alarm system

[makeminemazda]

Hello fellow fanatics. Looking for some help. I have the factory alarm system installed and am having a repeating little nuisance problem. Often when I get back to my car I can tell the alarm has gone off while I was away. (The red LED on the steering column flashes faster and the horn sounds 4? times when I disarm the alarm).

Sounds like an alarm sensitivity problem to me. A couple of dealers have confirmed that they are having the same thing happen to their cars on the lot when the wind is blowing hard, etc. However, no one has yet been able to tell me where the adjustment for this can be found. Any experts out there yet that can help with this? Thanks all...

 

[311Mazda]

I'm not an expert, but I can tell you this....I've had the very same problem ever sence I had my car. Loud exausts and garbage trucks and any big noise would set my alarm off, or at least make it honk. It was so annoying and I hated it, so I finaly took it to the dealer and asked about, and the guy said there is an adjustment under the dash by the steering colom. I havn't bothered to look yet (and I SHOULD have) But they turned it down and now it's not a problem at all. Just get a flashlight and look under the dash, it's there.

 

[makeminemazda]

Thanks. I took a look. Tucked underneath the dash up high on the left side I found a black plastic box about the size of a deck of cards. It had a white sticker on it that said "Mazda vehicle security system". Unfortunatley, I wasn't enough of a circus-act contortionist to find anything that looked like an adjustment. Making progress...but not there yet. Thanks...

 

[311Mazda]

If push comes to shove just take it to the dealer like I did. After all you may be doing that in a few months anyways. Our cars arn't PERFECT. hehe

 

[Sir Nuke]

makeminemazda....what you found is the sensitivity sensor...you are in the right place....on one of the long sides is a little knob sticking out....if the knob is turned all the way clockwise..its as sensitive as it gets....it happens to be where most of them come set at and it is what the problem is....just run your seat all the way back....get a flashlight....squirm in there on your back and then turn the little knob back counterclockwise. you will just need to experiment a little with it till you get it set just right.

Mine was so sensitive at times if you wiped the dust off of the hood it would set the damn thing off! lol

 

[ZoomZoom]

We had the same problem with ours. I ducked my head under the dash and looked at the steering column, it is a small black box with a knob (shock sensor) I had to turn it all the way counterclockwise and then just slightly clockwise and all has been fine ever since. The factory alarm is made by Code-Alarm as far as I can tell. I do stereo and security for a living so it was pretty easy to identify what I was looking for. That POS alarm will be coming out soon, or I will modify it to work with the hatch and some other stuff. It did take me a few minutes to find the valet switch though.

Later
Griff

 

[slooper]

What's with the alarm?
Did you all purchase it as an option? I have the keyless entry thing and my P5 honks at me when I lock it twice, but my buddy and I tried to get the 'alarm' to go off, but nothing happened. What sets it off if I actually have one? We tried unlocking the door manually from the inside after 'arming' it with the remote but nothing happened except the door unlocking.
What's the deal?

 

[adragonfly]

Keyless entry is just that, not an alarm... I went and got a viper installed somewhere else because I thought the dealer on was too expensive. They gave me a new set of remotes when I installed the alarm so I don't use the keyless entry ones anymore. But maybe the alarm from the dealer just gets programmed to the original remote?

 

[badboyeee]

yah, the keyless entry is a standard option but it doesnt come with an security alarm system. i wanted a factory perimeter alarm, but the dealer jus couldnt find one with the options i wanted. i think the factory alarm usually comes with fully loaded cars.

and my dealer was asking $300 for like a simple alarm that they could install and a top of the line alarm for $500. i was like no thats okay...

ADRAGONFLY - how much did you get your alarm?

 

[Sir Nuke]

Slooper....IF you look in front of your steering wheel between it and the gauges....is there a little flashing light? I am thinking NOT>.....that is because you do NOT have the factory alarm. IF you had the factory alarm there would be a little red flashing light in front of the steering wheel when its armed.

