How stealable is the Vibe?

[viBert]

I was under the impression that all new GM cars have some kind of immobilizer built in. My 96 Cavalier had it, I stopped for coffee and donuts one day and it decided I was trying to steal it and wouldn't start for 10 minutes. My Montana has a transponder in the key, I just paid 80 bucks to get a spare key for my son. I can't find anything about the vibe in the manual. I don't have the factory alarm.Is this car going to be a easy mark for car thieves?

[Sub-Vibe-R]

Cavalier/sunfire and Montana have an anti-thief feature. Both are not working the same way. Cav/Sunfire have a random voltage going to the computer to turn on the starter. The Montana has a capacitance built into the key. If the computer does not see this specific capacitance, the car won't start.Most of GM vehicule have an factory anti-thief system.Unfortunatly, the Vibe does not have one (electrical system is bult by Toyota and it is the same as the Corolla).I put myself my car engine remote starter and I haven't had to bypass any king of anti-thief feature. I started the engine with the wiring around the steering colum. Put a constant 12v on the ignition wire, then give 12v to the starter and that's it, the Vibe will start.

[Savoy]

Almost all new cars that come with an alarm factory installed can easily be stolen. It is better to go with an aftermarket alarm...even if you already have the factory. See this post to understand why...http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=1882-Savoy-

[Sub-Vibe-R]

quote:Almost all new cars that come with an alarm factory installed can easily be stolen. It is better to go with an aftermarket alarm...even if you already have the factory. See this post to understand why...-Savoy-Savoy is wright. Factory alarm on a specific model are built the same way for all. They are all at the same place and easy to disable.Anyways, the technologie used in car security system increase, but thief find always a way to bypass or disable them. There's no perferct anti-theif system. For sure, some are easier to disable, but it s possible to do it on all of them.

[DopeVibeGT]

Yeah, if you're serious about anti-theft, get a good aftermarket car alarm. They arent 100%, but most are better than factory. Dont get an alarm that actually says what it is. Never understood the point in that. "Protected by Viper!"

[coratz]

i just had an aftermarket alarm installed, at the same time i got some good information about the vibe. the vibe is in fact very easy to steal, just plunge the ignition and conect the right wires and off you go probably would take less that 1.5 minutes ive been told. i had a viper alalm installed that would certainly make a thiefs life alot more difficult if he or she wanted to steal my vibe.the system i had installesd has proximity/glass break/motion/hood pin switches and door pin switches/ igntion kill/ back up battery/dual sirens/valet modes/auto arm/auto locking/tracking. if a theif wants your car, they will get your car, im just trying to slow the theif down enough to move on to the next easer car. the factory key fobs still work after ive had the viper installed but, i need the viper key fob to disable my car. i would recommend the viper system alarm to anyone! just imagine if your vibe is stolen and they dont recover it, would you like to wait 5 months for a new one??????????

[Savoy]

Most aftermarket car alarms cost much lower than having it as an option on your vibe! I have yet to see one that costs $2000.-Savoy-

[NSimkins]

quote:And if let's say you would have a system that could prevent your car from being driven away by a thief, you would probable find the interior of the car damaged or with a sound system missing....etcThat's so true Salsa. I have a friend that tried to have his vehicle stolen from him, but he had a pretty good security system in the vehicle that they couldn't start the vehicle for anything. Instead of just leaving and stealing what was inside the vehicle, they smashed all the windows and dented the car up nicely.So even if you have the best security system, you still have the bozo's that have to do "something" to your vehicle if they can't take it.

[LawMaker]

Perosnally as far as anti-theft system, I think my brothers car has an awesome one. He has a 2003 Bmw M3 ( http://www.glenlevy.com/m3 ) and if the alarm is set and anyone comes within like 3 feet of the car for more then like a minute or something the car starts to bug out and al the electric systems shut down, the only way to get the systems going again is if you have the key and it is turned in the ignition. I think thats pretty cool, but then again look at the car, ifor that kind of money you expect it to be a little safe right?

[Savoy]

And that is what exactly what would happen if they come across a vehicle with just a factory alarm in it...at least an aftermarket would sound as soon as they open the door...whether they unlocked it or not. With a factory alarm all they have to do is unlock the vehicle and they have all the time in the world to tow or steal what they want. An aftermarket will at least be sounding the whole time they attempt to tow or steal anything.-Savoy-

[Savoy]

They didn't need one to disengage mine. Ask your dealer.-Savoy-

[Savoy]

No prob...you get a weird feeling towards your vehicle once it has been broken into...even if everything is easily replaceable...it just isn't the same. I learned the hard way...at least if i would have had an aftermarket at that time instead of putting it off...the alarm would have sounded and I would have had a chance to do something about it. Those who have had it happen to them know the feeling.-Savoy-

[MrRich]

quote:Cavalier/sunfire and Montana have an anti-thief feature. Both are not working the same way. Cav/Sunfire have a random voltage going to the computer to turn on the starter. The Montana has a capacitance built into the key. If the computer does not see this specific capacitance, the car won't start.Most of GM vehicule have an factory anti-thief system.Unfortunatly, the Vibe does not have one (electrical system is bult by Toyota and it is the same as the Corolla).I put myself my car engine remote starter and I haven't had to bypass any king of anti-thief feature. I started the engine with the wiring around the steering colum. Put a constant 12v on the ignition wire, then give 12v to the starter and that's it, the Vibe will start. Actually i have factory anty theft system in my Vibe!If my window sticker and my dealer are not lying

[Sub-Vibe-R]

I mean Cavalier/Sunfire and Montana have standard anti-theif freature. The one on the Vibe is an option. If your check your invoice, you paid for it.

