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Car Forum / Mazda / Mazda Miata / August 2005Where to mount alarm main box?
Hi group, I have an alarm lying around that's waiting to secure my Miata from the scum of this world (actually, I don't care about the alarm itself, but it would be nice to have central door locking again). I wonder what would be the best place to mount the main box? The previous one (went bezerk two years ago) was installed above the steering column. It was a pain to remove, so installing the new box in the same location will probably be even a bigger pain. The wires are pretty long, so I'm considering relocating the thing to a more convenient spot. Any suggestions? Steven - - - > Hi group, > [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > - - - I hate audible car alarms and don't lock my doors, but that is me, not you. (assuming that your alarm has a siren). I am planning on putting a kill switch somewhere that is nicely hidden and easily accessible, and a pager-only style alarm system is a possibility. For actual advice regarding your question, if I were to install an alarm, I would probably put the alarm box where the factory one on my 1996 "M" edition was, up underneath the driver side dash. There is not a lot of room under there, but it should fit if the box is not too big. HTH, Pat Yes, Under the dash is where 99.9 % of all alarm brains get installed. Stay consistent and put yours there too. That way, a burlar doesn't have to spend a lot of time looking around to disable it while it's blaring. he can get in, and cut the wires QUICK before anyone even looks up. Oh, as a bonus, make sure to use one of the alarms that thoughtfully labels every wire right on the box, so a thief doesn't have to spend time guessing which wires will re-enable the ignition. >> Hi group, >> [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > > Pat > Yes, Under the dash is where 99.9 % of all alarm brains get installed. > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > every wire right on the box, so a thief doesn't have to spend time guessing > which wires will re-enable the ignition. Most people don't respond to their own car siren at all, either because they haven't heard it or because they don't care. There is almost zero chance of a bystander doing anything but cursing the owner when one goes off. Soooo.... you either respond to your siren blaring or you do not. If you do not, the thief has all the time they need to disable the alarm, wherever it is located. If you do respond, finding the thief on their back with their head up under the dash in that tight space would be most unfortunate for the thief as it opens them up to quite a stomping. Where would you suggest he put the alarm box? The miata has fairly limited options on space. Use the glovebox? Put it behind the seat or inside the trunk? My choice is to leave it out of the car entirely. Pat Well Pat, I have a little story that is a plus for Alarms. I have a Viper on my '91. Two times now I have had the rear bumper cover damaged by some **&^&&* person. (1) was a small backhoe hit the rear and set it off. So many people saw it that they made the driver contact me and the Co. paid for the paint job. (2) In the parking lot at the Museum of Flight in Seattle, a SUV backed into it and drove off. People in the parking lot got the lic. number and I turned it in a "hit and run". Three days later the owner called me and said the police had given a citation and that if he had it fixed they would not put it on his record. Fixed again. I figure that by now, the alarm has paid for its self. :-) It looks to me like there are two sides to the alarm arguement. Bruce RED '91 > Well Pat, I have a little story that is a plus for Alarms. I have a > Viper on my '91. Two times now I have had the rear bumper cover damaged [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > Bruce RED '91 Of course there are two sides, otherwise it wouldn't be an argument. :-) Now I have to wonder, was it your car alarm or the sound of the impacts that drew people's attention. Does your car have a delay for the siren? I would guess that people took notice before your alarm went off, either by seeing the impact, hearing it, or both, though I wouldn't bet on it since I wasn't there. The reason that I am guessing this is because I don't even look up when I hear a car alarm, but that distictive sound of one vehicle hitting another will get my attention every time. When my car suffered a hit and run in a parking lot, a witness took down the license plate number for me. I have done the same for another person, and no car alarm was involved either time. I am not saying that alarms are worthless, I just personally find them to be more of a nuisance than a help when used on cars. Pat Hi Pat, My Viper has an impact and a prox. on HIGH ! It goes of in a milisecond :-) as soon as it is touched ! Even a slight bump to the