Problem: Can't Turn-Off Alarm

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Jim Pflaum - 15 Apr 2006 18:51 GMT

Help!!!! Can't fix alarm problem on '90 Accord EX. Car's in
excellent condition, other than the alarm problem. Here's what
happened.

First, the car's battery went dead. Battery was old and needed to be
replaced (Not faulty or drained due to short). Put new battery in and
the car's alarm immediately triggered when I connected the battery
terminals. Alarm kept blasting, so I then disconnected negative
terminal, which of course stopped the alarm.

I then turned off what I think maybe the alarm's on/off interior
dashboard switch (Not sure since I bought the car used and the
alarm's an aftermarket alarm, not a Honda OEM alarm, and the switch
isn't labeled.) After that, I tried reconnecting the negative
terminal and, you guessed it, the alarm started blasting again.

To make a long story short, after trying a couple of other things to no
avail, I decided to snip the alarm's wire, which is located on the
car's motor-side firewall. That worked of course, but then,
strangely, the car's battery began to slowly loose its charge over
the following few weeks. I then recharged and tested the battery, and
it tested good. This morning I put the battery back in the car, touched
the alarm's wire together and the alarm, of course, immediately
started blasting again.

Do any of you mechanics in the group have any ideas whatsoever that
might help me solve the car's alarm problem. Would pulling the
alarm's fuse/breaker help! (Not sure where it's located or if
it's tied into another part of the car's electrical system.) I'm
at wits end and have no idea what to try next.

Incidentally, I'm not much of a mechanic so try to keep any ideas you
might have at the first grade level or, better yet, at the kindergarten
level. Thanks!!!!

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Jason - 15 Apr 2006 20:38 GMT

> Help!!!! Can't fix alarm problem on '90 Accord EX. Car's in
> excellent condition, other than the alarm problem. Here's what
[quoted text clipped - 30 lines]
> might have at the first grade level or, better yet, at the kindergarten
> level. Thanks!!!!

You mentioned that that you have an aftermarket (non-Honda) alarm. I
suggest that you call the company that made the alarm and ask them how to
turn off the alarm. You may be able to call the local companies that sell
car alarms to see if any of them sell that type of alarm--if so, ask the
owner how to reset the alarm. If they don't know--visit the business and
read the instuctions in the manual.
Jason

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Jim Pflaum - 16 Apr 2006 12:48 GMT

Jason, unfortunately, the name of the alarm's manufacture isn't on the
alarm's horn or anywhere else I could find. As you suggested, if I
can't get a fix for the problem online anywhere, I guess I'll have to
call one of local alarm installation retailers Monday morning. Thanks
for your reply.

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Jason - 16 Apr 2006 18:48 GMT

> Jason, unfortunately, the name of the alarm's manufacture isn't on the
> alarm's horn or anywhere else I could find. As you suggested, if I
> can't get a fix for the problem online anywhere, I guess I'll have to
> call one of local alarm installation retailers Monday morning. Thanks
> for your reply.

Jim,
If you want a car alarm in your car, you should consider taking the car to
a local business that sells car alarms. Have them remove the car alarm and
install another one. Make sure you keep the manual and if possible buy two
extra remotes in case someone looses one or more of them. Of course, if
you can buy a remote that works with your present alarm--that would be the
best solution.
Some of the other posters provided excellent advice. Please let us know
what you do to solve the problem.
Jason

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Michael Pardee - 16 Apr 2006 00:25 GMT

Put in earplugs and reconnect the alarm. Then try to silence it by operating
the remote to unlock the door. If still blaring, try to lock/unlock a time
or two.

I think all the alarms go off when the battery is reconnected, probably so a
thief can't defeat the system by killing the power and reconnecting it.

If all else fails, sign up at www.the12volt.com to get advice from alarm
experts.

Mike

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Jim Pflaum - 16 Apr 2006 13:08 GMT

Michael, I don't have the alarm's remote. I bought the car used and the
guy I bought the car from said he'd lost the remote and never used the
alarm. I never used it either and thought the alarm disconnected until
it started blaring when I replaced the car's battery.

I've tried everything, so I think I'll see if I can get some problem
fix tips from the site you suggested ( www.the12volt.com). Thanks for
your reply, Michael!

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Michael Pardee - 16 Apr 2006 16:19 GMT

> Michael, I don't have the alarm's remote. I bought the car used and the
> guy I bought the car from said he'd lost the remote and never used the
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> fix tips from the site you suggested ( www.the12volt.com). Thanks for
> your reply, Michael!

Hope it helps! My son bought an aftermarket (Viper?) alarm about a year ago
and it had to be programmed to recognize the remotes that came with it. You
may be able to buy a remote or two and program those in - the good guys at
the12volt.com should be able to help you.

Mike

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Jim Pflaum - 16 Apr 2006 18:11 GMT

Mike, thanks for the tip about posting a query on www.the12volt.com.
Did just that after I read your reply and some named Blake passed along
a fix that worked. For anybody that experiences the same alarm problem
I experienced, here's Blake's fix:

"To turn the alarm of with the switch,the key has to be turned to the
on position(right before turn it all the way to start).If you flipped
it without power being applied to the system you did nothing.This is so
that a thief can't just hop in and flip the switch which would make the
system useless.You can also try and find the fused line and pull the
fuses.Depending on how the system was installed,you may need to take
the dash apart to find it.The purpose of a great install is to make the
alarm undefeatable and make a thief give up."

Thanks again, Mike!

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Michael Pardee - 16 Apr 2006 21:56 GMT

> Mike, thanks for the tip about posting a query on www.the12volt.com.
> Did just that after I read your reply and some named Blake passed along
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
> Thanks again, Mike!

And thanks a million for posting the resolution. The next guy will have an
easier time of it, and that could be me!

Mike

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Seth - 16 Apr 2006 17:29 GMT

99 times out of 100, the alarm "brain box" will be a black box under the
drivers side dash. MANY of them are in the neighborhood of 1/5" thick,
4"x6" in size. If you find that, and assuming it's the typical lazy
installation (ignition kill not actually hooked up correctly) you can just
remove the fuse from the RED wire feeding the brain box. Also look for a
fuse on a yellow or orange wire.

Once you locate the brain box, you will also have the make and model and can
get better advice and where to buy remotes form there.

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Jim Pflaum - 16 Apr 2006 18:16 GMT

Seth, thanks to you too. Got the alarm problem fixed (see my reply to
Mike's post), but I think I might just disconnect the alarm altogether
by using your suggestion. Thanks!

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Jim Yanik - 16 Apr 2006 22:23 GMT

> Seth, thanks to you too. Got the alarm problem fixed (see my reply to
> Mike's post), but I think I might just disconnect the alarm altogether
> by using your suggestion. Thanks!

I'd want an alarm that I had the remotes.(and documentation)

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Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
kua.net

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