Car Alarm Owner Support

Start with the system installed in your vehicle

Your alarm package determines the security equipment installed in the vehicle. Your remote determines how you control that equipment and receive feedback. Use both when choosing the instructions that apply to you.

Our alarm lineup includes Alarm Upgrade, Advanced Security, and Connected Security. Advanced Security adds DAS-II sensing to the Alarm Upgrade package. Connected Security builds on Advanced Security with DroneMobile. Your installation paperwork identifies the equipment and functions included with your vehicle.

A premium remote does not add a sensor that was never installed. A remote with a Start button also does not establish that remote start is part of your alarm installation.

If you are unsure which system you have, send us clear photographs of the front and back of your remote with your vehicle’s year, make, model, and approximate installation date. There is no need to remove trim or locate hidden equipment.

Choose the help you need

Find your remote

The remote name is more reliable than its appearance. Some one-way and two-way G18 remotes look very similar. Check the model marking before using a shortcut intended for another remote.

Our T13 package includes a T13 remote and an R5 companion remote. Use the R5 instructions when operating that companion remote. Our R5 and T13 packages include DroneMobile hardware; connected functions still depend on activation, service, and the installation. The written package supplied with your vehicle remains the reference for what is included.

Manufacturer reference: Compustar remote identification and manuals

Basic alarm commands

Your remote and installed system determine the supported controls. Use the vehicle-specific guidance provided at handoff. If that information is missing or unclear, contact us before changing a security-related setting.

Q9 controls can serve different functions depending on how they are used and what is installed. Confirm your exact remote revision and the intended function with Kickin’ Customs if you are unsure.

Panic operation requires the relevant output to be connected. Use it only when you intend to sound the vehicle’s siren or horn. For the T13, use the panic command in the guide supplied with your particular remote revision.

Command references: PRO 1WG18, PRO 2WG18, Q9, PRO R5, PRO T13.

Everyday arming and disarming

Before walking away

1. Finish loading the vehicle and close the doors, hood, trunk, or liftgate.
2. Keep your vehicle key, alarm remote, and phone with you. Check that a spare remote has not been left in the vehicle.
3. Send the Lock command using the control confirmed at pickup.
4. Check the response from the vehicle and, if applicable, the two-way remote or app.
5. If you receive an open-zone warning or an unexpected response, check the opening indicated before leaving.

Make this a short, repeatable routine. If you usually rely on the factory key, a door-handle sensor, or the vehicle manufacturer’s app, have us confirm how that specific control interacts with the aftermarket alarm. A locked door alone does not tell you which security system has armed.

Understanding confirmation

A light on a one-way remote shows that the remote attempted to transmit. It is not a message received back from the vehicle. If you cannot see or hear the vehicle’s response, move to a position where you can confirm it or use another installed control method.

With a two-way remote, look for the completed confirmation rather than stopping at the initial button animation. If a command fails to confirm, treat the vehicle’s state as unconfirmed until you can check it. Do not assume that failure to receive a reply proves that the vehicle did nothing.

An LCD screen or app can show previously received information. Request a fresh update when the displayed state is uncertain. If your system does not provide a particular status, leave it unknown instead of interpreting a missing indication as a fault.

Returning to the vehicle

Send the correct Unlock command and check the response. If the alarm was sounding, use the triggered-alarm instructions below because silencing the siren and fully disarming may be separate actions.

Proximity unlock can operate as you approach with a configured R5 or T13 remote. It is not a substitute for checking that the vehicle is secure when you leave. If you test a door handle while carrying a proximity remote, the vehicle may unlock because it recognizes you. That can make a successful lock look like it failed.

Automatic locking and arming

Passive arming, passive locking, automatic rearming, and ignition-controlled locking are separate behaviors. Their availability and timing depend on the installation. Ask us which ones are enabled on your vehicle before relying on them.

If the vehicle locks or arms unexpectedly, note what happened immediately beforehand: an ignition change, a closed door, a remote command, or an approach with a proximity remote. That sequence is more useful than describing the system as “random.” Keep all keys outside the vehicle while checking the behavior.