car with your hand, or if you put your hand inside of the window line when the top is down. The alarm went off and there were lots of people in the parking lot near the car both times. The bumper was not damaged that much each time, but it is about $500 to have it repaired and painted each time. ( I am a grumpy old man and will not stand for scraches or dings !!!!!!! ) I have to turn the alarm off when I am at home and the car is in the garage. The door of the garage opening (the motion of it ) will set it off. (Scares the crap out of my wife when she takes her car out and that happens :-) ) even with the hard top on the car. You are correct about people not reacting to alarms. They go of when you forget to disarm them !!!!!! I have done that many times. :-) Bruce RED '91 Your'e one of the asshats that give alarms a bad name, and render them ineffective. Car alarms going off all day just because someone walks too close, or bumps them. Alarms can serve a function when installed and used properly (not like yours) When they are improperly set up, and false constantly I believe the owners should be FINED for noise pollution! > Hi Pat, > [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > Bruce RED '91 Asshat ???? What pray tell do you mean ? An alarm is on the car to "tell on people" that are doing something to my car that I don't want them to do ! What would you use it for ? .... Wake up the neighborhood ? Why is this giving YOU "The all mighty one", a bad name ? I live in Seattle and reired. I don't park the car where some "Dick Head" will slash the top, steal the radio, or steal the car. I don't like oily finger prints, advertisements stuck under the wiper blades, or some ASSHAT bumping into my car and costing ME a lot of money. As I said, "I think the alarm has paid for it's self", by protecting the car from careless people ! You need to know more about the conditions before you shoot your mouth off and call me a "Asshat" By the way, while I am lashing out, what kind of a piece of crap Mata do you drive that you don't want to protect ? Bruce RED '91 >Asshat ???? What pray tell do you mean ? An alarm is on the car to >"tell on people" that are doing something to my car that I don't want >them to do ! Great, have it tell you. You don't need to annoy everyone else. Also, if you have your sensitivity set on high, it is going to go off whenever a loud motorcyle or truck goes by. Again annoying people on the street, or in their homes. >I live in Seattle and reired. I don't park the car where some "Dick >Head" will slash the top, steal the radio, or steal the car. I don't >like oily finger prints, advertisements stuck under the wiper blades, or >some ASSHAT bumping into my car and costing ME a lot of money. Agreed, but what you are doing is making your problem, everyone elses problem too. --------------- Alex Sorry Alex, we just don't live in the same conditions. Vipers just "chirp" for a few seconds under the conditions you mention. (you might find out how they work first ) When I go out into the main stream of people, I park in a "Handicap" spot and there is NO need for someone to be by the car. No need for someone to hit it with a hand, bump it with a car, a door or anything else. No need for anyone to have a hand inside the car to look or touch anything. I don't live in town, or within 50ft on a road. No one should be in a position to come in contact with the car ! Soooo, if they do, I want to know about it ! I started this saying that there were two sides to the "Alarm" question. You have your side and I have mine. Let's just leave it with, I won't set off your Alarm and you won't set off mine !! :-) Bruce RED '91 >Sorry Alex, we just don't live in the same conditions. >Vipers just "chirp" for a few seconds under the conditions you mention. >(you might find out how they work first ) Here in NYC I've heard them all. Set on high, they chirp and then wail. >When I go out into the main stream of people, I park in a "Handicap" >spot and there is NO need for someone to be by the car. No need for [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >position to come in contact with the car ! Soooo, if they do, I want to >know about it ! Good for you. Get a pager system. It has more range than an audible system. Just keep in mind that unless the car is on private propertry, people will drive by and walk by your car. Handicap spots are usually near the store entrance, so more people will walk and drive by it than other spots, so there is a greater chance of someone setting off the alarm. >I started this saying that there were two sides to the "Alarm" question. >You have your side and I have mine. Let's just leave it with, I won't >set off your Alarm and you won't set off mine !! :-) In a city, it is not that simple. Maybe that is why we have differing opinions on alarms. Especially ones set to go off so easily. ------------------ Alex Yes Alex, I am sure where you live and work is much differant than where I live. I would find it very hard to live inside of a large city after living where I have for the last 60 years. I guess it's just what you like or what you need to put up with as we grow up and are forced work. For the amount of time I have spent in NYC, even having a car seems like it would be a tough row to hoe. :-) I can see why you don't like high settings for alarms. I was taken just by the constant noise in the day time. For me, I'm glad I don't live there. :-) Note: For me, at night I can hear the kids and their nightly swimming races just like they are a short distance away. They are 2 miles away and they are the only voices I can hear. No cars, no dogs, no music........ but we do have SEA-TAC airport 6 miles to the East. :-) We just tune them out after a while. Bruce RED '91 Well, I guess your reading comprehension is a bit impaired... Nowhere did I say that "I" was getting a bad name. Look, if you want to know every time someone breathes on your car, then get a pager alarm, and keep the siren turned off. You made the statement that the garage door opener noise will set your unit off. If that's true, there are MANY things in nature that will cause it to false (and be a nuisance). Ironically I encountered a car like yours just the other day at Fed X... I parked, and got out of my car, and when I walked between our two cars, this Miata started "chirping". I guess I didn't run away fast enough, while unloading my boxes, so it started to scream. I hadn't touched it, or reached in it. I was just too close to it's space I guess.. You don't live in Henderson, do you ;) > Asshat ???? What pray tell do you mean ? An alarm is on the car to > "tell on people" that are doing something to my car that I don't want [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > > Bruce RED '91 > Well, I guess your reading comprehension is a bit impaired... Nowhere did I > say that "I" was getting a bad name. [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > unloading my boxes, so it started to scream. I hadn't touched it, or > reached in it. I was just too close to it's space I guess.. Every once in a while I walk past a car like that (it's been a couple years since the last one). So far, I've resisted the urge to give the door panel a good hard kick in order to save the alarm's firmware developer the embarassment of getting blamed for yet another annoying false alarm. ;)  SignatureGrant Edwards grante Yow! As President I at have to go vacuum my coin visi.com collection! >> Well, I guess your reading comprehension is a bit impaired... Nowhere did I >> say that "I" was getting a bad name. [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] >the alarm's firmware developer the embarassment of getting >blamed for yet another annoying false alarm. ;) I always want to key the cars with those annoying false alarms. So far, I have been able to resist the urge, but sometimes just within the tiniest hair. Of course, if it is a Miata, the owner should be shot instead. What am I saying, the owner should be shot regardless. Or at least tied in front off a 10 feet speaker at a rock concert. Leon SignatureLeon van Dommelen :) Bozo, the White 96 Sebring Miata .) rammm@dommelen.net http://www.dommelen.net/miata EXIT THE INTERSTATES (Jamie Jensen) Alex, :-) you should be a car alarm salesmen, You sure do know a lot about them and how they work! I do have one question. How would a pager alarn have produced the same results of catching the two people that damaged my car? Can it record information and the lic, number of the guy that left after he backed into my rear bumper? I haven't seen any advertisments that has shown that. That would be a good project for the people at Columbia. Gee, you could even head the project ! :-) Big Brother could be watching every one and every place. Much better than a cheap car alarm system. Pager ??? Naw, that stuff went away when I retired. No pager, no cell phone, get up when I want to, go drive when I want to and park where I want to. :-) Sorry, my error! I guesed that you had an alarm on your car (you do have a car ? ) and that you had suffered from having someone say bad things to you for having one of those *&&^&(**% things on your car. Again, sorry. I miss spoke. Oh and where is Henderson that you mentioned. A joke, or a place. I do live in Normandy Park, Washington, but no Henderson around here. Bruce RED '91 The point is, if it is set up CORRECTLY it won't false every time someone farts. If you insist on knowing every time a fly lands on your car, then get a pager, or 2 way keychain remote (like the good Vipers have.. not the el-cheapo you bought at Wal*Mart) then you can run out, dragging your oxygen bottle behind you every time it goes off ! LOL! If, on the other hand it was set up CORRECTLY then a *real* shock would set off the audible alarm, and in the cases you described, the people would