Due to the increasing crimes against Prius cars in my area, I've been looking a simple, 2-wire install alarm. Found one on Amazon that I like. The CW-8182 is very basic and only needs 12 volts connected. It will make a loud noise if someone starts breaking windows or jacking up the car. My only requirements. I want to add this vibration-sensor alarm to our 2012 C2, but I'm worried about all the buzzing, clicking and humming the C2 makes while sitting in the garage while no one is around. I fear this motor-noise activity will trigger false alarms. Has anyone heard of this kind of problem? TIA, Richard
I think you're talking about the after-run cycle for the evaporative emissions system. And as noisy as that may sound in a silent garage late at night, I really can't imagine it setting off any auto burglar alarm system I've ever dealt with.
Thanks! That's encouraging to hear. This alarm has 7 levels of sensitivity, so maybe it's possible a high-to-mid-range setting will work. The last time I used one of these vibration-sensor alarms was in the late 1970s. It had one setting, ON. In the Logan airport parking garage, it triggered every time a plane took off! I had to leave it turned off, while I was away a few days. Does that "after-run cycle for the evaporative emissions system" turn on once after the car has been parked, or does it come on at random times? TIA,
In many (most?) cars it is a single event (with several steps each having their own sound) triggered by a timer 4-5 hours after shutdown. I don't specifically know how Toyota does it on the c2.
Thanks for your input. I've ordered the alarm. I'll post my 'review' here, in case anyone else is thinking about using this type of alarm.
I don't think you'll have a problem. Most every car on the market (hybrid or not) has a similar after-run evaporative emissions vent cycle, and it's been that way for years. The alarm builders have had plenty of time to adapt.
LOL, I was thinking about using the alarm in my 2014 Rav4, if it was too sensitive for the C2. This alarm was made in China. They have an 'EPA' in China, so maybe it's compatible.
The alarm seems to be overly sensitive. When set to the lowest sensitivity level (1), it would still be triggered (sounding a short warning beeping) by the US Mail jeep passing 30 feet from the Prius C. Or a passing oil truck. Loud motorcycles also cause the warning beeping. Jumping in and closing the front passenger door really hard will set off the warning beep and the main alarm cycle. I think if someone jacked up the car or maybe used a power saw on the catalytic converter, that would set off a full alarm cycle. If someone just punches a hole in your gas tank, that might be detected at levels 4 to 7, but airplanes flying by might also trigger it. It seems like the vibration detector device might be working like an audio microphone too. I ordered a second unit, in case the 1st one was defective. And it's sensitivity seems to be pretty much the same. They changed the firmware on 2nd unit, But didn't change the documentation. Instead of pressing & holding Arm and Disarm at the same time, the newer versions only need the Disarm pressed and held down for a few seconds before the sensitivity Set Mode comes on.. Before I figured the firmware change out, I spoke to someone via Amazon. They didn't want to talk about how change the sensitivity and just said something about sending another unit and I disagreed before they hung up on me. A third alarm came a few days later. It also has the new firmware. Same old doc. Works exactly the same. The Arm (1 beep) and Disarm (2 beeps) are both pretty loud. So, everyone in the parking lot is going to hear you setting your alarm.
