I bought a dual-stage vibration sensor and I'm having trouble locating a good spot for it. I tried a few spots throughout the cockpit, but nothing really seems to work. I could kick the tires without it going off. I finally decided that I'm going to have to bite the big one and mount it to the steering column.

So how do I go about doing that? Just zip-tie it to the column? How much extra wire do I need to include so it doesn't get tied up when I turn the wheel?

 

First a few things about shocks sensors. IF your shock sensor triggers the alarm when you kick the tires the sensor is too sensitive and not doing it's job. The job of a shock sensor is to trigger the alarm when a break in occurs from an impact to the vechicles windows. The purpose of a dual stage is to first trigger the alarm when something that is not really a threat to the vechicle. Like someone accidentally bumps it or thunder..this is to help prevent false alarms. So if you set your shock sensor to go off when the tires are kicked your alarm will false with thunder, wind, a motorcycle or loud truck drives by or if I start my car next to yours. That happened the other day. In any of those cases the alarm is not doing it's job...it is not an expensive noise maker. Your alarm should only trigger from an intrusion.
Now the location...steering column is a very good place for it. I personally mount all of my shock sensors to a very large group of wires under the dash. I do this because I have found that i get a much more even dispersion of coverage instead of having alot in the drivers area and some everywhere else. Using a wire tie is fine to mount it with. If you choose the steering column..it is a good spot and will work fine. There is no need for extra wire length..the column itself does not rotate, the shaft inside does.
You mention kick the tires. If you are looking for something to protect your wheels I highly suggest a digital tilt sensor. Very fine piece of equipment that will trigger if your car is being jacked up.

 

Very fine point! Yes, I'm looking for something that will go off if they try to steal my wheels. I'll have a radar sensor for INSIDE the car, so I'm not too worried about break-ins. I also don't want it to me so sensative that it goes off all the time, but I figure a swift kick to the tires *should* set it off. It didn't.
A digital tilt sensor, eh?
Where does one obtain one of those babies?
Thabnks for the info on the steering column- I was thinking it had to be mounted to the steering SHAFT.
I'll remove the lower kick panel and see if I can find a good spot for it.


[Modified by Umrswimr, 8:01 AM 6/9/2004]

 

Clifford makes one and last I knew Viper had one. Both companies are owned by DEI. I check the DEI web site and found nothing on the sensor. Check with your local DEI dealer and they should be able to get you one. Dont go for the cheap way with a mecury tilt switch. Those are not the same as a digital tilt. A mercury tilt will not work correctly if parked on a hill and does not give the same coverage as the digital tilt. The digital tilt sensor is one of the best products ever made for car security.

 

Thanks... I found the Clifford one. $80.

Oh well- better than losing my $4k wheels and tires, right?

 

Correct...it really does work. I had a prototype several years ago to test. I put it on my gf's lowered Honda Civic and there was no location on the car that I could jack it up high enough to remove the wheel. Another test I did was I jacked the car up really high and then lowered it while the alarm was armed. That triggered the alarm also. You will be very happy with it.