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Car Alarm System Questions and Answers
This category contains featured questions as
examples. They relate to most vehicles.
Question: 1997 Chevrolet Z28 Camaro mileage: 101,900.
My question is about the keyless entry. The
first remote that I got with the car got
damaged so I had to purchase another one. I
was wondering if I could set the new remote
to my car myself or do I have to take it to
the dealership and have them do it.
Answer:
For theft related reasons, you have to have
your new keyless remote programmed by the
dealership.
Question:
1999 Mercedes Benz ML320 6 cyl 3.2 mileage:
68,000. Was working perfectly three weeks
ago. I did not used for those three weeks
and the battery went down (discharged). I
took the battery out to charge it. The
battery was checked and it is in good
condition (< 2 years old), I charged it and
put it back and now the SUV starts but it
goes off immediately after. It stayed
without a battery for some hours (<5). Do
you know if is there a reset button, a known
issue or anything that needs to be done
after replacing or recharging a battery,
having been without power for some hours, in
this vehicle ? Or what do you think the
problem could be?
Answer:
By
disconnecting and removing the battery and
then replacing it, you activated the
anti-theft device in your car. If you arm
and disarm the anti-theft device, it should
reset. If this does not work using the
remote, try locking and unlocking the driver
side door with the key.
Question:
2001 Chevrolet Lumina mileage: 19,000. Theft
light was coming on while driving. I was
told by a tech to turn the ignition on for
20 minutes, don't take the key out, turn off
and start. This worked to reset the alarm.
However, now it won't start at all. I tried
resetting it and nothing. It turn's over
like it should and the theft light is still
flashing. Help! I checked all the fuses and
they seem o.k.
Answer:
The antitheft system in your car is
controlled by a computer. Scanning the
computer will give you some idea of what has
failed. You may find a broken wire in the
steering column or a faulty ignition switch
or ignition key. You may even have a failed
computer.
Question: 1997 Chevy
Camaro Z28 5.7 liter mileage: 104,525. When
I turn off my factory alarm and try to start
my car, the alarm immediately resets and I
am unable to get the engine to turn over.
The security light on the dash flashes. I
disconnected the alarm all together yet the
problem continues. Is there anything that I
can do to get my car to start?Answer:
The antitheft system in your car is controlled
by a computer. Scanning the computer will
give you some idea of what has failed.
It is an integral part of your car and
cannot be disconnected.
Question: 1995 Chrysler
Lebaron mileage: 100,000. Dear Bob and Ken,
I recently bought a Chrysler LeBaron
convertible and haven't had any problems
until NOW. The problem I have is with my
alarm system. It is a key entry optional
feature with the car and it will not reset.
I can't start my car because the antitheft
system is still activated some how. I have
checked the owner's manual for guidance and
also the fuses for any that may have blown.
Nothing I've done has worked. Is this a
problem that occurs often with this model?
Is there a button to reset that I don't know
about or some wiring that I can check? I
hope you will be able to help me in this
mater. It has been a good car since I have
owned it and would like to keep it. A
Concerned Chrysler OwnerAnswer: Try unlocking
the drivers door with the key, that will
disarm the alarm system.
Question: 1998 VW Passat
mileage: 137,000.
My wife set the alarm when she went to my
son's ball game. When she went to start the
car, upon opening the door, the alarm went
off. She reset the alarm with the key, but
noticed that the only door the key would
unlock was the driver's door. Usually using
the key locks-unlocks all the doors. The
alarm will not reset, and hence the car is
still parked at the ball field! Any help?
Answer: The switch in
the driver's door lock mechanism is
malfunctioning and causing your problem.
Question: 2004 Mazda 6
mileage: 57,000. There are two problems I
have been unable to solve: 1. The car has an
anti-theft feature. Locking the car door
from the outside with the key causes an
idiot light on the dash to illuminate for
about five seconds. The graphics on the
light say "Security". After five seconds,
the bell dings (sounds like the same bell
that dings repeatedly with you leave the
lights on and open the door). The light goes
out but flashes on for a fraction of a
second about every three seconds, apparently
indicating that the alarm is activated. When
you unlock the driver door with a key, the
alarm immediately goes off, causing the horn
to beep repeatedly and the lights to flash.
