CANBUS alarm. Anyone has any experience/opinions on this?

[belleth]

I would like to upgrade to an actual alarm, and not just an immobilizer/central lock. I really do not want to carry two fobs (but will if it's the only option), and found this online.

http://www.xpresskit.com/product.aspx?productid=26

they also have one with clifford and viper brand stamp. It seems pretty straight forward, attaches to the factory system, CANBUS and works with factory fob.

Only problem I can see is the programming with the proper firmware, which is car specific, but the firmware is free and the programmer (which attaches to a compluter) is about $20 from amazon (alarm is about $50).

Any opinions on this for/against? or anyone has experience with CANBUS system upgrades in general? other opinions/advice?

 

[flcruising]

I've never heard of such a thing. Does it just plug into the ODB port? I'd hope not.

 

[belleth]

I've never heard of such a thing. Does it just plug into the ODB port? I'd hope not.

Well, from the website and guides you can find there, they have pictures that suposedly apply specifically to Mazda5. If I remember correctly, you plug in a couple of wires behind the ODB, and several connections go to the existing keyless entry (passenger side foot panel if memory serves me right).

I'm in the same shoes as you are, never heard of it and trying to see if anyone has, found some YouTube videos of people having it done but to different cars.

 

[Silentnoise713]

Never heard of this type of add-on alarm but looks interesting in their approach. Also, DEI is a recognized name. However, there is one fundamental flaw with this setup, which is the piss poor range of the OEM keyless system! Absolute garbage. This alone will turn me off, which you can't do with the alarm if it was going off unless you are within 6 ft of the car.

Btw, anyone here done a self install alarm before?

 

[flcruising]

I have installed keyless/remote start/alarm in the past on a Chevy and a Mitsubishi.

 

[Silentnoise713]

I have installed keyless/remote start/alarm in the past on a Chevy and a Mitsubishi.

Flcrusing good to know that we have a member with good working knowledge. I have a CompuStar alarm that I have lying around and am debating if I should installed it on the Mz5. Time will not permit for a short while. I have never installed an alarm before but willing/wanting to learn. From what Ive seen/read, it also does not look mysterious or difficult to me. I want to do it but I am not familiar with the wires of the Mz3/Mz5 or tips/tricks to doing it right. Would you will willing to help if I have questions? My uncertainty is centered around wiring the starter kill/anti-grind and bypassing the immobilizer as Im looking for remote start.

What I will do is solder, relays, multi meter, keep it clean.


Sorry to thread jack OP, no more side bar. Btw, I recommend CompuStar alarms, especially the SS series with *up to 1 mile range (headbang)
http://www.compustar.com/remotestartalarm/

 

[flcruising]

Start up another thread and I'd be happy to share what I learned.

 

[belleth]

Flcrusing good to know that we have a member with good working knowledge. I have a CompuStar alarm that I have lying around and am debating if I should installed it on the Mz5. Time will not permit for a short while. I have never installed an alarm before but willing/wanting to learn. From what Ive seen/read, it also does not look mysterious or difficult to me. I want to do it but I am not familiar with the wires of the Mz3/Mz5 or tips/tricks to doing it right. Would you will willing to help if I have questions? My uncertainty is centered around wiring the starter kill/anti-grind and bypassing the immobilizer as Im looking for remote start.

What I will do is solder, relays, multi meter, keep it clean.


Sorry to thread jack OP, no more side bar. Btw, I recommend CompuStar alarms, especially the SS series with *up to 1 mile range (headbang)
http://www.compustar.com/remotestartalarm/

I've installed a couple of alarms before both in toyotas, one even put the central lock system. I can help with what I can, I've actually researched quite a bit on the alarms for Mazda5. Just a heads up, there are a few things that are not intuitive, which is why I was very interested in this CANBUS set up.
Things to know:
1) do you really need the remote start?
if you do, you will have to bypass the disabler in our cars, which to do properly would require a special, additional "box" to be installed, immobolizer would be by far the hardest thing in the install.
2) keyless entry:
the way our cars are made, you would either need to buy a box that will pull all "lock/unlock" wires together, or you would have to diode all of the wires separately (i believe proper name is diode isolating).

I will be doing an alarm in the near future as well, not sure which one, if here anything confirmative regarding CANBUS systems will most likely try it.

 

[flcruising]

Yes, the immobilizer would require a bypass module with a coil of wire around the ignition switch that replicates the RFID of the key. This method would be new to me as the Passlock 2 system on the Chevy was simply a bypass relay and a matching resistor. I'm with you that the immobilizer bypass would be more difficult than the alarm install. I would probably go with the same manufacturer for both because they should have a harness the tie the 2 together and simplify the installation.

 

[belleth]

I'm not sure of the CompuStar, but I know DEI products (clifford, viper and python) have the bypasses.

I've been trying to do some research regarding the original post, and can't find anything definite regarding the CANBUS alarm. Found some general stuff, claiming that it works, but for me to do it would require the unit and the programmer, I just don't want to have 2 remotes....

 

[the_saint]

If you want an alarm, plus extra range, couldn't you get non-switchblade style keys programmed and then just use the fob from the actual alarm? I'm not an alarm guru or anything, but can't aftermarket alarms be made to work w/factory keyless entry, remote start, power windows, and so on?

I would think that route would give you everything you're looking for and more...extra range, control more functions, online or even smartphone control of the alarm...

 

[skyhawk]

I was planning to upgrade my alarm too. But then I got one of those gps tracker/alarm units (blacklinegps.com). I get txt message and automatic tracking of the vehicle, after motion is detected. It's like a stand-alone 'on-star'. I control the unit via a website, or via text messaging. Worth the money to pay for peace of mind (i.e. 2 young drivers in family). Lets me locate the vehicle's whereabouts.

 

[Silentnoise713]

I was planning to upgrade my alarm too. But then I got one of those gps tracker/alarm units (blacklinegps.com). I get txt message and automatic tracking of the vehicle, after motion is detected. It's like a stand-alone 'on-star'. I control the unit via a website, or via text messaging. Worth the money to pay for peace of mind (i.e. 2 young drivers in family). Lets me locate the vehicle's whereabouts.

All of the higher end alarms do GPS tracking, (Compustar, Viper, C3 Autopage) but some allow you to do more than others (remote control just about anything and report stats on everything over the web). That said, do you have to pay a monthly or yearly fee for access? I dislike having to pay a maintenance fee to use something I paid for…