The reasons for alarm failure are various. You can simply lose your keychain and not find a replacement for it. In this case, you either contact the service, resorting to the help of professionals, or change everything yourself. If the replacement of the car alarm will be carried out at a service center, choose it responsibly. Often the link between the car owner and the burglar is the service center or its unscrupulous employee. Consult with your friends, read reviews and only then trust your car to strangers.
Before installing a new alarm, you must first dismantle the old one.
Possible reasons for dismantling a car alarm
There are several reasons when it may be necessary to remove the alarm:
Loss of system functionality. If attempts to repair the alarm are unsuccessful, then all that remains is to remove it from the car.
Incorrect work. If the alarm system malfunctions or has lost some of its functionality, then it can leave the car without protection at a crucial moment. Or even open it without your knowledge. To avoid this, you need to dismantle the failing system.
Purchasing a used car with an already installed alarm system. When buying a car second-hand, the previous owner may still have access to the car or information about its location. He can keep the additional key fob and use it for illegal purposes. Or hide from you the location of secret buttons or a tracking module. To protect your new property from this, you should completely remove the old security system and install a new one.
The old alarm system has insufficient functionality. If you lack the capabilities of your system (for example, it does not have an autostart function or GSM connection), then you will be tempted to replace it. And before installing a new one, you need to carefully dismantle the old one.
Wear and obsolescence. If the security complex is already more than five to seven years old, then its encryption systems in the current conditions are quite easy to crack with code grabbers. The effectiveness of protection is close to zero. To restore its effectiveness, it is recommended to replace the system with a new and up-to-date one. In addition, the appearance of an outdated alarm key fob may be shabby and no longer pleasant to use. This is also a sufficient reason for replacement.
Important! It is not necessary to remove the old alarm before installing a new one; you can simply turn it off. However, the old systems can greatly interfere with the operation of the new one and leave your car unprotected.
Which security system to choose?
Of the companies on the market, it is definitely worth recommending two domestic ones and the St. Petersburg-based StarLine. We wrote about them in more detail here. Their systems are structurally reliable and currently maintain cryptographic strength, that is, they cannot be hacked by code grabbers**. And, given the variety of systems they offer, from budget to luxury, you can find a suitable system for any car.
For example, you can install StarLine A93 ECO on a budget car - this system with auto start will cost only 7,700 rubles, which is not much for a high-quality alarm system. In the future, it can be retrofitted with a GSM module, or you can immediately take the alarm in the StarLine A93 GSM version. Physically, such an alarm system will be outdated for a very long time (the element base and circuitry are at a high level), and all functional updates in it are available after a simple flashing.
*Jammers are devices that jam the radio air, preventing the alarm from transmitting an alarm signal. **Code grabber allows you to disarm the system, simulating the operation of a standard radio key fob.
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Price for withdrawal in the service
If it is necessary to dismantle the security system, a reasonable option would be to contact a specialized service center. However, you may be surprised that the price of such work will be close to the price of installing a new one and will be at least 2,000 rubles. The work will be more difficult and more expensive if:
- alarm with feedback;
- equipped with autostart;
- there are additional engine locks;
- there are GSM or satellite modules;
- the system is combined with an immobilizer;
- information from the door switches is taken not from the CAN bus, but through separate non-standard electrical wiring;
- Additional sensors are installed (tilt, volume, motion).
For each of these points, you can safely add 500-1000 rubles to the price of the work. Especially if it will be necessary to search for and remove non-factory wiring.
Important! Unskilled garage repairmen may charge a small fee for this work. However, the quality of their work leaves much to be desired. They may not only not complete the job, but also damage the car.
How to clean it yourself?
Required Tools
Before you begin, you should prepare all the necessary tools and equipment. Since cutting out an alarm is not quick, we recommend finding a room.
Attention! During operation, the vehicle will be inoperable and you will not be able to drive it. Since situations may arise when you need additional equipment, parts or specialist advice, do not carry out work in remote locations (for example, in a country house).
