aftermarket alarm sys.

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I was doing some shopping for a alarm system and I was looking to get a Clifford but noone in my area sells/installs them. My other option is a Viper. Is there a real diff between the two or just preference. A turbotimer function is a must have. Anyone got a Viper?

Al

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01~3500QC,4X,Sport-Silver,eth~dee,3. 54,Line-X

 

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Take my advice and don't do it. Read my thread on kill switch for manual trans trucks. It's in the general diesel topics forum. Members took my idea a few steps further and figured out how to really make it better than an alarm system. My viper was the third in a row that I've had in three consecutive vehicles that went bad and killed the batteries. This time, however, when the AAA tow truck got there... he couldn't get me started, because the batteries were wasted and every time he got me powered up, the alarm thought the truck was being stolen, so it killed the ignition. #ad
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I had to rip out the alarm and twist the wires back together at 230am in a supermarket parking lot 30 miles from my house. I have found better, more reliable means to keep everything where I parked it.

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Chris
1997 5sp 4X4, HX40, BD 4" Brake, Marine Compression, Custom Tuned Injection Pump, 370B Injection Nozzles, Delivery Valves, Governor & AFC Spring Kit, Psychotty Air, Water Injection, 6" Chrome Exhaust System, No Smoke Valet Switch, McLeod Dual Disc Clutch, Mag-Hytec Rear Cover, Cummins Chrome Kit, Optima Red Tops, Hadley Bully Horns, Hurst Line Loc. Test mule for Auto Wurks race program

 

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I have the Viper w/autostart and would not do it again. Took me two months and a different dealer to get the autostart working right #ad

No customer support either. I contacted Viper (Directed Electronics Inc. ) via telephone and e-mail after having problems and they basically told me too bad.
If it wasn't for my credit card company I would have been really screwed.
Remember the old AT&T advertisments, ITS JUST NOT WORTH IT #ad


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2000 DODGE RAM, 2500 HD, 4x4 SLT, Reg. Cab (135” WB), Forest Green, Agate interior, 5. 9L 24V Cummins Diesel, Auto, Shift-on-the-Fly (241HD), 4. 10 Anti-slip Rear, 4-Wheel Anti-Lock, Trailer Tow Group, Camper Group, Michelin
DC: Fog Lights Kit, Tow Rings, Under rail bedliner, VentVisors, Mud Flaps, & Mats.
After-market: K40, Viperw/AutoStart, Clarion 6 Disk CD w/remote, UnidenCB w/Francis antenna, Draw-Tite Activator II, Alpex 255TC2C Air Horns, Liquid Glass

 

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If it's the type of alarm that sirens,honks or whisles forget it,no one pays attention to them anymore but YOU when you're close enough to hear. Starter kill switch is the way to keep your rig where you put it. I was filling out a car insurance form last week,it asked if the vehical was equiped with a starter kill device,never asked about an alarm,those insurance guys know what works.

 

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The insurance guys will also ask if you have a back-up battery. If you do, you will get an additional discount on your insurance. The back-up bettery only costs about $15 bucks and they are well worth it. My brother had his car broken into and the thieves even ripped out the bettery and threw it on the ground. They still couldn't stand to stick their heads in the trunk with that 130dB horn with the back-up.

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B I G O R A N G E AMBER-FIRE (BURNT ORANGE) / BRITE SILVER 2001(. 5), 2500, SLT, Q-CAB 4x4, SWB, AUTO, 3. 55, LSD, TOWING PACKAGE
ADD-ON'S: LINE-X, 1/4" STEEL LONGHORN HITCH COVER
ON ORDER: WESTIN NERF BARS

 

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Having your security alarm hooked up to a set of air horns (Hadleys) makes a difference, too. Trust me when I tell you that any would-be thief will sit up and take notice when these babies sound off! #ad
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The main reason I got the alarm (with back up battery) is that it came with remote entry and other cool features. I really like my wife's being able to push a button when approaching the truck in a dark parking lot. It chirps at her and illuminates the interior. In my neighborhood (Downtown Atlanta) you have to worry about other stuff besides having somebody rip off your ride; namely, having somebody enter your vehicle, lie down in the back seat, and wait for your arrival... (or, like I said, your wife's) This is a common ploy (of our "disadvantaged youth") around Christmas time. They brandish a weapon, take your packages, and light out on foot. They're long gone before mall security (or, whatever) can arrive. The other new "gambit" around here is to simply load the truck up on a flatbed trailer equipped with a winch/recover system. They can get the truck up and gone in under a minute -- no engine start required. The best protection, ideally, is a combination of something like "The Club" and a little sticker that says "LOJACK" equipped. I know I'm cheap but what I did was download the Lojack logo from the internet, print it out in "Living Color" and adhere it to the inside of my driver's side passenger window. That little symbol is about as effective a deterrent as you can get. #ad
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If they bust off my "club," defeat my alarm and ignore the sticker, I figure they've earned the truck.

I've got insurance! #ad


[This message has been edited by Sasquatch (edited 11-06-2000). ]

 

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In the Houston area, I heard on one of the local news station that theft by wrecker was quickly becoming the choice of thieves. Most of the vehicles stolen around here wind up across the border or stripped and parted. Unfortunately, there is nothing to prevent this kind of theft. Just be sure to have good insurance.

 

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I was looking for a simple remote keyless entry, and ended on the second try with a "Bulldog" unit from JC Whitney. Has all the bells and whistles, cost me $29, and the tech guy you call for assistance ownes a deisel Ram.

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Charlie
Anchorage, AK
98. 5 2500QC 2WD Auto, Kondolay valve body & TC, VABox, elbow, 4" exhaust, PacBrake, Firestone airbags & Monroe Reflex shocks

 

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Charliep:

The Keyless is a cool feature. But so is the ability with the remote alarm feature to push a "panic button" and have those Hadleys go off. We're both in our fifties, now, and aren't going to out-fight/out-run anyone bent on maybem. Particularly, for my wife, I like the warm'n'fuzzy feeling of having that big ol' truck light up and "squawk" at her when she's still 75' (or, whatever) away, her arms full of packages. If somebody were to menace her, she could trigger the alarm and it is DEAFENING! Nobody's going to "ignore it. " This system also enables you to set it so that it automatically locks the doors when you start the truck (great with grandchildren) and opens the doors when you shut down. It has valet settings and other features too numerous to list (and too complicated to remember... ).

It was under $160. 00 installed from "Best Buys. "

 

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Sasq,don't your air horns run out of air rather quickly unless the compressor is wired to be hot all the time?

 

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Cliford is the best! Stay away from Viper. What a POS they are. I have heard good things from Car Guard (Ungo). But they are no where near the technology of the Clifford. Alpine makes a pretty good unit also, from what I've heard.