Long story short, I had a Viper alarm with pager recently installed but I am having problems with the install shop. Basically they curbed the car when returning it to me and have not come through yet to pay for the damage/repair. It is to the point where I am mailing stuff to them certified and getting the BBB involved. This is keeping me from returning and asking for assistance right now.

Anyway, the proximity sensor needs to be adjusted a bit to make it more sensative. There are times where I can be standing next to the car and peering into the window and it will not issue it's warning chirp. I can access the sensor itself, but need some guidance how to go about tuning it.

Any suggestions or resources I can tap?

 

On the proximity sensor unit, you should be able to see a little slot with a place to put a jeweler's screwdriver into (tiny). This will be the sensitivity dial. Turn that little slotted dial 1/2 at a time until you figure which direction and how much you need.

 

I only took a quick peek this morning, but I seem to recall what looked like two small black caps/plugs on the top of the unit's clear plastic case/housing. I suspect that the two adjustment screws are under this.

From the Viper website...
[QUOTE]Invisibeam

 

I believe you have what they call a "dual zone" proximity sensor. One zone should cover about a 2 foot perimeter around your car. The other covers the interior of the car in the event that someone doesn't get the hint from the first one and actually reaches into your car.

 

Any clue which one is which?

I played with both for a few minutes this evening. The moment I turn either more then a couple of degrees (the smallest smidge) the alarm would sound even when walking past the car.

 

Ok, here is my drawing
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i have the same unit and it's a PITA. either it's not sensitive enough or too sensitive. i choose to leave it a little under sensitive because it went off way to much while parked under trees or while its raining.

 

Thank you. That is very helpful!

Prior to seeing your note, I played with it before going to work this morning. Through trial and error, I figured out how to turn the whole thing off. Then I started to play with the two adjustment screws, one at a time. I could access the unit and the screws without having to take it out. It's in the center channel near the handbrake. Just had to pop off the console cover to get to it. I would put the console cover back on for each testing.

First adjusting the "warning" screw didn't get me anywhere. With the other screw basically completely turned off, and the warning adjust almost all the way on, I couldn't get the alarm or chirp to trigger at all.

I then turned the warning screw all the way back off and started playing with the "trigger" adjustment. This got me better results. I was able to dial it in so that you had to be hovering over the car to get it to chirp. I couldn't tell if adjusting the "warning" screw did anything after this point. Before putting everything together, I turned the warning screw close to the same adjustment point as I have the trigger screw.

Reading your post leaves me a bit confused if I have things set up correctly. When setting things up, I never actually had the alarm go off in full. I was basing things on when it started to chirp/warn. I assume I need to go back and redo it?

Also, perhaps a defining how the warn and trigger functions are different and how they work to compliment each other may help clear up my confusion.

 

Dont forget these sensors are barometric pressure sensitive and will need adjustments at major seasonal weather changes.

 

The "warning" zone sets a perimiter larger than the "trigger" zone. So if you set your warning zone to chirp at someone who is close to the car but not putting their hand inside the car, then that is what you want. You dont want that zone to be so big that anyone walking or driving by the car will get beeped at (that will lead to your car getting keyed ). The trigger zone is the zone that actually sets off the alarm. You want this zone to activate once someone has put their hand (or something else) inside the car. I have mine set so if they reach in around my window to try and unlock it or get into the "glove box" or something it will go off.


Also, I noticed you said that you have the prox sensor by the ebrake?? Where exactly do you have it?? under the metal in there?? If you do you may want to consider moving it as I have been warned that it will not function properly being in that position with metal above it and all around it. I have put mine behind where your elbow would be when driving, kind of below the glove box back in there. You have to take off the rectangle piece behind the seat to get to it. Then you have to reach back in there and you will find some wires wrapped together. If you can get the prox senser under that spool of wires it will hold it in there nicely and there is much less metal around it so it will function a lot better. I have been told it will not even function at all if it is under all that metal by the ebrake... Hope this helps

p.s. to the 00-03 owners, this only pertains to the 04-05 location problem... on the 00-03 models there is a great place to put the prox senser right under the armrest, but becasue of the new sliding cover it doesn't work on my04 and 05