The minimum required list of tools to perform removal is as follows:
- a set of keys and socket heads with a ratchet (for dismantling interior elements);
- Screwdriver Set;
- pliers;
- side cutters;
- knife;
- electrical tape and heat shrink;
- multimeter or test lamp;
- soldering iron with soldering accessories (solder and flux).
Additionally, special plastic spatulas are useful for removing interior elements without damaging them.
Step-by-step instruction
Before starting work, be sure to prepare an electrical diagram for your alarm model. It will be useful to have Internet access on hand to search for the necessary information that may be required during work (for example, information on how to properly remove a particular interior element)
- Turn off the ignition. Remove the negative terminal from the battery. Thus, you will de-energize the vehicle's on-board network.
- Find where all the elements of the security system are installed. The alarm control unit is most often located under the dashboard, or in the area of the fuse box. If you have difficulty finding it, then you can “track” it using the wire coming from the indicator LED. The LED is placed in a visible place (usually on the left windshield pillar in the cabin) and moving sequentially along the wire you will come to the block.
Using the harnesses connected to the block, you will find the remaining elements of the system. The color of the wire will tell you which specific element is at its opposite end. You will find information about this in the wiring diagram.
You will need to find the following components:
- VALET button;
- indicator light;
- sensors;
- blocking relay;
- auto start transponder (if equipped);
- antenna;
- siren loudspeaker;
- power harness with fuses.
The system may have additional elements, such as secret start buttons. In this case, it is also necessary to find them.
- Carefully dismantle the car alarm parts. They can be secured with plastic clamps, screws or glued.
- Sequentially disconnect elements from the block. At the same time, remove them with electrical wiring from the car. You don’t have to remove the wiring if this causes difficulty, but simply insulate it well. However, excess electrical wiring not only spoils the appearance, but also complicates further maintenance of the car and the installation of other alarm systems.. In addition, this can negatively affect the operation of the car and lead to a short circuit.
- Disabling the blocking relay. This is the most difficult and responsible stage. If this function is implemented via a CAN bus, then it will be enough to simply disconnect the connector. If the relays are installed separately, it is not enough to simply remove them from the system. The relays open the wires of the standard wiring and after dismantling the relay you will need to restore it. A wiring diagram and a diagram of a specific relay will help with this. The best way to connect wires is soldering. However, if you do not have the necessary skills, you can simply twist the ends of the wires together and insulate them with heat shrink.
Reference! For such cases, special connectors are excellent, which are heat shrink with solder paste inside. To fasten the wires, you will need to put a connector on one of the wires, twist one with the other, push the connector onto the twisted area and warm it up with a lighter.
- Check the vehicle's functionality. Before putting all the interior elements in place, make sure that all the standard wiring is connected in place. And if you left any abnormal wiring, then it is insulated.
Connect the battery terminal. Try to start the engine, check the functionality of all car systems affected by the alarm:
- turn signals;
- horn;
- parking lights;
- central locking.
Important! During the check, watch for any smells of burning or burnt plastic in the cabin. If they appear, immediately turn off the power to the vehicle and find the source. In the worst case, a short circuit can cause a fire.
- Take it for a test drive.
If all car systems are operating normally, then install all interior elements in place. The procedure is completed.
Disabling the alarm
There may be situations when it is necessary to turn off the alarm without using the key fob. For example, if it breaks down or the batteries run out. In this case, it is impossible to get into the car because the doors are locked and the system does not allow the engine to start.
To turn off the car alarm you need to perform a number of steps. First of all, you should turn off the speaker so that the signal does not attract the attention of others. If there is no key to the security system, it is enough to disconnect the corresponding contact.
Checking the control key fob
The key fob may freeze if the battery loses charge. In this case, failures may occur when synchronizing the engine start, and an emergency shutdown of the security system will be required. This involves unlocking the system and then starting the engine, and possibly dismantling the alarm system.
You can use a secret button, you just need to know the place where it is located. The instructions that come with the alarm may provide advice on how to turn it off in an emergency and how to remove the immobilizer. As a last resort, you can contact the service center.
