alarming problem

[justjon]

my used 2002 has a strange alarm system. If I unlock the doors with the key the alarm will sound and not stop unless I have the fob to unlock it. If I close the door it will reset and come on again when the door is opened. The car will not start with the alarm going. The alarm will sound if the trunk is opened with the fob before the doors are unlocked. There is a red light on the dash to the left of the steering wheel that lights when the alarm has been triggered by any of these events. It goes out when the car is started.

Is this the stock alarm? How would I know if I have lojack or? some other alarm..

The batttery went dead on one of the two remotes and I had to call my wife to bring the other one in order to use the car. I replaced the battery but the car doesn't recognize that remote now.
Thanks Jon

[5bird7]

Re: alarming problem

Jon,
You may need to reprogram both of your transmitters. There are instructions in your owners manual for the 02 to do that. You will need to reprogram all of your transmitters at the same time.

So far, it sounds like your stock alarm system is working correctly. I would think that if you used the remote to lock your car, you will need to use the remote to unlock it.

If you do not have the owners manual for your 02, you can download one for FREE from Motorcraft. The remote/alarm system is explained somewhere around page 76/77

Motorcraftservice.com/
for free download >owners guides (left hand column) > select year and model > select owner's manual.

[Leroy]

Re: alarming problem

On my 04 the alarm red indicator light is to the right of the sreering wheel in the center of the dashboard? My alarm is set by clicking the door lock button on the fob twice, and the horn will sound one beep and the alarm light starts blinking indicating the alarm is armed.To disarm I just give the unlock button one click. Leroy

[5bird7]

Re: alarming problem

Leroy is right, the stock alarm system for 02-05 is at the center on the dash to the right of the steering wheel when you're sitting in the car.

I assumed you were looking in from outside the car?

[justjon]

Re: alarming problem

I also have the red indicator light in the center of the dash board which can be seen by "the crooks' to show the alarm is set. The second light is to the left of the steering wheel under the odometer panel and only displays when the system has been activated ( I didn't notice it was there for months). I have the manual and read the programing stuff. I am afraid that if I screw this up somehow I will have an undrivable car. I will try out driving without using the fob and manually locking and unlocking.

[5bird7]

Re: alarming problem

Another option but will probably cost for a diagnosis is to take your car into a shop that deals with aftermarket alarms and see if they can figure out the maker of what appears to be another alarm system on yours.

or you could try to find the previous owner or owners.

[4LOWBIRDS+7]

Re: alarming problem

NOTHING SOUNDS RIGHT ABOUT THIS ALARM SYSTEM. YOU CAN UNLOCK THE CAR WITH THE KEY, EVEN IF IT WAS ARMED USING THE FOB. THE KEY WILL ALSO ARM THE ALARM WITHOUT USING THE FOB AS WILL THE INSIDE DOOR LOCK BUTTONS. USING THE FOB TO OPEN THE TRUNK WILL NOT SET OFF THE ALARM, EVEN IF DOORS ARE STILL LOCKED. SYSTEM WILL REARM ITSELF AS SOON AS THE TRUNK IS CLOSED. NOTICE THE PARKING LAMPS FLASH. TAKE DOT'S ADVICE AND SEE IF SOMEONE HAS ADDED ANOTHER SYSTEM OR IF REPROGRAMING THE FOBS WILL CORRECT.

[joe166]

Re: alarming problem

The alarm is obviously not working properly. You need to get it fixed. All alarms are voodoo as far as I am concerned.

The fob not working shouldn't have anything to do with it.

[justjon]

Re: alarming problem

Am I correct in assuming that the red light under the odometer cluster mounted on the "bulged out piece" is not FOMOCO? This Tbird has a perimeter alarm that will sound if you put your hand inside the car with the top down, you don't need to touch anything or make a sound. The car will open, lock and run fine without using the fob, however if you arm with the fob, you must disarm with the fob (as suggested by Dot).

[5bird7]

Re: alarming problem

correct, that's most likely an aftermarket alarm system that's on yours. You will need to get some help on how the system operates and how to reprogram that key fob. It may have a slightly different sequence than the OEM alarm system on the car (which you're already nervous about).

[justjon]

Re: alarming problem

Thank you everyone for the input. But just out of curiosity ... how would you know if you had lo-jack since they hide the transmitters? Someone here must know the 'secret'?

[joe166]

Re: alarming problem

Call LoJack and ask them if the car has it installed. They obviously have all of their installations by serial number and if you can somehow convince them that you bought the car, they might register it for you, but they would probably charge you almost as much as a new unit. They are not a charitable organization by any stretch of the imagination. Try to get a discounted installation and see what I mean.

I know that when they installed mine, they wouldn't let me watch, but they couldn't stop me from looking out my window and they were under the passengers side, near the glove box, but I have been under there several times running wires for a radar detector and I haven't seen anything unusual. Modern cars have so many little black boxes that I don't know how I could tell, even if I were to stumble across it.

[tbird tom]

Re: Blinking red alarm indicating light while driving??

Yesterday, for the first time with with '04, I noticed my red indicating alarm light in the center of my dash blinking as I was driving. It would blink for a few seconds...stop blinking, then resume blinking for a few more seconds. Eventually it stopped blinking for good as I continued my drive. Never noticed this before.....is this normal, has anyone else observered this? I would think there should be no blinking as your dirving the car. Other than this situation, the alarm system seems to be working fine.
thanks for any comments or info!

[Vintage Merlot]

Re: alarming problem

These alarm symptoms are the same I had shortly before my battery dropped dead on me without warning. It was seven years old. This my not apply to your situation but it is a heads up for anyone with an old battery that thinks their battery has lots of life since there has been no indication of a weak battery. I was one of those people and was proven wrong. Fortunately it died in our garage.

[MidLifeBird]

Re: alarming problem

My alarm also goes off if I open the trunk with the fob while the doors are locked.