aftermarket alarms are awesome

[greenlantern77]

i bought an 01 mustang gt with an alarm system/ auto start. it drains my battery unless i just turn the car off, open the door, press the lock button on the door, and close it so the alarm system is not on (and even then im sure it is just draining it slower). I have a "theft" light in my dash so im assuming there used to be a stock alarm, but am not sure. I would like to remove the aftermarket system completely but have a few concerns.

1 is recovery of my factory system. Do i have to buy another one or if i just remove (or maybe even just cut power to) the aftermarket system, will the factory system start working then, or do i have to do something to get it to work again??

2 what about the remote. will this aftermarket remote work with the factory stuff or will i have to buy a factory one, in which case do you have to set it up somehow like a garage door opener where you press a button somewhere on the car and press a button on the remote for 10 seconds, etc??

3 the key. i currently have a non-resistor key (becuase of the autostart there is either a complete key or maybe just a resistor inside of the steering column or dash somewhere) and am not sure what to do with this, do i get the other key out of where ever it is or get the resistor out and buy a new key???

it is an older autopage alarm/autostart and has a remote like the attached picture but all the pictures are warn off of the buttons.

anyone know anything about this??

 

[n0v8or]

Download a PDF Owners manual for your car at:
https://www.fleet.ford.com/maintenance/owners_manuals/default.asp

Pages 64 - 68 will answer most of your questions.
Replacement remotes are available online for less than $20. You can program them to your vehicle yourself.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Aftermarket alarms are NOT awesome, they are pointless wastes of money and just plain junk.

 

[04sonicblueGT]

Well seeing that the factory is NOT an alarm most of the time unless it has dealer installed (Aftermarket) tie in system. If you want to protect your car they can be a benifit. Factory are simply a keyless entry. But if all you want is a keyelss entry the go for it. if you car has a factory keyless module it should still be working jsut need to get controls and program them to your car. There is no reason that it should be disconnected for any reason.

 

[deftsound]

if your car has pats it cant be jumpstarted thats all the protection i need

 

[flyboy86]

Aftermarket alarms are NOT awesome, they are pointless wastes of money and just plain junk.

+1

Every single night, there is a car who's annoying as hell alarm goes off at about 3 AM, waking up about 2,000 people. Only aftermarket ones ever do this.

 

[Stus99GT]

My 1999 GT came with an after market alarm. That thing gave me all sorts of problems, including the afore mentioned going off in the middle of night/random times. Plus, whenever I took the car to get worked on I would let the mechanics know how the alarm worked, BUT they would still set it off.

I was very happy to say goodbye to that alarm when I bought my Bullitt and sold the GT.

 

[steve_stang2003]

+1

Every single night, there is a car who's annoying as hell alarm goes off at about 3 AM, waking up about 2,000 people. Only aftermarket ones ever do this.

+10

PATS is a VERY good system that is extremely difficult to defeat for the purpose of stealing the car. It can be turned off by a tuner with correct software and the dealer can erase the key programming but there is a 20 minute wait period so it's unlikely a thief is going to sit in your car with a laptop for 20 minutes.

Essentially the only way to steal the car is to tow it.
If you want more protection wire a switch to either the fuel pump relay or to a line on the ecm that is needed for start.

The problem with after market alarms and on Fords remote starters is that they interfere with the PATS system and also typically are installed by bozos using those inline wire clips which are notorious for working loose and causing intermittent problems.

 

[san~man]

Believe me, a Mustang CAN be stolen without the key even with the PATS system. Don't be fooled into thinking it can't.

An aftermarket alarm is by no means foolproof, but it is a good deterrent against theft.

Just because you hear an alarm go off in the middle of the night doesn't mean that you shouldn't get one. Properly installed, a good alarm will hardly false alarm. Sure, you may get the occasional false from a large truck passing by, but that can't be helped.

The store I worked at before installed my alarm. Over 6 years and counting, and no problems. No interference with the PATS system either. The few times it went off, it WAS because someone tried to break in. Unfortunately for me, and fortunately for the criminal, he/she was gone before I got back to the car.

Like I said, it's a deterrent to theft, not the answer.

 

[2000fordstanggt]

Believe me, a Mustang CAN be stolen without the key even with the PATS system. Don't be fooled into thinking it can't.

