My brick was recently broken into and all they took was the radio...because there is nothing else to take. I was thinking of putting an alarm in..it it just not worth it.

Someone told me about these fake looking red pulsating Led's that you can wire into your car, place on your dash somewhere...and to the thiefs it looks like the car is alarmed.

My question is what could I wire this to? to make it work? I installed a new radio myself (with a detachable faceplate - whihc hopefully will deter some thiefs) and have limited knowledge on the rest of the cars wiring...

any input would be appreciated.

Thanks - dpdy

After putting a good stereo in my son's 81, I installed one of those flashing LED's - a Radio Schlock cheapie but it works fine. You only want it flashing with the key off otherwise it's a real distraction at night. I used a little printed circuit board relay from Jameco electronics ($1.79) which is the SPDT type where one pair of terminals are connected until you power it up. The relay coil is wired to fuse No. 1 so it turns "off" when the ignition is at Position I or II. So the relay has constant power (Fuse No. 8) to its input, and switched power (Fuse No. 1) to its coil. Its output feeds the LED. LED ground and relay coil ground are wired together. The relay is so small (1x1x2cm) that it and the LED fit in behind the upper steering column trim panel. I drilled a little hole in the panel approximately above the ignition switch and the LED is pressed in. Works great - only comes on when you turn the key fully off. Total cost was about $4.
--
Bob (81-244GL B21F, 83-244DL B23F, 94-944 B230FD; plus grocery-getter Dodge minivan, MGB, and numerous old motorcycles)

You can run a wire over to the fuse box. Pick a lug on a fuse that is always powered such as #8. Simply attach the femail side of the connection to the male connector on the fuse box. Run the wire to your light and from there to any suitable ground nearby.

Randy

I had a blue pulsing light just like you mention installed for the exact same reason. It seems enough of a deterent, but if they want in, they will get in anyway they want.
The wiring is very simple as it just needs to be wired to the ignition constant power line, and a ground. Most of these things include basic crude instructions anyhow.

Piece of cake, and a good investment for the price.

Good luck
-Phil
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Phil Sinnott '81 245 630,000kms

Hello,

Alarms are annoying. Nobody pays any attention to them except for pissed off neighbours at 3am. Professionals will cut or drill out the battery rendering the alarm useless. A little red flashing light or one of those battery powered motion sensing pain generators is plenty enough to scare away the little twirps who steal radios. Check your local pawn shops or the nearest gaudy Honda Civic for the whereabouts of your former radio.

Happy Bricking!!!
--
Richard - '87 245 DL , '82 242 GLT - Half a million km between them!!!