but IMO when it comes to car security functionality and reliability are more important.

RSVampire

aftermarket is definetly better because it'll be easier to find/purchase and the fact that the stock door locks and security wireing-harness's aren't there on cars not equiped with it.

Icemark

There was no remote key less entry on the FC, so an aftermarket system would be better right there.

And there was no door lock motor in the drivers door on the stock FC (or FD) power door lock system, so you would need to add a door lock actuator/motor no matter what.

Ice_Wolf

You're right about that Icemark, it would be nice to have a remote entry system for the car. I guess I'll be looking to find a power door lock system that I can get remote entry and an alarm built in with it if possible. I'm guessing they do make kits that come with power door locks and a remote system, but would do they make on with a alarm system built into it? I found this, and I'm wondering if it would work...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...783042356&rd=1

Thanks for your help guys.

StreetdreamsGT

Isn't RSVampire wrong about that thou? I've pulled my base 87 apart and have found a bunch of wiring in the door, which i assumed was for all the power things that my car didn't come with.

Icemark

late 86 and 87 Base, and Sport models tend to be a bit of mutants and often have wiring and hardware found on higher line models

Ice_Wolf

I think my GXL is the same Icemark. I believe I've got the wiring in my panels for the alarm system and power lock system because the plugs are there. So, any ideas on what to purcahse or look into here guys? Thanks.

Ice_Wolf

I've been researching this a bit, and now the question is how hard is this gonna be exactly to install onto my car and is that kit I posted above going to give me everything I need but an alarm?

Icemark

How hard , will be determined by your experience.

For example, the system you have mentioned above would take me about 2 hours to install and would be a 2 on the difficulty scale of 1-10 (10 being the most difficult).

But you may not have the same abilities, and if you never have done a security install before, it might be a 7 on your scale and take you all weekend.

That system should give you everything you need to install a keyless entry system, but yes, it is no security system. I might go the route of a good security system (Viper, Python, Clifford, Alpine) that has the keyless output, and then just buy relays and the door lock actuators (motors),

Fire85GSLSE

iTrader: (29)

Buy an aftermarket alarm, install a actuator in the doors for the locks to lock and unlock the car. If you have the option like in my 91 TII you will only need one actuator in the drivers door. Easy to tell if you have that. When you unlock the driver door does the pass side unlock as well? Yes, then you have it. No then you will need one in the pass door also.

And while your doing that have the trunk release ooked up to the alarm also.
That makes it nice sometimes when your hands are full. Once my hatch lid is unlocked it raises up but its self.

Shop around for the different models and brands.
I am pissed off right now at Viper (DEI Electronics) so I can't tell you to buy anything DEI makes.

The best alarms I have ever seen was the top of the line Alpine and Compu Star
Good luck

Icemark

Why are you pissed at them (I worked for them doing R&D and support for 7 years back in the 90's), so I am courious why anyone would not like their very high quality security product?

And for everyone else, remember when using good quality product (such as Alpine, Clifford, Viper, Python/DEI) it is generally not the security system that has problems, but rather poor installation.

Consumer reports did a security install test about 10 years ago now, and found that 75% of the installations had problems or were done incorrectly and 90% of the consumer installed systems had problems or done incorrectly. A good shop is 1000% more important than the security system brand if you are not attempting to install the system yourself.

Fire85GSLSE

iTrader: (29)

My 2000 Xterra has the 600esp alarm with the add on Remote start on it.
Well the first problem is that it keeps poping the rear brake light fuse, so I have pulled the fuse to the remote start.

(My wife and new born daughter drove around for 3 months with no brake lights!)

I have taken it back to circuit city several times to get it fixed. With no luck. It still pops the fuse in about a month. This last time Circuit City told me they can't work on Viper anymore, but I bought the alarm there because it came with a lifetime warranty.

Ok, the second problem is that in the last 3 years I have went thru 5 or 6 remotes. Not batteries, but remotes.

My old school clifford and my old Alpine never when thru a remote.

And last my xterra sits right outside my kitchen window about 15 feet from the window and the remote will not work that far from the truck.

Have any ideas?

twinturbofc

Park closer lol.... I would take that truck to circut city and demand they take the system out and install a new one free of charge. A newborn and mom have no business driving for that extended time with no damn brake lights!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Icemark

Ah, yes, Circuit city is probably some of the worst installers in the world.

The Viper lifetime warrenty is on the viper system. Not on the installation. The installation warrenty is strictly through Circuit City. The problem you are outlining here is a installation problem (I suspect the brake light wire is hooked to the grey shuct down wire of the remote start, instead of the brown shut down wire as it should be). Either way it is a simple 5 minute job to rectify for any competint installer.

