TazioNYC

What can people tell me about the 944 factory alarm (1987). Is it an ignitition cut-out or does it just beep and flash when disturbed? How robust is it?

Thanks.

Tom R.

the factory system in my 89 S2 didnt do enough to deter the thieves back in 2003.

Pcar944

My '86 has the factory alarm. All it does is to sound the horn when the door is opened, close the door and it stops. The problem I found was that there's no visible warning to the thief that there is an alarm. Heck if they smash a window then open the door the damage has been done. SO I got a LED light installed in one of the blanks that activates when the key is out of the ignition. Works like a charm. From 4 breakins over a 2 year period to 0 in 6 years.

TazioNYC

Hey Everyone,

During the PPI for my new car, the tech found that the alternator cooling hose was missing. He didn't seem to think this was a very big deal. Was thinking I would get it replaced eventually...should I be more concerned?

User 41221

It will prolong the life of your altenator, so yeah, I'd say its worth having there. Its certainly not a critoical item by any stretch of the imagination, so I wouldn't NOT buy the car because of it.

The factory alarm is only good for disabiling the car when its most inconvenient for you, or if it may be embarrassing for your horn to start honking. It won't deter any thief.

Regards,

Van

The best thing about the factory alarm is you get a discount on your insurance because of it -- at least I did. I used mine exactly once -- and set it off myself (and it did cut the ignition). Of course the door switch for the dome light didn't work, so I unlock the door, get in, go to start it, and she starts honking at me! It won't crank, so I have to jump out, use the key on the alarm switch, then get back in.

TRP951

mine didnt come with a alarm key is there any way to get one made for it?

hpservertech

Nope. bypass it and get an aftermarket one.

944 crazy

i've set my alarm off twice..and it works too well!!! ... i was at my friends house at 12 in the night..locked the car up, decided to open the rear hatch to get my stuff out with the key, and set it off!! i had the car for about a week at this point, and had no clue how to turn it off. So my friend told me to drive it away from his house, and not thinking i Tried to... managed to turn the car over for about 2 seconds and it cut off. it takes about 5 minutes to stop going off if any one is wondering (this was all in my 87 turbo.. i've yet to even bother trying the alarm with the 84'..after two years of having it, seems like with the doors locked its safe.)

Pcar944

Yours doesnt go off when you open the door but only when you start it? what year? my '86 goes off when you open the door.

Van

It was an '87 -- but, like I said, the door switch wasn't working. Otherwise opening the door would have set it off.

Mouthpiece

Mine didn't either, so I went to a locksmith who told me that he would try to make a key for $75 and that he may not be successful. I passed and watched on Ebay until an alarm lock and key came up and bought it. It took ten minutes, at best, to replace.

Mamooguy

I doubt you get much of a discount on insurance if the car is 20 years old or older.

Mine didn't have the factory alarm installed, but just today I had a BestBuy cheapo jobber installed with remote entry. Cost me peanuts and works great. And it has a flashing light in the dash.

If you stick with the factory alarm, at least put some alarm stickers in the windows, or install an LED somewhere to let the douches know it's there.

TazioNYC

any good place to get an alarm sticker or an LED?

Mamooguy

Ebay's drowning in 'em.