I would like to upgrade the stock alarm. A shock sensor and remote start would be nice. Can the stock alarm be upgraded? Or, do you need to replace the alarm system? Is this something easy to do, or should I take it to someone to do? I live in Houston, TX. Any advise would be helpful. Thanks

 

I wish I could provide you with a link, but there is a company which makes stock alarm upgrades for vert and coupe owners, it adds a radar sensor to the system. this way if someone reaches in teh car with the top down it sets the alarm off, even if they don't open anything or touch anything.

to really beef up the alarm, you'll have to go aftermarket. but there are ways to make it alittle better.

 

When I bought my 2001 I asked the dealer about "upgrading" the alarm system. The Service Manager said "bad idea" he stated that the dealership had had numerous problems with Corvettes with 3rd party alarm systems and they didn't recommend them. I even asked if this was true if the dealership did the install ... he said they would not do it.

So, being the azzhole I am I called two more dealers here in the SF Bay area .... all told me the same thing ... they do not recommend 3rd party alarms, and would not install them.

With further research I realized that the BCM is controlling both the CTD (Content Theft Deterrent) function and the VTD (Vehicle Theft Deterrent) function in the Corvette. A third party system has to interface with the BCM and ANY problem with the 3rd party system disables your car. That's why the dealers hate them ... they had worked on numerous Corvettes towed in for a "no start" condition, and after hours of diagnostics they would find it was the 3rd party alarm that was causing the problem. It was a no-win for the dealer .... they couldn't charge the time to GM as "warranty" work because it was a 3rd party problem, and the customer would be pissed when they show up to get the car and the dealer says "we have disconnected your alarm, and here's a bill for $500.00 for diagnosing the problem".

I'd stay away from 3rd party systems ... the C5 has a pretty effective CTD and VTD system, and bottom line .... who even pays attention when you hear a car alarm going off ... they're pretty much worthless ....

 

A friend of mine just got his car broken into last week. They busted the passenger side window and crawled in through the window & proceded to take his navi system along with his xm radio.

When he woke up the next morning and saw the busted glass his reaction was as expected he thought the alarm didnt go off but it did when he opened the door. He had a viper so I don't know what to say about that.

Now here's the silly part. The greedy bastards broke into his neighbors car as well after they got his stuff & her alarm went off but instead of getting up to see what was going on she just disarmed it because she thought the "Heavy winds" set the alarm off.

Bottomline is unless you have a sniper on the roof watching over your car 24/7 if they want whats in your car they will get it.