I did some searching, but didn't find anything about this... I'm considering installing a Crime Guard CG745i3 in a 2000 Civic. I like the idea of installing it myself. Crutchfield sells harnesses to simplify the install... much less wire cutting and splicing. Do the harnesses decrease the security of the alarm? I know shops often try to "hide" the install... would a commercial harness be really obvious to thieves? Thanks for any help...

 

never really seen an alarm harness, but as you said, its all how you hide the work. Use zip ties, black electrical tape etc...

If it were me, i might use the harness to make the INITIAL connections, but then cut the wires and extend them to the place I want to hide my alarm, otherwise you are limited by the length of the harness.

Good Luck,
-Rage

 

I'm confused as to what your asking.. are you talking about those plug in (plugs into your stock deck or green security plug type alarms where its just plug and play? I think I've seen those at crutchfield.. not sure...

the harness is only found in one place on your car.. you can try to hide the brain and stealth/black out the wiring but just like a stock alarm.. the harness is always going to be in that location where the green security plug is.. if your talking about something else then explain because I wasn't really sure what your talking about

 

Well... here's what I was assuming. OEM components in a car such as the ECU or stock alarm brain usually have big plugs with bundles of wires. A completely "manual" alarm install would probably splice into the wires somewhere inside the dash. I'm guessing this harness is another bundle of wires that "piggybacks" onto the existing plugs. That would allow it to easily connect to things like the car's ECU. It would probably still require some splicing to connect to things like lights, locks, or window controls. I'm picturing something that looks like the adapter harnesses for aftermarket head units... but more complex.

I don't think these are very common... it's really hard to find information or pictures. My concern is that locations for the plugs are really predictable, so tampering with the alarm might be easy. On the other hand, a pre-made harness might look more "factory" than some installs. I don't know...


[Modified by yobtah, 11:41 PM 9/4/2002]

 

like I said.. if we're talkin about the same thing.. the factory harness is only found in ONE place..so it would be really easy to get straight to the point and find the security harness and unplug it.... you just plug the harness into the green security plug or whatever and its always in one place.. just like a factory alarm.. the harnesses and everything are usually in that one place behind the dash/radio...... whereas w/ a manual alarm install as you call it.. you can tap into the wires from many different places and put the brain wherever....


think of it as like the cars ECU... if ECU's were somehow a hot target.. then a theif would think... break in, open passenger door, rip out side kick panel.. unplug or slash ECU mounts/harnesses.. unbolt ECU.. boom done... the ECU is always in the same place.. the harnesses are always in the same place.. just like a factory or plug in alarm system...

 

I had what you are talking about in my '98 Civic, they plug in between wiring harness connectors in the drivers side kick panel near the fuse box. once they were wrapped in loom, they looked like any of the other factory wiring. in fact when my car was broken into they cut the wire to the siren but could not diasble the alarm or get the car started. The thieves did $1400 worth of damage to my steering column trying to get the car started, but they didn't steal it and insurance payed for it to be fixed. I say they are worth the extra money if that's the alarm you are going to get.

 

 

They are also called T harnesses...because of the way they are formed ( like the letterT ) Dei offers them as well as a few other companies...they were designed so that the install would go quicker by interfacing with a few needed key components without damaging the harness ( and many of us can attest to the fact that service personel just love see aftermarket items taped into factory wiring...." well Ms Johnson....it would seem that the alarm install was the cause of your oil drain plug coming undone....its not covered under warranty..."......... tru f***ggin story ) and causing conflicts at service centers. Since it is designed to resemble OEM by design...many crooks are fooled by its presence.