Clifford Sabre II User manual

Owner'sManual
World-ClassAutoSecurity TM
SabreII

Table of Contents
Standard Features of the Sabre II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Welcome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Your 3-button/3-channel remote controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Anti-CodeGrabbing (ACG) with Random Code Encryption . . . . . . . . 6
How to interpret the chirps and parking light flashes . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Piezo Sensor™ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Selectable starter/ignition interrupt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Enhanced AutoArming™ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
AutoArming enable/disable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Visual acknowledgment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
AutoArm & Lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Instant AutoArming bypass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
UltraSecure™ valet mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
To enable valet mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
To exit valet mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Setting your own secret valet code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Example . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Remote controlled valet mode entry and exit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Keyless entry in valet mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Smart AutoTesting™ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Specific malfunction identification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Automatic malfunction bypass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
TotalRecall™ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Smart prior intrusion attempt alert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
SmartPowerUp™ II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
FACT — False Alarm Control and Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
How to interpret the LED status indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
High-output Insignia™ Siren . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Long-term chirp silencing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Remote controlled chirp muting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
User-selectable features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Programming table for user-selectable features . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-14
EXAMPLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Adding new remote controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
How to erase the codes of lost or stolen remote controls . . . . . . . . . . 15
1

Standard Features of the Sabre II
✔Lifetime Warranty —For as long as you own the car, Clifford will repair or replace
the control unit and remote controls free of charge (see warranty card for full details).
✔FACT™—False Alarm Control and Test — One of many patented Clifford
innovations, FACT absolutely, positively ends recurring false alarms.
✔A Pair of 3-Button/3-Channel Remote Controls —Fingertip command from a
typical range of 100 feet.
✔AntiScan™ — Some car thieves use “scanners” that transmit one digital code after
another until they hit the one code that disarms the alarm. AntiScan blocks scanners
to prevent disarming by anyone other than you.
✔Anti-CodeGrabbing™ (ACG) with Random Code Encryption— A
code-grabber is a new device that lets a thief record and capture off the air from a
distance the digital code transmitted by your remote control whenever you arm your
car. When you leave, the thief replays the code to disarm the alarm and unlock your
car’s doors. ACG with Random Code Encryption makes thieves’ code-grabbers
completely useless, because each time you press the button on your remote control a
different random code is transmitted, yet the system will flawlessly recognize and
respond to your transmitter’s new code and ignore all others.
✔Full-Time Remote Panic with Automatic Door Locking and Unlocking— If
you feel threatened, you can, with just a fingertip touch on your remote control, sound
the siren, flash the parking lights and unlock your vehicle’s power door locks for quick
entry into your car without fumbling with your keys. If you press the panic button while
driving, the siren will sound, the lights will flash and the doors will lock to shield you
from the assailant (some vehicles require optional relays to control the power locks).
✔UltraSecure Coded Valet Mode™ —Ensures that no thief can turn off Sabre II
like they can all other brands of alarms.
Optional Remote Controlled Valet Mode Entry and Exit — With the optional
4-button/12-channel ACG remote, you get unparalleled convenience in addition to
unbreachable security. With just a press of a button from 100 feet away, you can
enter or exit valet mode. Parking light flashes confirm valet mode entry and exit.
✔Dual-Mode Chirp Silencing— Your choice of either long-term chirp silencing or
remote controlled chirp muting whenever you wish.
✔Remote Controlled Courtesy Lighting — For your personal safety and
convenience, when you remotely disarm your Sabre II, the interior lights turn on and
stay on until you start the engine or 30 seconds, whichever occurs first.
✔Built-In Parking Light Flasher — Visually confirms door lock and system status.
2