Turning the key in the trunk lock
deactivates the alarm. How do I
disable the security system? Perhaps the car
originally had a remote for the key ring,
but I don't have one now. 2. The idiot light
for the air bag flickers on and off randomly
as I drive. The Haynes book says that if
there's a problem, the light comes on and
stays on. I suspect there's a short or bad
ground. How can I troubleshoot this problem?
Answer: The
computer for the alarm is probably causing
your problem. Scan the anti theft module to
trouble shoot for the problem. You might
have a door sensor that is shorted.
Question:
1999 Taurus mileage: 70,000.
Today while I was driving all of a sudden
the alarm went off in small tweaks as the
door locks went up and down. This lasted for
about 15 seconds and stopped and then a few
minutes later it did it again, then again.
Then when I got home and parked when I went
to arm it with the remote it didn't work.
The remote dose not work at all now. I
replaced the battery in the remote and it
still does not work.
Answer:
Check alarm system grounds, if ok then your
could have a alarm controller that is short
circuiting.
Question:
1997 VW Golf K2 4 cylinder mileage: 47,000.
Something is wrong with my alarm system.
It is activated all the time now -- and I
cannot lock from the inside using the toggle
button on the dashboard. Is there
something that I can do to deactivate this
alarm system or do I need to bring it into
the dealer/repair shop?
Answer:
The alarm system is an integral part of your
car and cannot be deactivated. A
dealer or an independent service center
should be able to fix your problem.
Question:
1999 Chevy Corvette mileage: 70,000.
Battery went dead, I put a new one in but
now the factory alarm won't let me start the
car. The alarm won't disengage. Can
you help with this?
Answer:
You can disengage the alarm system by
locking and unlocking the drivers door with
the key from the outside. That should reset
the system.
Question:
2004 Mercedes c230 mileage: 33,000. The
car alarm actuates at the slightest
disturbance e.g. a car passing whilst it is
parked, or even if it is a very hot day.
I cannot find a sensitivity adjuster - is
there one? Alternatively, can the
siren be disconnected without upsetting the
immobilizer system?
Answer:
The control module is behind the right side
of the passenger footrest near the kick
panel. It may or may not be
adjustable. More than likely, you have
an after market alarm system, which is
probably adjustable depending upon the
manufacturer.
Question:
1998 Jaguar XK-8 mileage: 87,000. My
jaguar has a factory alarm. I do not
have a beeper to disarm it. I removed
battery from car to charge it. Upon
returning battery to car, alarm activated
itself. Dealer told me to turn
ignition switch on and off 5 times.
Jaguar mechanic said unlock doors 5 times
and I was told to take battery cable on off
on. However, none of these things
works. HELP !
Answer:
You can disengage the alarm system by
locking and unlocking the drivers door with
the key from the outside. That should reset
the system.
Question:
1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee V-8 mileage:
105,000. I disengaged the battery to
check the water pump and after I hooked the
battery back up, I noticed my alarm was
"tweaking." I tried to take the Jeep
to town, and it kept cutting out on me-which
is the anti-theft part of the alarm, but how
can I reset it to where I can drive the
vehicle? I turned the valet
switch off and then on, but nothing
happened.
Answer:
Try locking and unlocking the rear hatch.
This should reset your security system.
Question:
1998 Chrysler LHS mileage: 67,750. I
recently purchased this car and the keyless
remote FOB's do not work. The
batteries are all brand new and both remote
units have good electrical connections.
I thought it needed reprogramming until
today. The car was sitting out while I
was working and the exterior temperature was
around 30 degrees F. After starting,
just for fun, I tried the FOB and the doors
locked. I repeatedly locked and
unlocked the car while driving. After
the car was warmed up, the remote failed to
work again. I am thinking that the
receiver has a loose wire or something, but
I cannot find where the receiver or the
antenna is. Every manual I try shows
nothing about the remote door locks.
Can you provide me any information to help
me out? I want to try doing this
myself, because I feel it will be pretty
simple, but I am stumped on where to look in
a car filled with electronic "goodies".
Thanks in advance for your help, and I look
forward to your response.
Answer:
Check
alarm system grounds, if ok then your could
have a alarm controller that is short
circuiting.
Repair Topics / Alarm System
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