grimace80

Hey:

I have a 99 sr5, and want to have an alarm installed. I currently live in Mammoth, CA., where it gets to be about -4 degrees at times, and I really want to find an alarm with auto start. Any ideas as to what are some good alarms? Other than auto start, all I really need is that loud annoying siren to ward off the locals.

Thanks for all the help


dave

MTL_4runner

I just put in a Viper 550 ESP alarm with remote start that I love.
It was a pain to put in but the unit is great.

midiwall

My factory RS3000 gave up the ghost when I got the truck into mud up to the floorboards. I was gonna try the junkyard route and just replace my unit, but... I instead startd shopping around for something "cooler" (and hopefully cheaper!).

After looking at a number of systems, I ended up with the Ultra Start 4500. It offers an alarm, remote start, 2-way key fob, all sorts of fun toy-like things.

http://www.ultrastarters.com/us_mode...us_xr_2way.htm


I paid $180 from SavingLots.com:

http://www.savinglots.com/lotprod.as...ra%20Start4500

The UPS tracking info says I should have it on the 7th, but I probably won't get a chance to put it in for a week or so.

The install looks "interesting". There're a number of splices that you have to make in a couple of different harnesses. I found some decent harness diagrams up on the website of another alarm company I looked at:

http://bulldogsecurity.com/
(click "Vehicle Wiring Diagrams" ont he top line)

MTL_4runner

If you need places to get wiring diagrams and pics, just PM me. I just got finished and will post the pics soon. Can be a serious pain in the butt to find all the correct wires. Past the install is just a big disassembly/assembly job.

MTL_4runner

OK I promised some pics so here you go!
Check out my thread here for the install.
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/show...585#post221585

grimace80

Thanks for the suggestions. I appreciate your time.

Dave

midiwall

Update!

I received my UltraStart 4500 yesterday and I'm less than impressed.

"Less than impressed" is defined as even before looking at the alarm itself, or trying the install, I found that the battery compartment cover on the remote won't fit when the battery is in place. I figure I can get it to fit with some trimming, but if this is an issue now, then what else will I find once it's installed...

So, it's going back.


Past that, I just ordered the Commando FM-870 that I mentioned in another thread:

http://www.commandocaralarms.com/ite...ProductID=1185


I'll let folks know what I think about it when it shows up.

Billrunner

I got an AutoMate system from DEI(directed electronics) which uses the Factory Remote--cuz I didnt want to lose the rear window button...$299 installed,
Btw it doesnt have the remote start- I don't want my truck to start without a key.

Good luck!

2002 SportEdition

I just got a quote from Stereowest for $460 installed for this system. However, I checked out from www.savinglots.com, it costs only $139.95. What a rip off.

Does anyone have a write-up?

Thx.

midiwall

Yeah, there's another thread around that talks a bit to the pricing of car alarm systems. A lot of the $460 is installation costs based on an average per-hour guesstimate. If the shop has done one on your type of vehicle before, there's a lot of profit in that number. If this is their first time, then they're earning their wage.

I haven't seen a specific write-up by anyone on car alarms. Basically, it's "easy" in the sense that you're "just" tapping into a number of wires across a number of harnesses. The hard part is a) finding the right harnesses, b) finding the right wires in the harnesses, c) usually pulling the dash to get to the harnesses, and d) doing all of this work in very tight spaces.

If you're a big guy, working up under the dash sucks.

The biggest challenge is getting a valid wiring diagram for your truck, or being really lucky with a meter at finding the right wires on your own.

Jamie (MTL_4runner) has offered up some diagrams that may help, and he also has some pics over here that work as a mini-write up:

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/show...585#post221585


I found that the Bulldog Security site has wire harnesses/color info for a number of rigs:

http://bulldogsecurity.com/
(check "Vehicle Wiring Diagrams" at the top of the page)


Basically.. Figure on spending 3+ hours doing the install. Depending on where you are in the country. hope for a heated garage.