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??
>>
>> 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 forgot that I'd already written this.   :-(

(I've given up on question 2, and for question 3, in writing the
question, I pretty much came up with the only feasible answer. so
that's what I'll do.  Unless someone has a better idea..)

>> 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,

I don't.   For the last 28 years I've lived in a racially integrated
milddle- to lower-middle-income working-class neighborhood and have
parked outside every night.  Sometimes I leave the convertible top
down all night, for many many hours (total)  in many shopping centers
and on the street in front of my house,  and many other places without
anything ever being taken. without the glove box being rummaged or
afaik the car being entered, even when it was unlocked or the top was
down.  .

But sometimes I go to places that seem to be not as nice.  Those are
the times I'm worried about.

>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)

Well, my car needs a key with a chip to start it.  I've read that
that's not foolproof, but I don't think anyone that skilled will be
interesting in a 2000 model.

>3- Wire up an alarm which blows the car horn intermittently when the
>doors open (simple to do with $15 relays) 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..)

>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

After more thought about how to piggyback a siren on their
intermittent horn.I think I will use something like an ELK-960 timer,
trigggered by the intermittent alarm horn, to start 10 or 20 seconds
after the horn, and stop 2 or 3 minutes later. Or should I make it 5
minutes?

I still need a way to turn the siren off immedicately if I trip the
alarm accidentally.    The factory alarm fob won't do that, and all
the factory circuitry is encased in the ECU, no alarm output but the
pulsing 12v+.    I don't know a way to take that and turn off the
ELK-960.  .... Oh, I need a momentary off switch to interrupt the 12+
to the timers.