Security System (alarm) Upgrade

:welcome: Welcome to PriusChat, lazysheep!

All Prius come with an engine immobilizer and an alarm system, they're pretty hard to steal except on a flat-bed truck. Unless you live in an area where cars are regularly burglarized, save your money, and if you do, consider moving. Adding a GBS, or the dealer can install it, will set off the alarm if someone breaks a window, but that's what insurance is for. There are no locked compartments inside the car. I don't think an after-market alarm system could be added to the Prius alarm system, but it could ride along side.

 

As a test, when you get the car, roll down the windows, get out and lock the car, then reach in through an open window and open a door. It's likely the alarm will sound. Many dealers turn it on as a matter of course in delivery preparation.

 

If the dealer didn't turn it on (mine didn't) is there a way for me to do it?

 

if there gunna charge $250 to connect thier equipment to your prius for 2 minutes to enable the cars alarm, then you might as well get yours moneys worth and perhaps purchase the glass breakage sensor and install it yourself and have them enable the alarm and the glass breakage , or throw in a couple car keys to have them enable

 

I am actually considering adding an aftermarket alarm to my Prius as well. If I go forward with this, I will likely get the new Viper LE 5701 2-way alarm system. Just like other aftermarket alarm systems I've had on Toyota/Lexus vehicles, the aftermarket system will essentially piggy-back onto the stock Immobilizer system.

The thing I haven't figured out yet is how to retain the smart key functionality with an aftermarket alarm system. I want the added benefits of a motion or tilt sensor and windows automation, but don't want to have to arm and disarm the car each time entering/exiting the vehicle. Anybody know a solution to this?

 

My wife's Pri has a Karr alarm system installed and it has been a pain in the Kiester. It actually is supposed to piggy back to the existing alarm system and provide some other features. It was "preinstalled" by the dealer and "activated" for a small nominal fee which I now wish I had not paid. It basically "took over" the existing alarm system and deactivated it as verified by a dealer system check and then proceeded to malfunction long and loud upsetting a lot of innocent bystanders. I finally got in touch with a Karr representative (no easy task as it seems none of them return phone calls or messsages left on their phones) and learned how to deactivate the system. I can't remove it myself but at least it's deactivated and the orignial onboard system now works as advertised. I would highly recommend against any aftermarket alarm system on these cars as it seems they are very sensitive to strange electronics.

 

Sorry to hear about your bad experience, but good alarm installers are hard to find, and I wonder if your's was properly installed. I'm not very familiar with Karr alarm systems, but I've always had good experience with Directed Electronics (Viper, Clifford, etc) products on a variety of cars.

 

Home alarm systems are only said to be effective when they are installed together with other gadgets such as motion detectors, a computer, sirens, etc. All in all, home alarm systems and other home security systems would keep you and your house more secure and would help keep you and your family safe from criminals.

 

i hate threads like this

if you buy a package #2, chances are good whenever you bring you car in service you can have them turn on the alarm for free. its a software change.

now if you want the glass breakage sensor, thats extra

i hate threads where people argue back and forth about how hard it is to steal or burglarize a prius, when its probably not going to cost you any money to get the alarm turned on.


a lot of toyota dealers will do 1 software change for free in the first 12 months of ownership. ask about this. do not ask the finance manager. ask the service advisor

heck you could even benefit prius chat by getting the glass breakage option, installing it yourself, and then seeing if theres a toyota dealer willing to cut you a break on turning those two things on

 

Bill, I've tried locking my car with the windows down then tried opening it using the handle from inside and to my surprise the alarm did not sound. I just happened to take it to the dealer recently to address a number of minor annoyances before the 3 year, 36K ran out and I did mention to them that I tried this test with the key fob in my pocket and it may have been smart enough to know the key was in range and would not sound the alarm, they agreed but I don't know how much they actually knew about it. I wouldn't be surprised. When I picked up the car he said the mechanic tested it and it worked properly without making any changes. I still wonder if it actually works or not, I'll have to try getting the fob out of range and try again but I suspect the alarm will not sound as, like others here have already said, the alarm doesn't come turned on by default... you have to pay extra to have that feature activated. I'm not going to be happy if it doesn't work as I have a copy of the paperwork saying they tested it and it did... You can bet I'll be going right back.

 

I got an 08 prius (package #2), and the dealer still charged me $700 for the alarm. Did i get ripped off? I also tried opening the door thru the window and the alarm didn't go off. I had the keyfob about 15 ft away from the car, but i'm not sure what the range is. Is there any other way to check if the alarm was installed or enabled? thx.

 

I deal with those at work, they're a OK but overpriced system. 2-button dealer master remote works the system, 1 deactivation clip(blocker as we call them) and 3 different activation clips for each system, 1 with remotes(red 2040), 2 without(blue 4040, green EX-1).

The factory system works when a entry point is breached when the car is locked - the door pins trigger it, when the switch is grounded it triggers the system. DEI - the Viper guys make a add-on shock sensor that connects to a ground input like the door pins. You can also use their glass sensor, blue - output goes onto a door pin wire.

Freddy - the dealer charged you for a Karr, Silencer or Pursuit alarm - Silencer is the dealer version of Carbine. They are a ripoff, I advise people not to get them.

 

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The alarm is not set automatically when i am out of the car. How can i change the settings so that when i am out of the car (eg the keys are away), for - say - 2min, the alarm will set itself to on?

 

I have a 2007 BASE prius (no package). My understanding is that this came with NO factory alarm, what is my best bet for installing one with glass brakage sensor? Is aftermarket my only option?

 

Can you please tell me or recommend a car alarm system that will not drain the battery? I have the factory alarm on it and honestly it doesn’t do anything. I will need a alarm system installed to prevent catalytic converter theft- again. Do you or anyone have recommendations of a sensitive alarm to prevent the catalytic converter theft again and NOT drain the battery ??

 

Better to ask alarm installers.

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