Re: I need to improve the factory alarm on my car.

[micky <NONONOmisc07@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Tue, 20 Sep 2011 09:39:23 -0700 (PDT), tourman
<robercampbell@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>On Sep 17, 2:52 pm, micky <NONONOmis...@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>> I just bought a "new" car which has a factory alarm.  Unfortunately, I
>> don't think it's as good as the aftermarket alarm I installed on the
>> last two cars.
>>
>> The car alarm is very important to me because I've had my car taken
>> twice, and things stolen from a car I owned at least 5 times.
>>
>> So maybe you can help me make it better.     It's a 2000 Toyota
>> Solara.
>>
>> In reverse logical order:
>>
>> 1)  It has no siren, just a horn or two that beeps for a half second
>> every second, for a minute total.   I don't think that is loud enough
>> or long enough.  
>>       I have a regular sirern and a PsychoSiren from prior cars'
>> alarms, but I don't think adding either of them will help much if
>> there is an interrruption every second.  How would I power them
>> continuously even though the factory alarm output goes on and off??

 I'm going to use the alarm horn that is already t here as a trigger
for a timer (Altronix 6062) to power the siren I'm adding.    I may
add a second timer to keep the siren from starting until say 20
seconds after the current alarm horn starts to blow.
>>
>> 2)  Using a key in the doors or trunk disarm the current alarm.  For
>> some reason, I think there was a little more protection when I had to
>> turn off the alarm separately from opening with a key.  Anyone feel
>> the same way?   Any way to do this while still piggy-backing on the
>> factory alarm?
>>
>> 3) In my last 2 Chrysler Lebarons, lifiting the door handle turned on
>> the courtesy lights, which also meant they set off the aftermarket car
>> alarm.   Which means they set off the alarm BEFORE they broke a window
>> or cut the convertible top.   I don't know how to duplicate this
>> except by gluing an extension to the door handle, inside the door, and
>> running a nylon string to a micro switch with a long arm, which I
>> would glue or if I'm lucky, screw somewhere inide the door.   Do you
>> think I can glue these things so they will last for a few years
>> without falling off?   Or maybe you have a better idea?     Because
>> I'm not happy with all this gluing.
>>
>> I would probaly use PC-7 epoxy paste for glue.   And maybe 60?/90?
>> second epoxee first, to hold the extension piece in place while the
>> PC-7 hardens (for which I usually allow 24 hours)
>>
>> Thanks for any help.
>
>RHC: Sir, given your troubles with cars, I suggest you might want to
>re-think the whole situation. Assuming you live where car theft and
>vandalism are common,

But taht's not so.   I've had no trouble in the 28 years I've been
here, even though I often leave the car with the top down, both in
front of my house and others and in shopping centerrs. .

>the simplest solution (if it's possible and
>practical) is to find a better place to park. Given that's not
>practical, I can only suggest other options, most of which are common
>sense and I'm assuming you've probably thought of them already
>
>1- Dont leave things in the car visible which might tempt low life to
>break a window to get in
>2- Put a Club on your steering wheel and use if faithfully (won't stop
>broken windows, but might stop the thief thinking of driving off with
>your car....I didn't one night and lost a van myself)
>3- Wire up an alarm which blows the car horn intermittently when the
>doors open (simple to do with $15 relays)

The car already has that.  It's not enough as I say in my question 1).

><and an on / off switch
>hidden in the trunk...saved me once but still lost a window
>4- Try to find some decals which indicate the presence of an alarm
>(won't stop smash and grab, but might save an expensive window or two
>if it makes them hesitate..)

I have decals already.   They are red and shaped like a stop sign, and
go on each rear side window.

I appreciate your post, but what I needed were answers to my 3
questions.

I've decided not to worry about #2 anymore, and my other replies show
what I'm going to do about 1 and 3.

>There are no easy solutions but every little thing may help. You cant
>stop a pro but luckily most theft is by joyriders or petty thieves
>stealing goods.
>
>Good luck ! ...you probably need it