I'm not sure if my alarm installer is very familiar with scion cars, so this is why I am posting. I have a viper 771xv alarm. So here I am happy as can be with my new alarm... but there are some RANDOM quircks occurring, if it has happened to you, or if you know why it might be happening, let me know. I'm trying to gather as much info before going back to installer.

1) 5% of the time: I press any button while standing 3 feet from the car (next to driver's side door) and no response from alarm (not even out of range response).

2) 15% of the time: I press any button while standing 20 feet infront of the car, and no response (naturally I press it again, and THEN it works).

3) I'm in a walmart parking lot, parked way in the back. I am about 50 yards from my car, remote states I am out of range (after I give it a command), I keep walking, I am now 120 yards away, I enter a command and it responds. WTF?!

4) 1% of the time: I unlock, alarm responds, but car doesn't actually unlock. I can keep trying, but it doesn't unlock. I have to open the door with key, then I can lock and unlock again no problem.

Sometimes, it feels like clicking a button is not enough. It feels like I need press the button for maybe 1/3 of a second, and then I am more likely to have my command obeyed.

So, what kind of RANGE and CONSISTANCY should I expect from my viper 771xv alarm when it is installed in the tc? The car isn't to blame, is it (sticky unlocking mechanism maybe)?

Thanks everyone for reading this.

 

i have a question.. where is your antenna mounted in the car?

 

Thank god you found my post, I was beginning to lose hope. The antenna is mounted on the front windshield. It is mounted on the top-left (from the inside). So, if you are sitting as the driver, you look at the top-left cornet of the winshield, and you see a little black box about 3.5 inches by 1.5 inches. The black box has a little antenna shaped extermity about half an inch long. This "antenna" shape is basically a part of the little black box and is pointing RIGHT.

So the pointy antenna part of the box is not pointing at the sky. If you were the driver, you would say it is pointing the the right. It also says "Directed" on the black box (I guess the company that makes viper.)

Just today I had a bunch of "out of range" signals in-front and on driver's side of the car. I had also unlocked my car, and the alarm confirmed unlocking but never physically unlocked it. I kept locking and unlocking but the physical car never unlocked.

I tried a test today. I parked my car in a parking lot, behind a brick building about 12 feed high. I went to the other side of the building with my remote, and I was about 100 yards 80 yards away. I had my friend shock the car on the winshield and I was never notified even thogh the siren went on until it stopped.

Any advice would be greately appreciated. Is this quircky or normal behavior for this alarm?

 

I install dei products all the time viper, python, hornet and the only thing that comes to mind is that your installer did put the antenna in the right spot but didn't fully extend the wire for it, he just probably jumbled up all the antenna wire to one cluster. see my antenna runs from the top center of the winshield(by the mirror) goes to my driver side a pillar down to the door sils and back up to the alarm all stretched out. as far as you door lock is concerned when you click it once does it unlock both doors? (driver side 1st then 1sec after the passenger)

 

When I click unlock on the alarm, it unlocks both doors and the trunk. I don't hear any noises after I know it physically did the unlocking, so I am assuming it does it all with one push of the button. Alarm will chirp, so will the remote, and the unlock orange light shows a couple of times, but the door is still locked (both doors are locked, I have not checked the hatch).

1) So if the antenna is put the way you describe it, would my reception be a lot better in terms of distance and/or consistancy?

2) If they don't want to fix it, can I claim a warranty on it for another location to fix it?

3) Is it common for installers to do what you do, to stretch the antenna?

4) if they hadn't done it your way, would it take them a long time to fix it to your way?

I know installers need to make money too. I paid a little over $500 to have it installed. If they didn't stretch out the antenna the way you describe it, should I expect them to do that for the money I paid? I wouldn't want them to do a job they were not paid for, you know? I don't want to be rude.

 

I had alot of problems with the 771, with my old car.. well it was left undetermined as to whether it was the alarm or a key from carmax, but I gave up on the dispute. (I think it was CarMax, they suck). i recently bought an 881 (Which is esentially the same, just more AUX outputs). And I got a shop to install it for free, i just need the wiring info on the tC.

Most likely, it is an attenna problem.. and the installers should be quick to fix it (especially if it is a chain of places). I cant imagine where they have placed the antenna, but alot of place take shortcuts, (no offense CRxB) I have a brother in the business.
I'd say take it back and have them look at it, and tell them what you think the problem is.

Also as a side not does any one know where I can find the wiring information for the tC to do an alarm/remote start?

 

well have them check your wiring again if it was soldered it may have cold solder on it or if it was crimpped then maybe its wasn't connected right. as for your alarm, it was programmed with a double pulse unlock...there's a second unlock wire in your alarm (light blue -) which can be connected for priority doorlock(like the original key fob)

yes

unfortunately you can't claim it on warranty but if the place where you had it installed are good they can do this quick fix, if not go to a different place(same company though) and ask them if they can fix it for you since the 1st shop didn't want to help you out.

you know what it really depends on the installer and not the location so I can't say that best buy is better than circuit city or vice versa.
should take less than 30mins depends on how busy they are but don't quote me on it.

if you think about it...you paid lil over $500 for something that should get the range and functioning doors right? especially if its an authorized dealer for DEI you should get what your paid for. hope this helps.

I'll see if I can get it and ill post it here.

don't realy know what I should take offense too? on the location of my antenna? where is it supoosed to be placed?

 

moved...

 

Thanks everyone, I am going to go there today and have them look at it, I should be back by 3:30pm or earlier and I will be sure to update the result.

 

Thanks everyone, (especially u CRxB), I am going to go there today and have them look at it, I should be back by 3:30pm or earlier and I will be sure to update the result. This place does not have secondary locations, it is a mom & pop sort of place I guess. Well, I can already tell you I'm going to stop payment on the credit card if they don't fix it, contact the BBB (who does have them listed), record the malfunctions on my digital camera and counter sue them if they sue me. oh boy, I'm jumping to conclusions... well, I just feel more confident going to talk to them now that I have some ammo as to what the problem may be.

 

Now, while I am no expert, the fact that we make RF systems at work I feel like im entitled to point this out. (GM's and Chryslers, some models not all)

If your reciever is on your windshield ... thats a very bad location. That is if your antenna is bunched up there too. Because your engine is a big block of metal, and if you know anything about RF signals that means BIGMCLARGEHUGE ground plane sucking up all the signals. This would explain some of the wierd stuff happening if the reciever is only recieving part signals.

Make sure your antenna is properly located away from the engine.
Food for thought, if GM would place the RF reciever in the middle of the trunk, you could see ranges of 100-150ft vs 30-50 easy.
Another food for thought, becuase of the way keys are made, its possible to get better range by turning your key different directions. I.E., face the key blade towards the car, place the keyblade perpendicular to ground.

I don't know the best range for the tC though.