Alarm

SER240Z · Post by **SER240Z** » Tue May 04, 2004 11:43 am

I wasn't sure where to put this, but here it is.

I just bought a new alarm with radar. What do you guys think about an install on my 69 2000? Is it worth it if wires need to be cut into or holes drilled in the firewall for install? Or does the value loss out-weigh the piece of mind?

Everyone's insight will be helpful.

Thanks
Scott

Minh · Post by **Minh** » Tue May 04, 2004 5:37 pm

Ask yourself, "Do you think somebody wold want to steal or rob it."

If yes, do.

If you think it will help from getting the car stolen, scratched, or robbed, go ahead. The insurance company isn't going to send you a body gaurd.

With the top down aftermarket radios can be brutishly yanked out, sometimes not taken but totaly trashed.

Roadsters have been known to get stolen from home and hotels, so an ignition kill is a definite must have on (in any combnation) the ignition switch, electric fuel pump, or coil.

Your finished Roadster is worth a whole lot $ in pieces over the internet.

A correctly installed Club or detachable steering wheel is always a visible deterant.

Holes can plugged up with a rubber plug or filled with an arc welder cleaned up and painted.

Datsa 66 · Post by **Datsa 66** » Tue May 04, 2004 5:52 pm

Can't say that I have even seen or heard of an alarm on a roadster, although I don't see why it would be any more difficult than putting in a stereo or any other electronic upgrade.

They do get stolen as some of us have learned to our dismay.

I think the best thing you can do is to put in a kill switch. A simple interruption of the circuit to the starter does wonders. Car is dead.

I have one and in addition to providing additional security for your baby, it makes it a hell of a lot easier to troubleshoot any electrical issues that come up.

Besides, if you connect your alarm to the roadster horn circuit, it would not take someone long to pop the hood, cut the wires to the horns and be on their way.

I think a kill switch is the way to go.

My .02

Andrew Murphy
1967.5 2000
SRL311-00489

SER240Z · Post by **SER240Z** » Tue May 04, 2004 6:10 pm

Thanks for the feed back guys. The alarm is an Alpine 150R. Has a dual sector radar that tracks movement inside and around the car, and a starter kill that will totally disable the starter circuit if someone tampers with the alarm unit.

I will most likely put this alarm in. I'm just not sure how I will install it and if I want to alter the car in any semi-parmanent manner. I don't plan on parking and leaving my new car very often, but it would be nice to have that little extra security just in case.

Thanks
Scott

nking79 · Post by **nking79** » Tue May 04, 2004 6:35 pm

Being in Brooklyn, I think an alarm would be a good idea for myself. I'm not too worried though. My neighborhood is very quiet and suburbian. Also, there is a Porsche I see every once in a while parked on my street and a Fiat about two blocks away.

TR · Post by TR » Wed May 05, 2004 12:50 am

I pondered an alarm also. I figure I would want to protect all of the work I put into my car over the years...

But I have to ask-Does anyone think twice about a car alarm squawking away? I never look to see if I can get stabbed trying to help someone I don't know who's alarm is sounding. To me, they are just a nusiance. Now, a silent alarm with a pager feature would be much better, although then I would get stabbed trying to protect my own car...

An ignition kill will stop joy riders and the like. Clubs are worthless unless they lock the pedals to the steering column. The ones that only mount to the wheel take less than 15 seconds to remove. And then, if the car is parked long enough, they could trailer it away.

I would really like to be able to lock the wheels at an extreme angle. Makes it impossible to drive and much harder to trailer, but I haven't thought of a way that doesn't involve carrying some big object to do the locking. Soo, I think keeping an eye on it is the best way to go, but do whatever makes you (more) comfortable. The thought of losing a car is awful! TR

Minh · Post by **Minh** » Wed May 05, 2004 2:28 am

I believe you are concerned on where to mount the CPU.

You can mount underneath the paneling behind the seat.

Or mount it in to the trunk. You wil need to add another door switch to the trunk.

In the trunk would be ideal if you put the battery back there too. Because once you cut the power to the CPU the ingition kill is deactivated.

