I just got a Eclipse 3413 HU from Don/Pearl96max ( )

i didn't look into it before but the faceplate is non removable.. couple of friends of mine are assuring me my car is bound to get robbed soon.. I live in NYC and park on the street


do theives ever steal headunits without the face? I did remove the face on my pioneer but typically just hid it inside the car or the trunk anyways. Never had a problem. Are theives more aware of Eclipse HU's and the whole thing with their Key CD and just don't bother stealing them? i guess i'm a little worried.

 

My idea about that is theives dont know their car audio well enough to know it won't work without a card. It will still get stolen. If a theif breaks in to a car, they might (ive heard of it happening) steal the HU without the face just because they cant get it to sell, they might as well show they are ****ed off.

 

Steve, a thief won't know that the face doesn't come off until he's already broken the window (even moreso when you're windows are tinted). Not to mention, that he might get ****ed and force the entire headunit out.

I'm surprised that there are still companies who sell headunits that don't have some sort of security behind it.

 

If you still have the box for the radio, you should find a couple of stickers that you can put on your back windows to tell that your radio is protected by code. Also the Eclipse radios have a flashing red light on them once you have set up the ESN. I never had a problem with it in my car.

 

I agree with you Andrew, the tint may protect me in some ways because it won't allow them to see inside easily at night to tell if i have a stereo or not.

the security feature Eclipse has doesn't really do anything for me, it just won't make it easy for the thief to use the headunit himself. I would still lose my HU though.

yea, i have the stickers but i feel as if they won't do anything except bring unwanted attention telling people that i even have a stereo.. plus i don't like stickers on my car

i guess i'm just going to upgrade my alarm and see how that goes.



Any ideas on maybe covering the center console somehow to not show the headunit?

 

I understand your gripe, but keep in mind that good quality comes at a price, one of the main reasons Eclipse does not do removable is that when a part is mobile it is more liable to be degraded over the years. Also this is why eclipse give 1 year full replacement warranty. I know that if a thief swipes it a after the warranty is up you are out of luck. Next best things is to get a two way alarm from DON.

 

i'm currently saving $ for that definitely need an upgrade.

 

The problem with the stickers is that you may have an illiterate thief, that doesn't understand what the ESN means and not to mention that it draws attention like someone else mentioned.

I've seen people cut off the front of a Bose unit and used it as a faceplate, but now you have to deal with this huge double din faceplate.

I don't know what to tell you, Steve. Just park in well lit places and pray. Oh, the alarm would help too.

 

There are generally two kinds of car break-ins: guys that know their **** (and usually only steal the good stuff) and pot/crank/crack heads that take anything they can get their grubby mitts on.

It's good that Eclipse makes such quality stuff and has a one year warranty. It's bad that you still have to pay your deductible when the 2nd type of thief breaks your windows, pops your locks or cuts up your dash yanking out a stereo that will be worthless to them.

Eclipse HUs are very nice and work well for people that have somewhat secure parking, but I think your chances are probably 50/50 that some idiot will still try to steal it.

I would suggest you use it for a year, then maybe sell it for $100 to someone you know, to put in their work car. That way, you still get good use out of it, but you won't be totally screwed if it were to be stolen after the year is up. You can then replace it with something that is more updated and more secure for your application.

I was going to get the same Eclipse HU, but because of a similar scenario, I opted for an Alpine CDA 9807. I have a garage, but I still go to the big city to visit friends and family.

Just my $.02

 

Eclipse will replace your radio if stolen in the first 3 years if it is bought and installed by an authorized Eclipse dealer. You can also have it recessed into the dash, and take the faceplate off of the factory radio to cover it at night.

 

Theft is for the 1st year!!!!

 

That's is the dumbest thing I have ever heard, selling it after a year, because the factory warranty for theft has expired. Have y'all ever heard of an insurance rider that COVERS ALL STOLEN STEREO EQUIPMENT?

 

Sorry its for only one year sir.

--Don