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Question
QUESTION: I, just bought a 2011 silverado and had an alarm installed at the dealership. Is
this alarm just a shock sensor that warns you tcio stay away or it disables the
vehicle from starting.
ANSWER: Hello,
As much as you liked the salesperson, you over paid for whatever questionable security system they had put in.
I am not trying to hurt your feelings, you didn't know.
The two entities not to trust are the manufacturer and the dealer when it comes to security.
OK, someone made you believe you needed security which is technically. A conflict then appears to be here. GM installed the anti theft transponder system. Is the dealer telling you that the factory put an inferior anti theft system in?
When you buy an alarm from the dealer, they are the middle man and you would have been much better off going directly to an alarm store.
Now, as far as knowing what they installed and if there were any options, I have no clue without looking at the vehicle.
Dealers are notorious for having no name alarms installed (whatever they can get the best deal of the day).
I run into this very often when the vehicle is 4 or 5 years old, it develops a problem and parts are no longer available because the company is out of business.
I know buying a new vehicle can be exciting and no one likes to hear they got ripped off. Sure, it was easier to put in the financing, but you may hsve paid $500 or more for a $100 piece. Your not alone. If I hadn't worked for dealers, I would not have known.
Alarm sales, undercoating, non-factory extended warranties, custom wheels and any options non-factory are known as spiffs. Salesman gets additional commission as does the business manager and the deaker makes the biggest profit.
One example used in the 90's into early 2000 was the biggest consumer scam ever perpretated by many dealers was the so-called anti theft system know as stargard.
Dealers installed these units on every car on the lot both used and new. Suppossedly so the cars were not stolen from the lot. The other aspect was the potential to make a ton of serious cash from unsuspecting consumers in fear their car could be stolen.
The stargard was a socket installed under the steering column. The only way the engine would start even with the ignition key, required that the special (computer chipped key (as many wrongly called it) was installed in that socket.
Since these were in all the dealer's vehicles, there was a tremendous push for the sales of these units and the salesman's goal to get whatever they could from tge buyer.
There were some buyers that could not be sold this product and since this unit was already in the vehicle, a key was installed to over ride the system. The difference, between this dummy over key and the keys sold to the buyer was that the dummy over ride key was that there was no handle on the dummy key so it was permanantly installed. Where as the key the person who bought the stargard goy to of these so-called special plastic computer keys with a handle for installing and removing the key into and out of the socket.
Now, the reason I elaborate on this is fot very good reason. Now, eveyone should definately be allowed to make money if whatever it is, is legal, but items like the stargard (and there were many spiffs), and in my humble opinion, there has to be a limit one would think.
Cost on the installation of the stargard including parts was $8.
This product at the time of sale ranged from $100 to $2,000.00 if they could finace it in the loan.
Better yet, owners of stargard, prolock and others, would lose or break their spacial "computer" key and contact us as to what to do.
I suppose I could have ripped their eyeballs out as well ripping it out of their car, but I did not!
Now, for all the panic, we instructed them to insert a quarter into the socket where this special key went and they would see the engine start for them.
Thieves were fully aware of using a quarter to bypass this junk as well.
I have seen the same ripoff scam from dealers selling car buyers window etching. Again under $10 install and up to $2,000 when financed for yet another so-called anti theft system with minimal effectiveness. I know I put out a lot here for a question I cannot answer.
You need to ask your sales person and find out who installed it to answer the specic questions you have for the alarm you have in your truck.
Good luck! You are really going to enjoy that truck.
Http://www.autotheftexpert.com
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: They really want a all satisfied survey turn in. So, I might be able to do
something about this so called alarm. All it does is sound the horn and flash the
light. I, open the vehicle with the key only and nothing happen. Was able to start
the vehicle. Will talk to the after market specialist. Will let you know later what I
got installed
Hello,
They like to get you any way they can- extended warranty- are they saying the truck won't last?
Before you go after market, write me at robo14@aol.com for tips on installations you don't want to see. There are many hacks out there doing alarm installations.
Http://www.autotheftexpert.com
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Answers by Expert:
Rob Painter, ASE, CFL, CFEI
Expertise
My background in auto theft is extensive. I have been directly involved in the repair of over 10,000 theft recovered vehicles. I also do insurance investigation as to how a vehicle was last operated. My clients are insurance companies and attorneys. Was featured in the A & E auto theft documentary "Stealing Wheels" July 26, 2000. Has consulted with Daimler Chrysler steering column engineers to make their steering columns harder to defeat. Holds patent # 6,039,140 for 8 different variations to protect air bags from theft.
