Toyota ESS alarm

[arjan]

Does anybody have some info on this alarm?

I bought a 2002 4Runner a couple of months back and the alarm is acting up a bit sometimes.

I also don't like that if you unlock your doors, and don't start the vehicle within a minute, it kills the starter again.
Then I first have to press unlock again, before I can start it.

The pamphlet that with the vehicle just describes the basic stuff, and mentioned that the start disable can be turned off if the vehicle is not armed.

I would like to know how, I figured that somebody here might have some more info on this type of alarm.

[MTL_4runner]

I'd just disable it and install an aftermarket one myself.
Sorry, don't have any info on it for you though.

[corax]

can you just unplug the control module for the alarm?

[arjan]

That crossed my mind also. In my '97 I have an alpine alarm, but alpine doesn't make them anymore. It has worked flawlessly since 2002.

I talked to toyota, they referred me to a guy that services them here in area. Apparently a Canadian made alarm, he does the programming, is not willing to share the programming info.

Told him that I'll then just rip it out and install something else. He claims you won't find much better and that I'll be ripping out and throwing away $480.
Told him I don't care, I want something I can program and control and play with as I wish. He didn't like that obviously, I left it at that.
Then I got the whole spell about it being dangerous to play with car electronics and that you can easily damage something if you make a mistake.
Seems to me he feels easily threatened when somebody steps into his territory.

That was my fun for the day sofar.

My alpine has a jumper inside the control box which turns the alarm from a disable into and ignition enable control
Basically I ran my ignition through a relay high up under the dash, and when the alarm is disarmed & the ignition key is in the on position, the alarm module turns that relay on. The relay then allows the vehicle to start.
That way if you cut power to the alarm module, or you disconnect it, the vehicle will never start.
Most other ones turn on a relay to cut power when the alarm is tripped. A bit backwards imo.

[MTL_4runner]

I installed a Viper alarm in both my vehicles and that guy is absolutely full of shizzle. If you didn't have the slightest clue you could do some damage but most people with some technical skill could remove and install an alarm system.

Have a look at photos for my Viper 550 ESP alarm install.
http://rides.webshots.com/album/109253034GvuWek

[arjan]

I know Jamie, I've installed a couple over the years also.

I went under the dash and all the markings on the unit are
- KE-114C (didn't return anything through google)
- NAH800R (hit paydirt, it's a unit from autostart.ca)

Entered the serial number on the unit, and the autostart.ca website verified it as valid!!!

I've been going through their manuals, trying to find something that seems to resemble my alarm.

I found the NTW400. The box is very similar, the remote not at all. It is a 2 way, mine isn't. It did get me into the programming mode though. I am not quite where I would like to be yet though.

The person who installed this use the crimps that cut into the wire. I found out today that the one that locks the doors doesn't have a good connection. I think that's where all my grief came from to begin with.

At least if I install another alarm, I don't have to go hunting for all the right wires. I can follow the existing ones and solder the connection properly.

As a side note, I have seen the ESS alarms around on toyotas before. My parents had one on their previous corolla also.
I guess it is a Canadian thing.
Who knows, somebody else might come across these posts and find something usefull here.