The Security System Question, Again!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TNPrius1\";p=\"107949)</div>

I have a Package 4 2005 Prius and have looked into adding the alarm. As far as I can tell, there are two parts that need to be installed, the V5 Wiring harness and the Glass Breakage Sensor. From what I read, even with these installed, the alarm must be turned on via the scan tool.
I've called a few of the dealers in my area, Philadelphia, and the cheapest I have found is $377 with the highest being over $500. So if you can get the alarm installed for $250, I'd say you are getting a relatively good deal.

Bob

 

[font=Comic Sans MS:5c9928d98e]ALL Prii have the electronics and circuitry for the alarm system. The electronics have the alarm programmed OFF in some option packages, giving the dealer the ability to sell you an alarm system by using their scan tool to turn it ON.

The Glass Breakage Sensor is an accessory for all alarm systems. When adding it to a Prius which does not normally have an alarm, it necessitates the activation of the alarm system with the scan tool, which the dealer may or may not charge for; they will charge for the GSB hardware and wiring.

By default, the alarm system (when activated by package or dealer) becomes ready to blast the horn when the doors are actively locked. When you lock your doors, you set the alarm. The electronics can be programmed to automatically set the alarm after a period of time, even though the doors are not locked; this is the passive alarming you have the dance for. [/font:5c9928d98e]

 

in a TSB I think

[font=Comic Sans MS:6a1af257c6]I think the "instructions" are in a TSB. Salespeople frequently look confused when you know more than they do. I wish I could give you a direct reference to the TSB by number, but I can't.[/font:6a1af257c6]

 

When I got my 2005 package 4 alarm enabled, I just followed the steps in this link

Here they are to save you the trouble of the looking through the thread:

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Kyle Pehrson\";p=\"69664)</div>

This was completely cryptic to me, but I gave those 3 instructions to the guy at the service department, and he hopped in my car with his scan tool (it looks kind of like those UPS package signing computers), plugged it into the car, did those 3 steps, and the alarm was enabled!

You can test that it is active by giving somebody else the key while you're inside, having them lock the car from outside, then wait 30 seconds and try to unlock and open the door manually. The alarm should go off.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(phileFriendly\";p=\"108082)</div>

[font=Comic Sans MS:72eabf3de4]Thanks phileFriendly, I know someone would have the steps.

Another way to check the alarm, if you don't have a friend handy who wants to hear the alarm blast, is to open the windows, close and lock the doors, wait a minute (OK 30 sec), then reach in the open window and open the door from the inside. WAHH WAHH WAHH WAHH...

Just don't have the fob too far away.[/font:72eabf3de4]

 

[font=Comic Sans MS:1de8dce7bb]Have fun Jon. Don't buy the extended warranty from the dealer; a better deal here and PriusChat benefits. I'd advise against the pre-paid maintenance too. [/font:1de8dce7bb]

 

Bill,
You'd advise against the pre-paid maintenance plan at any price? if so, why? Thanks.

 

[font=Comic Sans MS:533421852b]I didn't say "at any price". If they throw free oil changes into your purchase price, go for it.

An every 5000 mile oil change, tire rotation, and brake/drive train inspection are the maintenance your Prius needs to 30K miles, at which point you add replacing the engine and cabin air filters. Same routine to 60K and 90K miles. At 120K miles you also replace the spark plugs. You can look at the Prius Maintenance manual on the Toyota web site.

At a generous $30 for oil change, tire rotation, and inspection, and $30 for filters and $50 for plugs, that comes to $680 for 120K miles of maintenance. Now the dealer may tell you that "the 15K maintenance is $150 all by itself", but that's what they would try to sell you, not what Toyota requires. And if you want to run synthetic oil and have bought pre-paid maintenance, you'll have to pay extra for that oil every visit.

Will you keep your Prius for 120K miles? Is the maintenance contract transferrable? If you trade your Prius in at the dealer on a new model in 2010, will they give the buyer the remainder of your maintenance contract, give you a refund, or keep the change? This doesn't even consider the cost of money when they have your money up front and you don't. For goodness sake, don't finance the maintenance!

