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Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

popularmechanics.com

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Re: Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

#91
post #4

I really wish there was a way to disable the panic button on my key fob. It has a hair trigger and only requires one click to activate. I regularly trigger it by bending over with my keys in my pocket.

Are panic buttons a US thing? I never saw one on a fob in Europe?

Re: Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

#92
post #87

Now if we could just disable the feature that causes the horn to honk when locking the vehicle with the key fob... As someone who lives on a residential street, but with a hospital at the far end, we have tons of patients, families, doctors, and nurses that park on our street to avoid paying for the garage. I get to listen to horns honking at all hours. A few cars (Acura comes to mind), do a bit better, in that they…

My car only beeps if I press lock twice.

Re: Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

#93
post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One problem with car horn is the cars that beep it every time you lock your doors...

Almost every car that has the ability to disable this, including my 2004 Subaru. The method was strange and complicated but it did work.

I have a 2003 Subaru, and it was just "hold the lock/unlock buttons for two seconds".

Re: Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

#94

Anyone with a car alarm enabled in a city is just straight up rude and inconsiderate. I can't imagine the mindset involved for someone to put a device outside someone's bedroom window that will somewhat randomly start blasting loud sounds at all hours of the night. I'd support legislation making it illegal. Why are car alarms exempt from noise ordinances?

I think there are some laws - you're not allowed to have an alarm that wails for hours on end for example, it's gotta stop in a few minutes.

Re: Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

#95

I'd rather see a tracking system attached to several parts of the vehicle. This would allow law enforcement to track the vehicle, and/or the parts if the vehicle is broken down and sold. In the United States we have "LoJack" but it's not a standard feature rather a dealer upsell.

I'd rather see a tracking system attached to several parts of the vehicle. I'd rather not give law enforcement or anyone else the ability to "track" me on a whim. If it's stolen, I'll take the hit on my deductible and also keep my privacy. If it becomes ubiquitous, is only a matter of time before it becomes mandatory. Or, the car maker sells your data and pretends that doing so helps offset the cost of making the car…

considering i'm already being tracked in every which way from my phone to my credit card usage, to my website usage, to toll roads every time i drive, etc. i wouldn't mind having this feature to save money on my insurance. to each their own, i guess

Re: Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

#96
post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wonder if there is some geographical variation in the alarm sensitivity. I rarely hear car alarms in Helsinki, the capital of Finland. I have never noticed that any slight bumps or vibrations would set car alarms off. I have even scratched a few cars in the parking lot with my own car back in the days when I had just gotten my license, and still no alarms. Car theft is relatively rare here too.

>Car theft is relatively rare here too Well, you *are* living in a country with some of the highest economic equality in the world!

Well, I was more wondering if there is some correlation between the occurrence of car thefts and the sensitivity of car alarms. Do they make the alarms less sensitive in countries with less car thefts?

Re: Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

#97

If you have your car at the mall or are in a big city parking garge, sure it doesn't do much. If you live in the rest of the United States, which is spread out and some quite rural, a car alarm can quickly notify you someone is messing with your car. My town has a population a little over 300 people, we have one resident that is... not well... that rides his bicycle around even int he dead of winter and pounds on peo…

Man, there sure is a lot of crime for a town of 300. I’ve lived in a big city for 20 years and never had anyone mess with my car.

He must live in Cabot Cove, Maine.

Re: Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

#98
post #4

I really wish there was a way to disable the panic button on my key fob. It has a hair trigger and only requires one click to activate. I regularly trigger it by bending over with my keys in my pocket.

Are panic buttons a US thing? I never saw one on a fob in Europe?

I second this. What's a panic button?

Re: Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

#99
post #4

I really wish there was a way to disable the panic button on my key fob. It has a hair trigger and only requires one click to activate. I regularly trigger it by bending over with my keys in my pocket.

If your vehicle is a Ford, you can use a program called Forscan to disable the panic button or change it to require multiple presses before triggering. While there is a paid version of the software, the free version should be able to change the panic button functionality.

Re: Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

#100
I have an older RV that people sometimes try to steal (it's usually meth heads wanting to live on it; I've taken to leaving a plaque on the dash saying that if they want a hot meal instead, just knock on my door).

The alarm is aftermarket, and silent. All it does is make the fuel pump go in reverse. (The fuel pump is also aftermarket)

It's been hilarious a couple times.

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