Alarms for the 03 X?? - Diesel Forum

jnomura · 04-29-2003, 04:53 PM

It seems that the 03 X does not come with an alarm option only the passive antitheft. The dealer says they can install a 'ford' alarm the hooks into the harness for $495 (fleet cost). Any recomendations on what to install? Can the 'ford' alarm be ordered and be installed by the owner to save some $$$?

Thanks in advance,
Jim

coldpizza · 04-29-2003, 07:20 PM

Jim,

I purchased a Ford Factory alarm for my '02 X from a local installation company in Los Angeles; $341 installed, w/ tax. In doing a search on the internet, I found a website for a supplier on the east coast (I think) that sells the factory alarms for DIY install.

I too was quoted the $495 dealer install (and I'm trying to get that money back, as when I went to schedule the install, they said it was Ford compatible, not Ford). The system I now have is Ford and the instruction manual has Ford and the logo all over it. It refers you to a Ford phone number for help. Of course, I think it is made by the CodeAlarm company. Hope this helps.

Len

jnomura · 04-30-2003, 01:41 PM

Len,

Thanks for the info. I checked codealarm and found a distributor for the 'power code' systems supposedly used by ford. They have a base system type 4 (something like EA 4) that is for vehicles with keyless entry. It has no siren but uses the horn. When added to the Limited X package it does everything the high end alarm does less remote start. The cost is good at $150 plus $7 for the install manual.

I just may give them a try,
Jim

Bruce1954 · 04-30-2003, 03:07 PM

There are many options out there, I found that most alarms are "compatible". Code alarm is sold by Ford, they say it is a unique to Ford unit they have several) however after digging into it a bit I found that this does not = an easier install. After I found that all had to wired in the hard way I just went on Ebay for the best cheapest one I could find that had a good web site with manuals and a tech number.
I used a Ultra-Start 2250 ( ultrastarters.com ) I bought it on Ebay for about $90.00 and Added the "Ford factory" (by Code-Alarm?) PATS bypass module for another $35.00.

If you do an alarm and a remote start this is not an easy plug it in install, I could find no units that would do this. You have to chase a few wires a bit and ford wiring diagrams were helpful.
I also bought an "Installers Guide" off ebay for $6.00 for the emailed .PDF this helped some.
I must say after I finished, it works great. All together I have about 10 to 12 hours in wiring because I could not do it all at once, a few hours here and there. Also at the same time I added a rather elaborate turbo saver circuit that operates from my EGT gauge.
On the first try the 30 amp turbo saver relay would click every time you hit the break, and I found this rather annoying.
So then it got a little fancy because I only wanted it to function in park or neutral and to disengage if the brake were depressed to prevent theft.
This involved several relays and putting a diode into the start circuit to use the coil of the starter relay in the Junction Box as the ground, It works great but took a little thought to get it right

Be sure you get a unit that will do a "Timed Diesel" start as there is no way to get an output from the wait to start light as it is part of the "network" in the dash, for my 2002 anyway.

The Ultra start had both a wait to start wire and several programmable timings, seems to work fine at the default 15 seconds.

I am sure that I could have done just the remote start/alarm in about 6 hours, this is "doing it right" mostly soldered connections, all remote start wires must be soldered because of the high amperage. I also soldered anything that was more than a few amps like the parking lights.

The only thing that did not work the first time was the "From Ford Parts" PATS bypass, since I had no instructions (they must come with the main unit) I put it to far back on the lock cylinder but after I got it working it has stayed working, in fact I can use a regular $1.25 key and drive the truck, just start with the Remote, turn on the key and go I have thought about just using a regular key and hiding the pats key in the back someplace so I do not have to carry that big a** key, the fob is big enough, it is a bit larger than the stock fob but not much.

The ultra start and I am sure others has more functions and options than I will ever use, Like run it for 15 minutes each hour to keep it warm and so on.

Hope this helps

Bruce

agapemou · 05-01-2003, 05:42 AM

"I purchased a Ford Factory alarm for my '02 X from a local installation company in Los Angeles; $341 installed, w/ tax. In doing a search on the internet, I found a website for a supplier on the east coast (I think) that sells the factory alarms for DIY install."

ColdPizza, could you post the name of the placein LA you got your alarm installed. That is what I want and cannot find a place here in San Diego to do it other than a dealer for $600.

coldpizza · 05-01-2003, 03:28 PM

Agapemou,

The company was Rock Enterprises at 562-595-7625.

Ford Security System #4: $200 parts, $16.50 tax, and $125 labor.

It's been in for about 2 weeks and so far so good.

No affiliation, and not much time, but seems like a good install.

Good luck. Now if someone could point me to an installer for the factory DVD....

Len