Hey all. I'm thinking of doing some security upgrades to my car and need some advice.

I believe the KJ Verada came with a factory alarm in addition to the factory immobilizer. How good is the factory alarm? How easy is it to upgrade the factory alarm to an an aftermarket alarm with more features such as pager, knock sensor, glass breakage sensor, battery backup, etc. Is it even possible to upgrade the factory alarm to an aftermarket one?

Also, has anyone done window VIN etching to their cars? You can buy DIY kits on eBay pretty cheap nowadays. Thinking this might be a cheap way to deter theft?

just go down and see an auto sparky and see what he says
but yes there are upgrades for the standard alarm which gives you a few extra options
i think its tilt and glass break senors tho oh and the siren too, and you also get to keep your remote :D
as for the aftermarket one, well its pretty much a full replacement with everything including new remotes

best bet is just replacing it with an aftermarket, will be cheaper.

Around $500 will be a reasonable price for what you want

i dont know jack about the magna security system or anything

i thought it would be hard to steal a magna cos of the chipped key, but aparently its easy

and with framless windows its quite easy to force your way into one without much trouble

i think the magna rated 2 out of 5 stars for theft!

with your mods i think what you have mentiones is cheap insurance! get an alarm that makes a breif sound as soon as someone touches it, but something that can be adjusted so on a windy day its not going off all the time

I have a few questions about the standard security system...hopefully someone has the answers!

1) Is the factory immobilizer armed and disarmed when the key is removed and inserted from the ignition?

2) Does the factory remote fob arm and disarm the alarm when the lock and unlock buttons are pressed?

3) If the answer to the previous question is yes then obviously the aftermarket remote fob will arm and disarm the aftermarket alarm?

4) Is the factory alarm easily removed without having a negative effect on how the immobilizer works?

I have a few questions about the standard security system...hopefully someone has the answers!

1) Is the factory immobilizer armed and disarmed when the key is removed and inserted from the ignition?

2) Does the factory remote fob arm and disarm the alarm when the lock and unlock buttons are pressed?

3) If the answer to the previous question is yes then obviously the aftermarket remote fob will arm and disarm the aftermarket alarm?

4) Is the factory alarm easily removed without having a negative effect on how the immobilizer works?

1) no
the key is what sends a signal to the imboliser that allows you to start the car.
without a correctly programmed key in the ignition the car will not start.

2) yes

3) no sure - i would imagine that mitsu wouldnt let thier alarm system be worked by other remotes for security? correct me if im wrong please.

4) no idea!
never tried to

I have a few questions about the standard security system...hopefully someone has the answers!

1) Is the factory immobilizer armed and disarmed when the key is removed and inserted from the ignition?



1) no
the key is what sends a signal to the imboliser that allows you to start the car.
without a correctly programmed key in the ignition the car will not start.


What do you mean by 'correctly programmed key'? do you mean the remote? because if you do then what about if you just use the key to open the door then start the car?

What do you mean by 'correctly programmed key'? do you mean the remote? because if you do then what about if you just use the key to open the door then start the car?

he means the key

inside all of our keys is a little chip that sends out a signal, when the key is put into the barrel the car senses the signal and disarms the immobiliser..

this is why when making a copy, you need to send ur key to mitsu so they can re-program a new one..

i upgraded mine, and for $350 i got full shock sensor, glass breakage (i think, cbf double checking), and paid extra for a tilt sensor :) oh, and mobile installation as well.

Ok so questions 1 and 2 are answered...thanks guys!
But what about questions 3 and 4...anybody know?

3. cause its an aftermarket alarm you will get new remotes that come with it, these remotes will disarm/arm the alarm system, so your current remotes will become useless

4. the after market alarm is a full replacement, so you stock one comes out and the new one takes over

hopefully this should answer your questions :)

3. cause its an aftermarket alarm you will get new remotes that come with it, these remotes will disarm/arm the alarm system, so your current remotes will become useless

4. the after market alarm is a full replacement, so you stock one comes out and the new one takes over

hopefully this should answer your questions :)
Yes it does thanks mate!

