how hard to install car alarm by oneself?

[OS]

I had a passing thought on getting a car alarm, but I've seen how best buy did the install on my sister's car and the work is pretty bad. The brain is sloppily wired underneath the steering wheel (easy to find and disable), and the horn is also easy to find. An alarm is next to worthless if it's easy to find and disable.

So how hard is it to install myself? My level of ability is basic car stereo installs, head units, sub/amp, speakers, etc.

 

[minendo]

All what options would the alarm have? Just a basic one?

 

[Heisenberg]

It's pretty easy. I put the alarm in my firebird. The hardest part is finding the right wires to tie the alarm in to. If you have a wiring diagram for the car, that makes it much easier. If not, then you'll just have to figure it out either by looking or testing the wire with a DMM.

 

[NutBucket]

Hmm, maybe you should also mention you have a BSEE. That should qualify you to do anything; if you have the wiring diagram

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: minendo
All what options would the alarm have? Just a basic one?

Basic one, starter kill, keyless entry. Nothing special.

Originally posted by: Heisenberg
It's pretty easy. I put the alarm in my firebird. The hardest part is finding the right wires to tie the alarm in to. If you have a wiring diagram for the car, that makes it much easier. If not, then you'll just have to figure it out either by looking or testing the wire with a DMM.

I have one of those haynes repair manuals for my car.

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: NutBucket
Hmm, maybe you should also mention you have a BSEE. That should qualify you to do anything; if you have the wiring diagram

oh yeah I have one of those too. But you know, that didn't stop me from shorting out the power line when I was doing my amp install. :Q

 

[Heisenberg]

Originally posted by: OS

Originally posted by: Heisenberg
It's pretty easy. I put the alarm in my firebird. The hardest part is finding the right wires to tie the alarm in to. If you have a wiring diagram for the car, that makes it much easier. If not, then you'll just have to figure it out either by looking or testing the wire with a DMM.

I have one of those haynes repair manuals for my car.

I doubt that would have it. I'm talking about one of the real service manuals that the dealerships have that are several inches thick and detail every part of the car. But, you can still do it without a diagram. Just find the wires you need to tie in to.

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: OS

Originally posted by: NutBucket
Hmm, maybe you should also mention you have a BSEE. That should qualify you to do anything; if you have the wiring diagram

oh yeah I have one of those too. But you know, that didn't stop me from shorting out the power line when I was doing my amp install. :Q

Eh, that's no huge thing. Tho I'll say you usually run wires when they're not live That's why there's a fuse; pull it out when you're running the wire

 

[Shawn]

What kinda wires do you need to tie into? I'm looking to do this myself also along w/ power door locks....

 

[minendo]

Originally posted by: iloveme2
What kinda wires do you need to tie into? I'm looking to do this myself also along w/ power door locks....

Power, the started, door lock mechanisms, interior lights, etc.

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Eh, that's no huge thing. Tho I'll say you usually run wires when they're not live That's why there's a fuse; pull it out when you're running the wire

You know, I did pull the fuse when running the line. But later while I was trying it out, I put the fuse back in. After that I forgot to pull the fuse while moving around the power line again. Thank God for fuses protecting me from my idiotic self.

 

[Soybomb]

Its not hard, but personally I find soldering wires upside down under my dash uncomfortable and won't be doing it again. Best buy does an awesome job for example so its worth it for me....

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: Soybomb
Its not hard, but personally I find soldering wires upside down under my dash uncomfortable and won't be doing it again. Best buy does an awesome job for example so its worth it for me....

lol, after his first post saying BB did a terrible job on his sister's car

 

[Soybomb]

Lol I missed that it was best buy I've had them do 3 cars so maybe its just the local one thats good heh.

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: Soybomb
Its not hard, but personally I find soldering wires upside down under my dash uncomfortable and won't be doing it again. Best buy does an awesome job for example so its worth it for me....

lol, after his first post saying BB did a terrible job on his sister's car

I mean, the install works fine, but gee, don't make it too hard to find the brain.

That's right under the steering wheel.

 

[Heisenberg]

Originally posted by: OS

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: Soybomb
Its not hard, but personally I find soldering wires upside down under my dash uncomfortable and won't be doing it again. Best buy does an awesome job for example so its worth it for me....

lol, after his first post saying BB did a terrible job on his sister's car

I mean, the install works fine, but gee, don't make it too hard to find the brain.

That's right under the steering wheel.

That's pretty typical. They don't usually go to a lot of effort to hide the unit.

 

[Shawn]

How much does best buy charge to put one in?