Do your car has factory installed alarm or an add-on later?

[pwanghk]

Greetings:

I am wondering if your car has a factory installed alarm such as RS3000/RS3200 or you add on a different brand at a later date. Which one is more reliable, factory installed or add-on?

Advance thanks for your insight thoughts.

 

[jharris2]

I'm not sure one alarm is inherently more reliable than the other -- both use integrated circuits and other electronic components internally that are highly reliable.

The big difference can come in the quality of installation. Factory install will mean that factory wiring harnesses will be a perfect match. Aftermarket can also be an exact match, but a sloppy job could be wires taped together that will give trouble in time.

Net -- if you go aftermarket, make sure you take it to a reliable shop that does good work and stands behind their installations. Some places around here offer lifetime guarantees on their installations ... and they have been in business 20 years so you know they won't fold shop and disappear tomorrow.

 

[pwanghk]

Thanks for your advice. I will double check, how long the alarm shop has been in business. I know that they are in the same viccinity of Toyota dealer that I have my car service. I prefer factory installed; unforunately, my car sale rep told me that 2004 4Runner v6 Sport Ed. doesn't come with factory installed alarm. May be it's the beginning of the 2004 season, therefore there aren't much choice for now.