Those "add-on" security systems have become a huge profit opportunity for the new car dealers. When I bought my truck from a local dodge dealer - it had a "supplemental" anti-theft system that they had allegedly added to prevent losing vehicles from the lot. Apparently a big problem around these parts due to our proximity to the border I suppose. At closing of the deal - they tried to slip in a $450 fee for the supplemental system (size of a pack of cigarettes) - and I told them to either remove it or we were done talking, so.....they removed it (ugly side-cutter sort of operation that tells me it can't actually work if you know what to cut). One of our employees had the same "add-on" system - installed by the same dealer but over on the Ford side of the lot. He actually paid for it and it has shut his oufit down on several occasions, locked him out - cost towing charges, etc. - all at his expense as the system acts up and interferes with the factory wiring of the truck. There is apparently no warranty on the anti-theft system, it is a pure profit enterprise for the dealer.
I haven't had the same sort of troubles with my Dodge - but the little blue "clips" that they used to "cut" the additional system into the control wiring - are still in there, and as far as I can tell are eventually going to be a breakage risk for the injured OEM vehicle wiring and circuitry.
So - do you suppose the DOT will get in the middle of this when one of our vehicles - with the little add on package , or the disabled clips - causes a vehicle to flat out die at just the wrong moment and take of few of us with it?????
Steve Metzger Tucson, Arizona