Install car alarm or pay someone?

[DSMnOOb00]

Basically I want to know you're opinions on whether or not I should attempt to install a car alarm on my own or pay 3x the amount to have a shop do it?

I have never installed a car alarm, although I have installed my own VCR

I'm looking to get the Viper 5901 Full Feature Car Alarm with Remote Start And 2-Way Pager

its $210 for just the alarm

or pay $600 for both the alarm and install

thanks!!!

 

[luv2rallye]

Since many installers don't install them correctly (usually don't choose a real power wire) as well as do a sloppy job, I'd say your better off doing it yourself. Just follow the directions carefully and solder and shrink wrap connections.

 

[Silent_White]

wiring info for your car
1997 Mitsubishi Eclipse Alarm, Remote Starter, Keyless Entry Wiring Information

 

[tay97gst]

I say do it yourself. There's plenty of support on here if you run into trouble and the satisfaction of doing something yourself is always worth it, at least in my opinion. Wiring really isn't that hard as long as you make sure you make good connections and find the right wires

 

[jrs187]

Most shops won't install it for you unless you buy it from them. Or if they do install it they charge double.

 

[Archer Fabrications]

kinda comes down to this with everything, and i say pick your battles, ill do engine stuff on my own, but im no electrician. i personally wouldent do it myself because of my horrid electrical skills, i can solder in gauges and stuff in the bay but i like my crap to look good! i had cartoys do my stero wiring and it was very neatly done, i guess depends on where you go. at least with car toys you can bi*** and have them re-do it if it is messy.

 

[DSMnOOb00]

Thanks for the input guys! I want to install it on my own just to save cash and the satisfaction.

But paying someone seems just so easy

I'm going todo some more reading and see if I can tackle this on my own


Thanks again!

 

[jmartinez1228]

Really isn't that hard you just need to take your time and make sure you are splicing into the right wires. Get the wiring diagram for your car and go over it. In some cases you don't need to hookup all the wires.
When I used to work at circuit city they would hire complete morons to do remote starters and stuff. Only about a weeks training and they were on their own. Yea they did mess up but I can't imagine it being that bad. It's just a real tight spot to work on under the dash. Hope you are a small guy .

PS. Most places won't install a remote starter if your car is a manual just for safety reasons but it can still be done. Just don't leave your car in gear the night before or you will be

 

[Archer Fabrications]

PS. Most places won't install a remote starter if your car is a manual just for safety reasons but it can still be done. Just don't leave your car in gear the night before or you will be

car toys told me this. i thought they were complete MORONS for saying this because you can totally do something like the turbo timers have and wire something up to the Ebreak so it wont remote start without that on... i guess some people jsut dont think of these things.. too many idiots out there starting their car remotely in gear and cartoys probably doesn't want to be liable. Damn losers ruin it for the rest of us.

 

[jmartinez1228]

car toys told me this. i thought they were complete MORONS for saying this because you can totally do something like the turbo timers have and wire something up to the Ebreak so it wont remote start without that on... i guess some people jsut dont think of these things.. too many idiots out there starting their car remotely in gear and cartoys probably doesn't want to be liable. Damn losers ruin it for the rest of us.

They can get sued and put out of business. Lets say your dad moved your car so they can get in the driveway, most old school guys always leave it in gear and skip the e-brake.
Depending on where the car is sitting it can actually acumulate enough power for it to move the car and start rolling down a hill and run a little boy over. That's why they won't do it. Some of the techs would do it on off hours like a side job to make a little extra $$$.
There are ways you can wire it so it won't start in gear but I don't know exactly how.

 

[Doubleot]

I'm not electrically savey so I've never installed my own car alarms, I'm down for mechanic work but electrical stuff really makes me angry .

My family has always used 1 shop and installer for our alarm systems and he's awesome, gives us crazy good deals on systems and installs. If you could get a good deal and a repuatable shop to install it I would go that route.

 

[Archer Fabrications]

They can get sued and put out of business. Lets say your dad moved your car so they can get in the driveway, most old school guys always leave it in gear and skip the e-brake.
Depending on where the car is sitting it can actually acumulate enough power for it to move the car and start rolling down a hill and run a little boy over. That's why they won't do it. Some of the techs would do it on off hours like a side job to make a little extra $$$.
There are ways you can wire it so it won't start in gear but I don't know exactly how.