have still noticed it when it went off. A correctly adjusted shock sensor is a beautiful thing! > Alex, :-) you should be a car alarm salesmen, You sure do know a lot > about them and how they work! [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > > Bruce RED '91 Well thank you Armon. ( I do have the 2 tab Viper, not the Wal-Mart cheapo.) I guess I don't understand you FIRE. Flys don't set it off, people set it off when they mess with the car. Sorry, I don't drag the oxy. around yet. The D/P plate is for a broken neck and broken lower back. Using the II tab on the key fob will not help except if someone tries to steal the car. We all know that if someone wants to steal the car bad enough, the alarm won't slow them down much. With the ignition and the fuel cut off, it won't take them long to get it started and be gone, (even with a pager type, you just get to wave as they drive off. :-) You see, someone stealing the car is not what I have the alarm for. If I set the alarm on the ( II ) position it will not do a thing for me but flash the lights. No help there at all. Let's just face it, you guys just don't like alarms set on High. :-) I guess my final reply to that is TFD ! Bruce RED '91 >Alex, :-) you should be a car alarm salesmen, You sure do know a lot >about them and how they work! Old age. I've seen alot through the years. >Sorry, my error! I guesed that you had an alarm on your car (you do have >a car ? ) and that you had suffered from having someone say bad things >to you for having one of those *&&^&(**% things on your car. Again, >sorry. I miss spoke. Yes, I have a car. No alarm on it. When I had a Miata, I do miss it. It had an ignition cutoff system, no alarm. The car before that did have an alarm, I installed it myself, but the sensitivity was set quite low. You would have to bump the car pretty hard to set it off. This was done on purpose. That way trucks or loud motorcycles would not set it off. ----------- Alex >Hi Pat, > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >You are correct about people not reacting to alarms. They go of when you >forget to disarm them !!!!!! I have done that many times. :-) I've seen people react to cars with the alarm set the way you have yours. It is not a pretty sight. The guy drove off with 3 broken windows. He never parked in that same spot again. --------------- Alex >Hi group, > >I have an alarm lying around that's waiting to secure my Miata from the scum >of this world (actually, I don't care about the alarm itself, but it would >be nice to have central door locking again.) Absolutely. It is worth the little trouble of installation to avoid the incessant exercise of running around the entire Miata, opening/closing all the doors. Though if your doctor starts nagging that you should have more exercise, you could say that you spend lots of calories opening and closing all your Miata doors. And that this cuts into the time you have available for guzzling beers too. Leon :) >I wonder what would be the best place to mount the main box? > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > >- - - SignatureLeon van Dommelen :) Bozo, the White 96 Sebring Miata .) rammm@dommelen.net http://www.dommelen.net/miata EXIT THE INTERSTATES (Jamie Jensen) > Though if your doctor starts nagging that you should have more exercise, > you > could say that you spend lots of calories opening and closing all your > Miata > doors. Oh, I'm sure the calories I will spend by *installing* the alarm will make up for years and years of running around the car closing all doors :-) Steven - - - >Hi group, > [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] >long, so I'm considering relocating the thing to a more convenient spot. Any >suggestions? Depends on the size of the unit. Just keep in mind that if you make it an easy place for you to install, it might be an easy place for a thief to uninstall it. ------------- Alex I too am installing a box for keyless entry. I am going to install it to the panel that is just under the steering wheel. It is secured with two screws and has plenty of room for the remote/alarm box. If you route the wires correctly, it would be a lot harder for a thief to just reach under and cut the wires. > Hi group, > [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > - - - >I too am installing a box for keyless entry. I am going to install it >to the panel that is just under the steering wheel. It is secured with >two screws and has plenty of room for the remote/alarm box. But it is not really that securely held if you put weight on it. Leon > If you >route the wires correctly, it would be a lot harder for a thief to just [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] >> >> - - - SignatureLeon van Dommelen :) Bozo, the White 96 Sebring Miata .) rammm@dommelen.net http://www.dommelen.net/miata EXIT THE INTERSTATES (Jamie Jensen) |
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