Security?

xbdrake · 10-15-2011, 02:37 PM

Is security worth it? Or should I just buy a cover...I just got my xb and I have no garage to put it in...My neighborhood isn't the best either..(Had my catalytic converter stolen off our truck in our driveway)...I will be getting a second battery too but I am debating the alarm system and if it is worth it and who to go with if I do get one. Any thoughts on brand or installers? or should I stick with a cover...

whitej47 · 10-15-2011, 04:02 PM

Get air ride, car cover, kill switch, and an alarm. You still won't be fully protected, but it's piece of mind. I pull fuses if I park somewhere sketch overnight...

oreo279 · 02-29-2012, 12:22 AM

If you've got the funds security y worth it. If your installing yourself avital is an incredibly easy system to work with. However if you're not and you're looking for something good id go with one of the viper or python systems with two way paging. the good models have a range of up to a mile. The alarm will sound as well as the fab will beep to alert you. They're are all made by the same company

bigdwiz · 03-03-2012, 10:30 AM

Another way to help is to not draw attention to your vehicle. No large "Kicker" stickers on the window and keep the stereo system stealth. Just my 0.02

Bassman-Soundking · 03-04-2012, 02:04 PM

I would very strongly urge you to get an alarm, and def do not advertise your system. Alarms slow down theft, but cant be 100% effective. I turn down my volume before I get to me destination every-time. I love attention like everyone else, but I like my car and system more.

HeadLightBulbsDotCom · 05-12-2012, 08:50 AM

I say Yes an alarm will "help" detour criminals from breaking into your car.. But if they REALLY want it they will take the chance and break into it anyways.. I would strongly recommend spending the little extra money and getting an alarm with a pager on it.. So if or when the alarm goes off the clicker portion of the alarm will sound off and the little picture on the car will show you what happened to the car and why the alarm is going off. The BRIGHT flashing light mounted up on the dash so it lights up the front section of the car so easy thief can see it while walking up to the car or driving by the car. These alarms are also really cool because you can hook the windows up to automatically go up when the alarm is armed.. You can set it up to the ignition so you can start it from inside your house to warm it up.. This way your heater will already be warming the inside of your car up or cooling it down with the ac in the summer. While doing this they hook the pedals up so if someone was to break in while its running in this feature it will automatically turn the vehicle off.

If you are worried about someone stealing the actual car and not the content of whats inside the car.. You could always install a "hidden" kill switch.. Im from So Cal I used to live up in the Bay Area but theres a guy down here that advertises on CL for like $30 he will come to you and install a hidden kill switch on your car. You would hook this up to to your battery so it would cut off all power to the vehicle. Then you would hide it anywhere of your choice.. Possibly inside your glove box that locks or somewhere else hidden of your choice?

The club is also a great way to get criminals to keep going.

http://www.theclub.com/

Im not sure what there "guarantee" covers or doesnt but on the club site it say:

"The theft guarantee is in effect for one year from the date of purchase"

BLKBAWX · 05-12-2012, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xbdrake

Is security worth it? Or should I just buy a cover...I just got my xb and I have no garage to put it in...My neighborhood isn't the best either..(Had my catalytic converter stolen off our truck in our driveway)...I will be getting a second battery too but I am debating the alarm system and if it is worth it and who to go with if I do get one. Any thoughts on brand or installers? or should I stick with a cover...

Wow... someone took the time to steal a catalyic converter? Was that overnight? that's hardcore!

HeadLightBulbsDotCom · 05-12-2012, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BLKBAWX

Wow... someone took the time to steal a catalyic converter? Was that overnight? that's hardcore!

Hell yea I saw something on this on the news the other day.. Then I saw this on the net from a few years ago..

"Thieves are now targeting your catalytic converter for the precious metal inside. Some vehicles are more vulnerable than others."

I saw a cops the other day regarding this same thing.. So watch out for those people crawling under your ride and stealing your cat..

whitej47 · 08-09-2012, 09:16 PM

Dude cut the horn power. Is there a separate horn or is it using factory horns? Either way you can reach up behind the front bumper and unplug the horns over night. You have a loose connection, or one of the switches is broken/loose in the doors.

Find a for sale thread with the part# and look up the install guide online in PDF format. Trce all of the wires down and make sure it's connected right.