[Frosty]

Folks:What say you about these systems?http://206.47.191.115/prostart/proguard2.html andhttp://206.47.191.115/prostart/proguard3.html There are pdf install guides on the right lower part of these pages.They are available at Canada Tire for $99 and $149 respectively. Either would do nicely. They have immobilizer ignition cutoffs and door locking features. Not too sure where to connect to the door locks but I am willing to buy a book like Scott has to find it.

[Sub-Vibe-R]

Looks not so bad. Do you want to install it yourself? If yes, I hope you have knoledge in car electronic, cause it will be a pain for you. It took about 4 hours to install mine (a combo remote engine starter and alarm ( http://www.powerstart.be/English/homeEN_modem.htm) part number pl7100) and I did it with a friend who install that king of stuff all week long. quote:Not too sure where to connect to the door locks but I am willing to buy a book like Scott has to find it. For the key less entry, plug the lock/unlock output of the module directly from the door key fob. If you do it with the lock/unlock button inside, you will have some trouble ( check this forum, it will tell you why do not branch the output on the door button http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=1753)

[Savoy]

This is the one I have currently installed on my Vibe. It cost a little over $200 installed.http://www.audiovox.com/cgi-bin/ncommer ... rfnbr=3736

[coratz]

savoy, id be worried if that audiovox dont have a batt back up siren, for all the theif has to do is diconnect your battery to disable that alarm

[Savoy]

Thank you for your concern. I had a small battery back up added that would allow the alarm to continue to sound for up to 5 minutes.-Savoy-

[Frosty]

quote:.........For the key less entry, plug the lock/unlock output of the module directly from the door key fob. If you do it with the lock/unlock button inside, you will have some trouble ( check this forum, it will tell you why do not branch the output on the door button http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=1753)Cool. I had heard of 2 stage door locks, didn't realize the Vibe had it, can't find reference to it in the manual. So I can test the leads from the barrel and find the right wires to connect with. Yes no problem for me now, I can do it myself. If it took you 4 hours with an expert at your shoulder it should take me that long to make half the connections of a manual car starter.Merci beaucoup Ben!

[Sub-Vibe-R]

When you will install your security sytem, you'll find most of the wire beside the kick pad. To access ignition and all that stuff, unscrew the plastic under the steering collum. If your famillar with that kind of product, I think it will take you about 6 hours or so. Keep us updated wiht your installation.

[camthecanuck]

These look interesting. Do they have that annoying horn honk when you activate though? Any idea what installation might cost? Warranty implications? Insurance discount?

[Sub-Vibe-R]

quote:Do they have that annoying horn honk when you activate though? Mine has this feature programmable. I can enable or put it disable and press to button twice to get the horn beep.quote: Any idea what installation might cost? Mine cost about 600$, installed. You can get some much cheaper. I got a good deal for mine (I didn't pay 600$)quote: Warranty implications? This should not void your warranty, except if the trouble is caused directly by the product. See that forum for more details on warranty: http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=101quote: Insurance discount?If it is installed by a recongnized place and it have a anti-thief feature. If you instal it yourself, you will ahve to go to a recongnized place and have your installation checked. Then you will have a certificate and give it to your insurance cie. It will give you about a 40$ discount a year.

[camthecanuck]

Thanks for your response. I plan to look into this. Feel a bit stretched by what I have invested in the car already, though.

[viBert]

Savoy:Do you have the power package with remote entry on your Vibe?I would like to have an alarm installed and the one you have looks good & the price seems reasonable.

[Savoy]

I would like to have an alarm installed and the one you have looks good & the price seems reasonable.>Yes...I do.-Savoy-

[ragingfish]

I had a sunfire. Theft deterrent was an option, not standard. At least on the 02's and later. Not sure about earlier models.I've learned from friends and past experience, you can get the most advanced system in the world, but given enough time, I gurantee you, someone will get by it. If they want your car, no alarm will stop them. I didn't opt for the factory system cause my dealer told me there wasn't a fuel cutoff. Rejects apparantly were wrong. I've also learned, the less resistance you put between the theif and the car, the more likely it is to be recovered in good shape, if at all.I got lojack in mine so that if it IS stolen, I can probably get it back before anything can happen to it. As far as I know, there is an insurance rebate for lojack. Only drawback, you need to get the battery tested so often to be sure it still works, and that's like a $30 or $60 fee. But I figure in two or three years, they prolly wont' want my car anymore, so I won't even waste my time testing it beyond that point.

