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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)

#191

Post by mauvehaus »

Mountain_Skies wrote: post #99
hedora wrote: 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.

Forscan? That's up there with GIMP for most unfortunate software package name.

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

#192

Post by xeromal »

sumedh wrote: post #188
xeromal wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not legal in Germany and probably a few other countries but its perfectly legal here in the US.

So are the cameras in Teslas in Germany disabled?

It might be the ones sold in germany. You may be able to bring one in with it enabled.

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

#193

Post by xeromal »

sumedh wrote: post #188
xeromal wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not legal in Germany and probably a few other countries but its perfectly legal here in the US.

So are the cameras in Teslas in Germany disabled?

https://www.dw.com/en/dashcams-in-germany-permissible-in-cou...

Looks like it has been updated for a few years.

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

#194

Post by encom »

johanvts wrote: post #184
the_mitsuhiko wrote: post #149

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Cars in Europe don’t honk on open/close. It’s not illegal but there are some non honk areas and because of that manufactures don’t enable it.

It is illegal to honk in Denmark unless theres a dangerous situation ahead. Honk any other a time you can be fined about 130€

Another dane here: Despite this, the horn is used just as much as a fuck-you-horn as anywhere else. I doubt anyone has ever gotten a fine for it, except maybe if they had been really obnoxious with it next to a police officer.

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

#195

Post by JshWright »

slashink wrote: post #175
kevin_thibedeau wrote: post #161

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That can end up pulling air through the fuel pump. That isn't safe or healthy for the pump.

Compared to losing the RV it seems like a negligible cost for what the commenter describes as “older RV”.

Sure, but there are several options that would be zero cost.

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

#196

Post by dkdk8283 »

hathawsh wrote: post #174
kevin_thibedeau wrote: post #161

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That can end up pulling air through the fuel pump. That isn't safe or healthy for the pump.

This is the first time I've heard of intentionally running a fuel pump backwards and I wonder whether you're right. The fuel pump in modern vehicles is normally submerged in the fuel tank. My guess is that air drawn in by the pump would just make harmless bubbles; the pump would still be fully lubricated. Does anyone know for sure?

Fuel pumps on EFI motors have a supply and return. Return is significantly smaller in diameter and will probably allow the engine to barely run at all. It would probably start and shut off giving the thief the impression the car is junk instead of being disabled.

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

#197

Post by rozab »

chrisseaton wrote: post #137
arprocter wrote: post #124

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In the UK this is disabled in the ECU, as using your horn while stationary isn't allowed

> In the UK this is disabled in the ECU, as using your horn while stationary isn't allowed Huh my car app has a 'honk' button that works when stationary, for finding it in car parks. Is that against regulation?

Your car also goes above 70 ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

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

#198

Post by gnicholas »

ghaff wrote: post #179
98codes wrote: post #158

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's definitely a "find your car in the giant lot" button if you ask me

I've actually wondered. Is there a super-easy "here's where I've parked my card app"? As in push a couple of buttons after you park your car and you're set? Super low friction. Not sure I've seen it.

If you have an iPhone and connect it to your car via Bluetooth (even just for music/calls — doesn't require CarPlay), then the Maps app will show "parked car" where you last parked it. Pretty slick!

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

#199

Post by chrisseaton »

rozab wrote: post #197
chrisseaton wrote: post #137

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> In the UK this is disabled in the ECU, as using your horn while stationary isn't allowed Huh my car app has a 'honk' button that works when stationary, for finding it in car parks. Is that against regulation?

Your car also goes above 70 ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Right... but it doesn't have a specific button that can't be used for anything else but going over 70?

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

#200

Post by Spooky23 »

cpgxiii wrote: post #129
elboru wrote: post #110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Some people think that the honk/beep is to confirm that the car got locked and the alarm got activated. So they will press the lock button until they hear the confirmation.

It's not just "think" - some cars specifically beep in different ways depending on lock status. Recent-ish Fords beep once when locked, and beep twice quickly if a door is ajar and can't lock. It also blinks the lights to match, but the sound is much easier to recognize.

My Honda demands tribute when you close the rear tailgate. If you fail to provide the attention it demands, mainly waiting for the gate to fully close, it beeps 3 times and unlocks the car.

Very helpful feature.

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