Questions about DIY aftermarket security system

[XC92]

When I bought my '92 Talon TSi I had a local security and sound system shop install what was then a fairly sophisticated alarm and remote system, by Clifford IIRC. I disconnected it years ago because of false alarms in the middle of the night and its draining the battery, but IIRC it had motion, glass and door detectors and remote door opening. The latter was the only feature I actually liked and used.

In any case I've been restoring the car over the past year or so and was thinking about putting in a security system based on modern and not 30 year old technology that includes remote door as well as whatever else makes sense these days. I have no interest in a siren alarm. That just wakes people up and gets ignored otherwise. I'm thinking something more like a silent alarm that alerts my phone, GPS-based tracker, app-based defeat switch, and of course a remote door lock and unlock feature. Since it's a manual trans there's no point in remote ignition.

My questions are:

1. Can a reasonably proficient person install such a system themselves?
2. What features, including these and others, should I seriously consider?
3. How much would the parts cost for a decent but not high-end system?
4. What are we talking about in terms of service and costs for the GPS tracker?

The genesis of this was to get back remote door, but as I restore the car its value goes up, both in blue book and personal terms, and I'm increasingly concerned about theft, especially since it's becoming a more sought-after car and I park it on the street since I don't have private parking and am unlikely to any time soon.

It already has a shifter lock but that's also 30 years old and probably easily defeatable by now, and I intend to also use a steering wheel lock. But I'd feel more comfortable with some electronic protection too, and am wondering what people suggest. Just looking for ballpark ideas now, in terms of features, difficulty and cost, nothing specific.

 

[dustyboner]

if your fuel pump is rewired, you can put a switch on the ground wire off the activation coil of the relay. Just cut the ring terminal or what you have on the end of the wire and extend it to where your hiding the switch, attach it to one side of the switch and then run another wire from the switch to ground.
You could also just pull the starter relay out.
Either would work better than an alarm system as far as somebody driving off the car. If a car thief has some experience, he will know how to disable the aftermarket alarm system.
The only way anyone would steal the car with the fuel pump disabled and the starter relay missing out be to winch it on a flatbed and haul it off.

Its been a few year since i looked at any of the GPS stuff but it didn't cost alot.
If you use one like those "we finance anyone" car dealers use, you can wire a relay to kill the starter. The service has a website you go to and log in, then you can view tracking logs and current location and disable the starter and all that. They use a sim card so the tracker module does the gps stuff but communicates with the service provider over the cellular network.

There used to be a system that would electrify your car using the power box or engergizer (not sure what the correct term is) from an electric fence. So if anyone touched the car, it would shock the f*** out of them. I don't know how effective it was because you would have to have wires running to the car that could be cut. But im sure it would be pretty funny to watch someone get shocked.

 

[XC92]

Well that's a bit overkill for my situation (possibly literally). I'm thinking something more traditional and off the shelf to deter most thieves but not true pros, although pulling a relay or fuse or two wouldn't hurt (but be a pain to do every time I park the car for more than a few minutes). Mostly I think I want remote door open/lock and some way to track the car if it's not too expensive and battery-draining. And most of all I'm just wondering what others here are doing who don't have indoor garages and value their cars, that's DIY and doesn't require an expensive shop to do it.

 

[dustyboner]

i have un-installed a bunch of viper alarms. Mostly because they stopped disarming the system. The last one i can remember, the owner was stuck at work, car wouldn't start and the siren was going off. It took me like 5 seconds to pull the 2 fuses and it was disabled and the car was driveable.

Alarms are good for alerting you, but they won't keep your car from getting stolen. The best way to do that is to disable something like the fuel pump. There are tons of simple ways to do it. All the aftermarket alarms operate the same and they get installed the same way. If you mix it up, someone trying to jack your shit, isn't gonna be like "maybe if i turn on the rear defrost the car will start".
If you have unused factory switches, you can wire them as a simple kill switch.

Alarms are awesome when you want to mess with people. you can scare the shit out of people with the panic button. Works even better if you replace the horn or siren with an air horn.

The universal keyless entry systems are pretty simple to install as long as you have power locks.. Its basically just 2 remotely activated relays. One actives lock side and one the unlock side. If you have a wiring manual for your car its super easy.


for the gps tracking, this seems to be about the average price:

Road Wired | 5G Hardwired GPS Tracker with Nearly-Universal Coverage

Track vehicles and equipment with the Road Wired 5G GPS tracker. Easy install, real-time updates, geofence alerts, and reliable nationwide coverage.

logistimatics.com

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