I'd be interested to hear about good or bad experiences people have had with aftermarket alarms. There are so many to choose from i'm not sure which one to go for?

I've had Viper alarms on a few cars, if you get the flash one to start with you can add window roll up and stuff like remote start and hijack mode. So I always recomend them, but any alarm is cheap insurance. And find a good installer

why are you so keen to upgrade your car alarm if you dont mind me asking?

an alarm/immobiliser might stop them stealing your car, but it doesnt stop them destroying your car out of frustration.

i always found factory alarms, while being basic to be sufficient, but in saying that i have only just moved to an area that might require the alarm.

things like gps tracking of the car if it got stolen would be cool - but hopefully that 'feature' will bever have to be used.

things like glass breakage/better shock sensors/tilt sensors/black wiring all make aftermarket alarms tempting (not sure if the stock unit has coloured wiring or not), as well as the extended warranty, louder sirens etc etc.

sure, most ppl dont look twice at a car alarm going off in a carpark, but for peace of mind (ie when parked out the front of the house) its handy to have imo, and pretty cheap as well. hell a half decent alarm is like the same price as window tint!

my alarm is Custodian brand, just because its Aussie Approved, and the alarm install place i like to use, purely use that brand alarms. stickers are pretty prominent, and blue led is very noticable (good deterrent)

http://www.identimark.com.au/products/alarms.asp
scroll down to the CUSTODIAN AS7500A (category 3 premier), and thats what i got, and paid like $50 more for a tilt sensor

oh, and error chirps are handy to have if anything is playing up as well :)

I've had Viper alarms on a few cars, if you get the flash one to start with you can add window roll up and stuff like remote start and hijack mode. So I always recomend them, but any alarm is cheap insurance. And find a good installer


so whats this window roll up, remote start and hijack mode then?

windorw roll up means the alarm computer will connect to your power windows and automatically put them up when u lock the car etc.

auto start, the alarm is connected to your ignition and can start the car with the touch of a button. good for warming ur car up in the morning.

hi jack mode - usually you press a sequence of buttons If your ever being car jacked and the car will run for like 30 seconds or so then shut down and start having a cry.

i dont know jack about the magna security system or anything

i thought it would be hard to steal a magna cos of the chipped key, but aparently its easy

and with framless windows its quite easy to force your way into one without much trouble

i think the magna rated 2 out of 5 stars for theft!

with your mods i think what you have mentiones is cheap insurance! get an alarm that makes a breif sound as soon as someone touches it, but something that can be adjusted so on a windy day its not going off all the time

I haven't come across an article anywhere that rates the 3rd gen magna so lowly. I would hate to see other manufacturers ratings. I dont think it changed too much but the TL magna LS rated #1 for theft security against falcon and commodore and avalon the same year.

Mohit, do what you feel is within your budget. Obviously there are many options, but I like the ones with auto windows up, and hijack mode.

Mohit, think of worse case scenario, will your insurance (definately) cover everything in your car? If not, spending $800- $1000 on a hardcore alarm will be money well spent, and give peace of mind. Not that much money compared to the overall spend either. If it was stock, then whatever, you just claim insurance and get another one.
If you have a motion sensor in the interior, alarm goes off when a door opens or glass breaks, so this is good protection for your audio. Viper sirens will fry your brain when they go off, so even if nobody else takes any notice, thief will get out pretty damn fast. Also, you can get pins for the bonnet, boot, and shock sensors if they tow it. A good installer will use black wires to make it hard / impossible to pick from factory. I'd do it just so I never had to worry about theiving bas tards again.

windorw roll up means the alarm computer will connect to your power windows and automatically put them up when u lock the car etc.

auto start, the alarm is connected to your ignition and can start the car with the touch of a button. good for warming ur car up in the morning.

hi jack mode - usually you press a sequence of buttons If your ever being car jacked and the car will run for like 30 seconds or so then shut down and start having a cry.


would it be possible to upgrade the stock security system to include these upgrades. coz i really like the idea of window roll up and auto start. i would use them all the time.