An aftermarket alarm is by no means foolproof, but it is a good deterrent against theft.

Just because you hear an alarm go off in the middle of the night doesn't mean that you shouldn't get one. Properly installed, a good alarm will hardly false alarm. Sure, you may get the occasional false from a large truck passing by, but that can't be helped.

The store I worked at before installed my alarm. Over 6 years and counting, and no problems. No interference with the PATS system either. The few times it went off, it WAS because someone tried to break in. Unfortunately for me, and fortunately for the criminal, he/she was gone before I got back to the car.

Like I said, it's a deterrent to theft, not the answer.

how?

 

[san~man]

how?

In my job, I've encountered more than a few stolen w/o the keys. I wonder the same thing too.

How? I don't know, I'm not a criminal. I only recover them, not steal them.

 

[Twista]

I love to drive by "alarmed" car and give them a taste of my mac dumped exhaust =]


hehe. Sorry, i know im no help to this thread.

 

[steve_stang2003]

how?

+1
*Anything* is possible, but the only ways I know of is either blanking the keys, or having a tuner turn off PATS, swapping both the ECU AND cluster or probably the most common one which goes back to inept alarm 'techs' is taping the transponder head from a key to the RFID antenna in the steering column so that the customer can have a remote start system. Or a PATS 'bypass module' was installed.
Like these for example:

http://www.velocitymotorsport.com/security/ford_transponder.htm

FWIW the absolute first thing Ford will ask you when you have a no start PATS problem is if you have a remote start.

Chances are good that the stolen Mustangs had one of the above done to it which is why it was stolen in the first place.

 

[n0v8or]

Regarding "how do they steal a PATS-equipped Ford" . . . . see

http://forums.modulardepot.com/electronics-electrical/104150-pats-system.html

 

[steve_stang2003]

Regarding "how do they steal a PATS-equipped Ford" . . . . see

http://forums.modulardepot.com/electronics-electrical/104150-pats-system.html

Correct me if I am wrong but,,,,,,

Yep...But you need the software that the DEALER of the programmer uses to load your SCT/Diablo etc.
AFAIK you can only do it to your own car with the hand held units and only if you asked your tuner to turn it off in the tune.


IOW you can't take your handheld SCT, plug it into someone elses car and turn off pats.

So in effect you would have to sit there with a laptop, loading a tune into the ECU.
It's easier to tow the car

 

[2000fordstanggt]

In my job, I've encountered more than a few stolen w/o the keys. I wonder the same thing too.

How? I don't know, I'm not a criminal. I only recover them, not steal them.

i didnt doubt you at all i was just wondering how it was done. its not something that ive heard a lot on and was curious. you cant know too much about your own car.

 

[Mel96GT]

I've had my Viper alarm for 10 years in my Stang and 4 in my truck. No issues or theft attempts. Just replaced one of the remotes, it was worn out. No biggie. I always put Vipers in all my cars and have never had anyone attempt to steal my car or truck (knock on wood). Previously, the only times I got my cars stolen or broken into was when my alarms were no longer working or not armed. I swear by my aftermarket alarms since I feel the tiny blinking red light is a deterrent. I just keep the sensitivity fairly low. Even when I drive to Mexico no one messes with my truck. However, I also use a one of those "clutch locks" when I'm down there.

Example: One night when I parked on a side street near a bar, I saw this young punk at night walk by my truck and look in. I was across the street walking to my truck so I stopped and waited for him to do something stupid. It was obvious he was looking for something. He just peered into my passenger window and then walked away.

 

[san~man]

i didnt doubt you at all i was just wondering how it was done. its not something that ive heard a lot on and was curious. you cant know too much about your own car.

I agree, we can't be too safe with our cars.

I just don't want people to have a false sense of security concerning the PATS system, that's all.

 

[blkhorse]

I have the millennium fx in my car,it's a pager style that works up to a mile away.
no external siren/horn( no remote start). when someones messing with my car I can catch the sob. but so far I have only caught a cat or two

 

[the98stang]

I think with the PATS system, wheel club, and fuel cutoff switch, our cars are reasonably safe. If a thief sees the club, they just might move on to the next car. Remember, they want a quick job, so if you make your car LOOK hard to steal, they won't take any chances. I wish my car had flame throwers though to torch intruders ...it's legal in some countries!