Valet service button
In order to use the secret button, you need to do the following:
- turn on the ignition;
- the button must be pressed a certain number of times, usually it corresponds to a PIN code (usually it varies from 1 to 4);
- turn off the ignition.
After completing the steps, you need to check the fuse and power supply, and then start the engine again. If the alarm continues to sound, you need to remove the negative terminal of the battery and turn off the power supply to the car completely.
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Possible consequences of deletion
After completing the work poorly, the following problems may arise:
Short circuits and blown fuses. Most likely this occurs either due to incorrect restoration of the wiring, or due to poor-quality insulation of the abandoned alarm wiring.
The engine does not start. Most often this happens if the system had an autorun function. Without restoring the standard wiring, but simply removing the elements responsible for autostart, the signal to start the engine will physically not be able to reach its destination. Some installers also use their own engine locking methods and these can be difficult to detect.
Malfunction of individual vehicle systems. Inoperability of the door lock drive, horn, and lighting equipment is most often caused by improper restoration of the wiring.
Installing a new
The installation of a new security system is carried out in the same way as the dismantling of the old one. Carefully follow the instructions included in the kit. You can place the elements in the same places where they were installed previously. However, we recommend choosing a new location for at least the VALET button, so that no one except you knows about this location. Let's look at general installation recommendations
The unit should be located inside the car under the dashboard. Do not install it in areas with elevated temperatures (heater radiator, heater pipes), or where it can be touched by moving parts in the cabin (pedals, steering rack).
The impact sensor must be tightly attached to the car body from inside the passenger compartment. It is not recommended to install it on plastic or other non-metallic elements, as this reduces its sensitivity. The optimal location for its placement is the engine shield.
The optimal location for installing the antenna is the upper area of the windshield. If the glass has heating filaments, then the antenna rod is directed horizontally. If there are no threads, then vertically.
Attach the electrical wiring to fixed elements of the interior, or to standard harnesses using plastic ties.
Important! If the alarm system has auto-start, GSM or satellite communication functions, advanced blocking, and several sensors, then we recommend installing it in a certified service. Errors in installing and configuring such systems can lead to serious vehicle damage.
Design and principle of operation of car alarms
Like a number of other electronic equipment, a car alarm consists of the following blocks:
- control unit;
- block of input devices;
- block of actuators.
Let's look at the purpose of each block in more detail. Input devices are usually input sensors and a remote control (remote control). The remote control is a key fob. If we consider the standard alarm system, it is made together with the ignition key. Basically, two key fobs are attached to the car, one of which is the main one, the second is a spare one. The key fob is designed to arm and disarm the alarm system. In addition, it is possible to monitor the condition of the vehicle. Depending on the design of the device, using a key fob, you can remotely start not only the engine, but also control electrical equipment, and search for a car in a parking lot.
Any car alarm consists of a control unit, a unit of input devices and a unit of actuators
The key fob and alarm communicate with each other via a radio channel. An important point is the protection of information from possible interception, i.e. it is encoded. It can be static or dynamic. Today, static coding is not used. The dynamic method of encoding information is characterized by a high degree of protection against interception.
The purpose of the input sensors is to perform security functions of a car alarm. When the car is armed, with their help, a number of physical parameters are recorded, which are converted into electrical signals. The main sensors in anti-theft equipment include:
- shock sensor;
- contact sensor;
- tilt sensor;
- volume sensor.
Depending on the design features of the device, this list may be supplemented with other sensors:
- motion sensor;
- broken glass sensor;
- power failure sensor;
- voltage drop sensor.
What is the operating principle of the main sensors? Let's start the review with the shock sensor. With the help of this element, mechanical vibrations are converted into an electrical signal. The design consists of a piezoelectric plate, which begins to vibrate as a result of an impact. At the moment when a certain vibration value is exceeded, light and sound signals are triggered. However, such a sensor is not without drawbacks, which amount to false alarms. Due to the described problem, the standard alarm systems do not have such sensors. The problem is solved by adjusting the highly sensitive elements.