I just want remote start!
But i thought this wouldnt work on magnas cos of the coded key???

I just want remote start!
But i thought this wouldnt work on magnas cos of the coded key???

you have to break a key and mount the chip close to the ign so it works but effectivley disables your immobiliser for good

i have had remote start before and to be honest you dont really need it, can com in handy at sometimes.... but if your not lazy it's no big deal :P

well like me some of us are lazy. i would much rather get to my car and its already running so i dont need to do anything. lol. but how would you turn the car off, if you dont have to put the key in.

might hit up and auto electrician. i wanna get the auto window thing.

pretty sure you need an aftermarket alarm for window roll up and auto start. But on my TL you can still wind up windows for a short time after you switch off ignition, so maybe you could set up auto roll up. but probably still easier to go Viper. you can program the chirps to any audio sample too if you really want.

I had a Viper alarm/autostart in my first TH, Cost me about $1,200 all up intsalled with the auto window up option. Now i just have a cheaper generic autostart as i didn't have the $$$ to go all out when i had my i.c.e. put in. ( spent most of it on the audio/visual,hhh)

Works just as well, That said if you can part with the $$$ go the viper small differences that a prefered though.

auto up u can buy a module that will wind the window up when the key is removed or some can connect to ur alarm and use that to get the windows up.

as for remote engine start, needs to be connected up to all the alarms/immobiliser, so the best/easiest/only way is to just get a new alarm that has it

Mohit, think of worse case scenario, will your insurance (definately) cover everything in your car? If not, spending $800- $1000 on a hardcore alarm will be money well spent, and give peace of mind. Not that much money compared to the overall spend either. If it was stock, then whatever, you just claim insurance and get another one.
If you have a motion sensor in the interior, alarm goes off when a door opens or glass breaks, so this is good protection for your audio. Viper sirens will fry your brain when they go off, so even if nobody else takes any notice, thief will get out pretty damn fast. Also, you can get pins for the bonnet, boot, and shock sensors if they tow it. A good installer will use black wires to make it hard / impossible to pick from factory. I'd do it just so I never had to worry about theiving bas tards again.

you dont need to even spend $500+ for those specs! what crack you smoking?!

1) Infrared internal sensors are useless unless u constantly leave a window down, or buy a sunroof, otherwise no point. Any decent alarm will have shock sensors, and entry sensors (doors/boot/bonnet), which will go off when a window is broken, or a door opened.

2) black wiring comes with the alarm, and is part of the Australian Approval... if an alarm doesnt come with this, its not even approved, so just make sure its advertised that the company is approved or whatever



yes some of the high-end alarms have pin-codes to even start the car etc, and the remotes can work from a large distance, but
1) pin-codes etc requires alot of effort, only worth it if ur worried bout joyriders, otherwise it doesnt do **** for those who just wanna steal whats in sight
2) who needs a high range remote? could just lead to trouble of accidentally disabling the alarm while the remote is in ur pocket, or dropped in the house, etc


Mohit, as i suggested before, call around some decent places, check warranties, add a tilt sensor (plus any of the other stuff u want), dont worry bout the internal sensor, and u should be able to get one pretty cheaply, and free installation. Note some places charge extra to hook it up to the factory central locking as well.

hope that helps

I think i'll just go for an aftermarket upgrade alarm which has more features than the stock alarm...less stuffing around that way. Might also add a high pitch 120 dB piezo alarm inside the cabin so even if a thief breaks into the car at least his ear drums will bleed profusely! And the beauty of leather interior is that the blood can simply be wiped off! :D

BTW, can anyone recommend a good alarm installer in the eastern area of Melbourne (around Doncaster)?

Oh, and the window VIN etching kit is on its way from Canada ey!

BTW, does anybody know what the stock immobilizer actually immobilizes? Ignition, starter or fuel pump?

i think its only ignition