Rep Power: 343

Should I have a shop install an alarm or should I DIY.

I'm always afriad of the shop doing a shi++y job and having sketch shops install the alarm and then go to my house later and jack my car.



Would you guys be able to help me out to install the alarm myself?

 
Rep Power: 332

got to shop, but highly recommended one.

 
Rep Power: 0

Definately go to a shop if you've never done one. Most shops include labor in the cost of the alarm, and if they mess anything up they get to pay for it. Our cars are easy compared to others, but as long as you stay with a reputable shop you'll be ok.

 
Rep Power: 0

I watched the guys install the alarm in my car and after watching them there is no way I would want to go back and do that myself. Its a lot of work and it can be quite complicated. An alarm is especially important because its all in the install. If its a bad install it won't be hard to defeat the alarm.

 
Rep Power: 343

I'm just afraid that same reuptable shop will be the guys who are ripping stuff off my ride a few weeks later....

Either that or they are gonna mess up my electrical system and then..... hella problems.

 
Rep Power: 0

if its truely reputable it won't be a problem. They will know what they're doing. Maybe somebody on here thats in your area knows of a good place or something. But any shop that has a good reputation will take care of you if they screw something up. They probably won't, but if they do they usually will do what they can to solve the problems. I wouldnt' worry so much about it. Just don't go to a crappy looking place.

 
Rep Power: 394

Eh. The shop that installs mine doesnt have a fancy *** show room. you can walk around your car when they are working on it. I believe its the expereince of the installers, how long they have been doing it. The guy who installed my alarm-remote start is certified by Compustar for 2 years,and been doing automotive electronics for 5-6 years. The owner of the shop has had his shop for 4 years now, been doing installs and such for 15 years at local various shops, before opening his own. There is a shop around here that just hires flunky's off the street who have never installed a deck let alone an alarm. One of the local shops here installed an alarm-remote start in a Kia Sportage, misconnected some wires, fried the ECU, and some other stuff. It cost about 2,000 to fix the problem. I think shops that install alarms and such, have more to worry about than going and jackin your car. Just my opinion.

 
Rep Power: 0

it doesn't have to have a fancy *** show room, but don't go to some whole in the wall place that is horrible. Just use some judgement was all I meant. The place I go isn't all fancy ***, its simple, but its nice and looks professional. That was all I meant. It definately wouldn't hurt to ask them about their experience and find out a little about them.

 
Rep Power: 303

get it done at a shop.....when i had my 91 suzuki swift i installed an alarm and power door openers at the same time on it and it was a pain in the *** to do but it worked fine....i won't do another alarm again though

 
Rep Power: 283

yeah man, even tho the install is easier that some other installs you should really have a shop do it. like i know that you want something fancy so thats gonan be a lotta work. try excessive audio and beyond(formally car toys) in rockville. there very well know and there great ppl and you can sit there while they do it too.

 
Rep Power: 343

Yea just what I need. A shop close to my house so they can basically walk over to my house, disable my alarm and jack my shiet.

 
Rep Power: 336

It ultimately depends on your experience and whether or not you feel confident on tackling a big install like an alarm. If you had to ask us whether or not you should take it to a shop, then you should probably take it to a shop. I am not trying to clown on your skills but only you know whether or not you can do it. If I were you I would ask around for shops that have done alarms on the 7th gen. Pretty sure every shop has done a civic, but our cars are a little different. So yeah take it to a professional. Good luck

 
Rep Power: 283

dude, look maybe your being perinoid tho. like the shop near you is well know nationally if im not mistaken. they are the offically sponsered by MTX audio too. ( sweet *** civic in show room with a 169+ db sound system... its got like 5 altanotors etc.) i dont think your gonan find anyone better other than doing in yourself. but if you some how decide to lemme know ill help you out if you want.

 
Rep Power: 0

A local shop did my alarm, and ****ed it up. So.. this week sometime, I'll be making a trip to Audio Excellence and getting a new one. **** EXTREME MOTORING.

 
Rep Power: 0

i wouldn't worry about any stereo shop workers installing you alarm and then stealing you goods. Have you ever played your stereo loud in public? showed it to friends? co-workers? friends of co-workers? Installed things yourself outside in your driveway? If yes to any of the above you'd have a better chance of THEM stealing your shizit than a shop. Shops see cars everyday, who's to say your ride is a better target then the one in their install bay earlier today, yesterday, last week or tomorrow.

 
Rep Power: 343

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^SEE ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Exactly what I mean.

 
Rep Power: 394

I honestly hate this argument. When I had my 90 Checy Lumina, my shop put in a remote start. Worked fine for a day, then it would start and the park lights wouldnt stay on. I went through 3 "brains." The installer couldnt figure what the **** was going on. He followed the wire chart right on. No where in wiring it did it say he had to install a relay on one wire. That did it, he installed the relay worked fine. In my civic, he put in an alarm-remote start, the hood switch kept breaking because of the angle. Works fine now. Point I am getting at is that a reputable will replace, and make anything work. A Car is a mechanical object, like a computer. Sometimes it doesnt take well to mod's, and has to be tweaked.
My question to you is 2 fold.
1. Is your car that valuble that you dont trust someone else to install something in it. Do you keep all you CD's in there. Yes it wise to protect what you own, but if someone wants it bad enough it will get snagged. That is part of the reason people have insurance. I only keep burnt CD's in my.
2. Have you ever done anything like this type of install before. If you never have, I dont know what to tell you. Because a reputable shop, if they **** something up, fry something, will warrenty it. If you **** it up cause you wanna save yourself 150 bucks on install might end up costing you more in the long run.

 
Rep Power: 0

Well, I mean if you think the installer is going to come back and steal your stuff, then install the alarm yourself. I'd think of it this way, if the Installer has the skills to install an alarm in your car, he most likely has the skills to steal whatever you have in it right now anyways, without making much of a fuss...

 
Rep Power: 0

I paid the shop to do it and they did a great job.