Those are some of the reasons I advise you not to buy prepaid maintenance. Many on here have found it easy to do the oil changes themselves, keeping the receipts for oil and filter with their maintenance records for warranty reasons. Even if you aren't handy or don't want to do your own changes, it's usually pretty easy to beat the dealer's price.[/font:533421852b]

 

Thanks for your analysis of the pre-paid maintenance plans.

Back to the alarm question, here's a copy of what I PMed to Kyle a little while ago; perhaps other people can respond as well:
___________________
I'm a new Prius owner (picking up today). When I went to the dealer today to pick up the car, I asked about turning on the alarm (per Kyle's 3 step method with scan tool). The sales manager said "Sure, anything to help." When my salesman came back after visiting the service department, he said the techs and service mgr said that it couldn't be done with my car (Base Model) because it doesn't have Smart Key and therefore my car does not have the RS3200. Is this on the level or BS?

 

[font=Comic Sans MS:8ef541400c]What, your car is missing the Blaminator? Maybe they left off the Whatzedoodle too!

Try another dealer...[/font:8ef541400c]

 

All Prius have the alarm available. Its part of the body ECU. SKS has nothing to do with it.

 

Hi I posted this in another section:

"I've a question about the glass breakage sensor:

I have it installed on my 2005, but I read the manual to test it and can't get it to do the pre-alarm honking & light flash when I tap the glass. I've pounded fairly loudly on the drivers side window as instructed and still nothing. I don't want to break it and I read in the Prius chat car pick up list that its default is "off." Either the sensitivity on my alarm is way low, the alarm is at the default "off" or I paid for something I didn't get but was given the manual for giggles.

Is there something I can look at in the car to check if it is indeed installed and turned on properly? Or maybe to turn it's sensitivity higher? I know people ignore alarms, but if the pre alarm honking goes off as someones hitting the glass, I figure it may scare them off before they get a really good hit in to actually break the glass. Of course it'd be useless if they break it on the first try."

So would I be charged to have it turned on with the UPS-thing even though I paid for it?! I'm far from the dealer I bought it from, but wouldn't a warranty mean any dealer would have to turn it on (I've only owned the Prius for acouple of months)?

 

I have a package 4 and I bought a GBS+ package for $82.80 and my dealer enabled the alarm and GBS for $98. I had to go out to the Toyota documents to get the instructions to install the GBS, cut a yellow wire, and tell the Toyota techs how to enable everything with the scan tool.

 

You can test to see if the alarm itself is enabled by following the test instructions on page 45.
Basically leave the driver door window down. Power off, lock all doors and close all doors. Wait 30 seconds. Open the driver door from the inside without unlocking (the door will manually unlock as you try to open it).
If the alarm goes off, then the alarm was turned on. Have the dealer check that the GBS feature was also turned on, as it is a separate setting.
If not, the dealer needs to turn it on, or cut that yellow wire before he can turn it on. While he is at it, check that GBS is also on.

 

I have tried the dance and I get the "answer-back" when trying to activate the passive mode of the alarm, but it is not working. I do all the stuff on the left hand column of the dance from this thread, and then after the first "anser-back" move over to the right column to over the door 4 times to get it to go off after 14 seconds. I get the answer-back but no luck getting the alarm to go off. Any idea what I am doing wrong?

 

Are you waiting long enough after closing all doors with the car powered down?
Does the alarm itself work at least when the car is locked and you wait 30 minutes?
How are you trying to trip the alarm?

I believe the immobilizer symbol will go steady when the alarm goes into the time delay, and will start blinking again when fully armed. That arming delay I believe is 30 seconds. Once tampering is detected, then the entry delay has to elapse before the alarm sounds.

So, turn the car off, close all doors. Wait 45 seconds. Open door, wait 45 seconds. Alarm should be going off now.