Avital 3100LX Security System (W/O Siren)

I wanted only lock and unlock for my 1999 4Runner, which like many people, I got used and lacking factory fobs. Mine was different from most in that it lacked the factory or dealer-installed receiver. There's no prewire vampires in this model-year, unlike in the mid-90s trucks, so it's a matter of searching endlessly online to find which wires, and where, to tap. (If you need help with yours, ask in comments.) Once installed, the keyless entry does exactly what I wanted it to do -- gives me a key fob and the ability to lock and unlock. I didn't want any of the other bells and whistles like auto-locking, horn beep, bump sensor, all that. It's gonna be nice for people who need that, but I want to keep it simple. My coworker just got locked *in* his OnStar-equipped vehicle for half an hour while he called them to have them remotely disable the accidental panic mode and unlock it for him. And if there'd been a fire? Need I say more? Thus I unpinned all of the unwanted leads from the molex and went with the minimum four (gnd, B+, lock, unlock). I like the little fobs, which are more compact than all I've used before. The buttons do need to be depressed further than I'm used to, which really is a good thing to avoid a lot of unwanted actuations from a pocket. The instructions wander needlessly into dividing up functions into zones, as if that somehow gives them some special importance. The manual doesn't answer fundamental questions such as can one simply not use certain functions without causing a stir. It was around then that I ditched the manual, disassembled the molex, and did the rest by intuition. Works fine.

DEI, hilarious name for a company these days. But I have to say, based on merit, this company's product is outstanding. Easy install once you figure out your car's wiring. Youtuber Donny The Late Model Tech has a great instructional Install Video and how to on adding power locks to integrate this Basic but Great Alarm Kit. I also order DEI's Siren to complete the rig for my 1998 GMC with crank up windows. Yes, manual windows keeping them.

I had an old Viper ESP 500 alarm installed that I couldn't program any more for some reason. It also developed the annoying bug of passive arming with the door open. I about gave up when i found this inexpensive Avital alarm, which is actually made by the same company. It was literally a drop in replacement for the old alarm. I just disconnected the old one and reconnected the relevant cables on this one and voila! It works perfectly out of the box. This one has a connector for a horn alarm, but I had a siren installed already and works with it. The old one also had an external shock sensor you had to plug in, but this one has it built in. Best of all, the passive arming works as it should (active arming is the default but reprogramming is much easier!).

As expected from Directed, the install instructions are less than stellar. They can claim that it's because these are made for "professional installation" all they want, but unless you're installing these daily, the instructions are hard to follow if you don't know what you're looking at. It's not hard or expensive to make proper instructions. The "professional installation" is just a cop-out. I've been doing car audio and security as a hobby for 30 years and even I had to double check what I was doing a few times to make sure I understood it correctly. One thing though. The instructions are VERY clear NOT to mount this to solid metal though because the shock sensor works best that way. Zip tie it to a big wiring harness, the shock sensor is plenty sensitive. That said, this is a great basic system. It's nice that it has the starter kill and parking flash relays on-board. It's exactly what I wanted this time. THERE IS NO SIREN WITH THIS KIT, which is exactly what I wanted. Sirens are such a 90's item and they're not needed IMO. Honking horns are equally as effective and a ton less obnoxious. I just needed something to replace the lost remotes for my OEM RKE and add some security to keep the goblins out. This does exactly that, no frills. The remotes are nice and small so if you're like me and tired of huge key fobs, this is a big plus. They also take standard CR2032 batteries. I would buy this again over the other systems in this price range. 5 stars? No. But a really solid 4 stars especially for the price. Just make sure you are comfortable installing this in your car or you'll be lost.

Budget friendly and overall good security has all the basics, installation 👍

LONG TERM: It's been about a year and a half since I installed the system in our daily driver. There are some irritating quirks about it's operation that need to be addressed. 1) Occasionally, it will not respond to any button presses; it's almost if the alarm does not exist. I will normally just lock the vehicle manually, at this point in time. Yes, the alarm is not functioning. 2) The lights blinking does not work all the time. Now this might not be a function of the alarm, but more so the Toyota vehicle that it's installed in. I used a relay to jump the digital signal from the passenger side door lock switch. Again, for the price, it's still worth it, but don't count on it being 100% reliable. I'm more worried when the alarm does not response to the remote. If the vehicle was worth more, I would install an Alpine alarm system, to which I have several extras I've collected recently. I have eliminated one star to drop my overall rating down to 3 stars... INITIAL REVIEW: I replaced a recently installed Scytek A15 alarm system since I was having a lot of headaches with the Scytek unit. Both are priced similarly, and the Scytek had the advantage of having a remote start function built in - if everything worked. I had problems with the Scytek A15 blinking 11-flashes occasionally which is not documented; contacting Scytek is waste of time / zero customer service. I've been hesitant of DEI products for years, but I was in the market for an entry-level alarm system that just did the basics. For the price, it's hard to beat at under US$50. I call myself a pro-level car audio / security installer, so installation and adjustments does not scare me. Having experience with automotive wiring will help a lot. The only ding against the Avital unit is that the remotes are not moisture resistant - drop it in some water will most likely kill it the first try. I prefer the look of the Scytek A15 remotes, but the Avital remotes are more functional - ARM / DISARM is obvious on the wings, even the dark - unlike the Scytek A15 remotes have ARM button over the DISARM button in a vertical configuration with no raised bumps to tell the difference. It's been about a month so far, and almost zero problems or surprises. I'm still tweaking the (internal) shock sensor adjustment, but everything works as documented. I'm surprised at the reliability of the Avital system, and I can whole-heartedly recommend this (over the Scytek trash).

The Avital 3100LX does not come with a siren. Please read the description, people. I have bought and installed dozens of alarms over the years (Long-ago, I once worked as an audio/video/alarm installer.) You can either choose to purchase a siren of your choice, or you can connect this security system to your horn. As for outputs: You will need relays, in most cases, to get this alarm to operate your power door locks. The outputs from the alarm are somewhere in the range of 200-300 milliamps, and that is not enough amperage to operate your door locks, in most cases. This unit is manufactured by directed electronics (DEI), the same company that makes Viper, python and several other brands of excellent car alarms. I use this exact model in several of my cars, and have had no trouble out of them. If you are struggling during the install, look up 12volt.com. you can likely find the alarm wiring diagram, plus the location of all the wiring you will need, in your specific vehicle. If you know what you are doing, this is a very easy alarm to install. If you are having trouble with range on the transmitter (remote), try moving the unit to a different place under the dash. You should have anywhere between 500 to 2000 feet of range. The "brain" must be securely mounted to a solid part of the car, otherwise the shock sensor will not work properly. I hope this helps. DR.K.

I've installed several car alarms, and I always recommend this one for anyone looking to save some money. Its made by Directed Electronics, the same company that makes the Viper brand alarms. It covers all your basics and then some. Immobilizer, lock/unlock, impact sensitive alarm, and an accessory button that can be used for whatever you want. It can be made to work with almost any vehicle, ready to use with 451m relays and more. Good durable remotes that have a farther range than you would expect.