 

[slooper]

That's all good. I would rather not have a factory alarm, because from what I've heard, they're not that effective. I was going to have a new alarm installed anyway, factory alarm or not. Not having it to begin with makes it one less useless thing. There is a sticker on the window though that says "Vehicle Theft Deterrent System" - Is that just blowing smoke?

 

[makeminemazda]

Hey everyone,

Thanks for all of the information SirNuke, 311, and ZoomZoom. Hey Slooper just an FYI. A few years ago I did a lot of research into car alarm systems. From shock sensors to ignition cut-outs to Lo-Jacks and everything in between. I read many articles and spoke to several people. Obviously some alarm systems are better than others but the bottom line was this:

If a professional thief really wants a given car they will get it no matter what you do. But a pro is not stupid. If they have the option of going for your car which has a decent theft-deterrent system or going after a similar car that does not, they will go for the other car. It will take them less time to acquire it which means less time spent doing something illegal and less chance of getting caught.

I would assume the same holds true today. Have fun with your new toy. Hope it stays yours for a long long time!

 

[adragonfly]

Badboyee- I paid $230 for a viper system (including installation.)

 

[OurP5]

Since we are on the topics of alarms...

I didn't take the option of the factory or dealer installed alarm system. I was at the mall the other day and I saw a guy that had the coolest alarm. When he armed it, the windows rolled up. I wasn't the stalking the guy but we were leaving at the same time, too. When he disarmed the alarm it rolled the windows down? Does anyone know of a manufacturer of alarms that has this option? I would have asked the guy what kind of alarm it was but he was on talking on his cell phone and of course, it looked like an important call so I didn't bother to go up and ask. Any input is appreciated.

 

[Cyberglitch]

From past experience most any alarms and be setup to do the window trick. The catch is you have to pay extra for the window module to be installed. Each module will only control 2 windows, and also most of those modules ar eonly 1 way. Meaning is you have 1 module it will either controll 2 windows to roll up or 2 windows to roll down and not both or control 1 window to go up and down. These modules aren't cheap either they run anwhere from $70-$150+ I looked into this option b/c I wanted to be able to open/close the moonroof when the system is armed/disarmed. They quoted me a price of $100 for the module and another $50 to install it.

I could be wrong on all this but it's just what I got outta the people who installed my alarm and they have always been helpful and friendly from past experiences.

Needless to say I passed.

 

[krotine]

It did take me a few minutes to find the valet switch though.

Griff (ZoomZoom),

In what general location did you find the override switch? The manual that comes with the alarm system states that is under the dash near the alarm control box... I haven't found yet.

Thank you,

Jason

 

[sundevilMP5]

Re: Since we are on the topics of alarms...

I didn't take the option of the factory or dealer installed alarm system. I was at the mall the other day and I saw a guy that had the coolest alarm. When he armed it, the windows rolled up. I wasn't the stalking the guy but we were leaving at the same time, too. When he disarmed the alarm it rolled the windows down? Does anyone know of a manufacturer of alarms that has this option? I would have asked the guy what kind of alarm it was but he was on talking on his cell phone and of course, it looked like an important call so I didn't bother to go up and ask. Any input is appreciated.

my brother has this on his accord...when he arms it the windows will roll up and the moonroof will close...i don't think he paid any extra for these options so i'll find out what alarm he has...the only thing that would cost extra was the option for the remote trunk open because they would have had to install an extra motor to pull the cable...etc..etc...

on my P5 i have the factory alarm...it cost a little more then i normally would pay for an alarm...and i'm sure it's pretty easy to break in and steal...but the dealer i went to will pay an extra $3K on top of what my insurance gives me if the car does get stolen so overall it's not a bad idea...

happy driving

 

[derrick1623]

i have the excaliber atv-1000. its got motion and shock sensors, and a proximity sensor. its pretty frickin loud too. the speaker is called the pyscho siren or some junk like that.