[thekiffer]

First the factory stereo: Does anyone have problems with the Factory system turning off randomly? I have only had this happen listening to the Radio but it doesn't just go in and out of tune it shuts all the way off and turns itself back on.

Second this isn't really and issue but I have the Alarm and the manual said it is supposed to make the horn go off when you try to open the locked door and I can't make mine go off?? Is this something that can be adjusted? I couldn't find the info in the manual.

[Bownse]

neither of these problems for my dgm. the radio (w/subswoofer) works like expected and the alarm sets off the horn.

i just got my shock sensor from genuinesubaruparts, installed it myself (easy) and then took it to the dealership to have them set the ECU to activate it and set the sensitivity ($45 for about 0.5 hours shop time but they also washed and vacuumed it like they have with our 03 wrx, too). with the shock sensor there is a light-tap warning and a hard-tap alarm trigger.

[GilMikalian]

First issue: never happened to me.

2d issue: i've never tried.

[Rum]

Originally Posted by GilMikalian

First issue: never happened to me.

2d issue: i've never tried.

me as well.

[STIcer]

How do you open a locked door?




If you reffering to the shock sensor, you need to set the sensitivity to the high level and even then you have to pull the handle pretty vigorously... it works better for window breaks...

oh yeah and you need the OPTIONAL shock sensor installed

[thekiffer]

Originally Posted by STIcer

How do you open a locked door?




If you reffering to the shock sensor, you need to set the sensitivity to the high level and even then you have to pull the handle pretty vigorously... it works better for window breaks...

oh yeah and you need the OPTIONAL shock sensor installed

without the shock sensor if you lift the handle on the door the horn should sound and the lights should flash. The shock sensor is an option that makes those things go off if it is bumped. At least that is how I understand it from the Manual.

[Bownse]

Originally Posted by thekiffer

without the shock sensor if you lift the handle on the door the horn should sound and the lights should flash. The shock sensor is an option that makes those things go off if it is bumped. At least that is how I understand it from the Manual.

true.

most (car) alarm systems work via detecting changes in voltage in the system.

1. open the door
2. hold down the plunger that turns the dome light on/off when the door is opened/closed
3. set the alarm via the key fob
4. release the plunger to see if the alarm works when the door is "opened"

alternately

1. roll down the window
2. close the doors
3. set the alarm
4. reach in, manually unlock and open the door


ps: yes, the shock sensor is optional. i posted elsewhere about buying one and installing it myself (getting the dealer to then activate it and set the sensitivity via their computer system).

[thekiffer]

Originally Posted by Bownse

true.

most (car) alarm systems work via detecting changes in voltage in the system.

1. open the door
2. hold down the plunger that turns the dome light on/off when the door is opened/closed
3. set the alarm via the key fob
4. release the plunger to see if the alarm works when the door is "opened"

alternately

1. roll down the window
2. close the doors
3. set the alarm
4. reach in, manually unlock and open the door


ps: yes, the shock sensor is optional. i posted elsewhere about buying one and installing it myself (getting the dealer to then activate it and set the sensitivity via their computer system).

Thanks, I will try these. I read the setting of the alarm through the key fob in the manual like six times cause I kept trying to make it go off and it wouldn't but I will try with the plunger and the windows down and see what happens.

[Bownse]

some other options (as described in the manual)

tap the "lock" button 3 times quickly to get your horn to honk a few times (parking lot finder function)

push the red panic button on the back of the fob (either when in a panic, or when you want everyone in a busy parking lot to look at you - hands full of shopping bags and trying to push the unlock button without looking)

-update-
the first function is an actual, documented function (and it's 1 honk as i checked after the original post)

[thekiffer]

Originally Posted by Bownse

some other options (as described in the manual)

tap the "lock" button 3 times quickly to get your horn to honk a few times (parking lot finder function)

push the red panic button on the back of the fob (either when in a panic, or when you want everyone in a busy parking lot to look at you - hands full of shopping bags and trying to push the unlock button without looking)

Will do! I might wait until my wife is in front of the car for the last one.....

[maron10]

Not to Hijack, but I have a quick question about the Subaru sub woofer. Does it really make that big of a difference in bass sound? I would prefer to stay stock and get a descent satisfiable nice bass, but nothing that would rock my block when I come in late at night. I'm on the fence with the stock system overall sound quality.

[Bownse]

Consider the size of the package.

Bass is all about moving volumes of air. It helps but it ain't no Becker Kicker system.

There are two controls on it that are essentially

1. Frequency filter (the point at which the sub will get a signal to process)
2. Boost (the internal amp "volume control")

As mine came from the factory, the boost was low enough that the mids ended up booming when the audio head bass was set to get some sub action. Trial and error gets the on-speaker controls adjusted so that they can add tight low-end bass without needing to drive the mids (in the doors) to muddiness (booming). Think of a well-adjusted tom tom instead of a marching band bass drum. These settings are entirely subjective so it's up to you to fine tune your system.

The process of adjusting the sub is laborious as you have to listen, get out and look under the driver seat, adjust, get back in and listen again. Rinse and repeat.

I now have mine where music is perfect at a bass setting of zero (flat), mids at +2 and highs also at +2. For talk, i tend to adjust bass down to -4 (since talk is mostly mids and highs anyway). Since each source is slightly different, I sometimes have to adjust the low/mid/high mix, but it's all within range of the (OEM basic) control head on the dash now.

[maron10]

Thanks for the info

[STIcer]

Originally Posted by thekiffer

without the shock sensor if you lift the handle on the door the horn should sound and the lights should flash. The shock sensor is an option that makes those things go off if it is bumped. At least that is how I understand it from the Manual.

alarm will go on without opening the door

is there a lift handle sensor on every door? What would be the point for that?

I'm gonna check the manual again>

[thekiffer]

Well the radio is deffinately a loose connection somewhere. For the first time today I hit a bump and the Radio turned on and then off again.

I the lights and the horn go off when I hit the panick button on the key fob.
This part to me is hilarious: I got in the car and set the alarm with the key fob which automatically locks the doors. I waited until the alarm was set and tried to open the door. Nothing. So I manually unlocked it and then tried to get out and then the Alarm went off. Soooo if my car is ever unlocked with Alarm on, which won't happen because to set the alarm with the key fob you have to lock it, then my alarm will go off.

Does this protect me somehow? Can the car set the alarm automatically so if I forget to the lock the door and then someone tries to get in it will go off? Or is my crap just not set right. I am confused.