i got a viper alarm. 600e i think, don't remember the model number. it was installed in my old G20 by circuit city before. the alarm has life time warranty and circuit city quoted me $100 to install it in a different car. should i trust them to install the alarm? the dash on the maxima seem more difficult to take apart than the g20. what would you guys do if you were in my situation? i'm afraid they'll scratch up the wood trim or dash. i'm paranoid because its still a new car to me.

 

can you do it yourself?

 

i've installed other things like my sound system but never an alarm. basically i don't know which wire connects to what and the alarm brain has a shiitload of wires.

 

I would trust CC. Whenever I can't install something for a friend I tell them to go to CC.

 

I did mine with the help of a friend that worked aT best buy. he used some web site that had wiring diagrams for specific car alarms and cars... Anyone else maybe know this site i'm talkin about?

 

i'm pretty confident that they can locate and connect up the correct wires. but i'm just concern about the dash. its just basically connect up the 12v, ground, and 20-30 other wires right? maybe if somebody could tell me this website i can attempt it myself.

 

i wouldnt. from previous experience.

 

what was your experience? mine was actually pretty good. the alarm was a present from an ex-gf. she bought an alpine model, CC couldn't install it in my g20 and gave me a more expensive clifford model. then it died one day, i called up CC and was told they'll replace it with the viper model since they no longer carry clifford. all in all i must said my experience was positive. but i'm just paranoid, i only had the car for two weeks and i like it alot. i dont' want gashes and scratches from whatever mishap that might happen. do you think CC would warranty against these things?

 

well if you want something done right.......

 

do it youself..... but if you dont know how, go to a pro

 

It depends on the Circuit City. I work at CC and the guys that work in our store are horrible. I wouldn't trust them to do anything, aside from like 2 guys. Yesterday they messed up some guys car, and he couldn't start his car the next morning, so he couldn't go to work. So we had to pay him a day of work. I've seen them do some horrible work, but with just an alarm it might be fine. Talk to some people who have gone to that exact CC.

 

I have actually had a bad experience with installation at two different Circuit City locations here in San Diego. The first time was an alarm that they did not do the neatest job on. The second time was on my 3rd gen. I paid them to install an amp, they wired the speakers out of phase, did a messy job, and gave me the cheap RCA's, even though I had paid for the higher end ones. I ended up redoing that install myself. Prior to this incident and ever since then I have done all of my car's stereo work myself. Things may be different at your local CC, but I do not trust these guys here in San Diego.

I had the alarm on my current car installed at the Good Guys, they did a neater, more careful job than CC.

One thing to know is that your alarm, even if it is the best out there, is only as good as the installation (going to the cheapest place now may cost you more in the long run). I would look for a good shop around town, ask your friends about shops in your area.

 

well the thing is that the alarm was originally purchased thru CC for my old car. i'm thinking i might void the lifetime warranty if i bring it to some other shop to be relocated to the maxima.

 

Installing alarms is not that much different then installing radios. With the right tools and enouhg patience, it really is pretty easy. However, if you can't do it, CC can. If they screw anything up, they should have to fix it. I would have them do it. They do it all of the time and if they were bad at it, they wouldn't.

 

i am only concern about them messing up my dash. i'm pretty sure they're able to do it right since they do it day in and day out.

 

I did a full install (alarm/remote start) on my buick, It wasnt hard but it still took about 5 straight hours. DO NOT start until you know where everything is supposed to go.

 

I'm an installer for circuit city and from my experience I would trust them. If we screw something up, we've always taken care of the customer. It really just depends on the installer, but if it's a big issue for you speak to a manager and they will set you straight. If the alarm was originally purchased from circuit city then they will honor the lifetime warranty.

 

cool. somebody from CC. my local CC is charging $100 for the job. take out the viper alarm from the G20 and put it in the maxima. is that the normal price? thanks.

 

Yup, sounds about right.