AutoMotive Security Systems

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Fri Oct 14, 2011 12:23 pm

In my old 1993 Ford pickup, I have an old Prestige APS2 security system installed.

A few days ago the alarm went off while the truck was sitting in the driveway. I reset it and began to walk away. I reset it again and all was well until a couple hours later. Same routine for a couple days running. It became imperative that I do something permanent. I finally decided the problem had to be the motion sensor so I cut power to the sensor.

This was sorta like a bomb squad manueuver. No wiring diagram. Pick a wire and cut. Red, black and blue were my choices. Red was my first choice but I decided NO. Black was my next choice but I had second thought. Cut the blue - silenced the alarm.

Using a part number from the part, I was able to locate a replacement.

Now I want to put it all make together but I would like to know what is what while I am doing this. One of the features of this system involves an ignition kill function. I really do not want to disable the vehicle.

Have you ever tried to get a wiring diagram for something like this. Google gives me a long list of contacts but nobody is willing to provide wiring instructions. They all want to sell a system or perform the necessary repairs.

I guess it is wire trace time but in that old Ford I gotta be especially careful that I don't install problems as I go. The wiring is sorta like me, stiff and hard to move.

Just in case, however I must ask. Does anyone out there have a wiring diagram for a 1993 Prestige APS2 Single Button Vehicle Alarm System?

Ed in Tampa · Post by **Ed in Tampa** » Fri Oct 14, 2011 1:40 pm

My opinion car alarms are like door locks they keep out honest thieves.

I use to eat lunch at a shopping mall across the street from where I worked.

We watched a guy steal a Corvette while the police was watching him. He walked up to the car as if he owned it and in the time it would take most of us to put a key in the door he had pulled the lock and opened the door.

This of course set off the alarm, which of course alerted the police. This guy was so good he started kicking he car and cursing, yelling that he thought the damn alarm system was fixed. He finally pulled enough wires to stop the alarm and got in and began to drive away.

Again he pulled he column lock in the time it takes most of us to put a key. This car had a delayed theive disable so as he drove away the car stopped. He jumped out and put on such a show the cops were laughing at his antics.

In the mean time he pulled an anti thief bucket that was over the ignition, pulled the disable wires, rewired the car and put the bucket back on so the ignitiion would work all the while under the watchful eye of the cops.

When he finished he jumped back in the car, high fived the cops and drove off. A minute later the real owner started screaming that someone stole his brand new Corvette. By then our thief was long gone.

They found the car a day later, basically all that was lieft was a sub frame that was being used to fix a crashed Corvette everything else was chopped and sold.

Now I pay my insurance and carry a cell phone so I can get a ride home.

cincinnati · Post by **cincinnati** » Fri Oct 14, 2011 4:51 pm

There was a show on TV the other night that showed pro's at their game. They now use a small computer box, Jump in the car, hook it up to the port under your dash and drive away.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Fri Oct 14, 2011 4:59 pm

cincinnati wrote:There was a show on TV the other night that showed pro's at their game. They now use a small computer box, Jump in the car, hook it up to the port under your dash and drive away.

That's the advantage of having an old truck. I've got no computer port for them to plug into.

fjimp · Post by **fjimp** » Fri Oct 14, 2011 6:26 pm

I have walked by a pickup in a parking lot several times and noted the guy has one of those bars with a lock that keeps the steering wheel from turning. Finally I walked by when the guy was getting out of the truck and asked about the old fashioned anti thief device. He explained his model pickup was one of highest on the list of favorites to be stolen. When he asked police about the best way to keep from having it stolen, they suggested the steel bar and a lock. Now I know why my brother in law wanted mine so badly. Fjimp

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Fri Oct 14, 2011 6:41 pm

fjimp wrote:I have walked by a pickup in a parking lot several times and noted the guy has one of those bars with a lock that keeps the steering wheel from turning. Finally I walked by when the guy was getting out of the truck and asked about the old fashioned anti thief device. He explained his model pickup was one of highest on the list of favorites to be stolen. When he asked police about the best way to keep from having it stolen, they suggested the steel bar and a lock. Now I know why my brother in law wanted mine so badly. Fjimp

I have the lock bar too. Living as close as I do to the border I must protect my old Ford pickup. They are high on the list of "most stolen". My neighbor works for the Border Patrol. He says crew cabs are very good for running illegals across the border on the back roads.

They don't want to use mine for that. It won't make it the the dry wash.

cincinnati · Post by **cincinnati** » Sat Oct 15, 2011 12:41 am

Best security system I saw was a guy who hid a switch that cut off the battery. No battery power, car not going anywhere.

pennview · Post by **pennview** » Sat Oct 15, 2011 8:19 am

Cincinnati, I'm curious about that TV show, how did these modern car thieves with their computer get around the steering wheel lock that requires your ignition key to release?

cincinnati · Post by **cincinnati** » Sat Oct 15, 2011 10:50 am

pennview wrote:Cincinnati, I'm curious about that TV show, how did these modern car thieves with their computer get around the steering wheel lock that requires your ignition key to release?

I don't recall. They were in and down the road in just seconds. They were pro's hired by the TV show to take their truck. They then took it to a chop shop and showed how they swap all the parts out with a clean frame from a junk yard. They were done in 24 hrs.

brick1 · Post by **brick1** » Tue Oct 18, 2011 9:08 pm

Hey Dusty, I've been fairly successful finding older diagrams on the net....i dont have one but i will be gald to help you look. sometimes when work is slow, i go the library and catch up necessary "lookin" and "readin".......

and that aint an "old" pickup!!! fords dont get old, they just serve their master better and better!!! and get better lookin!!!!!!

take care, bill