2018 Archives - Perfectionist Auto Sound and Security

2018 Ford F-150 Gets Custom Katzkin Leather Seating Upgrade

07/22/2020 By John Schwartz

A customer from Anchorage, Alaska, recently came to the shop looking to upgrade the interior of his 2018 Ford F-150 to something with leather that better matched the outside of his truck, to give it a clean and sleek design.

Here at Perfectionist, we use the brand Katzkin, a seat cover replacement that comes in many designs and colors of leather. After this customer talked to us about what he wanted, we decided to go with a cardinal-red look with contrast stitching to complement the black of the vehicle, along with perforated seats. He was ecstatic on picking up his vehicle and seeing how well the interior matched the exterior.

If you (or anyone you know) are looking to upgrade the interior to better match your vehicle, or you’ve simply grown out of your factory seats, stop by Perfectionist Auto Sound and one of our sales reps can get you fitted with new seats.

Long-Range Compustar Remote Start System on a 2018 Honda HRV

03/19/2020 By John Schwartz

A customer came in looking for an autostart for their 2018 Honda HRV. They had never had an autostart before, so we walked them through the differences between one- and two-way remotes. “Two-way” means they will be notified when the vehicle is started, locked or unlocked through an LED light, audible tone or LCD screen — even through a push notification if using the Compustar Drone. “One-way” means that the remote will still start the car, but it will not give you any notifications, so you would have to see the car to know that it started. We also talked to the customer about what kind of range they needed and if they would be using Drone, the app for your smartphone that allows you to start and stop your vehicle from your phone.

After talking with our customer, we decided to go with the RFX-P2WG15-SS, a two-way remote start that has a two-mile range. We installed the system using our standard procedure of checking all of the vehicle’s functions on an iPad, plugging it into a battery charger after doing a battery test, and soldering and taping all of the wire connections. After we completed the install, we double-checked all of the vehicle’s functions and vacuumed the interior as a final step.

The customer was so happy on picking up their vehicle, knowing that they would be warm every morning and not have to go out into the cold to start the vehicle! If you are looking for an autostart for your vehicle, feel free to give us a call or to contact us here.

Radio Upgrade and Car Starter for Anchorage Mitsubishi Outlander

03/11/2020 By John Schwartz

The owner of this 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander recently visited Perfectionist Auto Sound and Security in Anchorage to explore options for a new radio and a remote car starter. The client wanted to upgrade to a modern multimedia radio that would still be able to show a backup camera image. Of course, living in Alaska, the need for a reliable remote car starter goes without saying. After examining the vehicle and asking the client about where they park it, we suggested a remote start solution that would ensure they’d have the range required to start the vehicle reliably.

Pioneer Multimedia Radio Installation

Mitsubishi Radio — The new radio gave the client the Bluetooth feature they were looking for.

The client chose a Pioneer AVH-210EX multimedia receiver for its 6.2-inch color display and Bluetooth capabilities. Our technicians used a Metra radio trim panel and wire harness adapter to integrate the radio into the dash of the Outlander. Using an ASWC-1 interface, they programmed the radio buttons on the steering wheel to send commands to the new Pioneer unit. The last step in the installation was to use a backup camera integration harness from Axxess to provide power to the factory backup camera and allow it to work with the new radio.

Compustar Remote Car Starter

The remote start system we proposed is based on a Compustar FT-7200S control module. Our technicians completed the mounting and integration of the module into the vehicle wiring, then programmed a Blade-AL integrated interface to communicate with the ignition and security computers in the vehicle.

Once the wiring and programming were complete, we added an RFX-P2WT12-SS remote package to the controller. This kit includes a two-way antenna and one of the amazing T12 LCD remote controls. This remote provides up to 3 miles of range. If the owner is in a movie theatre, restaurant or office, they are still in communication with the vehicle. It’s amazing!

The remote is powered by a lithium-ion battery pack that is rechargeable from any powered USB port, including the one built into the new Pioneer radio.