[coratz]

if you are installing an alarm your self be carefull, there is a service bulletin that states that if done incorrectly you may cause the check engine light to come on cuz your cat converter can inadvertantly run rich if starter kill engages while vehicle is runingInfo - Misfire DTCs and Catalytic Converter Damage Due to Installation of Alarm Systems #02-06-05-004 - (09/26/2002)Misfire DTCs and Catalytic Converter Damage Due to Installation of Alarm Systems2003 and Prior GM Passenger Cars and Light Duty Trucks2003 HUMMER H22003 and Prior Isuzu Light Duty TrucksGeneral Motors Engineering, in an effort to determine the root cause of catalytic converter damage, has determined that aftermarket alarm systems incorrectly installed in vehicles have the potential to cause misfire codes and damage to the converter. These alarm systems use a circuit interrupt which utilizes the ignition circuit on the vehicles.These alarm systems utilize mechanical relays and normal vehicle movement can trigger these relays to engage and disengage the ignition circuit while the vehicle is in motion. These disruptions of the ignition circuit, which occur in milliseconds, may cause more fuel to be commanded. Over time, this dumping of fuel on and off again can cause misfire codes and ultimately damage the converter assembly.Engineering could not identify any alarms that utilize solid state circuitry that would eliminate this concern. Because of this, it has been determined that all alarm systems must be routed through the starter circuit in order to avoid this condition.Dealers must be aware of this issue and take note of the wiring on vehicles with alarm systems that come in for repair, particularly for catalytic converter damage that seem to have no known root cause. GM bulletins are intended for use by professional technicians, NOT a "do-it-yourselfer". They are written to inform these technicians of conditions that may occur on some vehicles, or to provide information that could assist in the proper service of a vehicle. Properly trained technicians have the equipment, tools, safety instructions, and know-how to do a job properly and safely. If a condition is described, DO NOT assume that the bulletin applies to your vehicle, or that your vehicle will have that condition. See your GM dealer for information on whether your vehicle may benefit from the information. WE SUPPORT VOLUNTARY TECHNICIAN CERTIFICATION © Copyright General Motors Corporation. All Rights Reserved. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Cubanpete]

They can disable any alarm, they are not idiots! They can also tow the car and end of Story, Thats why if you buy ANY car, not lease and you blow your Money you should always get the NEW VEHICLE REPLACEMENT OPTION, which you can do so for the first 4 Years. Your Insurance would give you a new Vehicle of that current year....Just my 2 cents, as I see this as a more feasable solution to relying only on a High end alarm system

[ragingfish]

Well, you can help avoid towing by engaging the parking brake. Of course, they can smash the window and disable it.It all comes down to this: if they want it, they'll get it. This new vehicle replacement thing is unheard of to me? Who runs it, GM? Insurance companies?

[Frosty]

quote:This new vehicle replacement thing is unheard of to me? Who runs it, GM? Insurance companies?Insurance companies. You pay a small premium for the option of a new car, not the current value of your car as a pay out. Well worth the few dollars extra.

[Frosty]

quote:They can disable any alarm, they are not idiots! True. However most are idiots, and they get caught. The rest would prefer easier quieter targets. Alarms are a deterrent and a small peace of mind.

[ragingfish]

Agreed. Most smart consumers install low-end alarms because the average thief will move on to the car that doesn't have any alarm. I think, and correct me if I'm wrong, that's why the factory systems aren't overly elaborate -- they're simply there to deterr, not prevent.As for the replacement option, I checked with my company, they don't offer such a thing. Could have something to do with the fact we're in Jersey, with the highest rates and lowest service of any state in the nation when it comes to auto insurance.

[vibegirl]

There are 2 factory options for alarms. One with a fuel immoboilizer and the other without. My dealer wasn't aware of the fuel immobilizer, even though it is in the brochure!

[vibegirl]

I have this option..only $55 CDN a year and worth it! There is also a new theft detterant program here in BC. The police apparently have developed it to combat organized auto theft. The dealer scans a barcode into each peice of your car. I have no clue how they do this!The barcode is invisible except with a blacklight. When the police doing a bust they scan each car part to see if there is a barcode, prove it is stolen and from where and from whom.Here is the incentive...if they never find your car they will give you a bunch of money over what insurance will pay you ( I think $5000), if they find your car damaged they also give you some extra money.I am not sure whether or not this is a good method. It costs about $250 CDN.Any thoughts on this?

[Frosty]

quote:I am not sure whether or not this is a good method. It costs about $250 CDN.Any thoughts on this?I got a bad taste in my mouth about this dealer installed etching business. All the Subaru's in town stickered for $1500 over list, they added freedom maintenance and glass etching to every car and offered insurance if yours was stolen. You couldn't get a vehicle w/o these friggin add ons. When I told them I wasn't going for their money grabs I was less than politely shown the door. This is an extra insurance cost we don't need.

[ragingfish]

Noticed today the glove compartment doesn't have a lock. While I never banked on it to be overly secure, it was a nice thing to make you feel better about leaving insurance and registration info in there...weird. First car that didn't have that.