Im thinking of upgrading my alarm via Don... but I would just like to know what the stock alarm does by itself? what does it detect? And how would I check that it works?

If I arm the car while I am sitting inside and pull the handle to open the door... should it go off?

5th gen btw...

 

the alarm does nothing of value...the only pluses are that it has hood and trunk pop so don doesnt have to wire those up. Get a quality Clifford from Don and you will NOT regret it.

 

but what makes it go off? door opening? glass breaking? someone ramming into the car?

 

there is NO shock sensor...if they open a door, hood, or trunk then it should go off.

 

edit: Double posting before bed FTL

 

roll window down, lock doors, wait 1 minute. unlock door and open, if theres an alarm, it will go off.

the biggest difference is pretty much the shock sensor, and range... and maybe options you can add with an a/m alarm. And piece of mind.

 

Then to see how effective it is with the window down press unlock and open the door. In most case the pressing of unlock will disarm the OEM 'alarm'.

 

Range and shock sensor are key, but dont leave out the LED and programmable siren. Also the fact that they can be set for passive arming/locking.

 

That stock alarm is like having no alarm at all. I've been hit in the fender, had a broken window, and the 'alarm' was like hmm that don't look too bad, I'll just sit here quietly.

If I ever reach Don, I'll get a nice clifford alarm. One of these days.

 

once again..... theres no shock sensor on the stock alarm.

My fiancee had her window smashed in in Providence and the 'alarm' just sat silently as well... Only thing that saved her car from being stolen (ignition was pulled out and laying on floor) was the chip in the key, thank god. Be careful where you park!

 

I know there isn't. But isn't that the whole reason to have it in the first place? When someone breaks in it should go off, otherwise its the same as not having one. Might aswell go 2 decades back and open your doors with a key.

 

its less usefull, yes. the point is so someone cant easily get into the car without it going off (ie they'd have to crawl into the window beacuse they cant unlock without it going off)..