Hi, every one, happy new year man!! i am thinking if i am going to put the Viper VX 791 on my Evo or not, i have heard something good and something bad about this security system, the bad thing is it may bring some problems such as battery such and such...... need your advice!!, thanks

 

Do you mind if I hijack your thread and suggest something else? I have done evom, norcalevo, and google searches to find answers to my questions, but have come up short.

Here's what I'm curious about:

How do aftermarket security systems and others like lojack coexist with the factory "alarm" system? I think the factory system isn't anything more than the remote door locks and immobilizer unit. So if you get an aftermarket alarm system, does that render the immobilizer useless, or do they coexist? And can you throw a lojack system into the mix?

I spoke with Lojack yesterday, and they now offer two packages:
1. Basic - $695 + tax, no annual fee. When you see that your car is gone, call them to have the vehicle tracked. This would likely be used with an aftermarket alarm, I think.
2. Early warning recovery - $995 + tax. There's a motion sensor in the car, and when the car starts moving, it looks for a keyless fob that you should have on your keyring. If it doesn't detect this fob, then it'll notify Lojack automatically, and they'll contact the police for you. Doesn't need an aftermarket alarm system.

I like #2, but then I had a question about it... you can actually also get the shock sensor added to Lojack, but the rep said that it doesn't work well with factory alarm systems. But since the Evo factory system isn't really an alarm (is it?), then I would think that I could get this. But then I don't know what it does to notify you if the shock sensor goes off...

So to kind of get back on topic, I am considering Lojack option #1, along with a Compustar 2WSS-A. That is one sweet alarm.

 

IMHO, compustars suck!!! I have seen them before they were installed and have seen the insides of the units. DEI uses military technology and are far more advanced, simple to operate, and install than anything else out there. And they dont give trouble unless you drop that very expensive remote. ($161 at Best Buy or $80 on ebay.) The 791 is an excellent system but if you can find a clifford rsx 3.5, it would be a lil better. Some ones gonna come on here and say that they are the same but TRUST me, there are some lil differences that make the clifford better. Lojack is cool too but you cant remote start your car with it and it doesnt have a built in turbo timer.

 

Thanks for your opinion on the Compustar. I will certainly do some more research on the 791 and rsx 3.5 units. Fortunately, I don't need remote start or the built-in turbo timer as I already have a TT. I guess I'll get remote start with any of the nice alarms these days.

 

Well there are still 2-way units by these companies within DEI that are ONLY alarms. They are probably like 50-150 bucks cheaper depending on where you look for em.

 

I have the Clifford RSX3.5 installed on my EVO and it works great. There is no problem with the stock alarm, they can co-exist (I just don't use it anymore). Since the RSX3.5 has the TT already included you won't have any problem trying to make an aftermarket TT work with an alarm. You have all the features you would need in an alarm, and options for any other thing that you can imagine. Not a cheap alarm, but worth it.

 

Since I don't want the remote start / TT, I assume that I want the RSX 10.5? Thanks for the good info!

 

Yep, that would be the way to go.

A few recommendations when investing in an alarm.... Get a secondary backup battery-powered piezo alarm that you can hide in the car, that way, if your battery is disconnected, you'll still have the alarm blaring inside the car. Also, most of these alarms only come with a shock sensor, but allow for 3 or more additional auxilary inputs for other sensors. Good ones to get... Glass breakage sensor, motion sensor in the car and tilt sensor (senses if someone is stealing your rims, towing your car away). Also, make sure you go to a reputable alarm installer, the Best Buy free installs w/purchase are not the way to go. Those hack installs make it easy for a car thief to bypass your alarm. Look into a hood latch lock.. another wise investment. Also, while doing that, it might be wise to reroute your truck pop somewhere else.

Remember that all an alarm does is provide you with a layer of security against theft. The better the install and the more layers there are, the less chance your car will be stolen. Good luck.

 

Great info, thanks! My only question is, if I feel I'm capable of installing pretty much anything in my car (except cams or engine internals), then shouldn't I be okay installing the alarm myself? I only trust myself to do a good job...

 

i got a alarm installed when i bought the evo it incoporates, passive arming, active arming, ignition/starter/ fuel pump kill, tilt motion and glass sensor, and a Valet mode that keeps the windows form being rolled down and the radio turned on.

it all works with the stock Fob. i'll check what it's called on my way out form work.

 

My RSX3.5 was installed by an authorized Clifford dealer, and I spent the whole time next to my car watching the installation process... what a nightmare! Even though I'm a computer and electronics expert, I wouldn't do this by myself. The installer (who has 6 years of experience) took 2.5 hours, not an easy job. You have to test wires, troubleshoot different situations, etc. As soon as I get home I'll post the installation manual so you can see how easy/hard this job is.

 

I use to have a clifford concept 400 before they sold out to dei. I was going to go upgrade my alarm to a newmodel... not knowing that they sold out to dei.. Cash in hand ready tomake the purchase... the salesman said "my honest opinion, every since dei has gotten into clifford..the cliffords have sucked.." I was like, he could have got me for my money, but wow I was shocked. The DEI clifford was actually a product he was carrying..

 

Clifford RSX3.5 installation guide:

http://directechs.com/guides/manuals...9564_01-05.pdf

 

The 791xv remote goes through batteries pretty quick. The remote is also fragile, if you get one be careful. They are also expensive to replace!

 

Thank you! I'll take a look at the installation to see how tough it is.