Alarm hot swap - techy question

agnes · 3 Apr 2013 at 12:07

Hi guys,

I have lost my fob (only fob) for my alarm system, it's a full central locking, immobiliser and alarm system. A Meta M96 system to be exact. Now, this particular system can't be recoded apparently. My question is, if I buy the exact same system, tested working before being ripped out of a scraped car. Will I simply be able to change over the alarm box, leaving all the wiring in place, and expect it to work?

Hence the hot swap, only changing the alarm box, nothing else. Which has new fobs and obviously works with the new fobs.

bitslice · 3 Apr 2013 at 16:15

So you have the fobs for the scrap alarm?
And the alarm on the scrap car is configured for your type of engine (ie disabling the starter in the same way)

Should work.

agnes · 3 Apr 2013 at 19:22

bitslice said:
So you have the fobs for the scrap alarm?
And the alarm on the scrap car is configured for your type of engine (ie disabling the starter in the same way)

Should work.

That... I don't know...

bitslice · 3 Apr 2013 at 19:51

(I think) your average car alarm will just disable the starter motor relay and the fuel pump in order to protect your car. (Well, that's what I would do)

Unless the manufacturer is obliging about who it lets access its installation manual, then you'll need to confirm which bits of the engine the scrap alarm is configured to disable.

Edit:
A quick google suggest only starter is disabled, look for two thicker wires.

bitslice · 3 Apr 2013 at 19:54

Check if a replacement unit is suitable

http://www.abacuscaralarms.co.uk/al...76bc9b24ddb5=b8ed192bbe59481975e33f7dea554051

Although as you pointed out yours can't be recoded you probably have the 96 unit

edit:
Oo lucky, I think this may be the wiring guide
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/38306088/CAR-ALARM-META-SERVICE

agnes · 3 Apr 2013 at 20:05

bitslice said:
Check if a replacement unit is suitable

http://www.abacuscaralarms.co.uk/al...76bc9b24ddb5=b8ed192bbe59481975e33f7dea554051

Although as you pointed out yours can't be recoded you probably have the 96 unit

edit:
Oo lucky, I think this may be the wiring guide
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/38306088/CAR-ALARM-META-SERVICE

Correct, it's the M96 alarm. I bought this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/171014738701?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

Now, all I will be replacing, the the actual alarm box, all wires are connected to the box, not hard wired. The rest is just a loom, the same as my current one as far as I'm aware. These boxes are coded identically then have their unique fobs. As far as I'm told.

Thus, I'm sure simply hot swapping the box around won't have any implications as I have a working fob. Again, not sure how reliable that is but worth a shot for £35.

Dogbreath · 3 Apr 2013 at 20:58

"Hot swap" is swapping something whilst still live, e.g. like a disk caddy in a RAID array. I'd disconnect the battery before swapping the alarms over.

agnes · 3 Apr 2013 at 21:29

Dogbreath said:
"Hot swap" is swapping something whilst still live, e.g. like a disk caddy in a RAID array. I'd disconnect the battery before swapping the alarms over.

Yea sorry, using the term loosely haha, the battery is in the kitchen on the trickle charger. There will be no battery in the car whilst I am doing the swap.

bitslice · 3 Apr 2013 at 21:35

Ah, sorry, I was assuming you had physical access to the scrapped car.

ZG002 · 3 Apr 2013 at 22:19

Should be fine. The alarm loom is only cables attached to certain other cables in the car to give the component a live or act as a switch etc.

Other than the plug that fits into the alarm module most of the connections would be the same for most alarm systems.

agnes · 3 Apr 2013 at 23:54

Will find out tomorrow, obviously update the post just so everyone knows the outcome lol.

Dr Who · 4 Apr 2013 at 07:10

A decent alarm fitter will be able to rewire a new alarm in.

bitslice · 4 Apr 2013 at 09:15

Dr Who said:
A decent alarm fitter will be able to rewire a new alarm in.

Alarm fitters have a monopoly on fitting a manufacturers alarm, that doesn't mean they are competent.
Twisting a wire at right angles, blobbing spiky solder on it and adding a single wrap of insulation tape may be what they were taught, but I wasn't impressed.

Car wiring in general falls so far below industrial standards it isn't even funny, imagine a control system failing in the field because of a wiring fault. ...Someone's head on a stick in the time it takes to trace the paperwork.

agnes · 4 Apr 2013 at 09:17

No wiring needed here hopefully, simply just swapping over the alarm box.

Impatiently waiting for it to be delivered! If it is, might take a drive down to beach head on the weekend haha.

agnes · 4 Apr 2013 at 15:50

Worked perfectly. Took 5 mins to swap over the alarm box, new fob needed a new battery and a few solder points have broken so it need re soldering, but managed to bodge it for 5 mins, and it works.

Tested the alarm, immobiliser and the central locking. All 3 working