Standard Features of the Sabre II (cont.)
✔Remote Door Lock/Unlock Capability — No more fumbling with keys in the dark
or bad weather! A press of a button on the remote control simultaneously arms your
system and locks your vehicle’s power locks. Another press disarms and unlocks
(some vehicles require optional relays).
Deluxe Remote Keyless Entry in Valet Mode — Use the remote to lock and
unlock the car doors and remotely activate system accessories even in valet mode.
✔High-Output Insignia Siren — A loud yet compact siren designed exclusively by
Clifford Electronics for far superior performance, features, reliability and even
aesthetics to all other manufacturer’s look-alike, sound-alike sirens.
Ultra-Reliability — Since sirens are installed in the engine compartment, they’re
continually exposed to an unforgiving environment of extreme temperatures,
vibrations, dirt, dust and water, which may cause the siren’s electronics to fail.
But the entire electronic circuitry of the Sabre II siren and all of its components
have been designed into the underdash control unit. Consequently, the electronic
circuitry is sheltered from the harsh environment and is no longer the weakest link
of the alarm system. In fact, the calculated mean time between failure (MTBF) of
the Insignia Siren is 10 times better than that of conventional sirens.
Patented Automatic Noise Abatement —Sabre II siren electronics limit alarm
sounding to no more than 3 minutes even if a door is left open in the wake of an
intrusion attempt. This ensures against battery drain or towing of your vehicle due
to noise pollution. The system then automatically resets and re-arms all other
points to provide the utmost possible protection.
✔Piezo Sensor™— An all-electronic, solid-state vibration/impact sensor that delivers
the utmost reliability and provides more accurate discrimination between genuine
intrusion attempts and non-threatening conditions (like a large truck passing by) that
cause other sensors to false alarm.
✔Enhanced User-Selectable AutoArming™— Automatically arms itself
“passively” if you forget. May qualify you for an insurance discount that could pay
for the system (consult your insurance company).
AutoArming Enable/Disable — You may disable or re-enable AutoArming with
just a few flicks of a switch.
AutoArm & Lock™ — You may set the system to automatically lock the doors
every time the system AutoArms.
Visual Indication — Two parking lights flashes signal that the 30-second
countdown to AutoArming has started.
Instant AutoArm Bypass — Just a quick turn of the ignition switch will bypass
AutoArming for one cycle — perfect when fueling the vehicle. AutoArming is
automatically restored the next time you park your vehicle.
3

Standard Features of the Sabre II (cont.)
✔Patented Remote Control Code Learning — A few flicks of a switch lets you
match to the system up to 4 different 3-channel and/or ACG 12-channel remote controls.
Just as easily, a lost or stolen remote control can be deleted from the system memory.
✔Patented Smart AutoTesting™—Tests all triggers and sensors every time you arm
and warns you if you accidentally arm the system with the hood or trunk open. If
there is a genuine trigger or sensor malfunction, the system will specifically identify
the problem, thereby eliminating time-consuming and costly trouble-shooting.
✔Patented Malfunction AutoBypass™ —In the unlikely event of a trigger or
sensor malfunction, your Sabre II will automatically bypass the malfunction and arm
all other points to continue relentless protection of your vehicle.
✔TotalRecall™— Sabre II’s memory stores the identity of the last trigger or sensor
activated. This provides an invaluable diagnostic means, since, whenever you wish,
the system will visually identify the last activated trigger or sensor.
✔Patented Smart Prior Intrusion Attempt Alert — When you disarm your Sabre II,
a special chirp and parking light flash sequence will audibly and visually alert you
from a distance if an intrusion attempt was foiled while you were away. Your Sabre II
will even identify the specific trigger or sensor that detected the intrusion attempt.
✔Advanced CMOS Microcomputer —Very large scale integration (VLSI)
microprocessor commands and monitors all system functions, yet it draws less power
than the vehicle’s clock, so it won’t deplete your car battery like other alarms.
✔Selectable Starter/Ignition Interrupt— You may choose either a fault-proof
mode, which lets you start the engine even in the unlikely event of a system
malfunction, or ultra-secure mode that ensures a thief won’t be able to start the
vehicle even if he finds the system control unit and disconnects it!
✔Hood/Trunk Trigger Input— For full perimeter protection of the engine
compartment and trunk contents (may require optional pin switches).
✔High-Luminescence LED Status Indicator — Adds visual deterrence and
identifies system and doorlock status.
✔Patented SmartPowerUp™ II — When power to the system is disconnected, the
system’s non-volatile memory always remembers the last state (armed, disarmed or
valet mode) and returns to that state when power is restored. So if a thief disconnects
the power and then restores it in an attempt to start the car, the system will re-arm
and instantly sound the siren while immobilizing the vehicle.
4

Welcome to the world of high-technology
vehicle security and convenience
Congratulations on the purchase of your Sabre II. Clifford Electronics has long
been recognized as the world’s leading manufacturer of high-technology
vehicle security systems. Buying Clifford has always meant buying the best. In fact,
Clifford Electronics holds more patents than all other vehicle security manufacturers
combined. Yet despite all its sophistication, you will find your Sabre II system
amazingly easy to use: never more difficult than a few flicks of a switch or a press
of a button on one of your keychain remote controls.
Your 3-button/3-channel ACG remote controls
The 3-button/3-channel remote controls are sophisticated
miniature radio transmitters each powered by a pair of tiny
lithium batteries. Range is up to 100 feet. Weak remote
control batteries will reduce range. The 3-button/3-channel
remote control is the key to your system. You will use your
remote control to arm and disarm the system, lock* and
unlock* the doors, activate the panic feature, command
options such as a remote trunk release, headlight activation,
power window operation, an electric garage door interface
or even remote starting of the engine and heater or air conditioner.
TO ARM
THE SYSTEM . . . . . . . Press button 1 once. You will hear two chirps and the parking
lights will flash twice. The dashboard LED will flash
repeatedly and the car doors will automatically lock.*
TO DISARM
THE SYSTEM . . . . . . . Press button 1 again. One chirp and one parking light flash
confirms disarming. In addition, the doors will automatically
unlock* and the interior lights will turn on and stay on for 30
seconds or until you start the engine, whichever occurs first.
TO SILENTLY
ARM OR DISARM. . . Press button 3. The system will arm or disarm with all the
indications noted above except the chirp acknowledgments.
TO REMOTELY
OPEN THE TRUNK OR
TO ACTIVATE A
DIFFERENT OPTION .
Button 2 can control an optional remote trunk release or other
optional accessory, such as headlight activation feature of the
NightVision Headlight Automation System, remote power
window operation via the SmartWindows accessory, or even
remote starting of your vehicle’s engine and heater or air
conditioner via the Clifford IntelliStart accessory.
* Some vehicles require optional relays to activate your vehicle’s power door locks.
5