By the way anytime you park your car for more than a few hours and you are away. Remove the wire between coil and distrubutor.

Only a thief that has been really casing your car for a while will be prepaired to:

Remove the club
Bring a spare spark plug wire
Manually Disengage the horn and siren
Locate the battery to locate the lead to the CPU
Then bust the ignition lock with dent puller.

If all the deterant are installed. You will only have to worry about someone riping the dash apart for that brand name aftermarket radio and after market woofers. The amplifier and stuff are locked in the trunk. Avoid all this with by not installing woofers and aftermarket brand name recievers. Theives are opportunity based. Seldom (virtually never) do they research and case a person to know what they have to take. If they do they are most likely a neighbor near by. They take what they can immediately see or see in plain view what they think can lead to a bigger prize (i.e. CD/DVD cases sprawled out the car, Infrared remote controls, etc..).

Often times the only time they walk up to car to see what's inside is when they see tinted windows, pimp colored paint jobs, aftermarket rims, and aftermarket brand names decalled on the car.

WHen there are 100 cars in the lot these guy still want to remain inconspicous. So they guys go and recon only profiled vehicles.

If you car even remotely looks nice, don't even think about leaving parked outside at night. Put in the garage religiously. If you have been cased, then they are waiting for you to leave it out. If you to, odds are best on a Friday and Saturday night. These party on those days and generally don't work on those nights. Besides traffic is higher on the streets on those nights too. Depends on the neighborhood. Lots of foot and road traffic is a big deterant.

Don't ask me how I know how a car burgler thinks.

Living out in the booneys is great. Low population density, miles upon miles farmland causing an amazingly low number of foot traffic. To much area to cover and case. Moreover much to easily identified by neighbors. The only people who drive on to those dead end country roads are the people that live on that dead end country road. Also a greater number of people who never work a 9-5 workday away from home. Everyone home carries a loaded rifle/shotgun too. Not ideal at all for opportunity seeking theif.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Wed May 05, 2004 9:32 am

Scott,

Here's my 2 cents on alarms...If someone is determined to steal your car, they will get it. Cut off switches and alarms will do nothing to deter them. They will yank your car up onto a flatbed hauler and be gone in 3 minutes. Fortunately, those guys are few and far between and are looking for Ferrari's, not Datsuns. The other kind of career thug is the car theft ring member. They are the ones that specifically target cars like Hondas and Toyotas so they can strip them and sell the parts to crooked body shops. They are they guys that stole my girlfriend's beat to Hell 1992 Civic with 160,000 miles on it right out of our driveway while we slept, leaving my 1999 Subaru Impreza 2.5 GT in immaculate condition untouched and parked right next to it. Again, no real need to worry about these guys. They want high volume parts that are easy to sell. Datsuns need not apply.

You need to worry about the kids that want to go for a joy ride, steal the stereo, or possibly, the shady Datsun fanatic who could use your car for parts or keep it for himself. By in large, these people are not sophisticated, not well organized, and will move on to an easier target.

The alarm with the motion detector for the cabin is a great idea. I'm doing the same thing in a couple weeks. Unless your car is a perfect show car, drilling a hole in the firewall to run some wires through is not going to detract from the value. Put a grommet in there to keep the water out and make it look professional. Chances are, you probably have a hole or two in there anyway that you could utilize. Mount the siren in the engine bay in a difficult to access location or even better, under the car to a frame rail. This will prevent someone from popping the hood and ripping it out.

Good luck!

Dave

SLOroadster · Post by **SLOroadster** » Thu May 06, 2004 12:24 am

You can run the wire through an exsisting hole, but I wouldn't bother. I shaved the locks on my car for 2 reasons, one, I was missing one of them, and 2, I'd rather someone open the door rather than break a window, or cut up the top. If someone really wants to steal the car, they will. It is really easy to hotwire a roadster, and steering locks can be broken. I say save the world the noise pollution and park it in your garage. If you really want to add a theft deteriant, put a hidden fuel shutoff valve in.

Just my $.02

Will