Responding to a triggered alarm

If you suspect an actual break-in

Stay in a safe location and assess what you can see without approaching anyone who may be tampering with the vehicle. Contact emergency services if there is immediate danger. An alarm alert does not mean that police have been dispatched.

Save the alert text and time. If the vehicle has a dashcam or you have access to nearby camera footage, preserve relevant recordings. GPS information, where available through separate equipment and service, can help you provide information to authorities. Do not use it to confront a suspected thief.

Silencing the siren and opening the vehicle

On compatible Compustar systems, soft disarm means the first Unlock/Disarm command stops the siren while a second command completes disarming and unlocking. Check the vehicle before sending the second command. Compustar soft disarm reference

For an R5, an Unlock command is a double-tap. Two disarm commands therefore mean a deliberate double-tap, followed by another double-tap if full disarming is intended. Avoid one rapid string of presses that is difficult to count. This distinction applies to the command you send, not simply to the number of times you touch the button.

If the siren continues, stop repeatedly pressing different combinations. Move within normal remote range, check remote power, and try an already configured spare remote or DroneMobile if available. If those controls do not work, contact us with the vehicle location, remote model, and exact response.

Record the event before clearing information

When practical, photograph the remote message and record any repeating alarm LED pattern before turning on the ignition or performing a reset. Write down whether the sound came from the aftermarket siren, the vehicle’s horn, or both.

Do not label an event a false alarm simply because no damage is immediately visible. A brief disturbance, an opening that did not remain open, or a service-related event can leave little obvious evidence. The event record helps narrow the cause.

Remote settings that affect alarm ownership

Change one setting at a time, while parked near the vehicle. Note its starting state so you can restore it. A missing menu item can reflect the installed configuration or a different remote revision.

PRO 1WG18 and PRO 2WG18 settings

G18 sound and sensor settings do different jobs. A change intended to quiet confirmation sounds can also affect protection if the wrong control is used. Ask us to confirm the setting for your installed system.

If you are unsure which G18 setting changed, arrange a review before assuming normal protection has been restored.

Other G18 combinations control valet mode, passive arming, or drive lock. Do not experiment with them while troubleshooting an unrelated issue. Valet procedures vary by the installed system; use the vehicle-specific instructions provided at pickup.

Q9 settings

Q9 alarm paging and feedback depend on the selected mode and compatible installation. Contact us for a settings review matched to your remote revision and vehicle.

Tell us which setting or displayed message you are concerned about. Account for the selected vehicle and current system state before assuming the alarm has returned to normal operation.

The Q9 has an LCD screen. It is a separate remote family from the R5. Follow the Q9 menu rather than an R5 button sequence.

PRO R5 settings

PRO R5 feedback and proximity behavior depend on the exact remote revision and compatible setup. Ask us to review your current behavior and the change you want before adjusting security-related options.

The R5 has no text display. Make a note of the icon, color, sound, and button sequence if its response is unfamiliar. Muting the remote’s beeps is different from changing the vehicle’s siren behavior.

PRO T13 settings

PRO T13 has model-specific settings for feedback and supported convenience functions. Use your private handoff guidance or request a review for your installed configuration.

PRO T13 alarm paging, proximity behavior, sensor operation, and service settings must be reviewed as separate functions. Contact us if the displayed state is unexpected or you are unsure which functions remain active.

Check the words on the screen and the vehicle’s response after each change. If the menu does not match your remote, use the manual corresponding to its exact model and revision.

Proximity unlock needs its own check

If you want proximity unlock disabled, verify that the vehicle stays locked as you approach with the remote. If you want it enabled, verify that it works before treating it as your normal entry method. Carry a working button remote during that check.