TO ACTIVATE
THE PANIC
FEATURE . . . . . . . . . .
Press button 1 for 3 seconds. The parking lights will flash
repeatedly and the siren will blare for 30 seconds or until you
press button 1 again to turn it off. If the ignition is on (indicating
you are in the car), the doors will automatically lock to
prevent an assailant from entering. If the ignition is off, the
doors will unlock, allowing you to enter immediately without
fumbling with your keys.
Anti-CodeGrabbing™ (ACG) with Random Code Encryption
A Clifford exclusive that protects you and your automobile from the most effective
and onerous car stealing device ever used by car thieves — a code-grabber.
Code-grabbers are far more effective and efficient than scanning. Unlike scanners
that sequentially transmit one digital code after another until they hit the correct
code to disarm the alarm (a process that may take minutes to years depending on the
system’s total number of codes), code-grabbers literally record, from hundreds of
feet away, the code sent by your car alarm remote control. Then the thief simply
plays back the code when you’re gone, instantly disarming the alarm and unlocking
the doors. It’s like giving the thief your car keys. Non-Clifford alarms can be
defeated that easily. In contrast, Clifford systems use complex digital signal
processing and unbreachable encryption to randomly change the digital code every
time you use the remote control. Your remote will never transmit the same code
twice, and the control unit will never accept the same code twice. Thus the code
recorded and played back by the thief’s code-grabber will never be accepted by your
Sabre II. Only ACG can make a car alarm impervious to code-grabbing, and only
Clifford systems have ACG with Random Code Encryption.
How to interpret the chirps and parking light flashes
When you use the remote control, the system responds with chirps (unless the chirp
muting feature is turned on) and parking light flashes. These chirp/flash
acknowledgments mean:
Chirps and flashes Meaning
1Your system is disarmed or you have remotely exited valet mode (see page 10)
2Your system is armed or you have remotely engaged valet mode (see page 10)
2 and then 4 Armed but there is a door open or the sensor is malfunctioning
(see Smart AutoTesting on page 10)
3Disarmed but there was an intrusion attempt while you were away
(see Smart prior intrusion attempt on page 11)
4Armed but the hood or trunk is ajar (see Smart AutoTesting on page 10)
6

Selectable starter/ignition interrupt
At the time of installation, you can select whether your Sabre II interrupts the starter
line or the ignition line. To verify which line is electronically interrupted, enter the
vehicle, close the doors, arm the system while inside the vehicle, then try to start the
engine. If the engine cranks but does not start, the ignition is bypassed. If it does not
crank at all, the starter is disabled. In addition, the starter/ignition interrupt will be
set in either Fault-Proof mode, which lets you start the engine even in the unlikely
event of a complete system failure, or Super-Security mode that ensures a thief
won’t be able to start the engine even if he cuts all the wires or finds the system
control unit and disconnects it.
Changing the mode requires a minor relay wiring change and installer-only
programming. Your local Authorized Clifford Dealer can make the changes for you.
Piezo Sensor™
The Piezo Sensor detects intrusion-related vibrations and impacts. For an even
greater level of security, consider Clifford Electronics optional sensors: Glass
Tampering Sensor (detects any attempts to break any of the vehicle windows)
and/or the Digital Dual-Zone Proximity Sensor IV (a passenger compartment radar
sensor, particularly important for convertible and other open/soft-top vehicles).
Enhanced AutoArming™
If this feature is enabled and you forget to remotely arm, the system will
automatically arm itself 30 seconds after the vehicle doors are closed. For your
convenience, if you re-open any door(s) within the 30-second countdown,
AutoArming will restart from the beginning once all doors are closed. Sabre II has
these additional AutoArming features:
AutoArming enable/disable: If you prefer, you may deactivate or reactivate
the AutoArming feature. See User-selectable features on pages 13-14.
Visual acknowledgment: Five seconds after you exit the vehicle and close all
the doors, the parking lights will flash twice to confirm that the AutoArming
countdown is progressing. Then, 25 seconds later, the system will AutoArm.
AutoArm & Lock: To ensure you can’t accidentally lock your keys inside the
car, the system is factory-set not to lock the doors upon AutoArming. To
change this setting, see User-selectable features on pages 13-14.
Instant AutoArming bypass: Prevents AutoArming when fueling and other
times when you wish to temporarily bypass AutoArming. To activate Instant
AutoArming Bypass, rapidly turn the ignition switch to “ON” then “OFF.” You’ll
hear a siren chirp to confirm that the system will not AutoArm. Your Sabre II
will revert to its normal operating mode when you next start the engine.
7

