First off, I want to praise you for a great detail post. Continue to do so because you will get better feedback from the professional installers here. You will also learn a lot more and at the same time helping others who have similar questions as yourself. If you have more questions keep the questions to this one post It make it a lot less confusing for everyone who answers your questions.
Car: 2000 Malibu – 6cyl
Alarm: 6500esp
Addons: Dei 555L + 3 pienzo sirens
“1. First, where exactly is the tach wire on this car? The wiring database here lists it as a PURPLE / white wire “at the top of motor coil”. I poked around the engine compartment, and couldn’t find this mythical wire. There is a harness towards the rear of the motor that contains about 14 wires, but none of them were PURPLE / white. I did some searches here, and someone claimed the wire was white, another said that the tach wire can be found behind the radio, and another said the wire is to the right of the gas pedal. I’m pretty confused about this now.”
It's there! Set your digital mulitimeter to AC current. The reading will fluctuate will the revving of the engine once you press on the gas pedal.
CHEVROLET, MALIBU, 2000, Tachometer
On the 4 cylinder the tach wire is white at the ignition coil. For the 6 cylinder use PURPLE / white at the coil pack located on the top rear of the motor.
On the 4 cylinder the tach wire is white at the ignition coil. For the 6 cylinder use PURPLE / white at the coil pack located on the top rear of the motor.
“2. Is there going to be a problem if I install the 555L AND the alarm together before doing my first start? I’m wondering if there might be some problems with them bumping into each other as they go through their learning routines.”
You should have any problem with them if you tied them up securely.
“3. Is there a problem with working with the battery disconnected? My manual says not to, but there is an uncomfortable feeling with working around possibly live wires. I’ve had my battery disconnected for days at a time before and never had problems.”
Yes, how are you going to test what wire is what if you disconnect the battery? If you are 100% sure that you know all the wire and what they do I don’t see why you can not disconnect the battery to do your install.
“4. Do I need to use the “domelight supervision output” for anything? I can’t think of a reason, but figured I’d ask.”
NO
“5. Where should the receiver be mounted? Since I have tinted windows, I don’t want to just stick it on the back windshield in case I need to relocate (don’t want to damage the tint). Also, I’m not sure if the tint will affect its operating range.”
Driver side top corner below the tint is ideal. Or follow the instruction that is provided by your alarm unit.
“6. Where should the shock sensor be mounted that came with my alarm? The handy manual that came with this alarm doesn’t mention anything on preferred mounting spots or even what is used for.”
Large harness, but I personally like a flat solid surface.
A discussion on the this topic I thought it might interest you.
“7. Is there a best place to install a hood pin (front, back, sides, etc)?”
Take your time and find a good spot to mount the hood pin. It doesn’t matter where as long as when the hood is close the hood pin doesn’t produce a ground. This is where 95% of the false alarm occurs. A faulty hood pin, so do a good job here.
“8. It doesn’t appear that any of the wires on the brain are dedicated to monitoring the hood pin (except for a wire that disables remote start). Would it work if I used:
”Harness 1, wire 6: Blue (-) multiplex input, zone 4” to monitor the hood pin? It looks like if you use a “dual stage sensor” one of them uses this wire, but I don’t think I’m using one.”
I have not read your alarm manual, but most alarm/starter unit the hood pin serves both functions.
“9. For the “neutral safety switch input” for my remote start harness, the vehicle database here lists it as a yellow wire near the fuse panel (it says electrical center). I get really nervous around yellow wires for obvious reasons and was hoping that maybe someone could confirm this wire. It is a pretty thin wire and is along the top of the fuse box.”
Not require. Someone correct me if I am.
“Again, thanks for the help, and if I come up with new questions, I’ll be sure to add them to this post.”
Have fun!
Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it.