Mitsubishi Starter and Radio Upgrade

With the integration of the new radio and remote starter into this 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander complete, we called the client to let them know that the vehicle was ready to be picked up. A member of our team walked them through how to use the radio and the starter system and showed them how to make the Bluetooth connection to the radio for hands-free calling and audio streaming. The client was thrilled with their upgrade. If you are in the market for a car starter or technology upgrade for your vehicle, drop by Perfectionist Auto Sound and Security in Anchorage. You can also reach us by phone or by e-mail using our contact form.

Lighting Upgrade for Anchorage GMC Sierra 2500

02/12/2020 By John Schwartz

A client from here in Anchorage contacted the team at Perfectionist Auto Sound & Security to inquire about a lighting upgrade for his 2018 GMC Sierra 2500 pickup truck. The client wanted better fog lights to help light the area adjacent to the road as well as a high-output driving light that would provide long-range illumination. After inspecting the vehicle, we put together a package that would deliver amazing performance and reliability.

GMC Sierra Fog Light Upgrade

Truck Lighting — The corners of the bumpers received a Rigid fog light upgrade.

We started the project by removing the front grille and bumper from the truck. The first order of business was to mount a set of Rigid Industries 504813 D-Series fog light pods in the bumper using a Rigid 46543 mounting kit. These lights create an SAE-compliant light pattern that makes them legal for use on public roads. The wide 52-degree beam angle ensures that any animals at the sides of the road are illuminated clearly to make night driving safer. Our team wired the new lights into the original fog light circuit so that they can be controlled with the original fog light switch.

High-Performance Lighting

With the fog light upgrade installed, the next step was to mount a combination spot and driving light upgrade just behind the front grille. We proposed the Rigid 931314 SR-Series 30-inch light bar because it would provide illumination out to more than 600 feet.

Our team took a series of measurements that would locate the light in the very center of the lower opening in the grille. Based on the information we gathered, we fabricated a set of custom mounting brackets that bolt to the front radiator support to ensure that the light is solid and secure. Of course, we protected the brackets with corrosion-resistant paint so they would look good and be reliable.

With the brackets in place and the bar mounted, our team integrated the wiring for the new light into the factory high-beam control circuit. We wrapped all the wires in automotive-grade cloth tape to protect them from the elements, then secured everything to using zip ties to prevent issues from vibration as the truck travels down the road. We finished the project by aiming the lights for perfect long-range performance that won’t blind oncoming drivers.

Anchorage’s Truck Accessory Experts

With the truck lighting upgrade project complete, the client returned to Perfectionist Auto Sound & Security to pick up his vehicle. We showed him the work we had done and explained how to turn on each of the lights. He was thrilled with the results. If you’re shopping for a lighting upgrade for your vehicle, drop by our store, give us a call or send our team an email using our contact form.

2018 Ford Explorer Interceptor Gets Momento Camera DVR System

01/28/2020 By John Schwartz

A customer came to our shop recently wanting a dash camera for their vehicle. This customer was a local security officer for an establishment here in Anchorage, Alaska, and wanted the Momento 6 installed on his 2018 Ford Explorer Interceptor. This is a DVR that includes a color display along with a front- and rearward-facing camera. It records video 24/7 to a micro SD card. In the event of an impact, it locks video into memory 20 seconds before and 20 seconds after the impact and can’t be overwritten — perfect for any police or security vehicle.

Come the day of the appointment, we checked in the vehicle and per our standard procedure, put a battery charger on it with a fender cover to protect the vehicle’s paint from any scratches. One of our experienced technicians wired the dash cam into the vehicle in just a few hours, taping up and soldering all wires and connections to guarantee a sleek, professional and reliable install.

When the customer picked up the vehicle, they were ecstatic in knowing that they had a new dash camera that would ensure their safety and provide footage in the case of an accident or emergency.

If you or someone you know wants additional safety precautions put in place for your vehicle, our experienced and qualified team at Perfectionist will be here to help.