just wondering about everyone's suggestion on what to install first? alarm or turbo timer? or does it matter? i hear that the stock alarm has caused problems...

 

ALARM FIRST!

Let the turbos cool off a bit before you shut down or just ease up on them before you stop..

 

Sell the turbo timer and forget about it. That'll make the decision easy.

 

here's an idea: compustar 2 way paging alarm WITH turbo timer AND remote start!

 

Yea, and also any of the viper 2way alarms have the turbo timer feature. I have the viper 791 and it gives you the option of a 30sec, 1 min, 2 min, 5 min, 10 min cool down.

 

10min ??? holy crap!

my compustar is max 2 min iirc.

 

But do any of the car alarm timers, add time for agressive driving ?? That's the only reason I'm keeping my Greddy Unit.

 

I had mine put in together. Just make sure you get an alarm that is compatible with a turbo timer if you do go with both.

And you might want to disconnect the factory alarm if you do so - I had problems with the factory alarm intermittently setting itself off when I opened the car. My remote was set up to lock/unlock the doors when arming/disarming. When I would arm it and lock the doors, the factory alarm would arm itself. When I disarmed, the factory alarm didn't always disarm, so occasionally I would open the door and trigger the factory alarm. Annoying.

I don't really use the turbo timer much anymore except to run the fans after shutdown so if you've already got some form of cooling mod like this then I reckon you could get by without a turbo timer.

 

Turbo timers are gimmick toys for little boys that don't know any better. Just drive the car easy for the last two minutes before you reach your destination. A turbo timer is a waste of time, space, and money!

 

Or if you're lazy like me. When I go into a store I can take my key outta the car but it stays running obviously and it's just easy ahha.

 

In the mean time you are running hot coolant through your engine because the car is just sitting there idleing...

 

That's a good idea. Attracting potential car thieves to your car by leaving it running with no one in it. Brilliant!!

 

My car heats up when I idle it vs. light cruising at light throttle. In Phoenix summers no way would I ever consider a turbo timer as something that makes even a tiny bit of sense. Definately go for the alarm first if you are looking for something useful.

 

Everyone has their own opinion. Personally I think it has it's place and time. Like when you've been boosting like **** and then you realize you have to stop immediately for something. Sure beats sitting in the car for a minute...60 seconds or more is a long time when you are just sitting there waiting for it to cool down. But back to the original thread question...I still think the alarm should be first.

 

I only run into stores, like infront of a gas station, not like hey I need to pick that shirt up at the mall. I'm not stupid with it. If I see someone that looks like he's staring at my car or if there aren't many people around I shut the car off.

I always thought coolant was cold when I drove and let the car idle..

 

It's still stupid to leave your car running when you are not in it. You don't know how long you might be stuck waiting in line in a store.


The only thing that cools your coolant is air rushing thru the radiator. That won't happen when the car is sitting at idle. The coolant will get hotter and hotter until the fans come on.

 

i agree with adam c on the turbo timer, just take it easy the last two minutes or so, then just shut her off!

however, i leave mine running for a few seconds so it'll allow remote starting later.

so simple answer is get an alarm that has one and you wont have to worry about either

 

I used to have the same problem, my alarm not responding to the factory alarm but i took a look at the wiring manual on the FD and fiqured out the problem. Everything works fine now. Also in regards to the turbo timer i normally set mine to 1 minute, in addition to driving "good". If you want to hook up your turbo timer in addition to the alarm just make sure to bypass the starter kill if equipped.

 

These days...what is a popular alarm brand that consumers purchase these days? I've been sticking with the stock alarm systems for the past few years that I remember when VIPER was a popular brand...along with alpine and clifford. I hear that Clarion makes alarms?

 

True, but I am not a big fan of coking oil in the turbo's personally.

 

I've said this before and i'll say it again. Turbo timers are only good when you are in a rush.. ie. if your late for work, you wouldnt want to wait another 2 mins.

 

um, those fans you speak of coming on, do they not "rush air through the radiator" on your car? do you turn your car off when you come to a stop light for fear of the air not rushing through you radiator anymore and it getting hotter untill the fans come on? The engine bay will obviously collect more heat while sitting idling but the fans on the radiator are there to cool the coolant.

as for the origonal question, alarm with turbo timer sounds good, a turbo timer is somthing that you should get based on how you drive the car, if you think that you need it, get one if you dont, dont. i dont think that turbo timers are necesary, more of a peace of mind thing.

i like mine (it came with the car) but i rewired everything so when its activated my factory alarm works, the high speed fans come on, and so if i set the tumer for 2 minutes or more the fans come on for 10min after shutdown to cool the engine bay and help with the terrible heat soak the engine gets after turning off. also i have the e-brake and speed sensor shut off so if the e-brake is released or the ecu senses speed it turns off the car.

 

The 10 min feature can be used as a engine warm-up timer if you don't want to sit and wait in your car or leave your car unattended with the key in the ignition. I usually go start my car and set my HKS for 10 min, come back in and take a shower and get dressed and when I'm ready to leave the engine temps are at normal operating temps.

 

If you guys really need a turbo timer becuase your foot is so heavy that you can't stop flooring it for less than 2 minutes by all means get one. In the near future it won't matter anyway because you will break something (insert rebuilt turbos from boosting ALL OF THE TIME, or WOT on a cold car, yada yada) waay before the extra heat (cracked hoses, plastic, yada, yada) has any effects.

Think about that again: Your spending $200 bucks to "save your turbos" from cooking but you can't stop flooring it for two seconds.... hummn. Yeah that makes sense

 

Get the alarm first, and for the mean time just cool your turbo. Protect the most important part, Your Car. If your car gets stollen, then your turbo timer is gone as well.