Subaru Factory Alarm - How Good?

[BLazeD]

Just got a 2003 Legacy GTB and discovered it has a factory alarm.

Wondering if anyone knows how good they are... specifically compared to the AVS S5?

[Guest boostin]

2003 being a BL/BP??

[BLazeD]

Yup it's a BP

[Guest boostin]

Any aftermarket alarm can be bypassed with a bit of wiring knowledge. The factory one can't. Its built into the engine ecu, the body control ecu and the dash cluster. You need a Select Monitor to access the alarm systems.

[BLazeD]

 boostin said:

Any aftermarket alarm can be bypassed with a bit of wiring knowledge. The factory one can't. Its built into the engine ecu, the body control ecu and the dash cluster. You need a Select Monitor to access the alarm systems.

OK thanks. So just to confirm - I am better off leaving the current alarm in there as opposed to get an AVS S5 or something?

[Guest boostin]

Unless you want something that texts you or similar, I reckon the factory system is more than adequate.

[BLazeD]

Hmmm, now these guys are saying the Subaru Factory alarms didn't even have immobilisers until 2005/2006...

http://www.legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=115115

 

Subaru doesn't have an immobilizer until some 2005/2006 models. Besides for the money, you are better off going with something non oem.

But then....

http://www.legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1419

I'm surprised there isn't more commentary on the issue

[Guest boostin]

People believe way too much of what they read on the net. When you pull the key out of the ignition if a key lamp starts doing single flashes on the dash you have an immobiliser. After you lock it with the remote on the key and it starts doing double flashes then you have an alarm too.

[DRFVDR]

You could always get a key cut with none of the electronic doodads in it and try it to see what happens

My guess would be not a whole lot(as in it wont start and it may make noise )

[GC8E2DD]

 boostin said:

When you pull the key out of the ignition if a key lamp starts doing single flashes on the dash you have an immobiliser. After you lock it with the remote on the key and it starts doing double flashes then you have an alarm too.

And when you get back in, the keylight will flash the number of times someone tried a door handle - at least thats what the manual for ours says.

[Colourfyre]

a simpler solution, instead of getting another key cut would simply be to wrap the head of the key in tinfoil. This works, its a sort of faraday cage.