Using a shock sensor (shock sensor), mechanical vibrations are converted into an electrical signal
Protection of the car body is provided by contact sensors:
- limit switches;
- push-button switches;
- microswitches.
The purpose of the tilt sensor is to trigger when the car is tilted, which usually happens when loading the car onto a tow truck or when trying to jack it up. This element is an acceleration sensor. Thanks to its setting, it is impossible to react to the position of the body in natural conditions, for example, during strong winds, low tire pressure or subsidence of the ground. As for the volume sensor, it is used to record any movements inside the car. Such elements are sensory devices. The most popular sensors include microwave and ultrasonic.
The microwave sensor is designed to work with radio waves in the centimeter range. This type is two-zone. In addition to the fact that it detects movement inside the cabin, it helps to record movements in the immediate vicinity. An ultrasonic sensor consists of an emitter and a receiver. When the doors and windows of a car are closed, ultrasonic waves are reflected from the surface of the passenger compartment. This creates a constant wave signal that is analyzed by the receiver. At the moment of penetration into the car, the nature of the waves changes, as a result of which the security device is activated.
An important role is played by the electronic control unit, which processes input signals from the sensors listed above, as well as from the key fob. After the signals arrive, a control signal is generated to the actuators. The design features of the standard alarm system are such that the control unit is not installed. Therefore, the power of blocks of other systems, for example, central locking (central locking), is used.
The alarm control unit processes incoming signals from the key fob and various sensors
The actuators of anti-theft equipment include a siren and light indication. There are designs of the systems under consideration with an immobilizer. In such devices, in addition to those listed, a blocking relay is added. The interaction of the security system with other devices occurs through the lighting system, central locking, starting system, and electric windows.
Both passive and active sirens can be installed in car alarms. The active alarm system has a built-in battery that ensures uninterrupted operation of the device when the vehicle's power is turned off. There are also modern alarms equipped with a special module that provides control and status monitoring via a cellular communication channel. You need to know about all of the above in order to choose the right anti-theft equipment and install it yourself.
Is it possible to transfer an old alarm from one car to another?
If the dismantled alarm was in working order, and the work on its removal was carried out carefully, without damaging the elements, then it can be reinstalled on another car. Even if the electrical wiring has been damaged, it can be easily restored.
Moreover, you yourself can purchase a used car alarm to install in your car. This can save you a fair amount of money. However, you should carefully check the condition of the system elements. If you do not trust the seller, then you should refrain from purchasing. The fact is that until you install the system, you will not be able to assess its serviceability. And once again installing and removing the alarm takes a lot of time and effort.
Advantages of installing a car alarm
A car alarm is an integral part of a purchased car, no matter new or used. And, if it is missing or has become unusable, or for some reason does not suit the new car owner, the need arises to equip or re-equip the car.
When purchasing a new car, a car dealership almost always offers to install a car alarm, warning that if the equipment is installed elsewhere or independently, the car will be “removed from warranty.” Such a warning scares off many car enthusiasts, but, meanwhile, it is completely illegal: refusal of warranty service is legal only if it is proven that the cause of the car breakdown was unqualified installation. If you carefully follow the alarm manufacturer's instructions, such a reason is practically excluded.
Advantages of installing a car alarm yourself:
- Saving money is the first advantage of self-installation: in specialized installation centers the cost of work is comparable to the cost of the alarm itself, and in car dealerships these costs are even (sometimes twice) higher.
- Getting pleasure from all stages of working with fairly complex equipment (selection, acquisition, installation, debugging) and confidence in the quality of their implementation is undoubtedly an advantage for technology lovers.
- Individual solutions (choosing the location of the control unit, forced alarm switch off, security system sensors, as well as adding non-standard additional devices) when installed independently can significantly complicate the actions of an attacker, who often acts according to a template scheme.
This is not a complete list of the advantages of self-installation, and every car enthusiast can add their own “advantages” to it.
