Hey everyone! I use to visit this site everyday last year, and then it went under some administrative changes and I thought the site died. I'm so glad its up and running and with so many people still on the forums!

I have a green 93 maxima GXE (yeah yeah yeah.. *sigh*) auto, running ok I think... too tired to try to fix much.

I only have the OEM Nissan alarm in my car, accessible via the keypad on the doors... but ever since I've gotten the car, the alarm has been acting strange... It would work only half the time. When it doesn't work, the keypads would still beep when I press the keys, but the doors would not unlock. The security light on the dash remains functional though. I can't pop the trunk either, on either side of the car.

What do you think is wrong?

And this is the followup question... if I decide to go with a remote keyless entry alarm system, what should I get? I don't want to spend too much, since I don't have much inside the car to be stolen, but I don't want a crappy one that has no range and doesn't work.. making the system pointless.

Since there is no search function, I read many pages on the 3GEN forum and found that some of you got the Crimestopper series? Is that one good? Or other recommendations? Remote entry is a most. Alarm is a must. Remote start is optional (how does that work anyway? After I start the car, it will died after a few minutes unless I put the key in?) I will probably buy it off ebay or something and go to a shop to pay for install.

I live in San Diego, anyone recommend a good place?

Thank you all for reading the long thread! It's good to be back!

 

i got my 2 way paging alarm/remote start for about 130 bucks on ebay and got an extra window roll up module and glass break for free....

 

What brand?

 

i have an older crimestopper that i got for $80, it has remote start but i never hooked it up, it seems to work fine with the factory alarm with oem alarm disable. one thing that never worked was the shock sensor but im glad now

 

I've used many crimestopper units before and had good luck with them. I usually get them off ebay. I got my keyless entry/remote starter for $40. RS900 I think

You can wire it so that it works with the stock alarm and arms/disarms it when you lock/unlock. Any competant shop should be able to do that or simply unplug the stock alarm to disable it. As for the remote starter, most of them work similarly - you press the start button and the car starts. You unlock the doors with the remote, turn key to ON and then press the brake pedal and it operates like normal. If you get in and press teh brake pedal before turning to ON, the car will shut down. You can also shut the car down by pressing the start button again while the car is running.

 

Thanks for all the replies! I think I'm going to start looking at ebay for the crimestopper units. Any particular model you guys recommend? The crimestopper website is kind of useless.

I am considering having the unit installed at pep boys... would that be a bad idea? They are a large store but might not know how to install alarms... really hoping someone in San Diego would read this and direct me to a place.

Craig, thanks for the detailed info on the remote start, sounds like a nice thing to have =)

 

Search ebay for crimestopper alarm and there are tons of them. Choose one and you should be fine.

I would stay away from PepBoys. You might get lucky and find someone there that knows what they're doing but generally their service isn't great and is more for mechanical stuff rather than electrical. Look in the phone book and call around local car stereo/alarm install places. Also, try posting in the regional forums and maybe someone there can direct you to a good shop.