Please recommend best aftermarket car alarm for an 850

jimmy joe · Post by **jimmy joe** » 08 Jun 2010, 12:41

Hi
could anyone weigh in on the best aftermarket car alarm for an 850? One that is not too difficult to install?
Do we need the "door actuator" on these cars? (1996 GLT)

Anyone have one they really like?

I mostly want keyless entry, and some kill switch to defeat theft.

Thanks!

Post by **vjaneczko** » 08 Jun 2010, 13:13

Keyless entry - I'm guessing you don't have the factory version?

I used to work with a Saab owner that would remove the ignition relay as his kill switch

Post by **BEJinFbk** » 08 Jun 2010, 13:41

Are you sure you haven't already got it? IIRC, all 850's have central locking
and most also came with keyless entry. Quite a few also had security.
You may need nothing more than a factory remote.

FCPEURO · Post by **FCPEURO** » 08 Jun 2010, 17:47

I would be very surprised if your 850 did not have the keyless entry but if for some reason it does not have it, I would get a viper unit.

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 08 Jun 2010, 21:37

This is very simple, pull the glove box and look at the A pillar for a box that looks like this:

: remote receiver.jpg (111.01 KiB) Viewed 2637 times

Credit to the original photographer but that picture shows the factory unit upside down.

If you have such a box you are golden, all you need is the keyfob but you need to get the FCC identifier and the part number off of the receiver to get the correct one. There are two versions that look identical but they are incompatible. The eBay sellers are clueless and call both versions out as '93 to '97.

The numbers you need to look at are circled here:

: receiver.jpg (84.52 KiB) Viewed 2637 times

If you don't have the box I bought a complete system from an early model and installed it in my son's '96 and it worked fine but I got the receiver and the remotes in the deal - interestingly for less money than the price of just the average keyfob. It all works OK so long as the keyfob and the receiver are the same versions. You will need to re-program the system one they are installed but that is a very easy Key On/Key Off for 5 times and press the lock button thing that is detailed in the repair database.

...Lee

jimmy joe · Post by **jimmy joe** » 08 Jun 2010, 22:53

thanks Lee, fantastic answer!

Post by **vjaneczko** » 09 Jun 2010, 07:35

Lee, did Volvo relocate that box at some point in time? I have the keyless entry (and the alarm horn that sounds like a wounded goose) on my '97 but I don't recall seeing that box installed when I did my blower fix.

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 09 Jun 2010, 17:39

On the S/V series it is my understanding that it got moved to the steering column but on an 850 it should be there on the A pillar. Perhaps your system is aftermarket.

...Lee

Post by **vjaneczko** » 10 Jun 2010, 08:50

Ozark Lee wrote:Perhaps your system is aftermarket.

...Lee

Don't think so - I have the Volvo key fob and I've had to do the "turn the car on and off" trick to reprogram it a few times. I'll have to take a peek 'cause now it's gonna nag at me.

jimmy joe · Post by **jimmy joe** » 05 Jul 2010, 01:17

Thanks all,
I found the right remote on ebay, and programmed it correctly, so key-less works great.
What I am still unclear about is if it has an alarm. Volvo says maybe, and that the blinking lights do not necessarily mean so.
She also has that firewall horn, but I have never heard her sound when locking...
please advise!