Unfortantly it sounds like Circuit City (who you should really be complianing about- not Viper/DEI) is screwing you. In my day if they (CC) installed it, they were responsible for the installation and any errors regarding them. It sounds like they are trying to duck out on that responsibility now, by some lame excuse. I would speak to the store manager and get it taken care of. Have him call the DEI tech support if his installer is lieing about the system causing the problem. They can tell the manager that there is no circuit in the remote start or Viper alarm that can cause the fuse to blow unless it is installed incorrectly.

As far as the remotes, the ESP systems use a Rolling code, so its possible if the remotes buttons are pressed multiple times (at least 10- out of range of the vehicle) the remote can get out of sync. To re-sync it is a simple matter pressing the remote within range of the car several times for at least 1 second. Many owners do not press the remotes buttons for even 1/2 second, and the out of sync remote would act like it was not working. In worst case, the remote can be simply reprogramed back into the system (the instructions are in your owners manual). I have the same processor that the 600 uses in my Vert, though and I have never had to replace the remote with over 10 years of use. Now the battery's yes, they have needed to be changed, but the remotes are pretty bullet proof. Of course if the remote goes swimming or is damaged then that is another matter. I think CC warrenty on the remotes is only a year, but you would have to check with them. Either way the Viper alarm has a lifetime warrenty. Don't confuse that with the installation (which as I outlined in my other post) can be shoddy at best. As far as poor range, I would suspect that the Antenna has been pinced during installation. Normal range on the ESP systems is about 1500 FT. Of course a pinched antenna would result in intermittent remote operation as well.

I can make some calls but I would bet the reason that CC lost Viper was either their poor installation or the inability for CC to pay their bills. That is the only reason that I had ever heard of a dealer getting dropped.

88sunlover

Victoria British has the Keyless Remote access in their latest catalog. Part # 94-405 with a sell price of $69.95...and claim it is easy to install...

www.victoriabritish.com


Then it should only be a matter of installing a compatible secutiry system.

Fire85GSLSE

iTrader: (29)

Check, you should have seen how pissed I was, but I was still in my Fire Department uniform so I could not tell them what I really wanted to.

They have moved to a new location so i thought about going up there out of uniform and having a few words to get something done about it.

Fire85GSLSE

iTrader: (29)

well what gets me is the alarm worked fine for two years and then all of the sudden we have had several problems.

And those remotes are not to cheap either.

I did call DEI direct and spoke to a rep to see if they could tell me where I could take this since CC is no longer a service provider. They did tell me a local shop here that is a DEI rep but that shop wants to charge me 150 to look/try to fix it.
I can go to Best Buy and get a new alarm with the same options for 189 so why would I want to pay 150 for one that is 3/4 years old to be fixed?


And the customer service DEI rep I spoke with basically told me that I have to pay someone else to fix it.

Icemark

Yep, sucks having to pay for installation a second time.

I'd be sueing CC for the labor to fix it. Don't they offer a lifetime warrenty on their install???

I also updated/edited my other reply to you

Fire85GSLSE

iTrader: (29)

Thanks. Well if DEI wanted to keep happy customers they would allow me and others to go somewhere else to get this fixed without paying out of pocket. I still am not happy with the alarm or CC. I will try them once again out of uniform and see what I can get done.
As for the remotes, yes I tried to reprogram them everytime before we programmed the new ones. At 52.00 a remote it gets expensive.

I know the CC install was not the best. I had to cut the zip tie that held my siren to my ac pipe so that I could mound the siren on the firewall where it belongs.
And yes, when I worked at Sound Advise (11 years ago) in the road shop I was let go because I wanted to solder and heatshrink tube everything. They just wanted me to slap it in and let it ride. I was more into making it look good and last. I wanted to be the one everyone wanted to install for them.


Ok since I have a electronics degree and would be willing to try a fix myself what should I look for again?

Ice_Wolf

So what actuator and relay system would you recommend Ice Mark? Do I just need something simple like this?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...781650337&rd=1

I've yet to find an alarm and keyless entry system, but I did find a good alarm system.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...785558990&rd=1

Well Ice Mark, I was thinking about this. Couldn't I just get the power door lock system that comes with a keyless entry system and then just install an alarm onto it later? Something like this?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...784805364&rd=1

Says it comes with keyless entry system, door lock system, and says it comes with some sort of alarm system too. What do you think?

CrossfireCurt

iTrader: (2)

I'm incredibly interested in doing something like this. i think the last one there is probably the best bet.

Icemark

I don't get your mentality here.

If you went to your dentist, and he filled a cavity wrong and it fell out, would you go to another dentist and tell him he had to fill the cavity for free because a different dentist botched the job to start with.

That is what you are asking for.

Ice_Wolf

Any help here guys?

Icemark

That would work if you just wanted power door locks with no remote control or you were adding a remote control security system down the road (most aftermarket security systems have outputs ofr power door locks).

That would probably work fine if you just wanted keyless and do not need security functions other than the stock alarm.