2005 Freestar, Code Alarm CA545

If anyone can ans some questions about this system i would greatly appreciate it.

I used to install remote starts/alarms many years ago but have been away from the business for some time so i had to go to an installer to have this installed.  I went direcly to the company that does it for a number of Ford dealers in my area so i felt i would have a good shot at it being done right the first time.  I also knew him from the Towing industry for years.  I was wrong.....but as long as he makes it right it will be happy in the end and he will get to do my next vehicle.  Ok sorry for the rambling.....I have not been able to locate this install manual online..or i would be able to ans most of these questions myself.

Does this system have the ability to turn on the interior lights/puddle lights and all when disarming?

Does this system have the ability to disarm the factory system?  (When the factory system is used to lock the car or by pressing the last two keys on the door pad, if the code system is used to disarm the factory system triggers.)

In order to open the sliders you need two hands....having to pres opt and lock or unlock at the same time.  Is there a way to make it a two step feature like option then unlock.  Seems kinda silly to need both hands...the only one that you dont is the elect tailgate.

I think that is all for now but thanx in advance.

Keith

Thank you very much for your response it does help.  I just want all of the features to work on this system.  He also neglected to trigger the hood so the system starts with the hood open at this time.  My punch list is getting longer. 

Does anyone know if a second two way led Remote can be programed to work with the system?  I was thinking about snagging one on Ebay.  Thank you for your prompt response.

Keith

OK....So I had the Code alarm installed Wednesday December 28th In my wifes Freestar...And to date I have had to remove the Neg cable from the bat twice because it wouldnt start the car.  I think I have figured out what i have done.  Maybe someone can confirm this.  I believe When i have started the car and then shut it down too quick it causes the computers Brain Fart.  It is a rev 00.  I plan on mentioning that to the installer when he hooks up all of the stuff he left out.....including but not limited to the safety pin switch under the hood and illuminated entry.  The car has car link and we finally got that registered and working tonight.   I hope he has a rev 03 for me. 

Now for my question.  I was going to have one installed in my excursion Deisel (minus the carlink), but now i am wondering after reading this forum if i should do that.  If anyone has any ideas please let me know.  If you can give me an idea as to what i would expect to pay for a system with the same/similar options as the ca545.  Even if you can throw out a different Code number that i should look into.  Thank you in advance.

Keith

I have installed many a Code Alarm, and that was one of the biggest reasons I quit the last place I worked. I have NEVER had more brand specific problems than Code Alarm. I am now a proud installer of Ultrastart, a canadian company (ultrastarters.com for installer locator) These units have every option under the sun, user friendly, excellent design where redundant wiring is consolidated within the unit ( one 12 volt constant wire, one ground wire) which makes for very clean installation potential ( depending on installer's skill) I will never use another brand. I recently worked for a shop that used Viper and Valet, and all the extraneous wiring and harnesses and external relay packs makes for a very messy install, no matter how good you are at it. You may have a variety of causes to this no start problem (bad install, cut starter wire for anti grind relay, cut wires for anti theft bypass, antitheft bypass glitch....) If I were you, I would ask to check out the install under the dash. Even laymen can look at an install and differentiate between a nice, harnessed install and a spaghetti ball. T taps are a big problem, butt connectors can be too. Ultrastarts work great on the diesel trucks too. Very simple install. The freestar is a little more complicated, but you shouldn't have these problems.

Thank you very much Custom.  I have looked at the install....very carefully since i just had back surgery on Dec 15th.  It looks clean and professional.  I had posted in a previous post that years ago i did these installs....Not for very long but I have experience.  I currently electrically trouble-shoot Locomotives for a living.  This also includes doing modifications as time marches on and things need to be updated.  My point is that i can deffinately tell the difference between the spagetti ball and a clean install...(Seen many of pasta on the RR.) Also I am not afraid to do one myself.  Just sometimes its easier (lazy) to pay the money and be done.  But since this was installed I havent been done....lol.  I think from the posts that I read the problem with the no start is coming from the wron rev.  I will check out that brand you mentioned, however and see if there is a installer near me and check it out.  I agree that the freestar was a little more complicated than the Excustion will be.  It had three electronic doors to contend with as well as all the other features.  Thanx again.

Keith 

Does anyone have the install manual for a ca-545 or a link to one.  I am having trouble locating it.

Thank you,

Keith

https://webappshttp.voxdmz.audiovox.com:1025/webapp/w...

If you are looking for the CA-425 install manual, it is not on their site but I have it in pdf.

I sent you a pm with my email address if you dont mind sending me that PDF.

That link gets me to a owners manual not the install manual.  Also do you..or anyone know if you get the ca425a does the a indicate that it is a later revision.  I have had my code 545 lock up 4 times now since the install one week ago.  Kinda crazy if you ask me.  Thank you very much.

Keith

OK I will try to make this as short as possible.  I have a 2005 Freestar with a code 545.  The headlight feature and the parking lamp feature are not hooked up.  The van has auto headlights so at night if you start the van remotely the headlights come on if the sensor deems it nec.  My question is...if i hook up these features do i need to install a diode so that there is no back feed if the sensor is calling for the headlights/parking lights as well as the code alarm.  Thank you all.

Keith

If this ends up a duplicate post Sorry!  I couldnt find the first one.

Ok...heres goes...first off sorry for the repeated posting on this system.  Hopefully you will excuse me and realize i am in need of help/advice.

Short recap:  I had a CA545/CA425 with a CL100 installed in my wifes 2005 Ford Freestar.  It was done by a installer that does most of the local Ford Dealerships.  It initially locked up and stopped working.  It also was only half connected and in effect disabled the factory alarm and I had no alarm features at all.  When it locked up i removed power from the brain and basically rebooted it.  (Advice from Folks Here)  I had to do this 3-4 times in the first week the alarm was installed.  I found from this forum that this was a problem with rev00 and was corrected in rev02. 

Brought that to their attention.  Owner of the shop said he never heard of it but the actual installer said "sure you have...remeber my friend Joe...blah blah blah......Anyway point was I asked him to put a rev02 in. I dont believe he did.

Ultimately they hooked everything up!  But......

Here is my current situation.  This alarm came with 1 LED  Remote.  I purchased two Brand New LCD Remotes and programmed them to the system.  The system worked perfect for about a week.

Yesterday morning I woke to the alarm going off.  The remote said shock sensor.  I shut down the alarm.  It would not reset had to leave the car unlocked.  Later at a more reasonable hour i consulted the book....checked the led on the dash and tried to reset the systems memory with the ignition key as stated in the book.   It didnt work so i had to disconect power to reset.  I then disabled the shock sensor as I had read here that the built in one is problematic. I really dont care about the shock sensor anyway.  I disabled both options of the shock sensor.

Today......same thing woke to the alarm gonig off.  After disarming the vehicle it finally stopped sounding.  But when I try to re-arm it the alarm triggers.  Same if I try to start the car.  I tried disarming with the factory remote incase it accidentally got armed by that.  Keep in mind it is not the shock sensor now....I have no idea...Help Please!!!! 

Just want to confirm......doesnt sound logical but would having more than one 2-way remote on the system cause a problem? 

Any ideas/advise would be appreciated.

Signed,

Extreeeeeeeemly Frustrated.

AKA  Keith 

Does anyone have the wiring diagram specific to the overhead console switches for the power sliders/tailgate.  Mine are working if you use the B pillar buttons or manually start to open them.  But with the factory remote or the overhead buttons they dont work.  Thank you.

Keith