alarms: adding LED to OEM alarm -or- DIY aftermarket alarm recommendations?

[Andrew Hess]

I'd like an alarm for my MY04 Forester that includes an LED warning
light *wired to the alarm*. I don't want to install just an LED on a
separate switch. Is there a way to wire an LED light to the OEM alarm?

Barring that, is there an aftermarket alarm out there that will be
relatively easy to install myself? I have to admit that the
plug-and-play setup of the OEM alarm is attractive, but if there is a
good-quality, affordable alarm out there that I can install without
advanced electrical knowledge, I would go for that.

I'm not looking for ultimate protection, just the basics--oh, and the
LED light.

Andrew

 

[Phil Marshall]

I'd like an alarm for my MY04 Forester that includes an LED warning
light *wired to the alarm*. I don't want to install just an LED on a
separate switch. Is there a way to wire an LED light to the OEM alarm?

Barring that, is there an aftermarket alarm out there that will be
relatively easy to install myself? I have to admit that the
plug-and-play setup of the OEM alarm is attractive, but if there is a
good-quality, affordable alarm out there that I can install without
advanced electrical knowledge, I would go for that.

I'm not looking for ultimate protection, just the basics--oh, and the
LED light.

Andrew

Andrew:

Go aftermarket! The factory units are junk, and more importantly all
installed EXACTLY THE SAME WAY. Very convenient for a car thief. Learn
how one works, and you got them all nailed.

A good name-brand aftermarket unit INSTALLED should run under $150
for basic security. Add remote start and it should go 200-250.
I wouldn't reccomend you try and install yourself unless you are
very knowledgeable in automobile electronics. I doubt you would save
much cash regardless.

 

[Brian Wasson]

I don't know about on the Forester, but I installed the OEM alarm on
my 2003 OBW, and it activates a red "Alarm" LED on the instrument
cluster that is prewired from the factory. I wish the LED were a bit
more visible, though; it's kind of at the bottom of the instrument
cluster, between the speedometer and the tach. I wouldn't mind adding
another, more visible, LED to the system, if anyone knows of a way to
do so.

Brian W.

 

[David Henderson]

The OEM "security kit" which is an add on if you have factory keyless entry
is simple to install and comes with decent instuctions that are well
illustrated. When you start throwing together a miss-match of electronics in
these newer electronic wonders you are asking for problems.

 

[Andrew Hess]

Okay, so, you cognoscenti out there -- Is there an 'alarm' indicator
on the instrument panel of the Forester and can I take the signal that
goes to the instrument cluster and reroute it to an LED on, say, the
top of the dashboard?

 

[David Henderson]

Not sure about the Forester as I have 01 OBW but the indicator LED is in
the dash and somewhat hard to see. No reason you coulndn't tap those
indicator leads and put an additional LED where you wish, if you can get to
them.

 

[Andrew Hess]

I've read a lot of posts from people who have modded the leds in the
panel, so is this possible? Is that led accessible? Can you tap it to
add another led?

Andrew

 

[Andrew Morris]

why would you bother?

I've read a lot of posts from people who have modded the leds in the
panel, so is this possible? Is that led accessible? Can you tap it to
add another led?

Andrew

"David Henderson" <(e-mail address removed)> wrote in message

 

[Andrew Hess]

Because instead of a hard-to-see light in the instrument panel, I'd
like to have a light at the top of the dashboard that will be visible
from wherever you stand outside the car. I think that is part of the
deterence value of the alarm. Plus, sounds like a cool project.

A

 

[Sven]

Because instead of a hard-to-see light in the instrument panel, I'd
like to have a light at the top of the dashboard that will be visible
from wherever you stand outside the car. I think that is part of the
deterence value of the alarm. Plus, sounds like a cool project.

Why don't you just wire up a 12v flashing LED to come on when the
ignition is off, without modding the alarm. My previous car had an
unused contact on the ignition switch that would supply 12v only when
the ignition was off so I used that. I don't have a Forester wiring
diagram, but something similar must be possible.

 

[Andrew Hess]

I don't want to do that because I don't want to be sitting in my car
looking at a bright, flashing led all the time when the car is off. It
also seems more elegant to have it directly wired to the panel alarm
led.

So, no one here has done any led mods that can help me figure this
out?

A