UltraSecure™ Coded Valet Mode
Your secret valet code
In seconds, thieves can disable all other alarm brands by hotwiring the ignition and
flicking an easy to find “hidden” valet switch. Your Sabre II system has safeguards
that absolutely ensure a thief cannot enable the valet mode as a way of “turning off”
your system. How? To enable valet mode, the driver must first enter a secret valet
code on the PlainView switch. If a thief tries guessing your code, after three
incorrect entries, the siren will sound and the system will not accept any further
entries for two minutes. Your code will be a 1-to-3-digit number of your choosing.
Each digit can be any number from 1 to 9, (i.e. the code can be any number between
1 and 999, except those that contain a zero). Whenever the system is in valet mode,
it overrides the AutoArming feature (see page 7) and all the security features are
turned off. At various times, you will need to switch the system off. For instance,
when having your car serviced, washed or parked by a valet.
Your factory-set valet code is the single digit “2.”
NOTE: If you temporarily lose the use of your remote controls, you can disarm
the system by enabling valet mode.
Definitions
Digit: A digit is defined as any number from 1 to 9, inclusive.
Valet code: A valet code may be 1 to 3 digits:
A one-digit code=X=any number between 1-9
A two-digit code=XY=any number between 11-99 (excluding numbers with zeros)
A three-digit code=XYZ=any number between 111-999 (excluding numbers with zeros)
Remember, no code can have a zero.
PlainView switch: A rocker switch mounted on the dashboard or console. The
switch has three positions: 1.) Latched 2.) Center 3.) Spring-loaded
momentary. When you press the latched side, the switch remains in its
pressed position. When you press the momentary side, the switch bounces
back to the center position.
Entering a digit: To enter a digit, you tap (press and release) on the
momentary side of the PlainView switch the number of times corresponding
to the numeral of the digit to be entered, followed by pressing to the latched
side, then returning the switch to its center position.
Entering a code: If your code has only one digit, enter the code as described
in “Entering a digit.,” If your code has more than one digit, just repeat the
above for each digit of your code.
8

To enable valet mode
1. Turn the ignition switch to its “ON” position or start the engine.
2. Enter your secret valet code on the PlainView switch (the LED will turn on),
then return the switch to its center position.
3. You now have 10 seconds to press the latched position to enter valet mode. The
system LED will glow continually for on-going visual confirmation of valet
mode.
To exit valet mode
1. Turn the ignition switch to its “ON” position or start the engine.
2. Flick the switch back to its center position. The LED will turn off to confirm that
the system is now in its normal operating mode.
Setting your own secret valet code
Since all Clifford systems have the same factory-set code, it is highly advisable that
you set your own valet code. You may choose any 1-, 2-, or 3-digit code that does
not have any zeros. You can also change your valet code whenever you want.
Simply write down the 1-to-3 digit code you wish to use (remember, no zeros in the
code), then perform the following steps.
1. Turn the ignition on.
2. Enter your current valet code (the factory-set code is the single digit 2: two
presses of the momentary side, then latched).
3. Press and release the switch’s momentary side 16 times. To help you count, you
will hear a single chirp confirmation each time you press the momentary side, for
a total of 16 chirps.
4. Immediately after the 16th chirp, press the latched side of the switch, enter your
new code.
5. Wait 3 seconds until you hear 1 chirp and the LED turns off.
6. Turn the ignition off after you hear the 1 chirp and the LED has turned off.
7. VERY IMPORTANT: You must immediately test your new secret valet code:
Turn on the ignition, enter your new code, then flip the switch to its latched
position. The LED will illuminate. If it does not, the new code you programmed
and the one you just entered do not match. In such a case, the system will revert
to the previous code.
Example of setting a new valet code:
Lets say you want to change the valet code from its original single-digit “2” code to
a double-digit code of “31.” You would do the following:
Turn the ignition on, enter your current code, tap the momentary side of the
PlainView switch 16 times, press the latched side, then enter the new code:
momentary, momentary, momentary, latched (3 chirps), momentary, latched
(1 chirp), center. Wait 2 seconds for the the system to exit program mode (1
chirp and the LED turns off), then turn the ignition off, then test the new code.
9