hey guys, my 89 mustang came with a compustar alarm which I hope wasnt a shop job because whoever installed this did a horrible job. I'm trying to decide whether to have a shop fix my alarm or install a new one, if so which one? I dont know anything about alarms at all, is compustar even a good company? What my alarms doing is when I used the remote to lock the car and turn on the alarm it wont let me disarm the alarm, and now it just stopped working completly and occasionally locks and unlocks the car but does not turn the alarm on and it is not in valet mode which it has also done before. I havent made any electrical changes recently so I dont know what it could be caused by. I have heard great things about viper other than them being too sensitive which I like anyway.
also I was curious if anyone knew of a good shop if you think I should have mine fixed in northern cali, I live about an hour from modesto and stocton and about an hour and a half from sacramento.
Thanks for any input

 

anyone?

 

I see a couple people say that they know about alarms on here, but anyone care to lend a hand?

 

eh sorry, I have not been in a helping mood much lately, it has been too dificult.... Alarms are one of the more technical jobs in the install biz. One bad wire and you can have some crazy gremlins running through the car and if you are lucky, it will only effect the alarm. If you don't have experience with alarms then you probably do not want to jump into troubleshooting one as a good alarm will leave you with a sore back and a head ache, you don't want to know whata bad alarm can do.

As for compustar I have not heard anthing bad about them, but it is one of the few alarms I have not installed. I would recommend calling around and try to find a shop that carries them, and that you trust. It may not be cheap because if it is as big a mess as you say then they will probably start by cutting out the alarm and starting with a clean slate but will let you leave with the security that the alarm is working and has a lifetime warrently on the wiring.

 

I have asked around about it at a few shops, even ones that sell them say they will have to spend like 8-9 hours most of the reason they say is to get ahold of the company so they can tell them what to do.
just curious because you said you had done installs, around how much do you think I'm looking at spending if its something somewhat simple. Ihave only found one place that sells my alarm that isnt 3 hours awayand they said that theywouldnt work on it because they didnt sell it.

 

a bad alarm install is something that most places will try to avoid. They do this politely by telling you it could take really long time and cost alot(because it can take time). The other problem they face is that alarms normally have a mark-up incliuded in the original sales price so if somebody like you comes in with nothing that the store carries it can become very difficult to try and get pieces that another company may or may not still make. If you had a brand they carried it would help alot but that is not the case. These places that told you it would take 8-9 hrs will probaby be more then happy to sell you a new alarm and itstall it to replace the one you have for less then it will cost to try and fix something that may not be fix-able.

I know it is not what you want to hear but on security I NEVER recommend gambling on security and you keeping that compustar alarm is a gamble... not near phoenix are ya?

 

Around how much would I be charged for a decent alarm?
I dont need anything major I live in northern cali in the major sticks. thanks for letting me know that though instead of just contenuing to go around asking for estimates on what It would cost or how long it will take.
Why did you ask if I lived near Pheonix?

 

I am in phoenix and if you were close I could help better.

You can get into a good DEI(viper, sidewinder, ect) for $150 which will cover door locks and a basic security system. If you want 2-way remotes and some more bells and whistles it could push $400.

As I said the alarm is only as good as its install. Ask them how they make their connections, solder is prefered, crimp is acceptable and T-taps are a no-no. Ask if they take the time to hide the module or if they just shove it up under the dash.

 

o, well thanks for the offer

The kit I currently have has door lockes, trunk and remote start(found out the hard way this is a big no no on a manual car especially without a neutral saftey switch)
I will look into that very soon, I was expecting a minimum of like $600 at least. would that price include install or not?

ya, thats good info I didnt even think about that.
lol like my module is now.

 

now for some reason my alarm works off and on, like I got frusterrated today and pushed the button like 15-20 times quick and it unlocked the doors but didnt turn on the alarm. then it went into valet mode and I turned it off and it worked for like 5-6 times then messed up again. then it worked on and off throught the day.
I dont know if this makes a difference but when my alarm dosen't work it shows no bars and dosen't light up the lcd screen but when it works what ever i press it lights up and beeps. Could it all be in the remote?