A change to proximity settings can affect other compatible remotes paired with the same vehicle. Check both your primary and spare remotes afterward. If a remote is stored close to where the vehicle is parked, tell us about that arrangement when reporting unexpected unlocking. Proximity system behavior

Understand which sound or function you are changing

On the documented T13 system, turning off siren/horn confirmation also silences the light-impact prewarning. Do not assume every sound setting has only one effect. T13 sound-setting reference

A temporary sensor change may affect more than one monitored function. It is not the same as a sensitivity adjustment or a full service mode. Ask us to confirm the effect on your installation and the appropriate return to normal operation.

Understand the sensors installed in your vehicle

What DAS II adds

DAS-II combines dual-stage impact sensing, tilt sensing, forward-motion sensing, and glass-break sensing on compatible installations. A lighter impact can produce a prewarning; a more significant event can produce a full alarm. The installed hardware and its configuration determine the response. Request a sensor review

DAS-II is not a general cabin-occupancy detector, a GPS tracker, or a separate driver-authorization immobilizer. Do not assume someone merely approaching or standing beside the vehicle will trigger it.

Sensitivity should match the vehicle and parking environment

If repeated events occur, give us examples before changing settings. Include the location, timing, weather, nearby traffic or machinery, and whether the same alert type appears each time. We can use that information to decide what should be inspected or adjusted.

Avoid choosing an arbitrary sensitivity number from an online video. Compustar’s digital sensor procedures differ by sensor and control module, and a higher number is not a universal indication of greater sensitivity. An adjustment made using the wrong guide may not do what you expect. Request a sensor review

The goal is a useful, repeatable response to the events the system is intended to detect. Repeated alarms should be investigated. Permanently muting your phone or leaving sensors disabled can conceal the original problem.

Testing without damaging the vehicle

Ask us to demonstrate the sensors installed in your vehicle. Do not strike paint or glass, pry an opening, or lift the vehicle solely to test the alarm. Avoid repeated full-volume tests in a shared parking area.

Compustar advises allowing approximately 45 to 60 seconds after arming before checking shock-sensor response. A check performed immediately after locking can be misleading. Request a sensor review

For an owner check, confirm the ordinary controls first: remote operation, locking, arming feedback, and app communication if equipped. Arrange a controlled sensor demonstration when you need to verify detection. A successful Lock command tests that command path; it does not prove that every sensor works.

Repeated alarms and sensor concerns

Record one complete example

1. Save the remote or app alert, including its exact wording and time.
2. Note whether the siren sounded, the horn sounded, or the remote alone alerted.
3. Record whether the vehicle was armed and parked, being loaded, recently driven, or in someone else’s care.
4. Note recent work, including glass replacement, collision repair, battery work, audio installation, or interior trim removal.
5. Tell us whether the event happens in one location or several.

If possible, send a short video showing the alarm LED pattern or remote behavior. Capture the complete repeating sequence rather than a single flash. A useful report lets us compare the same event across the vehicle, remote, and app.

Door or opening alerts

Check that the indicated opening is fully latched and that no cargo is preventing closure. Compare the alarm message with any dashboard indication, but remember that the two systems may receive their information differently.

If an opening repeatedly reports as open when it is closed, arrange an inspection. Do not remove a switch, tape it down, or disconnect wiring to suppress the message. Tell us whether the issue began after bodywork or service.

Impact alerts in a busy location

Note nearby activity such as heavy vehicles, construction, loading operations, or repeated contact around the parking space. If practical, compare the behavior in a quieter location without changing the settings first. A change in location can help identify a pattern, but it does not prove which component is at fault.

Record whether the response is a brief prewarning or a full alarm. That difference matters when assessing sensitivity.

Tilt or movement alerts during service

Tell the shop or transport operator about the alarm before they lift, move, tow, or transport the vehicle. Decide which temporary service arrangement applies before work starts. Restore normal protection when the vehicle is returned.

If tilt or movement alerts occur while the vehicle is stationary and untouched, save the event and contact us. Do not assume lowering impact sensitivity will resolve another sensor’s concern.

The siren sounds but the app has no matching event

First identify whether it was the factory horn, the aftermarket siren, or both. Then check whether the app was online and whether the relevant alarm alert was enabled. A factory alarm event and a Compustar event may follow different reporting paths, depending on integration.

