Disabling a Factory Car Alarm (1995 Toyota Corolla)

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L Neely - 23 Oct 2006 03:34 GMT

Hello everyone. I have been encountering many problems with the factory
alarm installed in my 1995 Toyota Corolla. I am looking for a way to
completely disable, not to simply disengage, the alarm.

My remote doesn't work well anymore, and replacing it is expensive and thus
out of the question.

Does anybody here know anything about disabling a factory installed car
alarm on this kind of car? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

-LN

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Noozer - 23 Oct 2006 03:44 GMT

> Hello everyone. I have been encountering many problems with the factory
> alarm installed in my 1995 Toyota Corolla. I am looking for a way to
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> thus
> out of the question.

Have you tried eBay, etc. to see if you can replace the remote?

> Does anybody here know anything about disabling a factory installed car
> alarm on this kind of car? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Alarms are built to be difficult to disable.

I'm sure that there must be a way to program it not to arm.

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L Neely - 23 Oct 2006 04:13 GMT

> > Hello everyone. I have been encountering many problems with the factory
> > alarm installed in my 1995 Toyota Corolla. I am looking for a way to
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> Have you tried eBay, etc. to see if you can replace the remote?

Thanks for the quick reply.

...And you know what? That's so simple that I didn't even think to do that.
I found a couple universal car alarm remotes for Toyota Corolla, Camry, and
MR2 for about $30 (as opposed to the $100+ price quote I was given at my
local auto store).

The only problem, then, is that I don't know how to program the bloody
things. Are there any documents to which I can refer if a user manual
doesn't come with the remotes? I've been Googling with little luck, and I
only ask because that kind of thing is never really guaranteed through eBay.

If there are any armchair car thieves out there, please do feel free to give
your advice, also. :)

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L Neely - 23 Oct 2006 04:17 GMT

> ...And you know what? That's so simple that I didn't even think to do
> that.
> I found a couple universal car alarm remotes for Toyota Corolla, Camry,
> and
> MR2 for about $30 (as opposed to the $100+ price quote I was given at my
> local auto store).

Terribly sorry for the double-post... but it seems that I mis-read the post.
The item for sale is actually a new "universal car alarm" /with/ two car
remotes, not two universal remotes. So, no luck on eBay quite yet. I'll
keep looking.

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Ray O - 23 Oct 2006 16:54 GMT

> Hello everyone. I have been encountering many problems with the factory
> alarm installed in my 1995 Toyota Corolla. I am looking for a way to
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
> -LN

What kind of problems have you been encountering with the factory alarm?
Toyota factory alarms are very pretty reliable. If the remote does not
work, assuming that you have replaced the battery, try cleaning the contacts
on the mini circuit board and the back of the rubber buttons with rubbing
alcohol.

Even without the remote, the factory alarm should be disarmed by unlocking
one of the front doors with the key. If opening one of the front doors with
the key does not disarm the alarm, then check the switch connected to the
lock cylinder for continuity.

Signature

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

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L Neely - 23 Oct 2006 18:21 GMT

> What kind of problems have you been encountering with the factory alarm?
> Toyota factory alarms are very pretty reliable. If the remote does not
> work, assuming that you have replaced the battery, try cleaning the
> contacts
> on the mini circuit board and the back of the rubber buttons with rubbing
> alcohol.

I will try cleaning the contacts. The problems lie in the fact that the
alarm is *too* reliable. :) See, the way I disengage the alarm is via the
remote. Problem is, the alarm re-engages itself while I'm driving every
once in awhile.

> Even without the remote, the factory alarm should be disarmed by unlocking
> one of the front doors with the key. If opening one of the front doors
> with
> the key does not disarm the alarm, then check the switch connected to the
> lock cylinder for continuity.

I would love for this to be the case, but unfortunately it is not. When I
unlock the front door with the key, the alarm goes off and does not
disengage unless I have the remote handy. Furthermore, as mentioned,
sometimes the alarm engages itself while driving.

You say the switch connected to the lock cylinder? I'll look into that. It
would certainly make sense for that to be a problem. What should I look
for? Please bear with me because I know little about cars and alarms.

-LN

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Ray O - 23 Oct 2006 18:47 GMT

>> What kind of problems have you been encountering with the factory alarm?
>> Toyota factory alarms are very pretty reliable. If the remote does not
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> remote. Problem is, the alarm re-engages itself while I'm driving every
> once in awhile.

I have never heard of a Toyota factory alarm engaging itself while driving,
which is why I am wondering if the alarm may be aftermarket.

>> Even without the remote, the factory alarm should be disarmed by
>> unlocking
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
>
> -LN

IIRC, on a factory alarm, when you turn the key, the tab that connects the
lock cylinder to the lock rod also contacts a momentary contact switch that
is mounted on the cylinder.

Signature

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

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Andrew Stephenson - 23 Oct 2006 19:40 GMT

> Even without the remote, the factory alarm should be disarmed by unlocking
> one of the front doors with the key. If opening one of the front doors with
> the key does not disarm the alarm, then check the switch connected to the
> lock cylinder for continuity.

Ray, just a "FWIW" bit of info...

I haven't yet been in the situation where my Prius has needed to
be unlocked using the mechanical key instead of the remote; and
it is now dark+wet outside, so going and experimenting... well,
forgive my reluctance. <g> But... Handbook and sales-bod gave
me to understand the alarm would go off if doors were locked by
the remote (and hence the alarm was set) but unlocked by the key.
(This can happen if, say, the fob battery fails.) It would shut
up once the fob was inserted into the fob dashboard recess. This
may be the Coming Thing, given Toyota's new way of handling user
validation (ie, as in Prius & IIRC Yaris).

(Will _try_ to remember to check this, next time I can.)

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Andrew Stephenson

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Ray O - 23 Oct 2006 20:28 GMT

>> Even without the remote, the factory alarm should be disarmed by
>> unlocking
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
>
> (Will _try_ to remember to check this, next time I can.)

Let us know what you find out!

Signature

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

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Andrew Stephenson - 24 Oct 2006 19:35 GMT

> > [re: Prius locking/unlocking characteristics]
> >
> > (Will _try_ to remember to check this, next time I can.)
>
> Let us know what you find out!

Seems there was a communications failure and I misunderstood how
the Prius' alarm and locking mechanisms interact. Here's how it
looks, after some brief experiments.

The car can be locked and its alarm set, using either the key-fob
remote or the mechanical door-key stored in the fob. The remote
allows "double locking", whose advantages I am not clear on.

The car can be unlocked and its alarm disarmed, using either the
key-fob remote or the mechanical emergency door-key. IOW, if the
fob's battery fails, one can open the driver's door with the key
without the alarm throwing any fits, then stick the fob into the
dashboard hole and drive the car in the normal way -- perhaps to
the nearest place selling fob batteries.

Is it safe to assume the new Yaris works the same way?

HTH.

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Andrew Stephenson

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Ray O - 24 Oct 2006 23:59 GMT

>> > [re: Prius locking/unlocking characteristics]
>> >
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
>
> HTH.

Probably, because other than the double-locking, that is how every other
Toyota factory security system I've seen works.

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Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

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L Neely - 25 Oct 2006 02:40 GMT

Thanks a lot, everyone. I'll try all of this, but will continue to keep an
eye on this thread in case something new comes up. :)

By the way, speaking of this thread, anyone else having problems receiving
the previous messages of this thread? My client says "no longer available
on server." Huh. Good thing I archived it...

Thanks again.

-LN

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