Experience
ROB PAINTER, ASE, CFL, CFEI Forensic Vehicle Component Analyst Diplomate, Board Certified Forensic Examiner ASE Certified Auto, Collision, Med/Hvy/Duty Truck Technician Certified Forensic Locksmith Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator Certified Forensic Auto Theft Examiner Certified Auto Theft and Fraud Expert http://www.autotheftexpert.com Email-rpainter@wi.rr.com P.O. Box 190 Big Bend, WI 53103 Phone (414) 698-9696 Fax (262) 662-1352 As per federal court rules of evidence (702) (Daubert) my testimony has qualified me as: Auto Theft and Fraud Expert Forensic Vehicle Analyst Fire Origin and Cause Expert In the trial transcript of Holiday vs Progressive Insurance Company (March 12, 2002?Eugene, Oregon) with Holiday being my client-named ?the expert for experts.? BUSINESS EXPERIENCE Founder of the ?Forensic Institute of Auto Theft Analysis? (January 2002). This is the training school that will set the standards in determining the last operation of a reported stolen vehicle-burned or unburned. Much of my testing and procedures have been accepted as the guide for the forensic community. 1986 opened Auto Recovery Specialists Inc., providing exclusive repair of theft recovered and vandalized vehicles. The initial concept of the business was to return vehicles to their original shape before the theft, vandalism or fire. In 1987 bought the rights to the theft deterrent known as the ?Chicago Collar?. Duties include complete component replacement: dash, stereo system, interior, locks and coding, rebuilding steering columns, repairing and installing vehicle security system components (factory and after market), engine components, body repair, glass replacement, repair and service of air conditioning components, brake and suspension repair, and replacement, wiring harnesses etc. to return vehicle to pre-theft condition Complete reconstruction. During the past 17 years directly involved in the repair of over 10,000 theft-recovered and fire damaged Personally examined and rebuilt thousands of steering columns on both import and domestic vehicles Internationally acknowledged as expert in auto theft including court, consulting with insurance companies, attorneys and law enforcement. Consultant on steering columns, locks, stereo systems and vehicle security for Special Investigation Units for many large insurance carriers during the past eight years. Consulting services include but not limited to: How a vehicle was last operated (with or without keys in burned or unburned vehicles), Origin and Cause of vehicle fires, and vehicle defects. Provides services as a consultant and researcher to attorneys and insurance companies, and private industry throughout the US in cases related to vehicles. Has worked with crime prevention officers throughout the US establishing training programs designed to protect the public from becoming victims of auto theft. PATENT: 3/21/00 issued patent# 6,039,140 for 8 different variations of airbag anti-theft devices. PUBLICATIONS Currently authors articles and test reports on an ongoing basis for SIUs and the forensic/vehicle fire industry. Published author: (1,297 slide training course) Auto Theft/ Fraud Training Course) ?The Modern Forensic Approach to Auto Theft Investigation.? (January, 2001) Author: ?Variables to Be Considered In Vehicle Fire Investigation after Suppression.? (Insurance publication-November 2001) Author: ?Ford Magnesium Steering Columns and the Results to Ignition Components after a Fire?. Article for peer review from the fire and forensic community. (November 2001) Author: ?The Truth About GM VATS.? (Article) (November 2001) Author: ?The Truth About GM PASSLOCK TM? (Article) (November 2001) Author:? Auto Theft Investigation: Hollywood vs. Reality? (Article) (February 2001) For the John Cooke Fraud Report. Published author: (Manual) ?Forensic Vehicle Fire/ Arson and Auto Theft Investigation? (October 2000) Published author: (Article) ?Petty Claims? for the John Cooke Fraud Report (October, 1998) Published author (Manual) ?AUTO THEFT: LET THE TRUTH BE KNOWN!? (1998) (Previously distributed by Barnes & Nobel) Co-authored the investigation manual, ?Surreptitious Entry & Auto Theft & Burn & the Investigator.? (1999) Authored test questions on the subject of steering columns and vehicle security for CFL designation to be given by the International Association of Investigative Locksmiths. January, 2000 Published author: (Manual) ?Saginaw Steering Columns-What Has Not Been Told? Training manual for fire investigators. (March 2000) Published (Article) ?Beyond The Lock? (May 2000) Published Author: (Article) Fraud Defense Network-August, 2000 Edition-?Melting Steering Column Tests.? http://www.fraudreport.com/index.cfm?month=08&year=2000 Published author: (Test Report) ?Burned Toyota Steering Column Testing to Determine How Last Operated?. Tool marks and procedures. (December 1999) Currently at the FBI Crime Lab in Washington DC and the US Army Crime Lab in Atlanta, GA for peer review. ACCOMPLISHMENTS Defeated the ?unstealable? Ford Securilock transponder system for a court case 10/10/00. They said it could not be done! Primary designer of a state of the art ?bait? car for a police department to catch car thieves. Worked with The National Highway Safety Transportation Administration and discovered a potential fire hazard on a vehicle and determined origin and cause of under hood fires on this type of vehicle. Featured as ?Auto Theft Expert? in the A & E auto theft documentary ?Stealing Wheels? that aired July 26, 2000. Contacted by Sears and Edelman Marketing to be a national spokesman for an anti theft device for vehicles. (November 1999) Invited to provide evaluation and consulting to steering column engineers at Daimler Chrysler Corporation in Auburn Hills, MI (10/19/99-10/22/99). The purpose of this project was to demonstrate how steering column locking mechanisms could be defeated without the use of a key and how to reinforce the columns against theft. Court Qualified as an Auto Theft Expert and my videos of defeating columns were also accepted by a Cleveland, Ohio Court in October 1999 as a valid piece of evidence. Contacted by Disney Touchstone Pictures for technical assistance in making the movie ?Gone in 60 Seconds? (March 1999) CONSULTANT FOR FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS ? Former contributor for The Insurance News Network (Auto theft and prevention) includes heading a forum for the public on how to protect their vehicles for 3+ years. ? Former editor and consultant for the public on matters involving auto theft and prevention 2000-2001 on the web at http://www.autotheft_forum.com. ? The Insurance Career Center (Auto theft and fraud). ? National Association of Investigative Specialists (Auto theft and fraud) ? Expert Find (Auto theft and fraud} TECHNICAL EXPERIENCE ? ASE (National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence) Certified in Auto: brakes, steering and suspension, engine repair, manual drive train and axles, air conditioning. Med/Heavy duty truck: gasoline engine repair, electrical/electronic components. Collision: elec.....
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