Send us the time and what each system showed. Avoid changing multiple app and remote settings before recording the original behavior.

DroneMobile alarm support

DroneMobile adds a separate communication path between compatible installed equipment and your phone. Alarm control and alerts require the corresponding installation and service. A tracking feature, a phone notification, and an audible alarm are different functions.

Check the account and vehicle first

1. Open the official DroneMobile app and sign into the account associated with the installation.
2. Select the correct vehicle. If you have more than one, verify the vehicle name before sending a command.
3. Confirm that the vehicle appears in your account and that its subscription is active.
4. Request a fresh status update or use an ordinary installed control while standing near the vehicle.
5. Compare the app result with what the vehicle actually does.

If the vehicle is missing, do not start creating duplicate registrations. Check the account used during activation and contact us or DroneMobile support if you cannot resolve ownership or access.

The official account page provides password recovery and support for lost access to the device receiving verification messages. Use those recovery options rather than sending your password or verification code through our contact form. DroneMobile account access

Enable the alarm alerts

DroneMobile’s March 2026 guide gives this navigation: open Setup, choose Vehicles, then Alerts. Select the vehicle and enable the relevant available alarm notifications. The options depend on hardware and installation. Menu labels may change with later app releases. Current DroneMobile setup guide

After changing settings, arrange a controlled test of a supported alarm event. Confirm the complete path: the vehicle detects the event, the installed system responds, and the intended phone receives the notification. Simply opening the app or receiving a lock confirmation does not test every type of security alert.

Check iPhone notifications

Open Settings, then Notifications, then DroneMobile. Allow notifications and select the presentation options you want, including sounds and the Lock Screen. Review Focus settings and Scheduled Summary if alerts are quiet or delayed. Confirm the behavior while the phone is locked, since that is how you may normally receive an alarm notification. Apple notification settings

Check Android notifications

Open Settings, then Notifications, then App notifications, and select DroneMobile. Enable the applicable notifications and check whether they are set to alert or remain silent. Review lock-screen visibility and Do Not Disturb behavior. The exact menu names vary by phone and Android version. Android notification settings

Separate a phone problem from a vehicle problem

These comparisons help describe the fault; they are not a final diagnosis. A remote that successfully locks the doors does not establish that every alarm input is operating.

Connection and subscription concerns

The handheld remote and DroneMobile do not use the same communication path. App operation depends on cellular connectivity at the vehicle, an internet connection at the phone, and available service. Coverage can be affected by the location and surrounding structures. Alerts should not be treated as guaranteed or instantaneous. DroneMobile service limitations

Check the official DroneMobile service status page before changing wiring or account settings in response to a broad outage. An outage report can explain a communication issue; it does not confirm the physical security state of your vehicle.

Use your account to check the plan’s renewal date and current features. Do not assume a trial’s features continue unchanged after choosing another plan. Check the current details before renewing or changing service. DroneMobile plans

If connected service expires, do not assume the vehicle’s locally installed Compustar alarm has also been cancelled. Check local operation with your programmed remote and address the subscription separately. Contact us if you are unsure which functions remain available on your installation.

After changing phones

Sign into the correct account on the new phone, verify the vehicle, review notification permissions, and repeat a controlled alert check. If another person also needs access, use the supported account-access process and confirm that person’s permissions. Avoid passing around the owner’s password as a substitute for properly managed access.

Keep account credentials, verification codes, and recovery information private. If a phone is lost, address its access promptly and tell us if you also lost the vehicle key or alarm remote.

Valet mode and service visits

Compustar valet mode temporarily suspends its alarm and remote-start functions while normal remote door-lock control can remain available. Confirm the installed system’s behavior before handing the vehicle to someone else. Compustar valet-mode description

Valet mode is useful when the vehicle will be serviced or handled in a way that would otherwise create alarm activity. Leaving it enabled also means leaving the affected protection suspended. Include turning it off in your pickup routine.

