So who actually alarms their truck?

I've never set a car alarm in my life and probably never will. I lived in the Cleveland area for a while had a jeep before the Tacoma with no alarm to speak of anyway, and I would lock the doors at least UNTIL I had someone just slice through the top to get the pocket change in my console. Crackhead I'm guessing. They could have been courteous and at least just unzipped the window to get in instead of cutting my top but anyway, after that I got into the habit of just not ever leaving anything of value in my vehicles and keeping the door unlocked in case they want to check without breaking or slicing a window. This was shortly followed by the habit of not ever running doors at all until it started snowing again

Obviously I have the truck now but still, leaving it emptyish isn't always an option for me or for many others but I still never set an alarm. We live rurally now and it's not much of a concern but even when we did still live in the Cleveland area, seemed to me car alarms were largely useless. They go off so often as false alarms that no one even looks up anymore when they hear one, they just wait for that goddamn awful sound to stop. And even if you look towards the offending vehicle and see its lights flipping out and all, aside from seeing a theif actively breaking a window and stealing shit looking all suspicious, how do you know whoever is by the car doesn't own the car? A halfway clever thief would just play it cool, look around, wave at the few people who take notice, look all embarrassed, dramatically shake and press their keys to act like they're trying to get the situation under control and shut your car up. Then take off with the aftermarket radio or CD binder or gps or whatever it is people steal from cars these days.


I've seen some alarm mod/ upgrade threads in the portal recently that got me to thinking how many people actually use their alarms and are they ever actually useful? Not bashing the use of alarms, just curious here.

 

Everytime i park i alarm it. But i live in Fresno

 

When I was 16-17 I owned Honda civic a like many young people at the time. I worked at our local mall which had security patrol. I had some "Mods" done and a nice stereo so had I also put an aftermarket alarm on it, with motion proxy detection and all that.. Long story short I had it parked in a relativity open area off to the side of the main parking lot. In broad daylight on like a Tuesday morning I had my window smashed and my stereo ripped out my hood was popped (assuming to disable) and my trunk wide open just sitting there waiting for me when I had to go outside to get something for work.. Moral of the story is alarms are really not worth while, if someone wants in they will get it.. It will only deter teenagers.. I am not exactly living in the Bronx either.. Never bothered with an alarm since that car..

 

Everyone I would hope

 

I don’t get your question.

Cars for the last 20 years have factory alarm systems that activate when you lock the vehicle.

You don’t get a choice in not enabling the alarm.

If I had a choice I would disable it. My biggest pet peeve with the alarm is that ALL the doors don’t unlock when I hit the unlock button

 

@PackCon, the Tacoma doesn't have a factory alarm, along with many other late model vehicles, just an immobilizer

 

My Tacoma has a factory alarm. Use it all the time.

 

I voted yes because when i got my tools in the truck. The alarm is a 2 way remote start. I'll be alerted if someone is messing with the truck

Sitting in my driveway, no...

 

You lock the door with the fob, then try to unlock the doors.
An alarm goes off.

Unless alarm is supposed to mean something else????

 

Have you confirmed that this happens? I know for a fact that my taco only has keyless entry and an immobilizer. There was an OEM accessory alarm that integrates with the factory keyless entry but it is dealer installed.

 

It happens on my 13.

 

immobilizer?

 

I usually never lock it, if someone wants something they will find a way to get it so this way I don't have to pay for a window or body work if they try to punch under the lock. My keys are in the cup holder most of the time too. The only time I lock it is if I have to leave it in a parking garage for an extended period of time. I'm that guy that also leaves the truck running with the A/C on with my dog in there while I go grocery shopping.

 

always lock my truck with the fob as that sets the aftermarket dealer installed KARR alarm on. so noise (glass break sensor) is active.

I live and work in an area with very low crime. But dont trust a soul as far as i could throw them cus people as a whole are messed.

 

If you are wondering if your vehicle is equipped with a factory alarm, look at your key. Do you see a red button with the word HOLD on it. Press it down and hold - see what happens.
Both my 2014 4Runner SR5 2WD and my 2015 Tacoma PreRunner 4.0L have this HOLD button and yes - when depressed and held for a bit, the alarm sounds.

Here's a cut-n-paste from my 2014 4Runner's owners manual. I don't see the same in my 2015 Tacoma owners manual:

The alarm uses light and sound to give an alert when an intrusion is
detected.
The alarm is triggered in the following situations when the alarm is
set:
● A locked door is unlocked or opened in any way other than using
the entry function, wireless remote control or mechanical key. (The
doors will lock again automatically.)
● The hood is opened.

I can remove/reinstall the battery on my 4Runner/Tacoma w/o the alarm sounding. If I remove the battery on my 2006 Avalon, the alarm will sound when I reinstall the battery.

 

"Cars for the last 20 years have factory alarm systems that activate when you lock the vehicle."

Cars maybe but deeziz trucks.


ALL Tacomas do NOT come with a key fob or alarm. Some don't even have pwr windows, mirrors or door locks. Let's go with "there are exceptions to everything" shall we?

In regularcabville there are only aftermarket alarms. I have a club on the steering wheel and one of those undefeatable pedal locks that I put on the clutch pedal. No pressy clutch to floor no starty z motor. You'll get shot before you saw or cut thru the steering wheel lock. Wheel locks, 3 tailgate locks, Tonneau much more connected to truck than the 4 lame bracket things..................and garages to park in at work/home. All that = RC alarm.

 

Yes. I also have an alarm button on my key fob.

 

Not sure if serious? I have a manual and there is a little button to the left of the steering wheel which allows me to starty z motor w/o depressing the clutch.

 

Well all this goes to show I didn't know much about the alarm system. I'll have to play around see if it's been setting itself unbeknownst to me this whole time. I don't even carry my fob with me, I hate the extra bulk and like to carry as few keys and things in my pockets as I can.

 

Sure am serious, 2008, no button left of wheel for anything in SR5 RC when I got it - no fogs no nothin. Has 2 fog switches, lightbar switch, rr locker switch, bluetoof fon button & pwr mirror switch now but no button to sidestep clutch pedal.

This was after adding 2 sets of fogs but still pretty empty..........