Useful Alarm Options for Your Vehicle

Automobile thefts are rising every year, even with newer cars having theft deterrent features. A lot of debate has ensued in the automobile industry when it comes to aftermarket alarms. Dealerships and car manufacturers want consumers to purchase their pricier products, claiming that aftermarket parts can actually damage your vehicle. Whether your alarm is a factory model or an aftermarket model, there are usually optional upgrades available for an additional cost. Less expensive alarms typically do not offer many upgrades, but it is always useful to ask. That way you can compare complete systems instead of features. Let's take an Auto Command alarm, for example. The basic alarm can be wired to include keyless entry and remote start. You can price this product as an alarm only, alarm with keyless entry, or any combination of the above mentioned features. The difference in the prices is usually determined by the amount you will be charged in labor for the additional work needed to wire the options to function with your remote. In some instances, a bypass module may be needed in order for an aftermarket alarm to be installed in your vehicle. This is usually typical for newer vehicles, or vehicles with anti-theft systems previously installed. This may be an additional charge for you for parts and labor. Also, some optional upgrades may require an additional part to have the upgrade installed. Just be sure when shopping for an alarm to ask your sales person for a quote with all parts and labor included. That way there will be no more surprises when it's time to pay.

Remote start is a very popular vehicle addition. A lot of aftermarket alarms have the option of integrating with a remote start module, so that you can start your vehicle with your keypad. This option is not recommended if your vehicle has a manual transmission or if it is a straight-drive. Most shops will not install this feature if your car is manual because of liability issues if the car was started and it was not properly in gear- rolling hazard, etc... Wintertime is usually when most people think about the benefits of a remote start module. You can crank your vehicle from the comfort of your home. Your car can have a chance to "warm up", and if you set your temperature controls properly, your car will be heated on the inside once you are ready to leave as well. Some states have made "running" cars illegal. Please check with your locality to make sure this is not the case. A knowledgeable and honest technician should be able to inform you of this as well, but I wouldn't leave that up to them to disclose such important information. Law enforcement officials cite safety hazards and theft being their primary reasons as to why a "running" unoccupied vehicle is illegal. Most alarms do have a theft deterrent in place with the remote start module, or the option to add one. This would help to prevent theft of your vehicle if it is running unattended. In some cases, if the key is not inserted in the ignition, the car would cut off when put in gear. In other cases, the vehicle would cut off if the brake or gas was pressed without the key. Newer vehicles have a chip in the key that sends a signal to the alarm system letting the vehicle know that the owner is close by in order for the vehicle to start and be put into gear. This is a feature that is useful, although in some models if the key is in close range it will start as well. Once the key is out of range though, the driver runs the risk of the car cutting off or being unable to restart once the engine is shut off. Remote start can be a useful upgrade to any vehicle. As with any vehicle addition, do your research before making any changes to your vehicle. Check the product for compatibility with your vehicle. It is also good to research warranty information and consumer reports. A lot of companies offer substandard products that could do more harm than good to your vehicle. Regardless of cost, try to stay with a well known product with a proven track record. I would recommend Viper or Avital product, both manufactured by DEI (Directed Electronics).

A tilt sensor would be a good idea for those who have invested a substantial amount of money into their vehicles. The tilt sensor could be digital, or made with a ball bearing, or with mercury inside. When the vehicle is tilted, the ball bearing would strike a sensor setting off the alarm. This is a great theft deterrent for custom rims and also to prevent someone from towing your vehicle without your authorization. The main disadvantage is that once a tilt sensor has been installed, parking on hills could pose to be a challenge unless you have opted for the digital tilt sensor. The hill would cause the vehicle to tilt on an angle. If you armed the alarm it would go off because the bearing would strike the sensor. With the digital tilt sensor, it would automatically adjust to allow for a vehicle to be parked on a hill or steep incline. This optional upgrade would be useful in the event someone attempted to lift or jack your vehicle up to tow it or steal the wheels off of it. The alarm would sound and hopefully thwart the theft.

A transceiver is also a very beneficial product. The transceiver acts as a paging system of sorts, and alerts the vehicle's owner of an attempted theft by way of a beeping or vibrating key pad. The keypad usually has a LCD picture of a car and will animate to show what action is occurring. If a door has been opened while the alarm was armed, the door to the car on the keychain would be open while the keypad is flashing, beeping, or vibrating. This is a great upgrade for someone that is not in the immediate area of the vehicle. If you work in a building and do not have sight of the vehicle, or are in the store your keypad would alert you of possible theft. Check with your sales person to determine the distance capabilities of your transceiver remote. Viper (Directed Electronics) has recently released a model that has approximately a mile radius.