Before a dealership or repair visit

1. Tell the service adviser that the vehicle has an aftermarket Compustar alarm.
2. Explain whether an additional immobilizer, dashcam, or tracking system is installed.
3. Use the valet or service procedure confirmed for your installation before work begins.
4. Give the shop the vehicle key and any ordinary operating instructions it needs.
5. Ask the shop to contact you before moving, unplugging, or changing aftermarket equipment.

Compustar valet mode does not establish that a separate IGLA or SPYNEX immobilizer has entered its own service mode. Follow the instructions for each installed system.

T13 menu method

For a T13-equipped vehicle, arrange model-specific service guidance with Kickin’ Customs before the appointment. We can confirm the appropriate service state and what should be verified when the vehicle is returned.

Use the vehicle-specific method of reaching ignition ON provided at pickup. On a push-button vehicle, accessory mode, ignition ON, and engine running are different states.

Q9 menu method

For a Q9-equipped vehicle, request guidance for your exact installed configuration before service. Do not copy a sequence from another remote family or installation.

G18 and R5 valet instructions

For G18 and R5 systems, retain the private instructions provided at handoff. Contact us before service if those instructions are unavailable or the system has changed.

If you do not have your handoff instructions, contact us with your remote model and vehicle information before the service visit. We will provide the appropriate owner guidance after confirming the installation.

Confirm normal operation after service

Collect every remote and key you supplied. Exit valet mode, verify the vehicle locks and arms, check any two-way confirmation, and test ordinary app communication if equipped. Confirm that any temporarily suspended sensor settings have been restored.

If the vehicle has a separate immobilizer, complete its normal authorization check as well. Arrange a sensor check if equipment was moved or repaired. Report changed behavior before relying on the vehicle’s previous setup.

Remote batteries and charging

Know which battery needs attention

The handheld remote battery, the vehicle’s 12-volt battery, and any separately installed backup power are different items. A remote charging problem and a vehicle low-voltage alert need different checks.

Battery references: Q9, R5, T13.

Replacing a removable battery

Work at a clean, well-lit surface so small parts are not lost. Check the old cell’s markings and the polarity shown in the battery compartment before removing it. Fit the correct replacement without bending contacts or forcing the case. Keep small batteries out of children’s reach.

After reassembly, test Lock and Unlock close to the vehicle. If the remote still fails, compare with an already programmed spare. Do not assume that a remote needs programming simply because its battery was replaced.

If the case will not open normally, the contact is damaged, or the cell does not match the expected compartment, bring the remote to us rather than forcing it.

Charging an R5 or T13

Use the supplied compatible cable and a suitable regulated USB supply, following the guide for the exact remote. Check that the port is dry and free of visible damage. Confirm that the remote indicates charging, then disconnect it when charged. The published guides describe approximately two hours for a full charge, but actual charging time can vary. R5 charging T13 charging

If the remote completely discharged, it may need to be powered on again after charging. Follow the power-on sequence in the guide supplied with your remote revision. Contact us if it does not respond after charging. Do not keep holding a multifunction button near the vehicle without knowing which command it may send.

A remote that becomes unusually hot, has a damaged port, or has a visibly swollen case needs inspection. Stop charging it and use another configured control if available.

When operating range changes

Start with remote battery condition and test in a location where the remote previously worked. Compare performance close to the vehicle and at your usual distance. Note whether the change happens everywhere or only at one parking location.

If one remote performs normally and another does not, tell us which one. If all remotes changed after windshield work, tint work, an accessory installation, or interior service, include that history. Do not move the antenna or disturb its wiring as an experiment.

Troubleshooting by symptom

Lost remotes and changes in ownership

If a remote is lost or stolen

Contact us promptly and identify the lost remote, the vehicle, and whether the factory key was lost with it. Bring every remaining remote to the appointment. Ask for the lost remote’s access to be removed as appropriate, not just for another remote to be added.

