Alarm confusion... any fitters in Devon area?

[kangaroo 0]

I've been having a terrible time getting the VR insured, of the ones that'll actually insure me they want a thatcham approved alarm.

 

Now... The VR in question has the standard factory fit alarm, (as far as I know). Its got small square key-fob with two square buttons on it. And the 'brains' of the alarm seem to be located in the engine bay, near the ABS 'box-o-tricks', and it has a little key thingy to turn it on and off...

 

QUESTION: Can I get the current alarm checked over and certified? Is it a thatcham approved alarm?

 

If not, does anyone know a reputable alarm fitter in the DEVON area?

 

Thanks,

~Matt.

[SoundsAlarming 0]

if the immobiliser sets itself after 30ish seconds theres a fair chance its CAT1 and provided it was installed before 1999 any VSIB installer can check it over and certify it.

 

If not then its not approved and you will need a new installation.

 

I would recommend a Toad Ai606 for a CAT1 or an Auto Watch 172 for a CAT2

[dazzyvr6 0]

the brains your on about is just the siren,and the key is to turn the siren off,the brains will be hidden somewhere inside the dashboard

[MoonlightVR 0]

Kangarooboy The alarm you are referring to is the original fit item by VW when the car was new. It was made by Scorpion. I'm 99% sure that it is no longer Cat1 approved. Given that it's probably the car's original alarm/immob it's probably best you replace it, as it will fail at some point!

 

There's loads on the market to choose from depending on how many features you want.

 

I replaced my VW original with a Sigma M30. A basic no nonsense Cat 1 device that has a good rep for reliablity and no false alarms - more important for me than remote start, headlight activation etc

[dazzyvr6 0]

if the immobiliser sets itself after 30ish seconds theres a fair chance its CAT1 and provided it was installed before 1999 any VSIB installer can check it over and certify it.

 

If not then its not approved and you will need a new installation.

 

I would recommend a Toad Ai606 for a CAT1 or an Auto Watch 172 for a CAT2

 

 

it is still classed as a cat1 alarm,as soundsalarming stated :)

[MoonlightVR 0]

Fair enough, but I was told by several sources a few years back that it was no longer approved. As I said, given it's age I threw caution to the wind. Better safe than sorry.

[dazzyvr6 0]

they always declassify alarms as new technology comes along,its just to stop confusion as there would be 100's of alarms on the market otherwise,if they were fitted before the declassified date then the still class them as cat1

[kangaroo 0]

if the immobiliser sets itself after 30ish seconds theres a fair chance its CAT1 and provided it was installed before 1999 any VSIB installer can check it over and certify it.

 

Yes! That's it! It enables the immobliser after a short time. And I'm pretty much sure it was installed before '99, in fact I think it came with the car. Any idea what make/model it is? I've got no details on it!

 

But I just phoned a local car-security specialist and they said that if it was a manufacter-fitted system then they couldn't issue an approved certificate...!?? Huh? I don't understand! :|

 

(Oh, and what does VSIB stand for? )

 

Cheers,

~Matt.

[dazzyvr6 0]

it will more than likely be a scoprpion alarm,cant remeber the number,think its 5000 or something like that

[dazzyvr6 0]

vsib=Vehicle Systems Installation Board

[kangaroo 0]

Ah! Its a Scorpion! Thankyou MoonlightVR! I missed your post before making my last one.

 

So if I take it to an alarm-specialist and get them to check it over can they issue me a certificate for my insurance company? I need to find a place that does this without all the hassle I just had from the last one....

 

And yes, I would get a nice new cat1 installed, but I'm living in the red already... Even the piggy-bank has been raided for this months food. :cry:

 

~Matt.

[SoundsAlarming 0]

The scorpion system is CAT1 issue 1 approved and as long as it was originaly installed before 1999 it will always be CAT1 approved, all you need is a VSIB apporved installer to check it over for corect operation and he can issue you with a cert.

 

Some dealers will fob you off and try to tell you that issue 1 systems are no longer approved but thats bollox.

 

Arm yourself with some info from http://www.vsib.co.uk before you take it in.

[SoundsAlarming 0]

But I just phoned a local car-security specialist and they said that if it was a manufacter-fitted system then they couldn't issue an approved certificate...!?? Huh? I don't understand!

 

The scorpion systems were dealer fit not OE fit

[kangaroo 0]

Okay, thanks for your advice dazzyvr6, SoundsAlarming and MoonlightVR. You're extremely helpful!

 

I phoned an alarm specialist this morning and they said they would have a look at it for me. They can draw up a new certificate if it was originally an approved device and passes their tests. I'll gem up on the VSIB stuff before i go down there too.

 

I'll probably get a whole new system when I have the money, but for now even a cat2 certificate will be enough to satisfy the insurers.

 

Will let you know what happens!

 

Thanks, :)

~Matt.