DeadCannon · 08-11-2012, 08:57 AM

Back to the cat thing, a guy at work had his stolen while his Jeep was in our front lot. 2 sawzall cuts and its done.

Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk 2

04LavaXB · 02-08-2013, 08:33 PM

Original owner had a wheel locks and Viper alarm installed. I had an MR2 stolen and stripped one time, so I'm a little more comfortable with this protection. I've read that basic Viper alarms are about $300 installed. More features, more money.

ImageDynamix · 02-13-2013, 05:44 PM

I don't know about you guys, but when I hear a car alarm, I disregard it completely... Too many instances of people accidentally setting theirs off makes for other people ignoring annoying beeping horns and sirens.

Don't leave anything valuable sitting visibly in your car. I really wish our xB's had tC style radio covers... Park in a well lit area, lock your doors and roll your windows up.

As said before, don't advertise your audio systems when arriving to your destination. That means turn your music down to be barely audible - bass travels pretty far.

Have good insurance.

Scionergy · 04-22-2013, 01:07 PM

I had the power door lock actuator issue, LH door 2004 xB, and even though I had lost complete remote opening functionality of the drivers door, I could still lock/unlock with my key and the manual button (not the power lock button). Either method would arm the Factory Alarm system, which I had wired up a blue LED in the top of the dash by the window (tied directly into the existing light in the module in the center console) and my blue LED on the dash would blink indicating alarm armed...

Now, I had ordered and installed a new LH Door power lock actuator from toyotapartsoverstock.com/p/Scion_2004_XB1500CC-16VALVE-DOHC-EFI--AUTOMATICHATCHBACK/ACTUATOR-ASSY--FRONT-DOOR-LOCK--LH-WPOWER-DOOR-LOCK/4147977/6912052030.html for $87.16.

After installing the new actuator, my power lock for the LH drivers door now works, and all other lock/unlock remote functions now work properly, but I now have another problem... my Factory Alarm does not arm anymore, and no light indicating it's armed - and it was working just fine before I replaced the actuator...

Ideas?

LiquidSnak · 04-22-2013, 01:37 PM

Is there a post I missed here somewhere?

EquisBe · 04-23-2013, 11:08 AM

There's a blue/white wire that is the key/lock wire and a yellow/black that is the key/unlock wire, those two wires tell the factory security to arm and disarm. If you have a DMM or test light that gives you both polarities you can test for ground while turning key.

---------- Post added 04-23-2013 at 09:11 AM ----------

I'd post a link to wiring site but unable to, due to I dont have enough posts. You can try the 12 volt dot com, under vehicle wiring diagrams. Very informative.

Scionergy · 04-23-2013, 11:37 AM

I have only made 2 posts and I could attach images... when replying, scroll down and you will see the "Manage Attachments" button in the "Attach Files" section.

Like I mentioned, my factory alarm light(s) were working before I replaced the Drivers Door Power Lock Actuator... all I did was unplug, remove and reinstall, and reconnect the wiring for the actuator. After that, my alarm armed lights do not come on.

I did notice that if I pushed the manual button down and close the door, the light would blink once, and then nothing else - but the door is locked, all doors are locked, and the signal lights will blink for locking and unlocking.

At a loss for this one...

EquisBe · 04-23-2013, 11:48 AM

I'm looking at install instructions, there's a fuse taped up in harness to the right of fusebox, it'll have foam tape on it, I'd check there first.

Scionergy · 04-23-2013, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EquisBe

If you shoot me email, I can email you install instructions.

I sent you my email address

Just so you know, I never touched anything near the fuse panel - all I did was:
* remove my driver door panel
* disconnect the actuator wiring block
* remove the 2 screws holding the old actuator to the mounting bracket
* remove the actuator
* install the new one with the 2 screws to the mounting bracket
* made sure both arms/levers on the actuator were in the correct position
* reconnect the wiring block and replace the door panel

I did all this a few weeks back just to see what was involved with replacing the actuator, and when I disconnected the wiring block and then reconnected the wiring block, factory alarm light was still working as intended.

EquisBe · 04-23-2013, 01:29 PM

Does the actuator have a toyota part # on it? if not this actuator is possibly a aftermarket knock off.

Scionergy · 04-23-2013, 02:27 PM

It is geniune toyota - I ordered it from ToyotaPartsOverstock.com (which is a division of LakeLand Toyota/Scion in Florida)