(Home) The continuing saga of this cat 1 alarm

The saga continues, if I remove the horn/hazard fuse (obviously permanent live) the cassette deck switches off with the ignition & loses it's equaliser settings, suggesting that this is where it gets it's constant live, so the live is back feeding via the accessory circuit somewhere. On a different note concerning the same bloody alarm, the central locking has been connected to it, so as to give auto lock/unlock with alarm arm/disarm, but when this was connected it disabled the driver's door pack switch, thus meaning that you had no means of locking the car when in motion, I queried this with the installer, he said that was a fact of life with imports, as they switch on the earth side, not the live side, so I would have to put up with it. Having sat & thought about the wiring, surely he could just put a couple of relays on the circuit so that the controller switches the relays & the relays switch an earth rather than live, thus making the locking work from the switch & the alarm, has anybody got this on their waggon, comments please, I want to get to the bottom of both of these problems, otherwise this could be a £350 white elephant of an alarm system fitted on the car. Thanks for your help guys. Regards Rob. - (#2005) Rob Drinkwater, 30 Jan 02

I had a Selca system installed by a professional installer and it works perfectly. The only problem they had was to decide where to put the siren and they fixed it under the driver's seat on the backplate, next to the air filter.
All controls, radio etc. work as before. I have remote locking now and the immobiliser kicks in after 30 seconds.
Holger - (#2006) Holger Laux, 30 Jan 02

Rob
I doubt the validity of your installer's comments. I had to have a Thatchum2 rated immobiliser fitted for my insurance. It works fine, no problems, certified installer, proper certificates and warranties and what's more my doors lock/unlock while vehicle is in motion (it also only cost me £99!).
HTH
Ian - (#2008) Ian Dunse, 30 Jan 02

Ian, yours is a cat 2, therefore immobiliser only, this is cat 1, not only a dual circuit immobiliser, but also remote controlled alarm with all the bells & whistles, it locks & unlocks the car via the remotes, but in connecting this, the door mounted switch no longer operates at all. - (#2011) Rob Drinkwater, 30 Jan 02

It gets worse & worse, the central locking interface has blown up now, so the alarm all still works, but will not operate the locking at all, I have been back to the installers, who say they can't get a new one until Tuesday next week, and want the car back on Wednesday to fit it. So I have e-mailed the parent company that owns Toad, Sigma & Laserline & told them that I am rather less than happy (****ing fuming would describe me better) and I want some answers from them tomorrow, I let you know what I find out tomorrow. Regards Rob. - (#2014) Rob Drinkwater, 30 Jan 02

Rob
I appreciate that. The point I was trying to make is that you don't have to pay a lot of money to get good service. Also that the addition of any enhancement shouldn't impact on any current systems. If your fitter belongs to a registered organisation then give the bastard some grief by complaining to his organisation. Judging by your other posts, it looks like you are already doing this.
Good luck
Ian - (#2022) Ian Dunse, 31 Jan 02

Rob,
Sorry to hear your problems, but I agree with Ian - you should only need a Cat 2 alarm to satisfy the insurance. Cost <£100, fully installed and certificated....and no grief! - (#2025) phil jones, 31 Jan 02

Phil,
Yes Tesco Insurance did only require a CAT2 immobiliser, but I wanted the extra protection of an alarm with interior sensors & the convenience of remote locking as well, so CAT1 seemed the route to go, I now wish I'd gone for a CAT2 immobiliser to keep the insurance company happy & then I would have fitted an alarm system myself that would have done exactly what I wanted, but we live & learn. I have never had any work done by anyone else on any of my own vehicles (company cars excepted) before, and I certainly won't bother again after this escapade. Rob. - (#2027) Rob Drinkwater, 31 Jan 02

Rob
like ian, i too have a thatcham cat 2 fitted, mine was about 105 pounds
the chap who fitted it said that it was far cheaper to have this done and also have a separate cheapo alarm fitted total cost about 170 pounds.
insurance requirements are for a minimum of cat 2
insurance requirements - (#2040) john collier, 1 Feb 02

Hi Rob, i have the answer to all your dreams!
I have just had a state of the art cat 1 CLIFFORD Alarm/Immob. fitted to my Masterace & had exactly the same problem as you. Remote central locking works from alarm fob, but door switch wouldn't work, well it does now! Had the guy who designs Cliffords alarms electronics come up with a solution & it works! Its not easy, basically you have to fit an additional 4 relays which open circuit, reverse power & work in opposition to each other, nightmare. If you e-mail me i will explain more, bye for now, Tony - (#2120) Tony Lloyd-Jones, 5 Feb 02

That info would be good posted... - (#2130) david miller, 6 Feb 02