OK, I know, I know... well, NOW I know, anyway, after finding this great forum - the Scion Security system sucks. At the time I figured an alarm is an alarm, right? Had it installed before pickup of the car, and I hate it, my husband hates it, and we want to install a different alarm. We can't even set this thing off by banging on the windows with keys, quarters, anything. Anyway, what I want to know is, has anyone gotten Toyota/Scion to remove the alarm so that they can install something else? I basically told the dealer that we hate it, it's useless, but they say there's nothing they can do (which is what I expected). Even if I could get credit towards parts or something we'd be happy. Any recourse for this? It's a horrible product. Any ideas? I feel really stupid for having bought this thing, and I want it OUT!

 

you could have it professionally uninstalled when you put in your new alarm and sell it on ebay for a few bones.

sorry to hear you're unhappy with it...

 

Sorry to hear you "hate" the factory alarm but that's exactly what it is, a factory alarm. It will only go off when it is set and the door is opened while it's set. It won't sound while you are trying to "bang" on it, that's not how it works. Set it and open the door, VIOLA, alarm goes off. That's exactly how our Nissan factory alarms work...

 

Yeah, guess it just wasn't what I expected... It's fine if you're only worried about theft of the whole vehicle, but if you want to keep your stuff from being ripped off it's no good. My other cars have had aftermarket alarms; I didn't know there was so much of a difference. Thanks guys.

Edit: Oh, and what I meant about tapping on the glass... there is a mic on the system that is supposed to set off the alarm when the glass is broken or even tapped on loudly, but I guess it only works if the noise is really loud.

 

Isn't the sensitivity adjustable? Controller in the glovebox? It took some digging but here's the text of a post sometime back.

Daewootech wrote:

i tried the tapping on the glass like the manual said, that did shiza, and whats up with the whole microphone "tuned to the sound of breaking glass" kinda ghetto

You can adjust how sensitive it is. If you drop your glove box out you'll see two little ecu boxes on the left hand side. One of those is the GBS ECU and it has a setting pot on it. It should be set at #6 from the factory. You can increase the **** to a higher number which should help out your problem.
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05 TCM Box

 

REALLY? Hmm... my Toyota service guys told me it wasn't adjustable. Grrr... Thanks for your help!

 

Hope it helps, I couldn't tell by the posts whether the adjustment boxes are visible with the glove box open or if you have to pull it clear out by squeezing the sides together but it's worth a shot. good luck, hope it works.

 

The installation manual for the Scion VIP alarm specifically requires the glass break sensor (that's the microphone next to the flashing LED) by closing the doors, arming the system, and tapping on the driver's door glass firmly with a key. If the alarm does NOT go off the instructions are to adjust the sensitivity level and test again.

If the dealership is saying anything else, they are wrong.

Just for info, HERE is the xB Security installation manual (1.5M pdf)

Hope that helps...

 

Wow, I'm so happy! Thanks so much, you guys. I was able to adjust it even without taking out the glovebox - I'm only 5'2'' and was able to squeeze under there... a little makeup mirror helped too! But I never would've found it without your help! Anyway, I set it to 8, and now it picks it up when I tap (hard) on the window with my keys. At least now I know where it is if I ever need to adjust it again! Once I get the stereo setup I want in there, I might get a better alarm anyway, but at least I feel better for now. Thanks!!! Now, what to do with the silly dealers who told me it couldn't be adjusted. Hmmm...

 

One: Tell us who they were.
Two: Print this topic out and take it to them.
Three: Let them know the 14,000 ScionLife register users, plus all the drop-in visitors had a chance to view their lack of knowledge/customer support.



(I'm a nice guy. Really! But some dealer behavior needs correction...)

Oh! I almost forgot: Let Scion know. They need to know about failures like this so they can 'retrain' their dealers...

 

That's hilarious... I'm nice, too, and I'm a bit reluctant to go smearing my Toyota dealer yet since I'll have to take it back there for regular service (it's my local dealership). I've had the car less than a month; I'll have to see how they do on my next couple of visits. I'll give them another chance. They person who installed it wasn't the same person I took it back to. No excuse, I know, but once my hubby comes home and sees that I got it working he'll probably want to go complain anyway. They'll hear about it somehow! I'm just happy I found this forum - so much great info here!

 

Well, if no one has said it yet, Welcome to ScionLife!

Don't be a stranger - most of us don't bite, and we try to control those who do.

Glad we could be of help.

 

welp, i pulled out my glove compartment and found the ecu box with the number settings and see that i have no ****?! whoever at the dealer installed it took out the **** and marked w/ a white pen a line pointing to one, which i assume is the current setting. so how do i go about adjusting this thing?

 

There's a slotted shaft behind the little hole - a small screwdriver is used to make the adjustment - there never was a ****.

As to the adjustment being on "1" it shouldn't be. The installatation instructions (see above) specifically state to use "6" as the initial setting and then adjust upward from there if needed after testing it's operation.

Of course, if you have the "average" installer I would not be at all surprised if your setting was "1" - mine was. *sigh*

*mutter* *mutter* *mutter*

 

while we are on the security system my wife has the xa and i have the xb when she turns here ign. key here doors auto lock and i want mine to do that. how cant do that....

 

Those are quite different systems in the xA and xB and I don't believe there is an easy way to convince the xB's VIP alarm to do that.

Heck, I'd even just settle for my xB politely 'beeping' at me when it arms and disarms, like a well behaved xA.