Help! My alarm freaks out!

I'm having some alarm issues.


The system seems to work normally 99% of the time. Red blinky light on the dash, etc. Arm/disarm is the normal honk and honk-honk. Turning the alarm system on and off via the dash switch is normal. Man, that blinking light is annoying when you're driving. The entry alarm feature seems normal, if you unlock the door with the key and open it, all hell breaks loose.


The issue occurs randomly... and it manifests itself in one of two ways.

First, the alarm will set itself off for no apparent reason, as it just did outside my apartment. I can see it from the window and there was no-one around it when it began to honk and flash the lights, etc. It took three tries with the remote to make it stop freaking out. The alarm function itself seemed normal, flashing parking lights and honking in a shifting pattern.

The other manifestation is more bizzare... it involves quick patternless half-honks, rapid flashing of lights and LOTS of rapid relay clicking behind the dash from several locations. It did this once outside my work by itself, and once about a month ago while I was driving down the road. All the dash lights including the backlighting and illumination were flicking on and off fairly rapidly and evenly during this episode, but the engine seemed unaffected. I was able to return the system to normal by locking the doors with the remote and then unlocking them... while driving! Weird stuff.


Anybody have any clues? Should I call for a priest and send out for holy water?

[mbtoloczko]

Have you tried resetting the alarm module either by disconnecting the battery negative or unplugging the module itself?

[immortal_suby]

I am pretty sure the light does not blink while driving in either of our svx's

[Subafreak]

SVXtine?

[lee]

Originally posted by Porter
I'm having some alarm issues.


...snip...

First, the alarm will set itself off for no apparent reason, as it just did outside my apartment. I can see it from the window and there was no-one around it when it began to honk and flash the lights, etc. It took three tries with the remote to make it stop freaking out. The alarm function itself seemed normal, flashing parking lights and honking in a shifting pattern.

...snip

I never had a working factory alarm, but has the glovebox been out recently? I'm asking because there's a sensitivity knob that could have been moved - possibly enough to have it go off with breezes from passing cars or sonic booms or ??? I realize this is pretty far out there, just a thought.

[mbtoloczko]

Originally posted by lee


I never had a working factory alarm, but has the glovebox been out recently? I'm asking because there's a sensitivity knob that could have been moved - possibly enough to have it go off with breezes from passing cars or sonic booms or ??? I realize this is pretty far out there, just a thought.

Porter has a '94 SVX, so his alarm module is in the trunk attached to the bottom side of the speaker deck.

[lee]

Originally posted by mbtoloczko


Porter has a '94 SVX, so his alarm module is in the trunk attached to the bottom side of the speaker deck.

My bad for not looking, but I assume it still has a little phillips type knob for sensitivity adjustment, yes/no?

[mbtoloczko]

Originally posted by lee


My bad for not looking, but I assume it still has a little phillips type knob for sensitivity adjustment, yes/no?

Yep.

[svx_commuter]

Originally posted by Porter
I'm having some alarm issues.

First, the alarm will set itself off for no apparent reason, as it just did outside my apartment. I can see it from the window and there was no-one around it when it began to honk and flash the lights, etc.

Anybody have any clues? Should I call for a priest and send out for holy water?

Got rodents?

Originally posted by immortal_suby
I am pretty sure the light does not blink while driving in either of our svx's

Whoa... so is mine freaky?

When the system is on it blinks whether you're driving or not, this is with the alarm disarmed (honk-honk unlock).

If the system is off it shows no light, and you get the chirpety-chirpety lock/unlock.

Can anybody verify this?


BTW, thanks for the responses guys! I'm working to track it all down...

I'll check the sensitivity next, but I'm pretty sure it doesn't have an impact sensor or anything. I can jump on the rear bumper with it armed and it won't go off. If I open the door though, bam it goes off. Seems to be only an entry alarm.

Originally posted by svx_commuter


Got rodents?

Yes, actually... a bunny. My GF loved your post.

[mbtoloczko]

Originally posted by Porter


Whoa... so is mine freaky?

When the system is on it blinks whether you're driving or not, this is with the alarm disarmed (honk-honk unlock).

Wow. I thought you were joking about this! The light is supposed to turn off when the car is running.


If the system is off it shows no light, and you get the chirpety-chirpety lock/unlock.

Can anybody verify this?


BTW, thanks for the responses guys! I'm working to track it all down...

I'll check the sensitivity next, but I'm pretty sure it doesn't have an impact sensor or anything. I can jump on the rear bumper with it armed and it won't go off. If I open the door though, bam it goes off. Seems to be only an entry alarm. [/QUOTE]

Its supposed to have a motion sensor too.

Did you try unplugging the module yet? Its pretty easy. There's an access panel in the roof of the trunk.

Hmm....

I haven't unplugged it yet, but it seems there is a cut wire in my trunk! It's a thin grey one by itself running up the left (driver) side of the compartment.

I'll do the unplug/reset tomorrow and see if that helps anything.