Scion tC Alarm
 

Hi you guys I was wondering if there is more than one type of alarm that the dealer installs for our tCs? Mine seems to be a piece of junk. It wont go off for the life of it. The manual that they included with the alarm seems pretty shady as well. What features are suppsoed to be included with our alarms?

some Toyota dealerships offer Karr or some other alarm systems besides Scion Security..

what did you get..?

I have no idea how do I check? I got the only one they offer it was $500. I just went to try to set it off again. I knocked on the panels, tried to open the doors, knocked on teh windows, kicked the rims it wont go off!. I even tried again with the windows down. Reached inside to see if the IR motion sensors work... they don't! The only way I was able to set it off was by having the alarm armed, windows down, and opening the door from reaching inside. :(

Oh yah my instrucitons manual for the alarm doesn't have any brand on it. It only says "Owners Manual: Keyless Entry Upgrade Security System"

Hmm...well my parents have factory Toyota alarms and the only way to set them off is having the windows rolled down, doors locked, and then you reach in and unlock the door with your hand and open them. I dont think the type of alarms toyota offers will go off if you kick the car no matter waht spot or how hard.

Dang that's retarded. THere goes my $500 down the drain for some crap that wont ever serve its purpose

Well, u can always leave your windows down 1 day and hide somewhere else to see if anyone opens it. :rofl:
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Public auto insurance advice

Haha... I guess that's one way to get some use out of it

Well it's not totally useless. It lowers your insurance.

Hehe that too. I only wished it really worked tho :( There's no way to increase sensitivity or anything?

sounds like you have Scion Security... there's no shock sensors.. so kicking the car or smashing it with your head won't do anything... but..
try this..

have your windows up... alarm armed.. (wait until the light blinks)

take your key... and tap the window hard. that should set off the alarm. there's a glass breakage sensor.. which is a mic.

Yea the scion security system, as far as what the dealer told me, only goes off when someone opens any of the doors illegally.

What a crappy alarm. Totally not worth $500 dammit

well most alarms are useless, the only "useful" feature I can see are those aftermarket systems that come with remote paging systems

and then there's this: http://www.cardefender.com/home

Don't ask me about it, I don't know anything about it, whether it works or doesn't etc, just showing you what's out there ;)

I think I've read somewhere that you can adjust the sensitivity. Where to adjust is either in the glovebox or behind it (have to remove glovebox).

There should be a module that has a little dial on it that adjusts with a tiny screwdriver.

Does anyone have a pic of what htis thing looks like? I've looked behind my glovebox and I don't see anything

uhhh.. you will have to remove the mount... you won't be able to reach the adjustment knob.

http://www.trdsparks.com/install/08586-21811inst.pdf
look around page 17.

setting it at 8 should be fine.

it's actually a good thing it doesn't go off. a car could speed by and then it would go off due to the vibration. its just that the sensitivity isn't high. DON'T tap the window hard like squall said, do it moderately. I tried the window tap thing and it didn't work and I asked the dealer and they said that it's better if it doesn't go off.

Roflz thanks guys I'll give that a shot. I didn't tap my window I was scared I would do it too hard and end up with a shattered window

^ I was washing my car one day and forgot I had the car armed, which lead to it going off when I sprayed the window.. U might wanna give that a try $0.02 ;)

hahaha that's cool!!

what??? i activate my alarm everytime i wash my car...... but how come it still doesn't go off. and i also have it on the HIGHEST sensitivity!

Our alarms blow

^ not when someone is trying to steal it!

Spay the window bro (specifically the drivers side close to the mirror)...
& are you sure you have it on the HIGHEST sensitivity and not the LOWEST sensitivity (either was I wouldn't put it on either extreme)? :ponder:

:idea: I'd love to see the entire Toyota line (including Lexus & Scion) with the keyless entry/ignition like Lexus has (charge me the extra $50 on top of the sticker, IMO its well worth it) :idea:

i did. i sprayed every angle of my car. and yes i do have it on the highest. it's 1-11. so i put it on 11. unless 1 is the highest....

no..... higher number.. more sensitive.

Mine is on 10 and it is very sensative...tapping on the window lightly with a key will set it off. When my mom hit my car.......it went off, maybe it needs to be checked

mine went off when i was leaning on the hood to clean the window of my car so I am assuming it does something :P

I know toyota likes to use Hornet alarms from DEI (Directed Electronics), the same maker of Viper, clifford, python, avital and valet. Toyota attaches this alarm module to their keyless entry system, which is why you use the same remote to operate the alarm system. Just look at the alarm module. It should have a piece of black rubber or plastic glued on to the logo of the module. I took mine off and it was a Hornet, could be another brand on other vehicles, cannot confirm that. BTW, there should be a shock sensor on the alarm systems, built in to the module. There should also be a tiny knob to adjust sensitivity.

Where is the alarm module?

funny... i have mine set on 11 which is the highest and i'm standing there tapping on the windows, washing my car, pounding on it and NOTHING!!!

i think mine's broken ahhahaha... and i know i turned it the right way. it's clockwise right?

I threw a brick at my window, but the alarm didn't go off.

just pounding ont the window might not do it. you have to get the frequency of glass shattering. when we install alarm we use the key to tap on the glass to test it out. try that but don't hit it too hard. as for the dealers using DEI alarms, some do and some don't . depends on where you go because each dealership has their own installer that does aftermarket alarms.

yup.. that's why i said to use the key to tap the glass.

sorry, i didn't see that.

oh no.. i didn't mean that you didn't see.. i meant for the original poster to try out tapping..

just that you actually explained why.. which is good :)

Hehe I will try it. It just sucks that that's the only way the alarm will go off. I'd like to be able to protect my car BEFORE the window is shattered.

ohh... happy b-day... getting drunk tongiht?