Outer Limits 4x4 Board

What is a half decent car alarm to suit a GQ?
Something that is reasonable build quality for travelling rough roads, etc and is a useful deterrent

Blue Cattle Dog !

I like that one.
Though last time I had one in a car, we hit a washout in the road and the dog lost his balance and landed fair and square on my jatz crackers.
Bad enough, but it was in a old troopy and they are not renowned for the soothest of rides.
They are hard dogs to hide if you go into national parks too.
Maybe I should look into a dingo, but not many babies break,enter and steal from 4x4's....

Derek,
I went for an immobiliser only, on the basis that no one I know, me included responds to a car alarm on the basis that its most likely gone off in a false alarm - yes understand the weakness of the arguement, but true all the same.

I have a Zenon P801 fitted to my 97 GQ 2.8TD. The contact number was 03 9850 3333. They are in bulleen Victoria.

Its linked to the central locking also, and can be over ridden by the user. It has been trouble free from the date of installation and survived a complete submersion. It allowed the vehicle to be started the controllert dried out - not before.

They probably have alarms and maybe more sophisticated units now. can't remember price though. It needed to be fitted by an auto elec. Not sure what it isolates.
Phil

Hi Phil
I have an immobiliser already, but it didnt stop the theiving scum from ripping off all our gear when we stopped overnight in Cairns on the way back from the Cape. The bastards even went thorough the fridge, took torches,tools, GPS, cameras, kids clothes etc etc.

Yes I know that I shouldnt have been in Cairns as its a crap city (arent they all?) but it was an unplanned necessary excursion at the time.

Looking to have something a bit more annoying to the robbers when I have to leave it unattended.
I will give Zenon a ring and see what I can find out. Thanks

Clanky wrote: Maybe I should look into a dingo, but not many babies break,enter and steal from 4x4's....

If thats the case, you're going to have a hard time keeping the bastard dingo fed!

Check out the Mongoose range of alarms, I've installed a few and they're very well made and reliable. Get the optional microwave interior motion detector and you can set it to "beep" a few times if someone gets too close to the vehicle without touching it. If they get inside it will fully alarm- even if you accidentally left a window down eg. they reach inside.

Dynamco are also good (sold under the Paralyser name), but IMHO Mongoose are better featured.

I was just having a look at the Mongoose on Ebay.
Can get the 80 model for $249 + $59 for the microwave part.
Not too bad

Autowatch blueline also is awesome.

also if u are more preventing interior theft.

Chuck a couple of the 120db piezo alarms under the dash and rear area.

u cannot be in the car long when those are going off. i had three hooked up to my old autowatch alarm in the proton.

Clanky wrote:I was just having a look at the Mongoose on Ebay.
Can get the 80 model for $249 + $59 for the microwave part.
Not too bad

I've installed three of the MAP80G models which work with the factory remotes. I'm guessing that would be the equivalent model with a remote control???

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Mongoose-Alarm-M ... 230506e2a9

Ebay one seems to be different model. M80G. Must be the integrated one for factory security system.

Murcod, Since you have fitted three, has there been any dramas?

Just been reading some other forums on Autowatch. They seem to be a good unit too. Going to have to ring them too, thanks.

Clanky wrote:http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Mongoose-Alarm-M ... 230506e2a9

Ebay one seems to be different model. M80G. Must be the integrated one for factory security system.

Murcod, Since you have fitted three, has there been any dramas?

Yes, that's the versions that comes with remotes. I've installed the same unit that's designed to work with factory remotes. (I think you'll find that's the only difference between the MAP80G and M80G).

No problems whatsoever. They also come with EVERYTHING you need to do the install- unlike some other brands. Their two stage microwave motion detector is also very small compared to some others I've used. I've actually managed to fit one inside an interior roof light!

Excellent info, thankyou

PBBIZ2 wrote:Derek,
I went for an immobiliser only, on the basis that no one I know, me included responds to a car alarm on the basis that its most likely gone off in a false alarm - yes understand the weakness of the arguement, but true all the same.

Yeah but they can act as a deterrent, my little brothers gemini has been broken into twice outside... one time they stole his piercings (used I might add in his lips and nose ).

He has nothing, no immobiliser or anything.

I've got a dynamco and the insanely bright blue light and glass break microphone on the dash seem to be pretty good at deterring people.

As said sirens under the dash etc. can work well as it's just way too loud to stand for long. If you went really high end you can get things along the line of sms gateways that'll text/autodial you when it's getting nicked...

Go for ultrasonic detectors instead of microwave. They do the same job but are much harder to set off from outside the car. I've had microwave sensor go off in the rain alot. But that could be incorrect installation as well.

I had a rhino alarm in my last car and it wasn't that great, main complaints were, alarm was way way too quite and the remotes were to flimsy, and bloody hard to replace on their own.

Hmmm, are ultrasonic the ones where the window can be smashed, the alarm goes off, Alarm resets itself after time, thief returns and the ultrasonic wont detect second intrusion?

Good point about the rain and the microwave. Going to have to ask about that for sure

Microwaves are adjustable. The rain doesn't set mine off and if you get a dual zone version then there's no need to set the 2nd zone (for instant alarm) to penetrate the windows. You do need to plan where to install the unit - ideally somewhere near the centre of the cabin. Very large metallic objects can cause problems eg. roller doors or trucks passing very close by can trigger them.

Ultrasonics are notorious for false triggering from wind (gust through the ventilation system), flies inside the cabin etc. I had them installed in a vehicle many years ago and personally wouldn't touch them again.

Having owned my own alarm and audio business for 12 years I would definately recommend the Mongoose M80 in any of its variants (the G has a built in turbo timer function) as I have one that I installed into my GQ. I have also used Autowatch, Viper, Enforcer, CodeAlarm, Vision and quite a few cheap and nasty's but for a simple effective alarm/immobiliser the Mongoose are pretty damned good and seem to withstand a fair bit of abuse. Microwaves are a much better bet than ultrasonics as they react to movement of mass as opposed to pressure change ie less false alarms.

Anyway I will jump off my soapbox now.......hope this helps....

Excellent stuff
I have gone the Mongoose M80 with M/Wave.
Thanks for everyones input

Yeh thats one thing i never understood, why people install the screecher under the hood. Everyone just ignores it anyway. Put it inside the cabin. Might get a Mongoose for the sierra with a few screechers, if i can blow out a scumbags eardrum, i would be most pleased. It hurts like hell, i know.
Bigsixty have you had experience repairing factory alarms btw? The old mans Excel is going nuts with the central locking. It seems to lock and unlock itself randomly, most of the time finishing its spaz attack in the unlocked position, even though its meant to be locked and alarm on via remote. Hmm thinking about it, im not sure its factory alarm.

PJ.zook....it sounds more like the central locking is playing up most probably either the position switch in the motor at the drivers door lock or possibly the relay pack has gotten wet and from memory they are located in the drivers kick behind the fuse panel. This goes the same way if it is an aftermarket system but the location may be different.......