Don't think you understood.... With the E-break down you wont be able to start the car, with it up your will... Just like a turbo timer.... You wire it just like i am saying.. to the E-break cable damn man. then everyones happy, car will only start when safely parked, no one is a moron and no one gets sued.

anyway... getting off topic. op what are you thinkin? gonna tackle it yourself or take the easy out

 

[jcart953]

I’m looking to get the Viper 5901 Full Feature Car Alarm with Remote Start And 2-Way Pager

I think I have that same alarm and re-looking at the wiring it doesnt seem too complicated.

 

[PieEyedPiper]

EDIT: I was getting it backwards.

Anyways, I'd just make sure you have everything you need. I like to start these kinds of projects and then run out of heatshrink, etc. in the first 15min. and then I stew around looking for cheap solutions before I finally just put it all back together and go back to the store

 

[Silent_White]

Don't think you understood.... With the E-break down you wont be able to start the car, with it up your will... Just like a turbo timer.... You wire it just like i am saying.. to the E-break cable damn man. then everyones happy, car will only start when safely parked, no one is a moron and no one gets sued.

I've installed several that way, the e-brake is no match for the starter in 1st gear. your car will jump forward violently. The alarms that I did will give 3 attempts at starting as well, so it does it 3 times. I had one guy plow his garage, another guy jump a curb onto a sidewalk at a restaurant, and someone jump a parking curb and hit a tree on the 3rd attempt. All of which said they always leave it in neutral with the e-brake. those cars all could have hit a little kid. I'm not saying you would do that, but it happens over time. So now I only do them if the alarm is made for a manual transmission. you turn off the key and the car stays running until you get out and shut the door, the alarm knows its still in neutral that way.

 

[ramsack]

I don't even think a retarded child would get hit by that slow-moving of a car.

 

[SpiderGST]

I've installed several that way, the e-brake is no match for the starter in 1st gear. your car will jump forward violently. The alarms that I did will give 3 attempts at starting as well, so it does it 3 times. I had one guy plow his garage, another guy jump a curb onto a sidewalk at a restaurant, and someone jump a parking curb and hit a tree on the 3rd attempt. All of which said they always leave it in neutral with the e-brake. those cars all could have hit a little kid. I'm not saying you would do that, but it happens over time. So now I only do them if the alarm is made for a manual transmission. you turn off the key and the car stays running until you get out and shut the door, the alarm knows its still in neutral that way.

You think viper would have figured out how to do this by now. Personally I hate electrical work. So I would just find a reliable shop.

 

[jmartinez1228]

Don't think you understood.... With the E-break down you wont be able to start the car, with it up your will... Just like a turbo timer.... You wire it just like i am saying.. to the E-break cable damn man. then everyones happy, car will only start when safely parked, no one is a moron and no one gets sued.

anyway... getting off topic. op what are you thinkin? gonna tackle it yourself or take the easy out

If a 2g has a neutral safety switch then you make sense but on my 1g there is no neutral switch so how is the car going to know it's in neutral? Even with the e-brake up you can still leave it in first gear and start it from the remote starter. I ended up removing the clutch pedal switch to wire it up to the remote starter, can't remember exactly why but the car wouldn't start with the switch in its original location and it wouldn't work wired up to the e-brake either.
I actually don't need to push the pedal down if I want to start it with my key. But I never leave it in gear so i have no worries.

 

[nasty_4g63]

If your going to do it your self try to solder the wires. and make sure your organized with the wires. Alarms really are not that bad when you have a good diagram and take your time, but if you were going to pay someone bestbuy installs them and if you buy it from them you can get a lifetime labor warranty and you can get a warranty on the viper.

 

[johnovision27]

The one and only rule for electrical work on these cars.
If you don't know what it does, LOOK IT UP or LEAVE IT ALONE!

If not, you'll go to arm your alarm and the wipers will start going or some nonsense like that.....

 

[Scoobystyl]

The eclipse is a very easy car to do the install in shouldnt take more than an hour and thats if your soldering and heat shrinking everything, it takes me 30 minutes but ive installed alot of alarms in various cars, i have the 5901 in my talon and in my trailblazer and its an awesome alarm.
Use this wiring diagram Vehicle wiring diagrams
it wil tell you where every wire is located and everything about it

 

[boost97gst]

Id hide fuel pump toggle switch somewhere. Nice, simple theft deterent. Very common

 

[johnovision27]

Id hide fuel pump toggle switch somewhere. Nice, simple theft deterent. Very common

0_o... I like that

 

[greybush]

If you feel comfortable, I'd go for it. Map out your wiring and location so everything is nice and neat. Have lots of heat shrink, and have a fellow gear turner to get frustrated with you if it comes to that. Two heads can get through an install nice and easy.