A new remote that looks the same may use a different radio system or require a different antenna. Confirm compatibility before purchasing a replacement. If the vehicle key was also lost, its access needs to be addressed through the appropriate vehicle-key process.

If you bought a vehicle with an existing Compustar system

Collect the remotes, installation paperwork, and any owner instructions available from the seller. Have the equipment and configuration identified before relying on a procedure from an unrelated installation.

DroneMobile account access needs its own review. Contact the appropriate support channel to resolve the vehicle’s account association. Do not assume possession of a remote grants ownership of the connected account or transfers a warranty.

If you sell or trade the vehicle

Plan the handoff before giving up access to the vehicle. Resolve connected-account access, any recurring service, and the remotes being included. Arrange removal or transfer of equipment through the appropriate installer if that is part of the sale.

Keep proof of the changes you request. Removing an app from your phone is not the same as resolving the vehicle’s account association or subscription.

Parking storage towing and transport

Long periods without driving

Before storage, check normal alarm operation, charge or replace remote batteries as appropriate, and decide how the vehicle’s battery will be maintained under its manufacturer’s guidance. Keep at least one working key and remote accessible outside the stored vehicle.

If you rely on DroneMobile during storage, check service continuity and whether the storage location allows communication. An underground or enclosed location may produce different results from the place where the system was demonstrated.

Do not select a remote-start timer as a battery-maintenance strategy. Remote-start operation belongs to its own owner guide and requires a suitable environment.

Vehicle transport ferries and towing

Contact us before planned transport if you need help deciding which sensors or service mode to use. Explain whether the vehicle will be driven onto equipment, lifted, towed, or carried for an extended period.

The transport operator needs clear instructions about the alarm and any separate immobilizer. Temporary settings should be intentional. Write down what changed and who will restore it after unloading.

For an unplanned tow, explain the installed equipment to the operator and use the support resources available for your vehicle. Do not improvise by disconnecting alarm components.

After transport or storage

Restore any temporary settings, check the vehicle battery condition, confirm every remote you expect to use, and verify local arming and app communication where installed. Arrange an inspection if the vehicle was damaged, a component was disturbed, or a function no longer matches its previous behavior.

A practical owner check

We suggest a brief check periodically and after a settings change, phone replacement, or vehicle service. This is an ownership routine, not an additional warranty requirement.

1. Confirm that the primary remote operates normally near the vehicle.
2. Check the spare remote before you need it.
3. Confirm locking and arming using the feedback available on your installation.
4. Check that valet mode or a temporary sensor setting has not been left active.
5. If equipped, verify ordinary DroneMobile communication and the account’s service status.
6. Review phone alert permissions after a phone change or major update.
7. Arrange a controlled sensor and alert check when detection needs verification.

Keep your installation invoice, remote model information, and service instructions together. A short note recording your normal settings can make an unfamiliar change easier to identify.

Request alarm support

Tell us what the vehicle did, what the remote showed, and what the app reported. Those details help us determine the next step.

Include your name, contact number, vehicle year, make and model, remote model, approximate installation date, and a clear description of the issue. Let us know whether it happens every time or intermittently and whether any recent work or settings change preceded it.

Photographs of the remote and screenshots of the message can be useful. If an upload is needed, we will direct you to an available method. Do not include account passwords, verification codes, private security PINs, or photographs showing concealed equipment locations in the initial request.

If you need replacement-remote programming or inspection, bring every remaining remote and the vehicle key. Have access to your own DroneMobile account if connected features need to be checked.

Use our contact form to describe the issue. If you need to speak with the shop, call 617-431-6858, Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM. The support form is not an emergency-response service.

Manuals and official resources

Match the model and revision before using a manual. A manual may describe functions that were not included with your installation.

More car alarm resources

Car Alarm Product Guides: Understand the equipment and options available for your vehicle.

Car Alarm FAQs: Answers to common questions about alarm systems and installation.

Car Alarm Warranty: Review the applicable coverage and claim information.

Car Alarm Sensors and Add Ons: Explore the detection options available for compatible systems.