Q: Infrared sensors with the top down

[vbhagwan]

Went to Stevens Creek porsche, met with Chris, picked up the clip for <$8 ($7.xx). He just gave me a used one (it appeared that he had one lying around), but of course charged me full price

In any case, thanks all for your help with this! Now I can step away from my car when the top is down (but only for a min or two, don't want to tempt the neighborhood cat or the kids chewing gum )

[RandallNeighbour]

Well, don't get too cheeky about the infrared's efficiency. It really only scans the area around the cubby holes and as far back as the shifter.

Anyone can reach down and get things out of your door pockets, so keep your windows rolled up to the top when using the red clip. This really cuts down on people being able to reach into the car to snag stuff.

BTW, I NEVER leave my radar detector on the windshield when I step away from the car. If the wife is with me and we're in a public place with a lot of cars and people, I will often ask her to put it in her purse in case someone watched me drive into the parking lot. Of course, pulling down as I enter a crowded place is the best course of action, but you probably know all of this.

The other thing you must watch out for is thugs stealing your center windstop and your roll bar inserts. They pop out very quickly, are not tied to the alarm system, aren't covered by the infrared sensor, and sell very quickly on fleaBay. Someone said they took a couple of long black zip ties and secured the roll bar inserts at the bottom where it was not noticeable and that seems to keep sticky fingers from popping them out or the insert from blowing out on the freeway when a gust of wind hits them just right or worst of all, when one's passenger decides to recline their seat so far back that the headrest pushes it out of its place.

You made a good point with the gum. People of all ages can be disrespectful when they are envious and I had someone spit out their gum into my driver's side and it landed on my brand new floor mat. :troll:

[vbhagwan]

Thanks for the comments Randall. I did "try it out" in the dealership parking lot, and realized that the sensors had limited "vision". I could however make out that reaching in with the windows up is very tough even for a tall person (I'm 6'2"). Good tip on the zip-ties -- I should do that.

[dkh]

Very helpful info here. But will the alarm go off if someone just removes the red clip when the alarm is activated?

[rick3000]

^ Probably because the sensors with notice the movement of your arms, while your trying to remove it, if not because it notices a change.

[Tool Pants]

Originally Posted by dkh

Very helpful info here. But will the alarm go off if someone just removes the red clip when the alarm is activated?

No........

[ppbon]

You really don't even need the clip.
You can set the infra red sensors by pressing the microswitch with your finger while activating the alarm, either by using the remote or with the key in the door lock.
Happy Boxstering,
Pedro

[RandallNeighbour]

Pedro, I don't doubt for a minute that what you're proposing is true.

However, with the windows up to prevent reach-in thefts of the contents in the map pockets (which are not covered by the infrared motion sensor) one would have to have to possess freakishly long arms, no?